Just got into photography looking for feedback

R&RR&R Registered Users Posts: 45 Big grins
edited September 24, 2004 in Wildlife
Hello everybody. I am new to the forums and just started getting into photography. I have been taking pictures for about 6 months and have learned alot but I want to learn so much more. I have a coolpix 5700 camera. I am happy with it because I have never had a different camera and I don't know what I am missing. Anyway, enjoy some of my pictures and let me you know what you think. Please give suggestions so I can continue to improve.

When I went to visit my mother I found these flowers in the backyard after a rainstorm.

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I am a pilot for the airlines and I took this shot out my window somewhere around Mississippi or Alabama. I find it very hard taking pictures out an aircraft window. Tried to do touchups with Arcsoft Photostudio. I like the program but it seems everybody likes Photo shop. Is this something I should invest in or is Arcsoft just as good?

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Very first day I got my camera when I took this shot on Sanibel Island near Ft. Myers Florida. I was proud of it that day but I think I have gotten better.

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Comments

  • DJ-S1DJ-S1 Registered Users Posts: 2,303 Major grins
    edited September 20, 2004
    wave.gif Hi R&R, welcome to the asylum. This is a great place to learn, and there are lots of helpful folks here. I'm a noobie myself so I'll let the experts do the critiquing, but I think you've got some nice work there!

    I've used other editing programs, and they can do a nice job but there's a reason PS is the defacto standard. It does just about anything you want, and since it's the 800lb gorilla there's tons of books and wedsites out there to help you figure out all the bells and whistles. Dgrin's own Cletus is a master, and very helpful to us noobs.

    Have fun!
  • lynnmalynnma Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 5,208 Major grins
    edited September 20, 2004
    R&R wrote:
    Hello everybody. I am new to the forums and just started getting into photography. I have been taking pictures for about 6 months and have learned alot but I want to learn so much more. I have a coolpix 5700 camera. I am happy with it because I have never had a different camera and I don't know what I am missing. Anyway, enjoy some of my pictures and let me you know what you think. Please give suggestions so I can continue to improve.

    When I went to visit my mother I found these flowers in the backyard after a rainstorm.






    I am a pilot for the airlines and I took this shot out my window somewhere around Mississippi or Alabama. I find it very hard taking pictures out an aircraft window. Tried to do touchups with Arcsoft Photostudio. I like the program but it seems everybody likes Photo shop. Is this something I should invest in or is Arcsoft just as good?



    Very first day I got my camera when I took this shot on Sanibel Island near Ft. Myers Florida. I was proud of it that day but I think I have gotten better.
    Welcome to the forum R&R!!:D this is a great place to learn and play. Dont be afraid to post any or all of your shots...and don't forget to check in for the challenge! we have a different one every couple of weeks or so and they are great fun and force us to "get out" and take shots we would not normally go for. I like your flower shots and the cloud shot... there are experts here that will help more than I with critique so check back often.
    Lynn
  • GREAPERGREAPER Registered Users Posts: 3,113 Major grins
    edited September 20, 2004
    All this talk of experts, now I am affraid to say anything....


    Awww what the heck.

    The first one is nice but I think it would have been nicer without the out of focus flower in the background, it is the same color as the others and I think its distracting.

    The second is much nicer, I would blur the fence in the upper left a little more so it doesn't look like... well.. a fence. I would also clone out some of the bright spots below the flowers, they are brighter than the subject and pull the eye away.

    The third one is awesome. A little more detail in the ground might be nice but I dont know how to tell you to get it, a little more contrast maybe? The veiw and the shot are something most of use dont get to see. The windows up front must be cleaner than the ones I always get to look out of because I would never be able to get that shot from the cheap seats.

    The fourth on is a nice composition but is in SERIOUS need of a polarizing filter, this would greatly reduce the bright reflected glare, give it more color and make the backlighting on the bird much more effective. If there is only one filter you buy for each of your lenses, I think it should be a polarizor.

    Just humble opinions from a non-expert.
  • tmlphototmlphoto Registered Users Posts: 1,444 Major grins
    edited September 20, 2004
    I agree with your comments Greaper. I'd love to see #3 with the contrast bumped up a little. thanks for sharing. Keep shooting & posting.
    Thomas :D

    TML Photography
    tmlphoto.com
  • R&RR&R Registered Users Posts: 45 Big grins
    edited September 21, 2004
    I appreciate all the advice. I enjoy people looking at my photos and telling them what they need. Here are some more photos out of the airplane.

