My first foray with my first DSLR

jedensuscg · Oct 3, 2011

Hello TPF'ers. I just bought my first DSLR (A Nikon D90) and had a chance to take it out for a spin yesterday for the first pictures taken with it, and my first foray into SLR photography. Here are a few of the pictures. I know I have a lot to learn and hope this forum and I become beautiful friends.
I also started my own blog so I could chronicle my misadventures into photography, and serve as a way to share what I learned, what I ruined and my own way to reassure beginners like me...that not all photographers that desire to make there own blog are that good

. Thanks in advance for the comments.

None of these photo have much in the way of post-processing, with exception cropping and the border I added to the last photo. They were also all taken from the same spot on base in only about 20 minutes before the rain came again...as it always does this time of year in Kodiak.

You can read my attempted humorous look at my attempt to make a photo blog...surely I can't be serious.

All images are smaller then actual size...just click them!

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WesternGuy · Oct 3, 2011

One request, you will find people more inclined to comment on your images if you number them when you post them. Makes it a lot easier to refer to the image that one wishes to comment on. Also, some idea as to what we are looking at - not always obvious - would be helpful, as well, shooting conditions would be nice.

As far as these go, number two is the only one that has any interest to me as a potential macro or closeup (lens used?), the rest are just snapshots. You might want to consider reading up on aspects of composition, for example, this - Advanced Composition -- Part I is the first of four web articles on composition, the links to the one that follows can be found at the bottom of the first one etc. There are literally thousands fo sites on the net that cover some aspect of image composition - check 'em out.

Also, if you don't already do it, shot raw and get up to speed on post-processing - will make a world of difference.

Cheers,

WesternGuy

jedensuscg · Oct 3, 2011

Thanks for the advice. The second shot was actually part of several shots where I was just experimenting with aperture size and DOF, and was taken with the kit 18-55mm lens. As for the rest of the images this was my first time ever using an SLR of any kind, and really any sort of photography other then using a point-and-shoot. My focus was more on getting the pictures to come out decent in terms of color and focus and less focus on getting good composition. It was a cloudy day and I was outside for only 15 minutes before it started raining, and I was rushed, but I wanted to use my new camera and I just snapped everyone of these photos from the same spot near my car.
I do shoot in RAW but did very minor post work on purpose, I wanted to gauge my work on my initial shot. I am pretty familiar with Photoshop, but I feel I won't be a better photographer yet until I can pretend that does not exist yet and aim for getting the best out of my initial pictures. That was also why I shared these nearly unedited photo's, to get feedback on how I used the camera, not how I used a post-processing program.

As for composition, it is my biggest worry, there area already so many things to think about when taking a picture, lighting, focus, color and balance, that composition sometimes floats to the back of my mind. I think after I start getting a feel for my camera and how different settings work under different conditions, I can begin to focus on getting that perfect shot without feeling overwhelmed. I will definitely take a look at your link, and add it to my growing list of tips and how-to's I can call up on. Knowing my camera in and out won't make a damn if I can't make the shot look pleasing or interesting.

KmH · Oct 3, 2011

You have to establish a pre-shot routine that you use everytime you shoot. (You have to be very familiar with all of your camera features, functions, and controls, so be sure and study your camera user's manual thoroughly and comprehensively.)

Camera setup (for example):

Do I have the right white balance set for the light source I am using?
Do I have the shooting mode I want selected?
Is the ISO appropriate for the amount of light in the scene?
Do I have the shutter release mode set that I want to use?
Will the shutter speed stop motion, including camera shake?
Will the lens aperture I have set give me the depth-of-field I want with this lens focal length, focus point distance, and distance to the background?
Do I have the appropriate focus mode, focus area mode, and focus point selected?
Do I have any exposure compensation set?
Did I take the lens cap off?

Scene composition:

Should I use a horizontal (landscape), or vertical (portrait) image framing?
Is the scene simple enough there is no ambiguity what my primary subject is?
Are there backgound elements that are distracting, like things that look like they are growing out of my primary subject.
Should the camera perspective be higher, or lower?
Is there enough light?
is the light coming from the direction I want?
Do I need any fill lighting?
Is the scene composed so it has some tension and drama? (rule-of-thirds)
Is the composition balanced?
Does the main subject have sufficent scale in the image frame?
this list can go on for awhile.

A lot of the camera settings only need to be checked at the beginning of a shoot. But, if you move to a different location, the light changes appreciably, or your subject matter changes you may have to go though your entire check list again.

When I'm done shooting I always, always, set the camera to what for me is standard settings, so the next time I pick the camera up to shoot I already know how the camera is set up.

gsgary · Oct 3, 2011

These are better than a lot of first posts

jedensuscg · Oct 3, 2011

Thanks for more advice. I do like that you set the setting to a standard for you. Often times I am thrown off by what I had before. I have been shooting a lot of shots in auto-mode, just to see what settings the camera uses as a baseline, then I fidget around with the settings in S, A or M to see how things change. You commented on one of your tips KmH "Are there backgound elements that are distracting, like things that look like they are growing out of my primary subject." Ya had that happen, I did not put this image on the forum but I had one with a bright yellow bulldozer in the background across the bay that I did not even notice when I was framing the shot. I actually removed it in Photoshop, because well I have loved PS since I was 16. To be honest I don't think you can even tell, even if you knew what to look for (side by sides are on my blog)

Took a few more shots today, put the camera in auto though and just tried to focus more on what was in the shot, then how the shot turned out. I was pressed for time again, only had less then 10 minutes on a little beach in town as I was on my way to an appointment, so if there is anything worthwhile I will put them up later.