My first post ever!

gumpaholicgumpaholic Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
edited February 13, 2009 in Wildlife
Hi there everyone! I am new to the website and I was drooling over everyone's awesome pictures and I wanted to post a one of my own from today. I have the XTI (will be getting and XSI tomorrow) and am still fairly new with getting my exposures and everything right. This shot was taken at my local park just about at sunset time today. I used the Canon 75-300 lens at an ISO of 800 with my camera set on the P function.. Tell me what you think. Once again, hi and thanks for all the beautiful shots on this site!

Comments

  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited February 12, 2009
    gumpaholic wrote:
    Hi there everyone! I am new to the website and I was drooling over everyone's awesome pictures and I wanted to post a one of my own from today. I have the XTI (will be getting and XSI tomorrow) and am still fairly new with getting my exposures and everything right. This shot was taken at my local park just about at sunset time today. I used the Canon 75-300 lens at an ISO of 800 with my camera set on the P function.. Tell me what you think. Once again, hi and thanks for all the beautiful shots on this site!

    Hi! wave.gif

    The shot is a bit soft...the 75-300 (I had one) is partially responsible. Little light is the main culprit though.

    Adjusting levels will improve it...maybe some contrast and brightness after that.

    I like to shoot A and open up the aperture to one stop less than wide open for cloudy skies...let in as much light as is reasonably possible. Also, it looks like what light there is is backlighting your subject...try to have the light to your back and on the subject.

    Good luck. :D
  • gumpaholicgumpaholic Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited February 12, 2009
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    Hi! wave.gif

    The shot is a bit soft...the 75-300 (I had one) is partially responsible. Little light is the main culprit though.

    Adjusting levels will improve it...maybe some contrast and brightness after that.

    I like to shoot A and open up the aperture to one stop less than wide open for cloudy skies...let in as much light as is reasonably possible. Also, it looks like what light there is is backlighting your subject...try to have the light to your back and on the subject.

    Good luck. :D

    Thanks for the tip! I adjusted the levels now...Does it look better? Also, I will try to shoot him from the other side but you know ducks! Also, does anyone know what kind of duck this is?
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited February 12, 2009
    gumpaholic wrote:
    Thanks for the tip! I adjusted the levels now...Does it look better? Also, I will try to shoot him from the other side but you know ducks! Also, does anyone know what kind of duck this is?

    Yes...your edit is an improvement.:D

    What software do you use?

    As for the type of quacker...I have no idea.ne_nau.gif
  • gumpaholicgumpaholic Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited February 12, 2009
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    Yes...your edit is an improvement.:D

    What software do you use?

    As for the type of quacker...I have no idea.ne_nau.gif

    I used Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2.
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited February 12, 2009
    Welcome. I actually like the first image better. :D The whites seem a bit hot after your adjustment. I like the subtle grays in the first image. I agree with Ric. As you get more familiar with the camera move to A for Aperture Priority or shoot Manual all the way.

    That duck may be a form of a domestic muscovy duck, but I am not sure.
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • gumpaholicgumpaholic Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited February 12, 2009
    Maestro wrote:
    Welcome. I actually like the first image better. :D The whites seem a bit hot after your adjustment. I like the subtle grays in the first image. I agree with Ric. As you get more familiar with the camera move to A for Aperture Priority or shoot Manual all the way.

    That duck may be a form of a domestic muscovy duck, but I am not sure.

    I got a quick question for you then about the settings. On the camera, whould that be the AV or the A-Dep setting?
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2009
    Maestro wrote:
    Welcome. I actually like the first image better. :D The whites seem a bit hot after your adjustment. I like the subtle grays in the first image. I agree with Ric. As you get more familiar with the camera move to A for Aperture Priority or shoot Manual all the way.

    That duck may be a form of a domestic muscovy duck, but I am not sure.


    15524779-Ti.gif

    It looks like a muscovy duck and welcome to Dgrin. wave.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2009
    gumpaholic wrote:
    I got a quick question for you then about the settings. On the camera, whould that be the AV or the A-Dep setting?

    Av
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
    Facebook Fan Page
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2009
    Maestro wrote:
    The whites seem a bit hot after your adjustment.

    I was getting to that...thus the software question.

    I wonder how one could fix that? ne_nau.gifrolleyes Maybe the OP would like to know.
  • jaxjax Registered Users Posts: 143 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2009
    Welcome to the forum!

    I'm quite new here myself and like it a lot, I'm sure you will as wel!


    I was a bit bored tonight, so I messed around with your original shot, hope you don't mind.
    This edit is done with Photoshop. I used 'curves' and did some sharpening (lab color)

    carrpark_13b copy-4.jpg
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited February 13, 2009
    jax wrote:
    Welcome to the forum!

    I'm quite new here myself and like it a lot, I'm sure you will as wel!


    I was a bit bored tonight, so I messed around with your original shot, hope you don't mind.
    This edit is done with Photoshop. I used 'curves' and did some sharpening (lab color)

    carrpark_13b copy-4.jpg

    thumb.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • gumpaholicgumpaholic Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited February 13, 2009
    No, I don't mind. That does look better! I'm not very good with my progams yet. I just used auto adjust or whatever it was called. I'll try again with Photoshop and see what I can do. Thanks for everyones help! Well, I got my XSI today and I want to start using it but it's raining here (through the weekend) :cry !
  • gumpaholicgumpaholic Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited February 13, 2009
    Does this look better (As far a adjusting )?

    carrpark_13b.jpg
  • gumpaholicgumpaholic Registered Users Posts: 36 Big grins
    edited February 13, 2009
    Here is the other picture from that day that turned out ok. I don't like the background but if I moved, he would have cars in the background. Also, I know it's a little noisy because I haven't fixed that yet.
    carrpark_7b.jpg
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