Thanks mate, but you need to see us now!!!!

Woohoo!!!! :D

Aha!!! Thanks mate. Any hints about improving my pics would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you very very much. :)

But that just opens another can of worms for me. I have a lot of trouble trying to focus on objects, particularly in landscapes. Any suggestions? Once when I was taking pics of a sunset I just put the camera focus manually on infinity. Yuck was the result.
As for post processing - any hints? I use the auto purple fringe tab but to little effect for a lot of it as it aint purple!!!! I know some very time consuming ways. Is it the fault of a crappy lens???

At first I was slow using it as I had a lot to learn plus I had a lot of other distractions. Then as time went on it dawned on me that things didn't seem to be 100%. Took me a year to realise this then a year trying to figure out how to fix it and now realise that maybe it aint me but the camera. Sometimes it appears to be worse than other times. Maybe it will take me another year to fix it!!!!!
The focus is a bit 'soft' to say the least and when I try sharpening it sometimes it creates other problems such as noise. Buggered if I know!!! It just means I can't make large prints if I ever wanted to.
Thanks for the bit about atmosphere. This is one hell of a great place to visit!!!! Mind you, Grand Canyon leaves it for dead!!!

Hey that's great. I used to be heavily into post production stuff just to see what can be done by manipulating the pictures. Everyone here thinks I'm nuts (especially the mrs). As an ex science teacher I lean heavily to things scientific. Used to love making kaleidoscope pics!!!
Travelled from Vancouver, Canada, to LA via Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Flagstaff 2 years ago with my youngest daughter. Can't wait to get back. Great country and great people.
Phil

Hi rfbccb,
interesting name!!!! Must be greek :D
Hope we can get to know each other better.
Phil

Thanks Martin
nice to know you. Yes my fuji finepix s7000 was a brilliant point and shoot although it was high end. It was very much like an SLR as there were many functions on it. Also very light and easy to use.
So which part of the world are you from? You would see a big difference between '67 and now in Sydney.
Phil

Hey this is a great idea. Set yourself a bad pic and try to fix it so that you can learn new techniques. :thumbup:
I often take pics from the car - not while I am the driver - as often you can't stop such as on a freeway or in heavy traffic. You can get some good angles and interesting subjects. I have attached a couple of examples.

anzac bridge


epping rd in rain at peakhour

Way too overexposed. Just use manual settings for speed, iso and f stop. Practice will make perfect. Take lots of shots with different settings and see which one is best. Then make a diary entry of what you found.
Good luck,
Phil :)

To quote the beatles: HELP.

OK I bought a canon 50D in LA 2 years ago while on a trip the day before I left to come back to Australia. My fantastic 12mp fuji s7000 broke (I could have cried!!! but had enough $$$ in the kitty to buy a new camera and always wanted a DSLR!!!). So what is the problem - is it the camera, the kit lens (28-135 IS USM) or me???
I have the focus set on the centre focus spot only (is this wrong) and use aperture priority.
I have attached a shot which was taken at 1/250th sec, f10, 400 ISO hand held on a sunny day.
The second shot was the same except 320th sec. I thought these would be fast enough to not need a tripod.
Like all my shots taken with this camera and lens it doesn't seem to be focussed. I always use the highest quality jpg setting (plus raw in case I can find out how to fix it in post processing!!).
I have also used a 20mm sigma lens and pics have the same problem. Canon checked both lens and camera out (here in Aus) and said it was fine!!!!

Bridal Veil falls


Bridal Veil falls again

Thanks mate. Would you believe these 2 views are just 1 1/2 hours away and I haven't been there for decades???? Our next door neighbours have lived there for 35 years and are in their 70s and they haven't been there either!!!!
BUT look at the rocks and you will see they are not in clearly defined. Why??? The basic exif info is: ISO 400, 1/320sec, f10, 56mm

Hello everyone. I am just joining because I have a love for photography that has burned in me all my life. I am a retired science teacher with a canon 50D and unfortunately when I am out (or even in) I see shots everywhere. My wife is unhapy with the amount of time I spend on it all!!! This forum sounds like a great place. I used to have old faithful - a pentax spotmatic - till it broke. And then a fuji s7000 12mp camera - just brilliant - till it broke over in LA. That's where I got my canon.
However I am not happy with my canon 50D as I cannot get sharp pix. I am hoping that someone here can help me. Canon have checked it and the lens out (28-135 kit lens) and said all is ok. But I still can't get good focussed shots. When I zoom in on the pix they are not clear. I have tried manual focus and auto. I try to use low iso and fast speeds. But to no avail. I have used a 20mm sigma lens and still no good. I have attached a couple of my shots for you guys to look at.
You can also see some of my shots on EPOD - earth science photo of the day (http://epod.usra.edu/).

The Grose Valley


The Bridal Veil Falls