fullyexposed Loc: Illinois

I have been out at much as I can practicing on steady handholding, composition, lighting, well... everything. I understand composition on portraits, but on shots like this, not so much. I think I have this composed well, but I would like the opinion of people that are far better qualified than I. I would also like some opinions on my post work which is why I put the sooc on as well. I'm very new to dslr's and doing post work, so I'm just trying to have fun with it. I went a little faster than I should have on post and messed up some areas, which I'm sure everyone will see, but I didn't want the beer can or the electrical to be showing. Also the house in the corner had to go. I used paintshop pro for all post work. The picture seems a bit soft, and my first thought is that I should have taken the aperture to f11 or even 16, increased iso to 200 or 400, possibly even 800 and raised the shutter speed 1 stop. Of course I only realize this when I get home and see it on the computer. I shot this at f8, ISO 100, 1/30 at 55mm. I used a Canon EF-S 55-250 IS STM, you know, that kit lens that is cheap to learn with.

Before anyone asks, yes I found the bird at the bottom and thought about getting rid of it, but I like it, so the bird stayed. Thought about getting rid of the Christmas/Drunk lights, but that was slightly beyond me, so they stayed. I will take any opinions/advice that I can get. Much appreciated.

SOOC

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Post

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KTJohnson Loc: Northern Michigan

I like most all of your major edits, but I would have backed off on the highlights just a bit, it seems just slightly over-exposed. Otherwise ~ good job!

Lucasdv123

The smaller your iso the sharpner you pic.get it on a tripod if you have to.

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

I like the composition here, but prefer the exposure of the first photograph.
When in doubt, use a tripod.

Stash Loc: South Central Massachusetts

I like the lighting and color in the second shot. To me it's more inviting and cheerful.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

I like what you've done with the photo, so I'll say "good job" and leave the nit-picking to others.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Nice job, just curious why did you use such a low shutter speed?

sherder Loc: Alexandria, Virginia

I like your attitude and - to me - a positive attitude (and practice, practice, practice) makes for interesting photographs.

My mental checklist when shooting in the field (bad pun) is:

1. Composition - power lines...are my anathema.
2. How's the light - the "golden hour/s" are usually the best times to shoot outdoors - midday is the worst.
3. Test shots - but not a ton of them. I shoot Nikon pro in manual mode. Go for low ISO and crystal clear focus. If blurry, make it B&W and then you're an "artiste."

I loved everyone chiming in about using a tripod. Duh - but they are heavy and keep you from moving around. Moving around is what the best photographers do. What I do is concentrate on holding my elbows tightly to my sides to steady the camera - take a moderate breath and then click away as I breathe out.

Your good - now it's up to you to take the next step...

- Stuart Herder
p.s. I've attached a photo that I took while wandering around back roads in rural NC. Your thoughts on this?

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Nothing dramatically wrong with either image exept each is a touch soft. I think the long exposure of 1/30 makes for camera shake, even at the short end of a 55-250. at least 1/focal length is a good guideline. A tripod is a must for long shutter speeds.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

The light is what makes this image, and so often that is true. So good job on that!

Agree with all mention about 1/30 sec being too slow to hand hold.

Enjoyed your edits; as long as you're cloning, you could remove what looks like black garden hose and orange spigot on left.

This is a pleasing, interesting subject that could be taken several ways in processing, and yours is quite lovely.

cameranut Loc: North Carolina

Since you are asking for opinions, I would have to agree with others that it (second shot) is a wee bit overexposed.
I tried taking some highlights out in Photo Gallery and it made a world of difference in the amount of detail. I could post it with your permission if you would like to see it.
The building is very picturesque, so I can see the appeal.

fullyexposed Loc: Illinois

Thank you everyone that replied, I'm short on time so I'm going to try to respond to everything at once. I shot at this shutter speed because I messed up and didn't realize it till I got home and downloaded the files, I would have definitely bumped it up if I had noticed, but still trying to learn to look at more than just my exposure meter before I take a shot. I went completely experimental in post, wanted to really see what the program could do, and believe me, if you saw what I did, especially with white balance, you would be shocked that it came out this good. I will always allow others to edit my posts, as long as you tell me what you did. If you use paintshop pro, it would be easier for me to understand, but I will figure it out even if you use lightroom or photoshop. The garden hose I was not 100% sure to get rid of, the spigot, was a must keep for me, brings back a lot of memories of working on farms getting a drink when I was a kid, I would never remove one from my photos because of the meaning to me. Now on to the multiple recommendations of tripod. I'm really trying to learn to get steady shots and during my learning process I don't want to use a tripod that much. I would rather fail and learn something, which I did on my latest outing, thanks to all of you, than use a tripod. I need a lot more practice, but I can already see improvements by learning from mistakes. Over exposed, I agree, but I was really trying to make the photo pop, and I went a little too far. This is why I have started to post my images. I took 84 pictures in this outing and kept 12. I experimented with a few things, some worked, some didn't. I learned a lot and hope to continue to learn.

Again thank you for all the advice and comments, it is greatly appreciated.

sailorsmom Loc: Souderton, PA

I like the second one especially, fullyexposed, and I think the robin in the second one adds to the photo!

BB4A

Positives - you got the shot, without too much fuzz, which at that shutter speed is acceptable. The second (PP) image is a tad overdone and saturated, but that's just my personal taste... Others here have applauded it, and ultimately, it's how you feel it represents what you wanted to portray? Don't forget that, when you remove objects in sunlight, you may also have to clean up their shadows (left front of building), too?

As natural light with trees and rustic buildings are such a fun challenge when out without a tripod, I'd advise "thinking pistol target shooting" when hitting the shutter button at slow shutter speeds. Good technique to get into the habit of using, as tripods don't grow on trees, although a straight deadfall branch and a deadfall with a crook, can be combined to form a very stable platform for shots down to 1/10, in a crisis.

Get a comfortable, controlled pose with elbows in, firm rather than death grip on the camera body, maybe also on one knee which can give you the option of further supporting one elbow? Leaning against a handy tree is also good; just make sure you aren't shooting from a very dark area under leaf cover into a fully sunlit area (as that will probably require more correction of standard settings).

Frame and compose the shot in viewfinder, press halfway down on the button to confirm your basic settings are good, then breath in, pause for 1001, 1002 count, breath out, hold for 1001 and complete the shutter button depression on 1002 count. So long as you don't actually say the counts while trying to hold your breath, a little practice and you may find you can shoot sharp at 1/30, however long the light lasts.

I hope this technique helps, and apologies if I'm stating the obvious and already well-known... I just have recent experience of others firing off twenty or thirty shots in challenging light conditions, then quickly flipping through them, laughing and saying "I'll fix them in PP". I feel it's generally better to get a couple of well composed images, then the PP will be quick and easy. Kinda like woodworking; measure twice, cut once...