evan_moor

This is my first post with my new camera. Please let me know what you think. I was going for a warm feel and not sure if I over-corrected the contrast for color detail.

Please let me know if you think it looks too saturated as sometimes my color judgement is different from most. The puppy dog picture seems to be a little out of focus on the eyes, but I was learning the focusing system and have a better understanding of the operations now.

Fire away!!

(Download)


(Download)

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Since you asked, the good news is that there is a lot of room for improvement. I would first set you camera to automatic functions after restoring factory settings. See what you get and compare it to what you just posted. Take some classes on photography and try again. Find a person locally to share your hobby with. Enjoy the journey. Keep active with UHH. Good luck.

starlifter Loc: Towson, MD

I had a D7200 for years and took some geat shots with it. I used a nikkor 18-200 lens and the comb worked great. Practice, practice, practice and experiment with the settings.

evan_moor

Not sure if I made it clear that I did some PP on these shots. I do not have the originals now, but will post. Would you still suggest resetting to factory?

Lots of room for improvement: Please elaborate.

gsmith051 Loc: Fairfield Glade, TN

d3200prime

Congrats on your new D7200! If you are serious about learning photography and not just taking snapshots then Leon S is spot on. My only advice, if you haven't done so, would be to learn the exposure triangle and get out of Auto shooting mode and learn Manual. Good luck and good shooting to you!

PhotogHobbyist Loc: Bradford, PA

All good suggestions and advice. I would add one more that is very important and necessary when one purchases a new camera, read the manual. In my case the manual included with the camera was no more than an overview of the simplest functions. The upside, there was a free downloadable and more explicit one available. If that is true in your case, get them both and read them both, several times, then review as necessary.

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Color is off. common mistake of overprocessing. composition needs improvement (read articles here in UHH). Pictures show your focus is off and camera shake. I've been taking pictures for over 50 years and am still critiquing my own work and learning every time I take a picture. Have fun.

jlocke Loc: Austin, TX

The EXIF data for both photos show:
"Exposure Program {0x9922} = manual control (1)"
and
"Exposure Mode {0xA402} = manual exposure (1)"

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

The D7200 is an excellent Nikon, you will enjoy it. Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" and a copy of David Busch or Darrel Young's D7200 books would probably be very helpful.... and a more interesting read than the manual (read that too). Good luck and have fun. If you feel ready for full manual, go for it, but nothing wrong with starting in Auto and migrating as you learn. Also, check out Steve Perry's Backcountry Gallery website, he has some excellent video/print presentations on many of the things you will want to learn/know and be aware of with your new camera.

evan_moor

I am in the process of covering all of the features in the manual. I downloaded a very good e-book from a UHH member and it is great!!. I am learning about my camera and also the AF functionality.

When I really thought about it, I had never read an actual book on photography- mostly posts and short articles. "Reading is fundamental."

Thanks for the suggestions.

evan_moor

I am beginning to learn that photography is a learning process and you need reading materials along with experience to do this.

Will be a life-long learner!!

frankraney Loc: Clovis, Ca.

Warm, yes. To much so. Way over processed. Since they are set up, take them again and post with no processing. Let's do it one step at a time. Photography first, then pp.

Welcome to the hog.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

Like many will tell you the learning never stops; I'm in my 50th year of photography, the learning and adventure never stops, until you decide it does!

R.G. Loc: Scotland

A bit oversaturated? Yes. A bit too warm? Yes. But your own queries show that you're considering the right aspects of the shot, and you know how to push the PP in the direction that you want. Adjustments that are more moderate will have it looking more like a photograph rather than a manipulated image. How far you push the manipulation is a matter of taste and I'd say you're right at the point where it'll start to look over-manipulated. There's a fair bit of leeway between looking under-processed and looking over-manipulated and there's no need to feel pressurised into pushing your adjustments.

For focusing I would recommend choosing a limited number of focus points in a cluster round about the centre of the frame. You can get a focus lock on some suitable object by placing that object in the centre of the frame then pushing the shutter release half way down, then when you get the green box (showing focus lock), recompose while holding the shutter release half way down then shoot. The D7200 has a large number of focus detector points but if you use all of them you risk getting a focus lock on the wrong objects. It's better to have a limited number near the centre of the frame which gives you more control over the focusing.