Gently used photography gear for sale
Oct 30, 2011 12:59:34 #
A while ago I bout a Nikon d5100, a couple of different high end lens, some filters, etc, etc, etc from a camera store here in town. He said he would give me lessons and I would be satisfies or he would take it all back. Well, I'm not satisfied and he won't take it back, hasn't been a month and I'm not following his directions. My birds look like fuzzy blobs, my grand kids look like b movie monsters, my insects look like I took a picture of something that is all green, the sky is white, the clouds are indistinguishable and so on.
I look at the work posted and wonder why can't I do that? I have excellent equipment, an eye for composition. I ask the guy that's supposedly teaching me and his stock answer is 'be patient with yourself it will come.' My stock annswer is 'so is the Grim Reaper who is going to be first?'
I bought Photo Shop Elements and the only thing I understand is the title page the rest is gibbrish.
I think I'm going back to my original hobby of critiquing news commentators.
I look at the work posted and wonder why can't I do that? I have excellent equipment, an eye for composition. I ask the guy that's supposedly teaching me and his stock answer is 'be patient with yourself it will come.' My stock annswer is 'so is the Grim Reaper who is going to be first?'
I bought Photo Shop Elements and the only thing I understand is the title page the rest is gibbrish.
I think I'm going back to my original hobby of critiquing news commentators.
Oct 30, 2011 13:11:30 #
tramsey wrote:
A while ago I bout a Nikon d5100, a couple of diff... (show quote)
Not to be mean, but I'm not understanding.. it's the Camera Store Gentleman's fault because you are not getting the results you want but you state:
Quote:
Well, I'm not satisfied and he won't take it back, hasn't been a month and I'm not following his directions.
Sorry, expensive camera gear does not a photographer make. You need to learn, practice, learn, practice, learn some more and practice even more. Cause in point I have seen some amazing photos posted here that were taken with P/S and some less than steller images posted that were taken with gear I can only dream of owning!
It's the nature of the beast, you never really become a Master. There is always something you can learn to do better, a new techique to learn, etc.
Oct 30, 2011 15:04:16 #
I don't think I said it right. When I first bought it I expected poor results. A long time ago I was into photography and then job and life took over. So it was no big shock to me that I wasn't taking pictures for Natl Geo. But as time went on I see no improvement.
I know expensive gear isn't the whole answer but I know that I wouldn't be satisfied with a p/s because of my past experience
He said I haven't been following his directions but I've been writing it all down and I'm doing exactly what he says. He would say we were working on f/5 not f/8 but the difference is so slight and I don't think that had anything to do with the results that I'm getting
Recently we had a frosty day and my wife's flowers took a beating. I'll see if I can post an example. It will be with the 50mm set on auto
I've never posted a picture before and I've read the instructions and it says after I've replied to click on 'Browse'. I can't even find that. Right now I'm so irritated I don't want to talk about it or do anything. I'm going for a walk.
You watch the Cowboys will even lose again today.
I'm gone
I know expensive gear isn't the whole answer but I know that I wouldn't be satisfied with a p/s because of my past experience
He said I haven't been following his directions but I've been writing it all down and I'm doing exactly what he says. He would say we were working on f/5 not f/8 but the difference is so slight and I don't think that had anything to do with the results that I'm getting
Recently we had a frosty day and my wife's flowers took a beating. I'll see if I can post an example. It will be with the 50mm set on auto
I've never posted a picture before and I've read the instructions and it says after I've replied to click on 'Browse'. I can't even find that. Right now I'm so irritated I don't want to talk about it or do anything. I'm going for a walk.
You watch the Cowboys will even lose again today.
I'm gone
Oct 30, 2011 15:05:59 #
Oct 30, 2011 15:13:05 #
yes post so pictures, maybe someone will be able to help you here.
I know you wouldn't think there is a huge difference between an F stop of 5.6 and 8 but actually it can and does make a big difference on your exposure settings.
I know you wouldn't think there is a huge difference between an F stop of 5.6 and 8 but actually it can and does make a big difference on your exposure settings.
Oct 30, 2011 15:17:33 #
may i make a very gentls sugestion? check out the nikon 5100 for dummies (I am not calling you a dummy) book available most book stores, online even your library. take camera in one hand, book in other follow book touch every button. I recomend the dummies book also for elements. It uses plain english to explain things. If you have questions this is the best website for them. if you need help posting some of your photos, we can walk you through it. try setting the camera on auto for a while to get ypur confidence up. just focus on composition. digital photography is a lot like golf. untill you get your basic fundamental swing and grip down, your golf will be horrible. be patient, the 5100 is a fine camera, it can be intimidating at first but IT WILL GET BETTER if you follow the folks on here's advice. we have several new people here who i have seen a remarkable improvement in the quality of their shots in just a short time.
I can solve your photography problems, as for the cowboys, thats a different story. Untill jerry jones gets a GM and finds a real quarterback, the boys are gonna suck. but with the right frontt office and coaching look out. Can you say Detroit Lions?
I can solve your photography problems, as for the cowboys, thats a different story. Untill jerry jones gets a GM and finds a real quarterback, the boys are gonna suck. but with the right frontt office and coaching look out. Can you say Detroit Lions?
Oct 30, 2011 15:19:13 #
I fear tramsey is a casualty of what I mentioned in another post. Trying to help people become better photographers without teaching the fundamentals first is a futile effort.
Tramsey, there are many folks here that would really like to help you improve. As mentioned in another post, the learning process never ends even for accomplished photographers.