    Milwaukee

    8823760-L.jpg

    The picture says it all

    8823758-L.jpg

    The Falls looking toward Canada

    8823764-L.jpg

    8823771-L.jpg

    The original picture people liked

    7774764-L.jpg

    The attempt at a fix. Thanks for the advice.

    8823755-L.jpg
  • hutchmanhutchman Registered Users Posts: 255 Major grins
    edited September 21, 2004
    I liked #3 from the original set. I decided to play with it a little - hope you don't mind!


    8825993-M.jpg
    It came out different. I'm not sure it is better or worse than the original or if I even like it. But it was fun to work with.

    I really like the original.

    Hutch
  • R&RR&R Registered Users Posts: 45 Big grins
    edited September 21, 2004
    Not offended in the least. I don't really know much about this sort of stuff but I can see what I like and don't like. I really like the concept of what you did with the shot, but now my eyes go even more towards the scratches in the window.

    Just my extremely humble opinion.
  • DJ-S1DJ-S1 Registered Users Posts: 2,303 Major grins
    edited September 21, 2004
    Wow, the 4 new shots are terrific, especially the Falls. For the Milwaukee and St. Louis photos I was wondering if the "haze cutter" USM settings would have any effect, I think they are around 30,60,1? I don't have PS here at work so I can't try it.
  • R&RR&R Registered Users Posts: 45 Big grins
    edited September 21, 2004
    Say that in English.:D I am so knew at all of this I don't even know what that refers to. Please explain and help out a newby.

    As I have said before I am using Arcsoft Photostudio for touchup. I probably can't do any of that with that progam. I am looking to buy something though. I looked at consumer reports and the Microsoft photo editing program got good reviews. Would that program be able to do what you are talking about or am I better off getting Photo Shop Element. I can not afford the good Photo Shop. I might get frustrated as well because I read it has an extremely high learning curve.
  • R&RR&R Registered Users Posts: 45 Big grins
    edited September 21, 2004
    I am in St Louis today and I got some pictures. Here is the first.

    8845180-L.jpg
  • lynnmalynnma Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 5,208 Major grins
    edited September 21, 2004
    R&R wrote:
    Say that in English.:D I am so knew at all of this I don't even know what that refers to. Please explain and help out a newby.

    As I have said before I am using Arcsoft Photostudio for touchup. I probably can't do any of that with that progam. I am looking to buy something though. I looked at consumer reports and the Microsoft photo editing program got good reviews. Would that program be able to do what you are talking about or am I better off getting Photo Shop Element. I can not afford the good Photo Shop. I might get frustrated as well because I read it has an extremely high learning curve.
    I think Photoshop Elements would be good R. I'ts a strong program with just about everything you need. USM is unsharp mask. Its to sharpen the shot. Dont worry bout not understanding.. there are STILL things I have to ask about all the time. No biggy:D Elements is my opinion.. ask around tho.
    Lynn
  • DJ-S1DJ-S1 Registered Users Posts: 2,303 Major grins
    edited September 21, 2004
    Say that in English.
    Sorry! I'm used to being the one who doesn't understand around here! I was in a hurry when I was posting and I didn't realize how much jargon has crept into my head... I just started a few months ago, and the learning curve really isn't that bad. If I can do it, you can. Can't be more difficult than figuring out what all of those 3,277 switches in the cockpit do!

    As Lynn said, unsharp mask is a filter that sharpens images. It's my favorite toy! There are 3 settings, can't remember the names at the moment, but I read somewhere that 30,60,1 are good settings to remove haze.ne_nau.gif Maybe one of the gurus can confirm for us.
  • GREAPERGREAPER Registered Users Posts: 3,113 Major grins
    edited September 21, 2004
    You keep posting stuff like this and we will be asking you for your advice.
  • DJ-S1DJ-S1 Registered Users Posts: 2,303 Major grins
    edited September 21, 2004
    GREAPER wrote:
    You keep posting stuff like this and we will be asking you for your advice.
    :roll We should all live so long to see that day! Thanks, Greaper! lol3.gif
  • DJ-S1DJ-S1 Registered Users Posts: 2,303 Major grins
    edited September 21, 2004
    Okay, so now that I'm at home, (and the kids are asleep!) I can play with Photoshop. I really wanted to try the haze reduction on R&R's shots, so I chose St. Louis. Here's the original:

    8860951-M.jpg

    Nice shot, but hazy and blue. So here's the effect of unsharp mask at 30, 60, and 1, which I read does wonders for haze:

    8860950-M.jpg

    That's pretty cool! So then I changed the levels; red, green, blue individually since the histograms were very different for each. That produced this:

    8860948-M.jpg

    And then just a little more contrast makes this:

    8860947-M.jpg

    R&R, don't worry about the jargon, you'll pick that up easily. What you should know is that this took me, a 3 month once-in-a-while Photoshop user, 3 minutes to do. It took twice as long just to make this post! The experts could make it even better, but this gives you an idea of what is possible.

