My few attempts at photography

ShepsMom

Hi all! I'm new to photography and to this board. I made myself a x-mas present by purchasing Nikon D80. I used to those P&S cameras, and this is my first DSLR. I would really like to get your opinion on my pathetic attempt at making pictures. Unless there is a place newbie can go for advice around here, then please let me know.

Anyhow, i have 2 GSDs and they're my practice objects LOL.
Any advice, critiquie, comment, would be appreciated.

Thank you!

Some doggy portraits:



Some Wet&Wild shots

raptorcaptor

Like the action in the third shot! Keep posting!

gus

raptorcaptor wrote:

Like the action in the third shot! Keep posting!

Absolutely..dogs love the water alright.

GraphyFotoz

ShepsMom wrote:

Hi all! I'm new to photography and to this board. I made myself a x-mas present by purchasing Nikon D80. I used to those P&S cameras, and this is my first DSLR. I would really like to get your opinion on my pathetic attempt at making pictures. Unless there is a place newbie can go for advice around here, then please let me know.

Anyhow, i have 2 GSDs and they're my practice objects .
Any advice, critiquie, comment, would be appreciated.

Thank you!

1st off WELOME!!!

AND...........
You are kidding right?

Those are great and I'd say they are pretty dang good for a "Beginner"!
Keep posting while I find my shovel....it's getting deep around here!!

photographix

new shooter
good shots and happy dogs. look good to me welcom. post um when you got um. rick.

JESTER

The above guys are being nice to you so I will critique you. In the first photo the dog is too serious. Tell him to lighten up! Second photo, his tag is not in the right spot. Should be under his neck. Third photo, one ear is up and one is down. Fourth, Head is too high out of the water. Other than that. GREAT photos. I love German Shepards!

p.s. Now you know why my name is JESTER.

ShepsMom

GraphyFotoz wrote:

1st off WELOME!!!

AND...........
You are kidding right?

Those are great and I'd say they are pretty dang good for a "Beginner"!
Keep posting while I find my shovel....it's getting deep around here!!

No, i'm not kidding!! I've been reading the manuals that camera came with !! I'm still confused tho, it's no fun to shoot in Auto mode, i'm trying to figure out Manual. So, those above were shot in S mode. I can only play with it to see how they come out. Yesterday, i went out around 5pm, and pictures came out really bad!!! I tried S and A modes, and i don't know why, but they were very dark??

This one looks like it's been painted, why is that??

ShepsMom

JESTER wrote:

The above guys are being nice to you so I will critique you. In the first photo the dog is too serious. Tell him to lighten up! Second photo, his tag is not in the right spot. Should be under his neck. Third photo, one ear is up and one is down. Fourth, Head is too high out of the water. Other than that. GREAT photos. I love German Shepards!

p.s. Now you know why my name is JESTER.

Jester!! I love it, bring it on!

Harryb

Welcome to Dgrin and I'm looking forward to seeing more of your shots.

Maestro

I really love the first welcome.

Gale

They are beautiful images.
Why lool painted. The DOF prob.
Lucky. I like them when they turn out that way.

ShepsMom

Gale wrote:

They are beautiful images.
Why lool painted. The DOF prob.
Lucky. I like them when they turn out that way.

Are you serious?? I can't stand them looking like that. It looks fake. What about printing the actual photograph, yikes!!!
DOF, i have to play with it, i'm still trying to figure out how to fit all of it together.

Thank you for comments!

Angelo

Welcome aboard!

Compositionally thses are all nice shots. You definitely have an "eye", don't sweat the camera settings; you have some minor exposure problems in some of theses but all that learning will come in time.

There are many great photogs here who will help with their advice as well as direction to books and places to learn more.

ShepsMom

Angelo wrote:

Welcome aboard!

Compositionally thses are all nice shots. You definitely have an "eye", don't sweat the camera settings; you have some minor exposure problems in some of theses but all that learning will come in time.

There are many great photogs here who will help with their advice as well as direction to books and places to learn more.

Thank you Angelo!! Appreciate all the comments!!

schmoo

I can't believe this is your first DSLR! You're doing a great job. I would never post my first photos from my camera.

Beautiful dogs!

Osprey Whisperer

Welcome to Dgrin. Some nice shots of a doggy. The only thing that comes to mind is they "might" be a touch overexposed on the highlights. Could just be my eyes or monitor..but you seem to have lost some detail in the fur in some of the bright/light areas. Keep 'em coming and don't forget to feed the dog.

