Just wondering if i have improved or doing okay... it has been awhile

Photo Lady · Jul 24, 2016

Photo Lady · Jul 24, 2016

there is a small glare on the first photo..can someone tell me how this happened and how I can eliminate this ....thanks so much

dennybeall · Jul 24, 2016

No way to know what caused the flare, perhaps a good lens-shade would work. You can use Photoshop to fix that shot. You would have noticed the flare when you took the shot if you had been looking but that's just one of a hundred things you have to train to look for..............

Photo Lady · Jul 24, 2016

dennybeall said:
No way to know what caused the flare, perhaps a good lens-shade would work. You can use Photoshop to fix that shot. You would have noticed the flare when you took the shot if you had been looking but that's just one of a hundred things you have to train to look for..............

Thanks very much.......... I will use the shade lens......wow I did not even think of this.. at least it is something new for me to try...... I appreciate your help........

Photo Lady · Jul 24, 2016

This is one of my favorite shots..do you think it is a good one?

Overread · Jul 24, 2016

I think first you should tell us what you did and used to get the shots then we can work on what you can do to improve.

So what camera did you use - what lens (if it has interchangeable lenses); what settings; what mode; were you using a tripod etc... how close were you etc... The more information you can provide the easier it is to help fill in the gaps and to give you areas you can work upon to improve.

Photo Lady · Jul 24, 2016

I have the D7100 Nikon using the the tamron 70-300mm lens.. in Auto mode.. no tripod.. just hand held..about 10 feet away.. slightly enlarged the photos. thanks

jcdeboever · Jul 24, 2016

The first two look like they were shot through a window. If so, all bets are off when it comes to consistently good results.

Photo Lady · Jul 25, 2016

jcdeboever said:
The first two look like they were shot through a window. If so, all bets are off when it comes to consistently good results.

If I had shot photos through glass I would not have to ask about the glare in top picture.. ,,I am outside with nature!!!!

Photo Lady · Jul 25, 2016

Overread · Jul 25, 2016

Properties from the first shot
1/250sec
f4.8
ISO 400
Focal length 160mm of the 70-300mm lens

So handholding the lens at around 160mm and at 1/250sec is about right for avoiding blur from handholding so long as your posture is good (elbows in; legs apart etc...) to help hold steady. However at 1/250sec its a risk for a subject like that which can move very fast or might be mobile within a shot.

f4.8 is probably the widest the aperture can go on that lens at that focal length; however whilst wide open gives you the most light and the greatest background to subject separation (more background blurring as a result of reduced depth of field); the problem is that on that lens its not going to be as sharp at that aperture. Even closed down by one stop would improve overall sharpness.

ISO 400 should be good and pretty noise free; but on the flipside I would start at 800 to try and get a faster shutter speed for such a subject.

I would advise reading the book "understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson and trying to ween yourself off auto mode (it kind of got the settings nearly right this time but its not perfect by any means); Experiment with aperture priority where you control the aperture and the ISO and the camera gives you the shutter speed based off the light; thus meaning you can change ISO and aperture to ensure you've a good shutter speed.

Photo Lady · Jul 25, 2016

Overread said:
Properties from the first shot
1/250sec
f4.8
ISO 400
Focal length 160mm of the 70-300mm lens

So handholding the lens at around 160mm and at 1/250sec is about right for avoiding blur from handholding so long as your posture is good (elbows in; legs apart etc...) to help hold steady. However at 1/250sec its a risk for a subject like that which can move very fast or might be mobile within a shot.

f4.8 is probably the widest the aperture can go on that lens at that focal length; however whilst wide open gives you the most light and the greatest background to subject separation (more background blurring as a result of reduced depth of field); the problem is that on that lens its not going to be as sharp at that aperture. Even closed down by one stop would improve overall sharpness.

ISO 400 should be good and pretty noise free; but on the flipside I would start at 800 to try and get a faster shutter speed for such a subject.

I would advise reading the book "understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson and trying to ween yourself off auto mode (it kind of got the settings nearly right this time but its not perfect by any means); Experiment with aperture priority where you control the aperture and the ISO and the camera gives you the shutter speed based off the light; thus meaning you can change ISO and aperture to ensure you've a good shutter speed.

wow thanks for all this information...your right I need to learn more about exposure...... I feel gifted that I am able to get pretty good shots with just practicing the basics.. but yes I want more.... so I will read this book and starting today try the settings you have suggested..... I truly appreciate your expertise and sharing your thoughts with me..... I will be back later..going to try to do this in the later afternoon.. seems that is when the hummers are even more active ... and the sun is behind me..

Overread · Jul 25, 2016

With future shots show the full frame not a crop; give us an idea what you're working with before your cropping as well.

Photo Lady · Jul 25, 2016

okay will do...thanks again....see you later.

jcdeboever · Jul 25, 2016

Photo Lady said:
jcdeboever said:

The first two look like they were shot through a window. If so, all bets are off when it comes to consistently good results.

Click to expand...

If I had shot photos through glass I would not have to ask about the glare in top picture.. ,,I am outside with nature!!!!

OK. They looked a little soft which I thought may have been a result of glass sandwiched between the lens and subject. I shoot like this occasionally and find little glares or artifacts in shots. I would say then that a lens hood may have helped you in this case. Beautiful birds by the way. Good advise by Overread.