    Soooo...wanna pick up some software and start playing with your photos??? 6618462-O.gif I warn you, it's highly addictive!! mwink.gif
  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited September 22, 2004
    Wow, nice job with the Photoshop. I've been struggling with some bad shot taken a couple of weeks ago, I'm going to try some of your techniques.

    Love the Falls shots, and also the reflection of the Arch. Very cool.
    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
    http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
  • R&RR&R Registered Users Posts: 45 Big grins
    edited September 22, 2004
    That was amazing how you edited those shots. If I buy Photo shop element will I be able to do that? The rest of the St. Louis shots. Just got home today.

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    I can't decide if I like this one black and white or color. Actually I like both. I was thinking one of these might be a good shot for the contest this week. I could use it as together. What do you think?

    8885349-M.jpg

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    My favorite black and white shot

    8885354-M.jpg

    I loved this one because I was able to get the image, reflection, and shadow. This could also be used in the competition as together.

    8885355-M.jpg

    I always read walking away from a photo shoot don't forget to look around you might just find your best shot. I don't know if it is the best but it is interesting.

    8885357-M.jpg
  • ArkiArki Registered Users Posts: 10 Big grins
    edited September 22, 2004
    Well done
    Nice shots you have. I'm brand new here myself. I'm also using the 5700 and I like it a lot - it has some issues and can be a pain to use in real low light situations. Try to shoot in RAW as much as you can - I just started and wish i had doen more earlier. As good as your pictures are from the cockpit, I really hope the autopilot is even better! - just kidding (flight sim enthusiast here....)

    Steve
  • ginger_55ginger_55 Registered Users Posts: 8,416 Major grins
    edited September 22, 2004
    I hate that arch. Don't know why, just saw it once while moving across country.

    I almost like it, your photos of it are really good.

    Photoshop Elements is what I started out with. That is not the good news. The best news is that you came along at just the right time, they just came out with a new version. Some of the best stuff on it from those overpriced programs (I have them now and I am not saying how I got them, but good lord, they are expensive.) I actually bought Elements on sale a couple years ago for $30.00. Then I must have spent about $100.00 right away on books. I have never seen it that cheap again, and you want the new version, trust me, you want the new version. And some books, hehe, but you can get them slowly. Everyone here seems to like the Kelby books. I don't know if he writes for Elements or not.

    A hint on those books. They are high priced, too. But at Amazon, check out the used books. Make sure they are cheaper than Amazon's, which are cheaper than a bookstore. Overstock.com is a good place to find some of them. But go to Amazon first and read all the reviews. The reason I said that is that someone recommended a book for Elements to someone else, and when I went to Amazon, I read some not very good reviews. And someone was quite specific where there were errors, so anyone who had, or wanted to buy that book, would know exactly where the book was wrong. You could then print that out, put it with the book, if you were to buy it and correct the text.

    I always go to Amazon and read the reviews. I have a lot of Elements books, but I did not belong to a neat place like this then, so I did not really use them as I could have, so I would not recommend any specific one. Maybe someone else can. But go to Amazon, check the reviews, and check the used book prices. They are not usually used. You don't want to pay $40.00 for a paperback, not when you can pay something like $25.00.

    And with this neat place, dgrin, just wallow in, ask questions, and you will get the jargon pretty fast. I didn't know what USM was either until I joined here, maybe in May. I have been doing Digital Photgraphy for 5 years or more. I have learned so much here.clap.gif

    I have photoshop CS, and I want the new version of Elements, kidding there, but oh my, they did put some good stuff on it. The healing brush comes to mind. I never use that, but it is a neat thing that I will use sometime. I didn't have access to it for a long time.

    Oh, that stuff someone did, with the areal (sp?) shot of the arch. Something like
    30 60 and something thing.

    I didn't know you could sharpen different colors separately. Did I just not look hard enough?

    Don't want to miss that. ONe more thing to learn.

    ginger
    After all is said and done, it is the sweet tea.
  • R&RR&R Registered Users Posts: 45 Big grins
    edited September 22, 2004
    I will try shooting in raw. I just hate how big the files are and they download as TIFS. I have had problems with low light as well. Did shooting raw help that?

