Where to start?

DieselriderDieselrider Registered Users Posts: 7 Beginner grinner
edited March 19, 2008 in Wildlife
Hi folks, I have been looking around the site here a bit and I am blown away by the quaity of your work. I want to be able to take wildlife shots like these I see on here. I am just getting started in digital and photography in general at middle age) and I am looking for some basic stuff, like books on what camera settings to use and what to do to prepare for different situations etc. I am shooting with a canon digital rebel xti and cheap glass to start out: Quantaray AF 70-200mm macro lens and a Tameron 28-80mm AF lens.
I haved looked at some of the tutorials and I can only hope to absorb it all. I have to go re read the sunny 16 rule as I am just not getting it. The first shot of the moon is right on with the chart and after that I got lost as the other shots were no where near the chart numbers. Then again I was the smartest kid in school as I overheard the teachers say they "can't teah that kid a darned thing". :roflIf anyone has some recomendations, I would love to hear from you. Thanks.

Comments

  • GiphsubGiphsub Registered Users Posts: 2,662 Major grins
    edited March 18, 2008
    Welcome to the forums!

    All I can say is shoot, post get comments, shoot, post, get comments, shoot, post.... You'll learn a heap that way. Go back and re-read the tutorials a few times after trying some of it. It will only sink in with a bit of hands on prac. There are so many awesome photogs on here all more than willing to answer your endless questions and give advice. I am still learning myself, and enjoying it immensely. Good luck! Look forward to seeing your photos thumb.gif
    Mike Helbig

    http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
    http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
  • DieselriderDieselrider Registered Users Posts: 7 Beginner grinner
    edited March 18, 2008
    How do I post photos on here if I don't have a smugmug account? I will look through some of my work to find something either tonight or tomorrow. I have todo some running today. Thanks.:photo
  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited March 18, 2008
    Dieselrider wrote:
    Hi folks, I have been looking around the site here a bit and I am blown away by the quaity of your work. I want to be able to take wildlife shots like these I see on here. I am just getting started in digital and photography in general at middle age) and I am looking for some basic stuff, like books on what camera settings to use and what to do to prepare for different situations etc. I am shooting with a canon digital rebel xti and cheap glass to start out: Quantaray AF 70-200mm macro lens and a Tameron 28-80mm AF lens.
    I haved looked at some of the tutorials and I can only hope to absorb it all. I have to go re read the sunny 16 rule as I am just not getting it. The first shot of the moon is right on with the chart and after that I got lost as the other shots were no where near the chart numbers. Then again I was the smartest kid in school as I overheard the teachers say they "can't teah that kid a darned thing". rolleyes1.gifIf anyone has some recomendations, I would love to hear from you. Thanks.

    The XTi is a fine intro digital SLR. You are fine in that regards. The Tammy lens is a decent lens too, but I would not expect much from that Quantaray lens. Quantaray lenses use a very cheap manufacturing process I guess which leads to many imperfections in the glass.

    As far as other recommendations, like as been said, keep practicing and reading. I tend to shoot either in manual, especially in low light situations, or in AV (Aperture Priority) mode. Pay attention to your background which can kill a shot. Take at look at the sticky thread about lenses too. Oh and have fun!
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • GiphsubGiphsub Registered Users Posts: 2,662 Major grins
    edited March 18, 2008
    Dieselrider wrote:
    How do I post photos on here if I don't have a smugmug account? I will look through some of my work to find something either tonight or tomorrow. I have todo some running today. Thanks.:photo

    It's easy. Just copy the url of your picture (right click and save location) then click on the picture symbol (looks like a mountain in a small yellow picture) at the top of the box that you write your post in (on the right end of the line starting with B I U...) Then paste the saved url into the prompt box that comes up and click ok!thumb.gif
    Mike Helbig

    http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
    http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
  • GiphsubGiphsub Registered Users Posts: 2,662 Major grins
    edited March 18, 2008
    Ah, but you do need to be hosting the pictures somewhere online to be able to do this.
    Mike Helbig

    http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
    http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited March 18, 2008
    Dieselrider wrote:
    How do I post photos on here if I don't have a smugmug account? I will look through some of my work to find something either tonight or tomorrow. I have todo some running today. Thanks.:photo

    Heres a tute on how to post pics on Dgrin. The second page of it shows how to attach a photo from your hard drive.

    Welcome 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!"
  • DieselriderDieselrider Registered Users Posts: 7 Beginner grinner
    edited March 19, 2008
    Ok, next problem. I have downsized a couple photos to post and they are within the 800 pixel range for the long side but the file size is saying i am still too large in file size for the maximum. Max is about 150K and I am at 200kb. Thanks for your patience with me.
  • GiphsubGiphsub Registered Users Posts: 2,662 Major grins
    edited March 19, 2008
    What are you using to downsize? If it is photoshop, then after resizing the photo, choose "save as" and choose a slightly lower quality setting on the slider. Check the resulting size. If it's too big still, then resave at one stop lower, and check again.
    Mike Helbig

    http://www.michaelhelbigphotography.com
    http://www.thewildpig.blogspot.com
  • ZanottiZanotti Registered Users Posts: 1,411 Major grins
    edited March 19, 2008
    Really the best way is to get a Smugmug account. You will love it - and if not - there is a 30 day free trial.

    If you want: here's a coupon for $5 off:


    You can save a friend $5 on a SmugMug subscription! It's simple: have your friend enter your personal coupon ( 13Mcs8E4r2bFs ) in the 'Referred by' field on the signup form (Important: They can't enter any other information, such as your name. Just your email address or coupon).



    .
    It is the purpose of life that each of us strives to become actually what he is potentially. We should be obsessed with stretching towards that goal through the world we inhabit.
  • DieselriderDieselrider Registered Users Posts: 7 Beginner grinner
    edited March 19, 2008
    I am editing in Gimp and running Mepis 7.0 Linux. Photoshop someday maybe but not yet. I have it down in size now so lets try this. Tell me what you think. this is like most of my stuff so far, from right around home. Well I don't see it on here. I tried twice so, I don't know if it worked.
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