pics from someone who just enjoys shooting pics
Jan 9, 2012 10:55:59 #
Debbie H
Loc: In
ok ,so I'm gonna get brave,put on my big girl panties and here's my first post. Any suggestions will be appreciated. I used an Olympus Fe 4000, and probably on auto or P (scenery).
sunlight through the pines
first snow end of year
Jan 9, 2012 11:06:53 #
Debbie H
Loc: In
I dont have Photo shop or any of those. Just the program that comes with the camera.Should I consider getting one of them and doing away with the ones that come with the camera?
Jan 9, 2012 11:07:31 #
Jan 9, 2012 16:17:31 #
Jan 9, 2012 16:58:52 #
Dang!!!....I didn't know underware was mandatory....brb... :lol:
Hey Debbie welcome to the UH.....and thanks for posting :)
Hey Debbie welcome to the UH.....and thanks for posting :)
Jan 9, 2012 17:36:55 #
Debbie,
First off I'm not trying to be harsh, but these photos need a lot of work and I'm trying to offer Constructive Criticism.
In the first photo I would not include the sun during capture. The pinky/purple color by the sun is Chromatic Aberration or 'purple fringing'. This occurs in areas of high contrast ie bright sunlight in an otherwise shady area. I would crop off the light part on the far left of the photo and let the tree trunk be a natural border. The branches coming in on the bottom far right are a distraction. The photo appears to lean to the right and finally I don't really see any subject, it is just some trees and light and shadow, nothing much of interest.
In the second photo I would again crop in on the left and let the tree trunk be a natural border. I like that the snow is white and not gray (snow will fool a camera's exposure meter and it often shows up gray unless shoot in 'snow mode' or bump up exposure by +1 or +2). You did blow the highlights however and the white parts are a bit overexposed and don't have any detail.
If you are using Olympus Master software, it is slow and clunky and too light for a boat anchor so it is no use to anybody. For freeware check out Picasa, GIMP, or even Picnik. A copy of Photoshop Elements 9 can be had for around 50 bucks, well worth the price. Books, YouTube tutorials, & folks here on UH can all help you learn Elements.
You might also check your local library for any books on photography to help you with composition in particular and photography in general.
This is just my opinion, do you think it is valid, do you see what I am saying?
Keep posting, we were all newbies once.
Eric
First off I'm not trying to be harsh, but these photos need a lot of work and I'm trying to offer Constructive Criticism.
In the first photo I would not include the sun during capture. The pinky/purple color by the sun is Chromatic Aberration or 'purple fringing'. This occurs in areas of high contrast ie bright sunlight in an otherwise shady area. I would crop off the light part on the far left of the photo and let the tree trunk be a natural border. The branches coming in on the bottom far right are a distraction. The photo appears to lean to the right and finally I don't really see any subject, it is just some trees and light and shadow, nothing much of interest.
In the second photo I would again crop in on the left and let the tree trunk be a natural border. I like that the snow is white and not gray (snow will fool a camera's exposure meter and it often shows up gray unless shoot in 'snow mode' or bump up exposure by +1 or +2). You did blow the highlights however and the white parts are a bit overexposed and don't have any detail.
If you are using Olympus Master software, it is slow and clunky and too light for a boat anchor so it is no use to anybody. For freeware check out Picasa, GIMP, or even Picnik. A copy of Photoshop Elements 9 can be had for around 50 bucks, well worth the price. Books, YouTube tutorials, & folks here on UH can all help you learn Elements.
You might also check your local library for any books on photography to help you with composition in particular and photography in general.
This is just my opinion, do you think it is valid, do you see what I am saying?
Keep posting, we were all newbies once.
Eric
Jan 10, 2012 08:14:25 #
Welcome to the forum. A good free program is GIMP, but I see someone already suggested that to you. A friend I know has Picasa and does some great things with that one.
And although the subject of these photos leaves a little to be desired, I did the same sorts of shots when I first got my camera just for the fun of making photos. Next time, try getting under the branches and make the photo from a different angle. Don't be afraid to try something new. Some folks say you should take photos like you have a limited roll of film, I say you should make as many as you can, look at each, work on composition and put something interesting in the photos, whether it be the play of light on that tree or the way the branches look from the backside with snow all over. Learn to look at what you have photographed and think about how you could have captured what you were aiming for just a bit better. And it always helps if you remember to have the sun behind you when you make the shots. It's really hard to make things look good otherwise. If the tree branches had knocked out a bit more light in the first one and you had more of the play of shadows under the tree, you maybe could have come up with an interesting photo.
So, go out with the camera, make some more and post again.
O, by the way, love the big girl panties. I have a quote taped to my bookcase that says 'Put on your big girl panties and deal with it.' Most of the time, I'd rather have the flowery ones though.