    Believe it or not I still like doing the computer flight simms. I haven't done much of it lately though because I have been so busy. Which ones do you like?

    Rich
  • R&RR&R Registered Users Posts: 45 Big grins
    edited September 22, 2004
    Thanks Ginger for all the good advice. I think I might preorder the elements for that special $50 price I saw on the photoshop forum. I am looking forward to being able to fix some of my photos.

    Rich
  • digismiledigismile Registered Users Posts: 955 Major grins
    edited September 22, 2004
    This is my favorite shot. The B&W's do nothing for me, but that's probably just me. There is certainly a strong following of "convert everything to B&W" here on dgrin :D , so take my feedback with a grain of salt!

    The area I live in is called Blue Sky Country because of all the sunshine we get. It's not often you get such a perfect colour sky. I guess that's why I like this photo ... Good job.

    8885349-M.jpg


    The silhouette is pretty good too. I might tried lightening the shadows and colour just to see how it looks.

    8885352-M.jpg


    Look forward to seeing more.

    Regards,
    Brad
  • wxwaxwxwax Registered Users Posts: 15,471 Major grins
    edited September 23, 2004
    I agree, digi, the color arch with the water reflection is really nice, my favorite also.
    Sid.
    Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam
    http://www.mcneel.com/users/jb/foghorn/ill_shut_up.au
  • DJ-S1DJ-S1 Registered Users Posts: 2,303 Major grins
    edited September 23, 2004
    ginger_55 wrote:
    Oh, that stuff someone did, with the areal (sp?) shot of the arch. Something like 30 60 and something thing.

    I didn't know you could sharpen different colors separately. Did I just not look hard enough?

    Don't want to miss that. ONe more thing to learn.

    ginger
    Ginger, The 30,60,1 settings were for the USM variables (amount, radius, and threshold but I don't remember the right order...). I didn't sharpen individual colors, I just made level adjustments on the individual colors. I bet you do that sometimes already. Sorry if my original explanation was confusing.

    R&R, I think you got some great shots there of the arch. Are you sure you're a beginner??eek7.gif:D
  • R&RR&R Registered Users Posts: 45 Big grins
    edited September 23, 2004
    I promise that I am. The flowers I took pictures of are the first pictures I have ever taken without people in them. I cheated with the Arch. When we are in St. Louis we stay in a hotel directly across from the arch. It is the Millenium Hotel and there are pictures all over the hotel. I saw similar pictures that I took and got my idea from them. I knew that there had to be water somewhere to get that reflection. I walked around for an hour and a half before I found where they got some of there pictures. The siluette shot I got lucky on because I was trying to learn more about how shutter speed and aperture relate.

    Question:
    If your camera is in shutter priority do you get more depth of field with a slower shutter speed or faster shutter speed. I always forget which aperture gives you better depth of field but I figure if I know how the shutter speed relates I won't forget. I think a lower number aperture is less depth of field and faster shutter speed because more light gets in. Higher number aperture is more depth of field but needs more light so longer shutter speed. I always mess this up because I know aperture is really a fraction and the lower number is actually a higher value. Is this correct or am I way off?

    I love this sight. Everybody is so helpful. If Andy sees this my hat is off to you because I love your pictures and your contests make this so much more fun. I would never have been out taking pictures this week if it wasn't for this forum. Thank you everybody.thumb.gif

    Rich
  • R&RR&R Registered Users Posts: 45 Big grins
    edited September 23, 2004
    One more question

    I have a picture I put in for my profile but I don't know hot to get it to display on my posts.

    Rich
  • ginger_55ginger_55 Registered Users Posts: 8,416 Major grins
    edited September 23, 2004
    R&R wrote:
    One more question

    I have a picture I put in for my profile but I don't know hot to get it to display on my posts.

    Rich
    It is called an avatar, click on private messages, look to your left, find avatar and follow the rules there.

    smile, ginger
    After all is said and done, it is the sweet tea.
  • ginger_55ginger_55 Registered Users Posts: 8,416 Major grins
    edited September 23, 2004
    R&R wrote:
    I
    Question:
    If your camera is in shutter priority do you get more depth of field with a slower shutter speed or faster shutter speed. I always forget which aperture gives you better depth of field but I figure if I know how the shutter speed relates I won't forget. I think a lower number aperture is less depth of field and faster shutter speed because more light gets in. Higher number aperture is more depth of field but needs more light so longer shutter speed. I always mess this up because I know aperture is really a fraction and the lower number is actually a higher value. Is this correct or am I way off?

