MSW

I would move grandson slightly down and a bit to the left

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Welcome. Nice shots overall. #1 you always need to be aware of backgrounds. Sometimes they add to a photo sometimes as is the case with #1, not. #2 many times, with animals you have to get down to their level rather than looming over them. Plus, in this case a lower camera angle would show more trees in the background. In this case background might add to the photo. If not you could eliminate the small strip of trees in the background altogether and just show the pooch and the snow. #3 is pretty obvious. Not focussed and color is off. And, again the small pieces of background are distracting. You might try adjusting white balance to correct color. #4 is really nice! If you want your grandson to appear tiny among the trees and corn, I wouldn't change anything. Otherwise I would do a little croping to let him be a little more prominent as the main subject. JMHO
Keep shooting and keep an idea in you head about what you are trying to accomplish when you push the shutter button. And the beautiful thing about digital is you can often have it both ways.

HardworkingGal

Nathan-originally being from Philadelphia I travel down frequently, maybe next time I'm down we can have coffee and you share some of your experiences...with finally having equipment that I can make adjustments on I can really start having fun and learn! I'm so excited!

kdogg Loc: Gallipolis Ferry WV

The T6 will serve you well. The 18-55mm lens is really a pretty decent lens. The 75-300mm is not so good, but will help you learn to photograph birds and wildlife. Don't know your budget but the EF-S 55-250mm is a pretty good lens for the money, alot better than your kit lens and is fairly inexpensive. For a little bit more money the EF 70-300mm II is an excellent lens. Have used all three and like the 70-300mm the best.

I'm retired and on a limited GAS budget so I have yet to get any of Canon's L glass lenses but am saving for the 100-400mm L zoom to use for wildlife, especially for birds in flight.

Welcome to the Hog and enjoy your new gear .and post some pictures.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Before you click the shutter, while looking through the viewfinder, ask yourself "What am I trying to say. If you see it in the viewfinder, click, if not you need to change something to allow your visual desire be captured. Make sense to you?

donrosshill Loc: Delaware & Florida

Hi Vicki, The T6 and the lens sets you have will serve you well.
It will be helpful to you to spend a lot of time learning all that the camera can do for you.
Take the time to read and check out the various functions and features that it has "Time well spent".
After that, set up a few test for yourself for each of those features in order to get fully familiar with it.
I also suggest that you take the time to write down several photo assignments for your self and then
go out and do them.

Go and enjoy yourself, shoot, shoot, shoot.

Don

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Start now. .hope to someday (during my retirement) suppliment my income with photography, maybe selling pictures in the travel industry, this way I can combine both my loves.....

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

Welcome. Practice, post and have fun.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

Welcome to UHH.
I'm originally from Pittsburgh and have lived in Philadelphia.

HardworkingGal

Thank you for all the advise, this is what I need to turn my love into art! Now that I will have the equipment (I think that helps...I could be wrong....kind of like most people have an oven but they can't bake!) and the love for the art....I can take my raw skills and learn to create the art I have so much loved! I did purchase a book by David Taylor..."Digital Photography Course....." to give me a guide on all the technicals that I have never used regarding composition, angles, lighting etc; registered with this site to obtain honest opinions and advise and will be looking into finding a local photography club to assist with hands on.
Family members have always loved my photo's (every year for their birthdays I present to them a small album of shots personal to them as a gift) I've just went in and looked at two of them that I am currently working on and notice that my backgrounds need alot of work! So I think I will do some work with cropping (don't really know anything else yet) to eliminate some of the unwanted items in the background to make these albums better and from this point forward I will pay more attention to what is in the background when shooting to consider whether it is an enhancement or just a distraction. Thank you!

HardworkingGal

Beautiful!

HardworkingGal

Had a really hard time deciding what to buy was going to go with a Nikon at first but couldn't really find anything in my budget so went with the CanonT6 because after looking at many sites and reviews it appears to be a good choice for a beginner and is expandable with reasonable expenditures...will put the EF 70-300mm II and 100-400mm L zoom on my newly created savings account list....which would you purchase first?

HardworkingGal

Thanks Don....I will follow your advise, plus I also ordered a digital photography course book by David Taylor and will be joining a club, to encourage the shoot, shoot, shoot!

HardworkingGal

Makes absolute sense....in the past was just focusing on subject not really asking myself what am I trying to say and definitely not looking at everything else going on. Thank you for the advise can't wait to improve!

kdogg Loc: Gallipolis Ferry WV

If you have the budget for the 100-400mm II, go for it you won't be disappointed.

As for me the 70-300mm was a budget matter. I wanted some extra reach for wildlife but not a lot of cash. Bought mine off eBay for less than 300.00 dollars. I look at it as a step to getting the 100-400mm. When I finally get it the 70-300mm will go to my sister. She has my T5 kit I started with plus a couple of other lenses.

Also think about a 50mm prime lens in f1.4 a fast and handy little lens.