ShepsMom

Bird Man Photographer wrote:

Welcome to Dgrin. Some nice shots of a doggy. The only thing that comes to mind is they "might" be a touch overexposed on the highlights. Could just be my eyes or monitor..but you seem to have lost some detail in the fur in some of the bright/light areas. Keep 'em coming and don't forget to feed the dog.

I dont know how to correct this, i'm camera settings challenged. I'll be posting under Cameras for some help, cause i'm cluless!!

Thank you again for all the replies!!

Osprey Whisperer

ShepsMom wrote:

I dont know how to correct this, i'm camera settings challenged. I'll be posting under Cameras for some help, cause i'm cluless!!

Thank you again for all the replies!!

What kind of camera are you using? If you shoot in shutter or aperture priority mode...you want to use your EV (this will trick your camera's light meter into thinking it's got more or less light than you really have, depending on - or + settings) setting and dial it down just a touch..perhaps -EV 1/3..then check the histogram on the camera to see if you are blowing highlights. You can also take some "pre" shots and check the histogram....note your settings and if correct..you can "usually" turn the camera over to manual setting and punch in these settings for aperture and shutter speed. Unless you have changing light conditions..they should be good to go.

ShepsMom

Bird Man Photographer wrote:

What kind of camera are you using? If you shoot in shutter or aperture priority mode...you want to use your EV (this will trick your camera's light meter into thinking it's got more or less light than you really have, depending on - or + settings) setting and dial it down just a touch..perhaps -EV 1/3..then check the histogram on the camera to see if you are blowing highlights. You can also take some "pre" shots and check the histogram....note your settings and if correct..you can "usually" turn the camera over to manual setting and punch in these settings for aperture and shutter speed. Unless you have changing light conditions..they should be good to go.

Thank you Mike. I'm using Nikon D80, when shooting dogs play i'm using Shutter speed priority. For landscapes, nature, etc, i'm using Aperture, etc.
I don't know what EV is?? (i'm ashamed) There are settings that i tried and they didn't work very well. I always go back to the camera's manual and read again, then try and same BS happens. I'm ready to screem

Osprey Whisperer

ShepsMom wrote:

Thank you Mike. I'm using Nikon D80, when shooting dogs play i'm using Shutter speed priority. For landscapes, nature, etc, i'm using Aperture, etc.
I don't know what EV is?? (i'm ashamed) There are settings that i tried and they didn't work very well. I always go back to the camera's manual and read again, then try and same BS happens. I'm ready to screem

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with your camera. If it was a Canon..I could talk you through it ..step by step. This EV information will be found in your owners manual (see exposure compensation). It works the same for either priority mode. (real simply) .. I use negative -EV for white birds..birds with good bit of white..and very light colored subject matter in sunny lighting conditions. If the bird (subject) has lots of black..dark grays..colors..then usually boost to positive +EV. Your histogram is your friend. I assume this info is in your manual as well. This is a great tool to help you nail exposure.

ShepsMom

Bird Man Photographer wrote:

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with your camera. If it was a Canon..I could talk you through it ..step by step. This EV information will be found in your owners manual (see exposure compensation). It works the same for either priority mode. (real simply) .. I use negative -EV for white birds..birds with good bit of white..and very light colored subject matter in sunny lighting conditions. If the bird (subject) has lots of black..dark grays..colors..then usually boost to positive +EV. Your histogram is your friend. I assume this info is in your manual as well. This is a great tool to help you nail exposure.

Thank you Mike, at least I will know what to look for!!

RocketMan

Bird Man Photographer wrote:

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with your camera. If it was a Canon..I could talk you through it ..step by step. This EV information will be found in your owners manual (see exposure compensation). It works the same for either priority mode. (real simply) .. I use negative -EV for white birds..birds with good bit of white..and very light colored subject matter in sunny lighting conditions. If the bird (subject) has lots of black..dark grays..colors..then usually boost to positive +EV. Your histogram is your friend. I assume this info is in your manual as well. This is a great tool to help you nail exposure.

I can handle this one. On the D80 there is a square button just to the right and below (looking down on the camera from above) the on/off switch/shutter release button that has a +&- on it in little triangles. In any mode other than auto hold this button down and turn the rear thumb wheel to change it from neutral, right for minus, left for plus settings. You can change the steps ( by default 1/3EV) in the Custom Settings Menu (the little pencil on the left thrid down), it is item number 10 "EV steps", I've found the 1/3 setting to work well for me so far.

