New member, pictures inside tips/comments welcome

[shortbus]

I just got my nikon d3000 last week. This is my first time ever trying to take pictures and use the included editing software that came with the nikon so please go easy on me!



It also seems my original files were way better of a edit but to large to upload via imageshack, after editing they came out to almost 10mb, any imagesharing site that allows that large of a file?

 

[tirediron]

Welcome! congrats on the new toy. As to your question, no, I'm not aware of any 'site which will host 10mb images, but even if they did, no one is likely to wait for those to download before viewing. Images around 800 on the longest side "weighing" less than ~250Kb is about the limit.

As far as your posts go; I would suggest the first thing to do is find the menu setting which controls saturation and adjust it from 'Vivid' to 'Normal' as they're both a little intense. The truck is a nice enough shot, but you've got the bottom half in deep shadow. You could either try a different time of day when the whole truck is illuminated more evenly (best option) or using your flash to get a little fill-light.

The path is a nice, tranquil sort of scene, but I feel it would be a much stronger image if there was someone/thing in it. You've got the path itself which is a great leading line, but there's not much to hold the eye's attention.

Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.

~John

 

[shortbus]

Thanks for the input, i guess when i was editing the photo i used to much shade detail on the truck i guess i will post up the original shots which are pretty bland.

 

[shortbus]

[URL=http://img255.imageshack.us/i/085zs.jpg/] Uploaded with [/URL]ImageShack.us

[URL=http://img836.imageshack.us/i/111rrc.jpg/] Uploaded with [/URL]ImageShack.us

 

[FattyMcJ]

#1: The truck is dead center of the frame. Google "rule of thirds" and other compositional techniques. Learning even just one technique will improve the impact of your photos ten fold...and its' EASY!

The background is distracting from the truck, eg. the truck has a large antenna on the roof in the form of a light pole growing out of it. We, as humans, see in 3-D...you need to train yourself to see in 2-D. Be mindful of the background, because that will all come to the forefront when the image is captured.

I won't get into the fact that the sky and some of the leaves in the background are blown out highlights...that's the next step for you to learn after composition. If you want to be ambitious...Google "Understanding Exposure" and either buy the book that comes up(1st choice) or read as many of the articles that come up as you can possibly tolerate before you fall asleep lol.

The photo is over saturated...the concrete/blacktop is BLUE...I can't tell if the truck is supposed to be black or blue...but I'm guessing it's a black truck and the highlights are oversaturated making it look blue. EDIT: I see you just uploaded the original photos...it's a blue truck. My bad, but the fact stands that it's oversaturated lol

The photo is over sharpened...ease up on that, a little bit goes a long way, also consider selectively sharpening details like the headlights, wheels/tires, door handles etc. instead of doing a global sharpening.

#2: Again, oversaturated, however you COULD make it work with some other changes if you wanted to go that route. Negative clarity comes to mind (dreamy look).

The POV is too low, IMO. I couldn't tell it was a "path" until tirediron mentioned it. A wider angle and a bit higher (not eye level, just a bit higher to let the path roll into the frame instead of follow along the bottom) would make this composition a bit better IMO.

As far as the original photos looking "dull"...if you shoot RAW, they WILL be dull. It's RAW data, you make it look the way you want on the computer.

If you're shooting JPG, then change the in-camera settings to "Standard" or "Neutral" instead of "Vivid". It's better to adjust on the computer than in-camera because you can see more clearly what the image looks like on the monitor instead of the back of the camera.

 

[shortbus]

Cool thanks for the help i just started shooting raw, and changed my settings to neutral, also the editing software i had is just something basic until i get photoshop or something else so i cant go and edit certain things out of the photo.

 

[FattyMcJ]

Cool thanks for the help i just started shooting raw, and changed my settings to neutral, also the editing software i had is just something basic until i get photoshop or something else so i cant go and edit certain things out of the photo.

No problem

Try GIMP, it's free and you can get your feet wet before investing in Photoshop or like programs.

Also, don't think "so I can go and edit certain things out of the photo"....instead think "how can I compose this shot so that [insert unwanted element] isn't IN the shot to begin with?" It's true, Photoshop can fix just about anything, but there's no substitute for getting it right to begin with :thumbup:

 

[shortbus]

Cool thanks for the help i just started shooting raw, and changed my settings to neutral, also the editing software i had is just something basic until i get photoshop or something else so i cant go and edit certain things out of the photo.

No problem

Try GIMP, it's free and you can get your feet wet before investing in Photoshop or like programs.

Also, don't think "so I can go and edit certain things out of the photo"....instead think "how can I compose this shot so that [insert unwanted element] isn't IN the shot to begin with?" It's true, Photoshop can fix just about anything, but there's no substitute for getting it right to begin with :thumbup:

Yea thats true, thanks for your insight and help! :thumbup:

 

[shortbus]

http://imageshack.us

 

[FattyMcJ]

#1...Camera Maker: NIKON CORPORATION
Camera Model: NIKON D3000
Image Date: 2010:10:29 02:48:38
Focal Length: 18mm (35mm equivalent: 27mm)
Aperture: f/16.0
Exposure Time: 0.067 s (1/15)
ISO equiv: 100
Exposure Bias: none
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No
Color Space: sRGB

Still need to work on your exposures a bit. Pro tip: Don't photograph in the middle of the day (10:30am). Use the golden hour(s) and you won't have such blown out highlights or lost shadow detail.

Watch your reflections too, I can see you and your friend(s) in the bumper of the car. lol

However, improvement in composition! It's not centered and it's a much tighter frame, a good step forward!

#2

Camera Maker: NIKON CORPORATION
Camera Model: NIKON D3000
Image Date: 2010:10:29 04:09:11
Focal Length: 45mm (35mm equivalent: 67mm)
Aperture: f/11.0
Exposure Time: 0.017 s (1/60)
ISO equiv: 100
Exposure Bias: -1.00 EV
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No
Color Space: sRGB

Again, mid-day shots suck...but you found some shade or a cloud passed overhead. See how much better the photo looks when you don't have blown highlights?

Composition is appealing, your best attempt thus far. A nice tight frame on the car, low POV from the headlight level and a 3/4 angle. I like it.

You COULD bring out a bit more of the shadow detail on the front end of the car a bit...but that's nit picking on my part.

The colors on both still look a bit saturated, but less so than the first set. An improvement IMO.

Keep it up and keep shooting! :thumbup: Beautiful car BTW

 

[shortbus]

Thanks alot! I have been reading alot and learning all i can!

 

[shortbus]

lol holly crap there are two of my friend i just noticed that!

 

[shortbus]

Not too sure on these two, thought i would throw them up anyway.




http://imageshack.us

 

[shortbus]

Giving something else a try other than cars/trucks.


http://imageshack.us

 

[darkchild]

on your last truck pics, i would crop some of it out, there is way too much open space. If your going to be doing automotive shots, go through a lot of magazines. It will do nothing but help you choose where to position your car.
When i take car shots, i stand as far back as i can while zooming in a bit so you can't see my reflection on the car, i hate people reflections in cars.