heidionefligrl Loc: Mentor, Ohio

I am new to photography. I have had a DSLR for 5 days. I am attempting to learn all the lingo and not shot on auto. Here are some shots. Feel free to give feedback.

heidionefligrl Loc: Mentor, Ohio

Well I am assuming that with no comments that these are average and not much to complain or commend.. I will keep working. I am assisting at a wedding this weekend. Stay Tuned!

Mudpuppy Loc: Michigan

First one I would say is about perfect

Second one everything is good but the green and brown reed or leave or whatever it is ruins the composition and detracts from the photo - in my opinion..

The third photo I would suggest using bounce flash

heidionefligrl Loc: Mentor, Ohio

its funny because my hubby said the same thing about the 2nd one!

And what is a bounce flash... New to all this and don't have the terms down yet..

Thanks

JimH Loc: Western South Jersey, USA

"Bounce flash" means pointing a flash unit either up at the ceiling, or towards a reflector when shooting. The thing of it is, most, if not all on-camera flash units ( the one's that POP UP when you shoot in dark rooms on AUTO) are crap. They are harsh, weak, and ineffective outside of about 2-3 feet. If you get a flash that mounts on your hot shoe ( and no, I don't mean those sexy 4" Manolo's...) you can turn the flash head UP towards the ceiling, and get a more diffused light that doesn't blind the subject either.

A bounced flash would have lit the left side of his face a bit better. In general, unless it's an effect that's being worked at, a portrait is best with even lighting from both sides.

heidionefligrl Loc: Mentor, Ohio

thank you.. my photog friend has been working with me on changing ISO and F stop so that I dont use a flash because she think a flash is crap looking.. I have not used the flash since after this pic was taken.

naturepics43 Loc: Hocking Co. Ohio - USA

What camera & lenses are you using?

heidionefligrl Loc: Mentor, Ohio

Nikon D 5100
Nikkor 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 ( i think this answers the lens question)?

Susieb721 Loc: Mid Michigan

I personally shoot with a flash most all the time (Excluding bright sunny day, shooting at clouds or something.) I've been criticized for using a flash outdoors in portraiture, but I find it to give a very crisp clean picture. I use a
Nikon sb 600 speed light. Just a matter of opinion and preference, I guess.

Very nice close up on the first picture. I find the 2nd one to be a little cluttered looking, and yes, I think a flash would have helped the 3rd picture. He looks like. "uhhh....what are you doing???" hahaha....

Very good for beginner! Very good for non beginner!

msimar10 Loc: Southeast Texas

I think they are very good too. Im trying to learn all the lingo and stuff too. I mostly just play with it and snap a million of the same thing til I get it as close to right as i can....LOL
There are alot of formerly educated people that probably roll their eyes at me!!!! Would love to take a class someday.

heidionefligrl Loc: Mentor, Ohio

yeah my husband and the dogs are so over the picture thing! I only got 2 pics of the hubby where he actual wasn't covering his face and this was one of them!

Susieb721 Loc: Mid Michigan

We need to be happy that we are no longer in the age of film, lol. Next time you are tempted to snap a million... Stop for a moment. Look at your first 2 or 3. Look for what you like, and don't like, and then fix it. Weird shadow? Change your position or adjust your settings/flash. Do you need to shoot from higher? or lower? get the person/pets attention? Most times you have the option to assess the situation and learn to look for the good and bad in a setting. Just a thought. Trust me. This comes from one who used to shoot 15 pictures of one cat on the couch. She was sleeping. And never moved.

It will get much easier in time. =)

Mudpuppy Loc: Michigan

another thing about bounce flash is you don't get red eye or harsh light like you would with direct flash and it gives you even lighting across the subject.. plus it doesn't cause the subject to be blinded.. i use an SB 400 and it works quite well.. but you need a good white ceiling to bounce off of.. and lower like normal house ceiling.. if it is too far the light disperses too much - like you couldn't bounce off a barn ceiling 30 feet up unless you had a ring of fire as in 6 of the SB 600 flashes mounted in a ring..

another option which is a lot cheaper is to difuse the flash using one of these gary fong type deals on the stock flash - for ~ $20 it makes a big difference.. cheaper than $120 for a hot shoe flash.. or $300-$400 for an SB 600 (although if you can afford the SB 600 buy it - it is well worth every penny, of course assuming you have a Nikon)

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=gary+fong+puffer&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&biw=1280&bih=891&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=8054193937906249604&sa=X&ei=VT29TvS-KMXKsgbE6ti1Aw&sqi=2&ved=0CEoQ8wIwAg

i use flash a lot even in bright sunlight (which then becomes fill flash)..

Mudpuppy Loc: Michigan

Here are some bounce flash pics I did at my son's preschool last year..

billyzee Loc: Austin

The portrait would make a good black & white conversion as the shadowing is nice. Try not to cut off the top of your subject's head.