My debut photos in TP

[Ian D J]

Hi, thought I'd start off with this collection of photos I've taken last Saturday.
While it does look all random, you might be interested to know that they were taken all in the space of a single morning. It was when I've just taken purchase of a new Nikon D40 and wanted to road test it . . . hence these pictures. :D I have been into digital photography for while a while (since my first digital camera in 2003 - a 1.3 mp floppy based Sony Macevia!) but it's only very recently have I become much more experimental. I don't claim to be a profressional, it's just something I do purely for enjoyment.
Location is around Folkestone, time of picture taken will be seen above each frame . . . so, enjoy!

Folkestone Harbour: 5.30 am

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/idj20/HarbourMay081.jpg

The hills to the back of Folkestone, taken from Sellinge. 5.45 am:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/idj20/MayMist0811.jpg

A little later on in the morning at 8.30 am:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/idj20/HorseMay081.jpg

(Kinda reminded me of an 80's pop star!)

Good ol' Folkestone, taken from one of the hills to the north. 8.45 am:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/idj20/FolkestoneMay081.jpg

Then drove a little further west and ended up at the Battle of Britain memorial site. 9 am.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/idj20/PlaneMay08.jpg

Then back to near my home location. 9.15 am.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/idj20/RailwayMay08.jpg

(Disclaimer: I haven't been wandering up that railway line to take this picture, it was taken from a public crossing. And besides, this line is now officially disused where no trains will no longer go down to the harbour. Truly the end of an era)

Here's a bonus couple of pictures, taken a week later. Near Etchinghill:

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/idj20/MayMist0821.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y193/idj20/MayRapeseed1.jpg

The last two pictures has been taken with a humble Fuji A900, which proves you don't need the latest and greatest gear to take good pictures.

Of course, any tips, advice and comments would be most appreciated. Like I said before, although I've been a shutterbug since I got my first SLR film camera back in 1985, I still feel quite new to all this and have a lot to learn.
I never enhance any of my pictures (just the usual resize and sharpen) I try and keep it as natural as possible, in other words, what you see is what I saw.

[mmcp42]

crikey - not a bad set to start you off - and welcome :wave:
I think the last might benefit from losing some (blank) sky and putting the horizon up on a third
the others look great to me as they are!

[Pirate Neilsouth]

I like the last one , the sort of shot you see on canvas :D

[Ian D J]

Hi, Mike and Neil. :) Thanks for the kind comments, not a bad start for me, eh? I have a feeling I'm going to be spending a lot of my spare time in here. So much photos to look at and so little time to do it!

[sbowler579]

Hi, and welcome, some great shots there. Love the harbour shot with the bridge and boats lovely reflections of the sea. Keep posting.

[purpleclouds]

excellent series of photos to start off your life here..and I say life because its impossible to leave ;)

welcome! :)

[Cuddy]

Great start i do like the harbour shot, welcome to TP

[Ian D J]

Thank you, Steve, Phil and Brian for looking at this thread and leaving those kind comments.
Yep, I think I will like it very much in here. I've spent a couple of hours scouring through the rest of this web site and looking at all those amazing photos. I only wish I came across TP ages ago.

[hunter20ga]

Very nice set of photos. Looks as though you and the D40 will get along quite well! The harbor shot is probably my favorite, and the B&W railroad shot is evocative of times past and nicely done.

[Defiance]

The railway shot and the crop are my favourites. Like the harbour bridge one too, but it looks like it could use staightening just a tad...but i'm being very picky :)

[Joanna]

I think - the first is the best :)

[dafmeister]

Like the EQUINE RAMBO look.