And although the subject of these photos leaves a little to be desired, I did the same sorts of shots when I first got my camera just for the fun of making photos. Next time, try getting under the branches and make the photo from a different angle. Don't be afraid to try something new. Some folks say you should take photos like you have a limited roll of film, I say you should make as many as you can, look at each, work on composition and put something interesting in the photos, whether it be the play of light on that tree or the way the branches look from the backside with snow all over. Learn to look at what you have photographed and think about how you could have captured what you were aiming for just a bit better. And it always helps if you remember to have the sun behind you when you make the shots. It's really hard to make things look good otherwise. If the tree branches had knocked out a bit more light in the first one and you had more of the play of shadows under the tree, you maybe could have come up with an interesting photo.
So, go out with the camera, make some more and post again.
O, by the way, love the big girl panties. I have a quote taped to my bookcase that says 'Put on your big girl panties and deal with it.' Most of the time, I'd rather have the flowery ones though.
Jan 10, 2012 11:49:09 #
Debbie H
Loc: In
thank you for your honesty.That is what I was hoping for. I'm anxious to learn and am headed to the library as soon as I log off. Someone on here mentioned a "book for dummies" was a real good place to start, does anyone remember reading that or know which one I'm refering to? Whos the author? Thanks again
Jan 10, 2012 12:37:06 #
Debbie H
Loc: In
Are these any better? They were taken with the same camera. But is the subject and lighting ect any better? They were taken this past summer.
butterfly in flowers
flowers with water dropplets
monarch butterfly
waterfall in garden
Jan 10, 2012 13:37:02 #
Debbie H wrote:
Are these any better? They were taken with the same camera. But is the subject and lighting ect any better? They were taken this past summer.
Great pics, especially the butterfly!
Jan 10, 2012 16:21:17 #
Jan 10, 2012 20:19:29 #
Now you're cookin' with gas!!! The monarch butterfly...... I learned from one of the members here on the forum, that in a shot like that, if you use the flash, even in the daylight, then he wouldn't have looked so shadowy, but don't get me wrong. I'd put that one in my 'keepers' file. The others, I know there are things you could do to improve them when they were shot, but someone smarter with the camera settings would have to advise you about that.
Focus is a bit of a distraction in the last one of the garden waterfall, but composition is nicer than the ones you had with your original post. You were just holding out on us weren't you??? Now....show us the really good stuff!!!
PS...What is that pink and yellow flower in the first one with the yellow swallowtail??
Focus is a bit of a distraction in the last one of the garden waterfall, but composition is nicer than the ones you had with your original post. You were just holding out on us weren't you??? Now....show us the really good stuff!!!
PS...What is that pink and yellow flower in the first one with the yellow swallowtail??
Jan 10, 2012 22:29:07 #
Debbie H
Loc: In
Thank God! My husband and I had a good laugh over the comments of the first two. I told him I had to find something better in my files to show. (see I thought the others were ok,?? but I do see what your talking about). The flower with the swallowtail is called Lantana. It is actually a bush and in some places it is a Perenial, but here unfortunately I have to plant it each year. That I'm learning too.I have a problem with getting close to the subject (hurry before it gets away) and making myself shake too much. That camera has a zoom of 4x so I have to get pretty close. The new Sony Cyber shot is a 5x and I'm very disappointed, I could zoom closer with the OLympus.
Jan 11, 2012 10:08:32 #
When we make a photograph it becomes our 'child' and you know, we all think our child is the cutest, but here, you'll learn a lot of new things, not only about photography, but a lot about photography and if you can make it past all the technical terms and get down to the nitty gritty with some of the answers given by the more serious folks, then there is sooooo much to learn, not only about how to use your camera but on composition, etc. So, go find some of your really good stuff and make a post. There will be many who will tell you what is wrong or what is right and how to make it all shine. Good luck and I hope you have a great time here. Thanks for the answer about the Lantana. See. Learn lots of new things!!!
Oh yea, don't do away with the program that came with your camera. Learn to use it and it will help when you go to learn something fancier. If you can, download GIMP and play around with it. It's free and comparable to Photoshop and Paintshop. Good luck.
Oh yea, don't do away with the program that came with your camera. Learn to use it and it will help when you go to learn something fancier. If you can, download GIMP and play around with it. It's free and comparable to Photoshop and Paintshop. Good luck.
Jan 12, 2012 23:35:34 #
Debbie H
Loc: In
thank you, I have been looking at the software editing programs, wow confusing. I dont intend to become a prof at this but would like to take the best possible pics of what ever the subject might be. Especially my grandsons. If I download Gimp I see there are cookies installed too and my husband isnt real fond of that. Is it a problem? Do you get the popups? I'm looking into a guy who gives classes in a near town and seems to be pretty reasonable. I cant seem to find a group to join tho. I'll see what else I have to show you guys.this was taken with P&S Olympia Master Fe4000, over cast day, setting was on cloudy day.
snow on the winterberry bush
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.