Please post a photo so that these helpers have something to go on. When you hit the reply button you will see the file/picture attachment area just below the box that you type your post in. There you will find the browse button. Just hit browse and go to where you have a photo file stored. Highlight the file and hit open. The photo name will show up in the attachment window. Try it.
Tramsey, there are many folks here that would really like to help you improve. As mentioned in another post, the learning process never ends even for accomplished photographers.
Please post a photo so that these helpers have something to go on. When you hit the reply button you will see the file/picture attachment area just below the box that you type your post in. There you will find the browse button. Just hit browse and go to where you have a photo file stored. Highlight the file and hit open. The photo name will show up in the attachment window. Try it.
Oct 30, 2011 15:51:12 #
Oct 30, 2011 15:54:46 #
Oct 30, 2011 16:19:46 #
to get your pic to post on this thread, click on "REPLY" at the bottom of this box. It will bring up a new screen where you can type another message, right directly under that box it says "SEND "PREVIEW", Right under that it says "BROWSE". Click on that and it will take you to your files. Find a picture, click on it, hit "OPEN" (it won't but thats OK). It will take you back to where you were typing. Hit "SEND" & you are done. DO NOT HIT "PREVIEW" or you will have to go find another picture.
Hope this helps...
Hope this helps...
Oct 30, 2011 16:34:17 #
Mr.Ed
Loc: Houston, Texas
When learning something new, I find it easier to divide the subject (photography, computer network, new type of business venture, or whatever) into bite sized modules.
When I got my first DSLR a few months ago, I didn't take it off of program mode the first couple of days. I tried to figure out what the camera was doing and why and how I would want to do it differently. I also wanted to be comfortable with the new auto focus system before learning other things.
The next task I set for myself was to experiment with adjustments to program mode, mainly exposure compensation and program shift, I adjust the white balance in the computer. Later I went to aperture priority, Programed my custom settings for HDR, and miscellaneous other things.
Photoshop is a little intimidating. I have yet to try it. I have a Mac, so I got a free (well included anyway) copy of iPhoto. It is REALLY EASY. Once I knew how to do everything iPhoto will do, I graduated to Aperture. I will need it anyway when I get Photoshop to organize my shots and manipulate and convert the raw files before sending them to Photoshop. Aperture was also a nice upgrade because I can find most of the adjustments I did in iPhoto usually done the same way. They are both Apple products.
Do something easy first. Then something a little harder.
BTW, I use the center AF point all the time. I have disabled the others. I had AF on my first film SLR with one point, and I like it that way. I pick what the camera focuses on and meters for.
Good luck. I shoot Canon, so I can't use your gear, but Canikons hold their value pretty well if you really want to sell.
When I got my first DSLR a few months ago, I didn't take it off of program mode the first couple of days. I tried to figure out what the camera was doing and why and how I would want to do it differently. I also wanted to be comfortable with the new auto focus system before learning other things.
The next task I set for myself was to experiment with adjustments to program mode, mainly exposure compensation and program shift, I adjust the white balance in the computer. Later I went to aperture priority, Programed my custom settings for HDR, and miscellaneous other things.
Photoshop is a little intimidating. I have yet to try it. I have a Mac, so I got a free (well included anyway) copy of iPhoto. It is REALLY EASY. Once I knew how to do everything iPhoto will do, I graduated to Aperture. I will need it anyway when I get Photoshop to organize my shots and manipulate and convert the raw files before sending them to Photoshop. Aperture was also a nice upgrade because I can find most of the adjustments I did in iPhoto usually done the same way. They are both Apple products.
Do something easy first. Then something a little harder.
BTW, I use the center AF point all the time. I have disabled the others. I had AF on my first film SLR with one point, and I like it that way. I pick what the camera focuses on and meters for.
Good luck. I shoot Canon, so I can't use your gear, but Canikons hold their value pretty well if you really want to sell.
Oct 30, 2011 20:37:01 #
Oct 30, 2011 20:42:43 #
I said that I was going to try a picture of my wife's dead flowers but I decided to send one of my fifteen year old grand daughter instead. No Photo shop or crop; just straight out of the camera.
Critique please
Critique please
Oct 30, 2011 20:49:07 #
This was shot using an F stop of 1.4? Is so that is your answer as to why it's OOF.
Your feild of focus is going to be tiny, nailing focus is going to be hard, not knowing your SS it might be impossible.
My word of advice is start out shoting at f/5.6 work with that f stop until you start nailing focus more than you are missing then move down a stop or two.
Just cause your lens can shot at f/1.4 doesn't mean you have to. (but man I would be tempted too as well)
Your feild of focus is going to be tiny, nailing focus is going to be hard, not knowing your SS it might be impossible.
My word of advice is start out shoting at f/5.6 work with that f stop until you start nailing focus more than you are missing then move down a stop or two.
Just cause your lens can shot at f/1.4 doesn't mean you have to. (but man I would be tempted too as well)
Oct 30, 2011 21:14:54 #
Just A Mom With A Camera
I don't know what the setting where. I shot this on auto. I guess I didn't say that, sorry. I meant that I shot it with a 50mm lens with an f 1.4. But what the camera was at ... your guess is better than mine. I know I had to keep moving closer to her to get what I wanted and she started to giggle
I don't know what the setting where. I shot this on auto. I guess I didn't say that, sorry. I meant that I shot it with a 50mm lens with an f 1.4. But what the camera was at ... your guess is better than mine. I know I had to keep moving closer to her to get what I wanted and she started to giggle
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