smsouthers Loc: Jacksonville, Florida

I am sitting outside trying every kind of adjustment, not understanding any of it. That is what is wrong, not enough homework. It has just sunk in that there is a historagram that tells you every setting of your camera for that picture. Study, study, and more study. I am also working on cropping, the third rule, etc. Too much like school again!

I can see all of the noise in this one!

gregoryd45 Loc: Fakahatchee Strand

You are getting there Sharon, learning can be fun

Fla Walt Loc: Delray Beach, Florida

While you are sitting around figuring out the settings, you took some pretty good pictures.

William Loc: Mississippi

Thanks for clearing up the subject of ...
I don't give a C...
know I remember way I never give a C...

Tap Dancer onthe Patio

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

I think you are being a little hard on your self Sharon. They all look pretty good to me. The flower is a little blown out, but not bad. I think it is a great set.
Erv

postdecoop

these are easy on the eye,and as a layman (non pro) most are pleasing,keep at it,cheers.G.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

Sharon, I just read your post again. I was the same way 4 years ago. I just stopped using film and got my first DSLR. That first year was hell. But I just slowed down and decided to play and not make it more like work. Start doing some of your shots in auto mod and then look to see what the camera wanted. Then adjust it to suit you. Then you can do the Aperture mod and the shutter mod to see what it wanted with the other setting. :) Don't over think it for a while. It will all fall in place if you relax and have fun with it.
Do you remember trying to ride your first 2 wheeler? I do, have scares on my knee. :):) This hobby is the same way. Let each picture make you smile. Even if it doesn't turn out right, you have to laugh at your self!!
Erv

smsouthers Loc: Jacksonville, Florida

Thank you!

smsouthers Loc: Jacksonville, Florida

Thank you Erv!

smsouthers Loc: Jacksonville, Florida

Guess you are right Erv, I just wanted to learn a little faster!

:cry:

BigBear Loc: Northern CT

I could only hope to take crap pictures like yours all of the time. :thumbup:

Tom DePuy Loc: Waxhaw, N.C.

very nice ....especially like number 3 and the last one had me tilting my head every-which way...lol ....afraid that poor squirrel was going to fall somehow lol " nice crap " lol

tilde531 Loc: Seaford Delaware

*tight hugs*
Oh my GOSH, Sharon... can I relate to what you're feeling.

We are our own worst critics because we expect to master something the moment we "understand" it.
But photography is different. You're gonna find your niche' and discover that some things will come easy to you while others seem the bane of your existence.

Cognitively, I understand what the camera is doing when I adjust one thing or tweak another setting. It took a LOT of trial and error (emphasis on ERROR)and I STILL forget and confuse myself because I don't feel confident enough.

Learning anything else, which is technical in nature, is probably pretty easy for you. You're very intelligent. But photography is technical AND creative... a big ball of "everything-at-once" and to add to that, our own vision for a photo is tossed in there.

These shots are, compositionally-speaking, very nice.

And technically speaking, you are not far off the mark either! You're looking for crisp, clear, sharp, colorful photos. What I see here are colorful, well composed, interesting, soft-focus photos with good depth of focus.

It IS like school... a lot of studying and memorizing what setting change yields which result (talking about shots in manual mode). You'll make the connection in your head... but it takes PRACTICE and PATIENCE... with yourself!

YOU are in the driver's seat with this, because YOU are creating your art and using the tool of a camera to achieve your own vision.

The camera still BULLIES THE CRAP out of me.

But after a few months of crying, whining to Ian (Hargraves), and my forum family in general.... feeling a failure (to myself and everyone watching me) and seriously thinking of walking away from photography COMPLETELY.... I'm still trying.

I'm determined to tell that camera what I want IT to do, not the other way around.

You are the only person "grading" your progress.
You are the teacher and the student... you're the only one you need to please, ultimately.

And you'll GET this!
I can see it already in this set!

You couldn't have landed in a more supportive and accomplished forum, too. We're truly like family here.

smsouthers Loc: Jacksonville, Florida

Appreciate it! You don't see the many bad ones to get the decent looking ones!

WVHillbilly Loc: West Virginia

Hard not to blow out white but I think you did a good job on the hibiscus, sharp and lovely.
Looks like a very young jay you caught.
Thanks for sharing.