    I love this sight. Everybody is so helpful. If Andy sees this my hat is off to you because I love your pictures and your contests make this so much more fun. I would never have been out taking pictures this week if it wasn't for this forum. Thank you everybody.thumb.gif

    Rich
    Well, for making things complicated.:D I had forgotten all that after years of learning it. Just reading your question brought a lot of it back.

    All I ever learned, until it was instinct (and this was film) I learned that the higher the aperture the greater the depth of field. I learned this by memorizing that it was all screwed up and the opposite of the way I would have thought.

    When I had that down, a bit of the whys and wherefores crept in, but not to the degree you want to know.

    I also learned that the higher the number the more the action was stopped and the easier it was to hand hold the camera as related to shutter speed.

    I did not have the priority thing which is now even messing with my head a bit.

    But I, well my camera was broken, I didn't know it, AF didn't work, so I had to shoot in shutter priority, TF, I think.

    However, it would depend on a lot of things, I am nothing if not practical and don't confuse me with more than I want to know, I am that type person.

    I would go to shutter priority if a fast shutter speed were necessary. Or a slow one.

    Now what that would do to the aperture, well, a faster shutter speed (higher number), it would make the aperture a lower number, and thereby reduce the depth of field.

    On aperture priority, say on a tripod, or if depth of field is important, a lot of depth of field, the higher number, would give you a slower shutter speed.

    See, if one goes up and takes priority, the other one is going to go down as it loses priority.

    I usually set my camera before I leave the house. I even make notes to myself. I still mess up. Before I about a few weeks ago I used my Rebel, DSLR, on programmed modes, made it a point and shoot basically. Now I am learning this stuff again, too, I shot film for years, but even shot it in programmable mode towards the end. So about 20 years ago I knew this stuff, now I am trying to put it all together in digital with slightly different language.

    Start out small, I would suggest. Just learn what works, then learn why it works. If you are one of those people who have to know it all........I cannot relate.

    And all the info I gave you might be wrong, so I would ask someone else, too.
    If it is all wrong, let me know, and I will delete this post and go hang my head.

    gingerne_nau.gif (A slow shutter speed would give you more depth of field? But how much more would depend. It has to be slow enough to shoot, smile. Then to get lots of depth of field, it would have to be even slower?)

    I am going to go eat lunch and read books.
    After all is said and done, it is the sweet tea.
  • GREAPERGREAPER Registered Users Posts: 3,113 Major grins
    edited September 23, 2004
    R&R wrote:

    Question:
    If your camera is in shutter priority do you get more depth of field with a slower shutter speed or faster shutter speed. I always forget which aperture gives you better depth of field but I figure if I know how the shutter speed relates I won't forget. I think a lower number aperture is less depth of field and faster shutter speed because more light gets in. Higher number aperture is more depth of field but needs more light so longer shutter speed. I always mess this up because I know aperture is really a fraction and the lower number is actually a higher value. Is this correct or am I way off?

    I love this sight. Everybody is so helpful. If Andy sees this my hat is off to you because I love your pictures and your contests make this so much more fun. I would never have been out taking pictures this week if it wasn't for this forum. Thank you everybody.thumb.gif

    Rich

    You are correct Sir. If depth of field is your main concern you might consider shooting in aperature priority and selecting the aperature you want. If stopping (or not stopping it) action is what you are after, then you might consider shutter priority.
  • R&RR&R Registered Users Posts: 45 Big grins
    edited September 23, 2004
    When you do just shutter priority to stop the action what rule of thumb do you use to figure how fast you can go without losing the image. When I was out in St. Louis I came up with a little trick that seemed to work for me. I was putting the camera in Priority mode and it picks the best shutter and aperture. You can vary either in this mode but it isn't as quick as using shutter priority or aperture priority. Anyway I looked to see what shutter speed it was going to use and used that as a base of a good shot. I figured it wouldn't hurt to go one stop lower or higher and you would still end up with the same shot. The only problem is you don't always have time to do this. The arch wasn't going anywhere so I had all the time in the world. Is there some secret out there I don't know. I have heard of a light meter on your camera but I don't think the coolpix 5700 has that.

    Sorry one more question on this post. All of my shots needed the contrast bumped up about 15% the brightness down about 10% and the saturation up 20%. Is there a way to set my camera so my shots would be closer to this and not all need tweaking. The only one I found messing with made it bad was the silluette.

    Thanks again. I hope I am not driving people crazy with all these questions.

    Rich
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