Im really new... Any help to get better???

Knickle25 · Jul 5, 2011

Hi eveyone! My husband bought me a good camera for Valentine's Day this year. I love photography and he wanted me to have a decent starter camera to get started with. I have been hesitant to really start taking pictures, but the last week or so I have found myself really taking alot of pictures and using the software he bought me with the camera. I am really new to this and dont have any prior experience other than previously taking pictures with a grab and go camera. I was wondering if you guys would help me out and tell me what can be better or what else i can do to make and take better pictures? I have a nikon D3100. Here is a Black and White picture I took that I really like alot. Let me know what you guys think and how to make it better/take a better picture? Thank you for your advice and help!

Bitter Jeweler · Jul 5, 2011

Cleveland Rocks!

To get better, keep taking images with intent, rather than quick snaps. Read lots about composition. "the photographers eye" is a great start.Understand that this image would be liked by more people if you didn't selectively color the eyes. Understand post processing effects and learn to use them in appropriate manners, rather than just because one can.

Welcome to the forum, neighbor.

Bitter Jeweler · Jul 5, 2011

I forgot to add: keep posting photos for critique. Lotsa great people here willing to critique.

lyonsroar · Jul 5, 2011

One of the first things every newbie ought to be told is that the camera works in both portrait and landscape orientation.

Edsport · Jul 5, 2011

Take it easy, it takes time to learn this art. I think you have a nice photo but i think it needs a little sharpening...

Raian-san · Jul 5, 2011

Bitter Jeweler said:
Cleveland Rocks!

How come she doesn't have a beard?

Try not to do selective coloring on the eyes, make her look evil. Welcome to the forum, and happy posting. Oh yeah, don't mind the beard guy. He's just excited you're like the 2nd person from Cleveland, the other person is himself. :thumbup:

WesternGuy · Jul 6, 2011

Nice for a first time posting...B&W images always make me curious as to how the original colour image looked. You did capture a "catchlight" in her eyes, although it is a bit subdued. As has been mentioned, portrait mode might have showed more of this cute kid, also I am really not a fan of closely cropped images, but then that may just be me - arms, hair/head, etc. As noted already, the selective colouring isn't really necessary as it is the first thing that captures ones eyes and then they fixate on it and you have to stop and think to realize that there is more in the picture than just two blue eyes.

I am curious as to how you did the B&W conversion, because this does not seem to be a good candidate for a B&W image (my opinion) - there is very little that is "black" and there is very little that is "white", rather the image appears to be composed on a number of shades of gray. You might want to look at improving the "contrast" a bit and, depending on the editing software you have, move the black and white points a bit.

I would agree with the comment about reading up on "composition", but if you are going to be taking lots of images of children (yours and others?), then you might want to acquire a good book on photographing children. There are lots around and searching on Amazon will give you quite a few, some of which may no longer be available.

Hope this helps...

Cheers,

WesternGuy

karissabphotography · Jul 6, 2011

Knickle25 said:
Hi eveyone! My husband bought me a good camera for Valentine's Day this year. I love photography and he wanted me to have a decent starter camera to get started with. I have been hesitant to really start taking pictures, but the last week or so I have found myself really taking alot of pictures and using the software he bought me with the camera. I am really new to this and dont have any prior experience other than previously taking pictures with a grab and go camera. I was wondering if you guys would help me out and tell me what can be better or what else i can do to make and take better pictures? I have a nikon D3100. Here is a Black and White picture I took that I really like alot. Let me know what you guys think and how to make it better/take a better picture? Thank you for your advice and help!

LIKE!!!

karissabphotography · Jul 6, 2011

Knickle25 said:
Hi eveyone! My husband bought me a good camera for Valentine's Day this year. I love photography and he wanted me to have a decent starter camera to get started with. I have been hesitant to really start taking pictures, but the last week or so I have found myself really taking alot of pictures and using the software he bought me with the camera. I am really new to this and dont have any prior experience other than previously taking pictures with a grab and go camera. I was wondering if you guys would help me out and tell me what can be better or what else i can do to make and take better pictures? I have a nikon D3100. Here is a Black and White picture I took that I really like alot. Let me know what you guys think and how to make it better/take a better picture? Thank you for your advice and help!

Cool!! Really cool