RM

ShepsMom

RocketMan wrote:

I can handle this one. On the D80 there is a square button just to the right and below (looking down on the camera from above) the on/off switch/shutter release button that has a +&- on it in little triangles. In any mode other than auto hold this button down and turn the rear thumb wheel to change it from neutral, right for minus, left for plus settings. You can change the steps ( by default 1/3EV) in the Custom Settings Menu (the little pencil on the left thrid down), it is item number 10 "EV steps", I've found the 1/3 setting to work well for me so far.

RM

Thanks RM, I saw that button, read manulas, couldn't figure out . Now, it make sense. So, - means darker pictures and + lighter? Is it correct? :dgrin

RocketMan

ShepsMom wrote:

Thanks RM, I saw that button, read manulas, couldn't figure out . Now, it make sense. So, - means darker pictures and + lighter? Is it correct? :dgrin

that's it, you are either adding (+) to the meter reading, making the picture brighter or subtracting (-) from the meter reading, making the image darker.

Nice camera by the by, I upgraded from the D70 a few months ago and am lovin' the D80, there are one or two controls I'd perfer better placed, but overall its a great camera, but then I've been a Nikon fan for years having owned an F since the mid '70's.:D

RM

ShepsMom

RocketMan wrote:

that's it, you are either adding (+) to the meter reading, making the picture brighter or subtracting (-) from the meter reading, making the image darker.

Nice camera by the by, I upgraded from the D70 a few months ago and am lovin' the D80, there are one or two controls I'd perfer better placed, but overall its a great camera, but then I've been a Nikon fan for years having owned an F since the mid '70's.:D

RM

Yes, it is nice, i really want Micro lense, but not yet. Too many lenses too little time .

GraphyFotoz

ShepsMom wrote:

Yes, it is nice, i really want Micro lense, but not yet. Too many lenses too little time .

The lens BUG will hit you soon enough!!
I didn't let it get me too hard....I bought my 3 lens 2nd hand LNIB and saved a WAD.
I'm happy with what I have.
I was knuclehead and grabbed the cheaper lenses at 1st.
Ya learn fast.....if your a serious ameteur photographer....they suck!
Mid range glass suits me fine....can't afford those top shelfers.
When ya see the price of em it'll cause ya to :yikes

ShepsMom

GraphyFotoz wrote:

The lens BUG will hit you soon enough!!
I didn't let it get me too hard....I bought my 3 lens 2nd hand LNIB and saved a WAD.
I'm happy with what I have.
I was knuclehead and grabbed the cheaper lenses at 1st.
Ya learn fast.....if your a serious ameteur photographer....they suck!
Mid range glass suits me fine....can't afford those top shelfers.
When ya see the price of em it'll cause ya to :yikes

Oh yeah I know!! I have one lens, and i think it's pretty good all around, but, i would like 3 more .
1. For Micro shots
2. For Sports (my son play Football) ya got to have them fast lenses
3. Super zoom, i want to zoom in on stuff that no otherwise reachable.


Ok, so i'm dreaming!! :snore

Skippy

ShepsMom wrote:

Hi all! I'm new to photography and to this board. I made myself a x-mas present by purchasing Nikon D80. I used to those P&S cameras, and this is my first DSLR. I would really like to get your opinion on my pathetic attempt at making pictures. Unless there is a place newbie can go for advice around here, then please let me know.
Anyhow, i have 2 GSDs and they're my practice objects .
Any advice, critiquie, comment, would be appreciated.
Thank you!
Some doggy portraits:
Some Wet&Wild shots

His ShepsMom your dog is really enjoying the water, you have a great subject to practice on, I'm sure you will never tire of photographing him/her, cause the dog has a cute face

You the great thing about being a beginner is you have no where to go but up, yep you just get better and better as you learn, sometimes it's frustrating, but everyone was a beginner at some stage

Shoot till your hearts content, as long as you are enjoying yourself that's what counts .... thanks for sharing...... Skippy

ShepsMom

Skippy wrote:

His ShepsMom your dog is really enjoying the water, you have a great subject to practice on, I'm sure you will never tire of photographing him/her, cause the dog has a cute face

You the great thing about being a beginner is you have no where to go but up, yep you just get better and better as you learn, sometimes it's frustrating, but everyone was a beginner at some stage

Shoot till your hearts content, as long as you are enjoying yourself that's what counts .... thanks for sharing...... Skippy

Thanks Skippy!! I found it entertaining to shoot dogs, or animals in general. Nothing is better then to capture a living breathing creature at its best!