Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

Hi all! My sweet husband gave me a Canon t4i with 18-55 and 75-300 lenses for Christmas. At the age of 67 this is my very first camera with the exception of my old brownie when I was about 14. After following this forum for a couple of weeks I am totally in awe of the talent here. The weather has not been cooperative here in Alabama (IÙm a transplanted Canadian) so all my practising has been in the house and through the window. I havenÙt found my photographic passion yet but expect it will be grandkids and backyard birds. I donÙt anticipate posting much but have every intention of lurking and soaking up your knowledge. Here are a few shots from the past couple of weeks. I will welcome cc and wonder if IÙm on the right track.
Thanks,
Marg

Joe Blow

Your post seems to have lost something in translation. However, ...

#1) Very good. I like that. Simple subject with good bokeh. Maybe could have used a slight bit of more direct light, but then maybe not.

#2) Interesting exercise in black on gray. If this was in focus it would be a nice shot. As this is an inside shot, you would need either a whole studio light set up or at least a tripod. In lieu of a tripod, you can rest the camera on a towel or bean bag to keep it steady and gently press the shutter.

You will want to use a small aperture (larger number) in order to increase your Depth Of Field (DOF). That forces you to use a much longer shutter speed. Suggested settings would be to set the ISO to 1600 and put your camera in Av (aperture) mode at f16. Your shutter will be in the range of about 1/4 second so you will need that stable rest or a tripod. Setting this all up in a bright window can help.

#3) Out of focus. Your subject is vertical, so should your camera. The sky to the sides add nothing to the boll. Because of the subject, you might wait for better light on it. Brown on gray doesn't have much in the way of highlight so you need to make what you have count.

This is a simple subject that attracts the viewer's eye. We don't need to hunt for what to look at or decide between competing subjects. All this needs to be a great photo is some small fixes. Maybe when the weather warms enough and you get outside you can try it again. A good focus on the boll and leaves will highlight the texture.

#4) This is the opposite of #3. There are too many subjects in this shot. We call that "too busy". The fence, tree, and bird all compete for our attention. Cut out the tree and let the fence highlight the bird might work, but most likely not. Also, your fence needs to be leveled.

#5) Love it, ... almost. Here, the background spoiled a perfect shot. Gray on gray has little impact, which camouflages the subject bird. I would try to raise the brightness level a bit to bring out the bird. Crop off the bottom third and right hand third. That will allow your bird to be more prominent and not compete with the lantern. It would leave the top of the decorative planter in the shot to add context.

#6) Naaa. This does nothing for me. While #5 is a great shot (with a couple of technical fixes) this does nothing. If you like it, then great. From my perspective though, well, I'm just not feeling it.

My opinion and $1.19 gets you a 20 oz coffee at the Marathon gas station. If you make it yourself. But you have a good eye that just needs a little honing.

Thanks for sharing.

Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

Thank you so much! I’ll take your much appreciated suggestions to heart and try again. As for the translation, it appears that an apostrophe caused the problem. Weird!

justhercamera Loc: NW Michigan

Welcome (back) to the world of photography! This is a great place to lurk, and to post. There is so much knowledge here and even more opinions. (There are some here that are so talented and so willing to share their awesome knowledge, anytime they post, I am thrilled and read what they have to say several times, and save their posts). I have also learned much by looking at my photos (and others) for what seemed to work, and what did not. Learning the technical aspects is a big part of it, but, so is allowing your eye to be "trained". I see things now that are good (and bad) in photos I didn't know about before. Joe's reply/comments are a great example, such as his comments on #5, the gray on gray, etc. Once some things are noticed/pointed out, you start to spot them yourself. Especially with today's cameras, you will get some good shots, as time goes by and you move along on the learning curve the number of good shots increases, vs the "delete" shots... but I don't think the learning is ever complete.

donrosshill Loc: Delaware & Florida

The most important thing to do is Shoot. Take your time to see, compose, shoot. Learn the features of you Camera and Shoot, Shoot, Shoot.
That will make you a better photographer. I have a box of paint brushes that I have not used for over 30 years. That is why I shoot photos and don't paint any more.
Don

Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

Thank you very much!

Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

Thank you very much! I look forward to learning a lot from you folks!

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

Welcome. The best book on exposure is Bryan Peterson Understanding Exposure--a must read. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, we all make them. That's what delete is for. Learn from those mistakes. Most of all, shoot, shoot , and then shoot again. It's the journey that counts.

Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

Thank you! I’ll order the book today and study and shoot, shoot, shoot!

FreddB Loc: PA - Delaware County

Since you're shooting through the window, the simplest fix for #5 and #6 might just be getting outside and shooting from a different pov. Just something I picked up from several of the more constructive critiques on here. Lot of great (and free) advice to be found here.

Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

Thanks! Besides shooting through the window there was also rain off and on and virtually no sunlight. Can’t wait to get outside.

Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

Okay, Joe - do you mean something like this? Or more?

donrosshill Loc: Delaware & Florida

That is much better.
Good Job.
Don

Marg Loc: Canadian transplanted to NW Alabama

Thanks, Don!

Wuligal Loc: Slippery Rock, Pa.

I took my first photo at age 62 and left my camera on "program" for the first two years. Now I have a stack of blue ribbons and give lectures on "artistic photography". I checked out your photos......you have a good eye, the rest will come.