Beginner I dont know if my photography is improving But

Well that's a start. I remember when I reached that stage......what am I saying I'm still at that stage :)
 
As I sell photo's I'm not commenting on my crapness ;).

I've long said the difference between a newbies keeper rate and a pro's is tiny (we all throw away 60-70%. the technical quality of stuff that goes in the bin though? There's the difference.

Today I've been culling yesterday's wedding. 1800 shots which will eventually become <500. Of the stuff we're 'binning'; OoF or ridiculously exposed shots = less than 10, in fact there's more misfires of the floor/scenery than there are OoF shots. The 'technical' stuff becomes second nature, the creative stuff never gets easy, and I'm not sure it ever should.
 
Phil V said:
As I sell photo's I'm not commenting on my crapness ;).

I've long said the difference between a newbies keeper rate and a pro's is tiny (we all throw away 60-70%. the technical quality of stuff that goes in the bin though? There's the difference.

Today I've been culling yesterday's wedding. 1800 shots which will eventually become <500. Of the stuff we're 'binning'; OoF or ridiculously exposed shots = less than 10, in fact there's more misfires of the floor/scenery than there are OoF shots. The 'technical' stuff becomes second nature, the creative stuff never gets easy, and I'm not sure it ever should.
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You know what Phil? Thats made me feel a whole lot better knowing that you get oof(i had to think fir a min what that meant) shots and its not just me plus all the ones youve binned, i have been sorting out my photos because of migrating to photos app and couldnt believe how really bad a lot were compared to a lot of my recent stuff so i am encouraged to continue to learn and improve, hoping to go the the leicester uni boat racing regala later to get some shots.do i take my 35 85 or 18-55 70-300 would be a good length i reckon but i dont have one lol.im not saying there are not some good photos taken a while ago its just that im getting far more critical of the not so good. Anyway its like the guitar, its not just about having the perfect guitar or even playing the correct notes or chords its that plus using self expression to create something that feels good and satisfying
Cheers for everyones input, we all have a story to tell.
 
SsSsSsSsSnake said:
You know what Phil? Thats made me feel a whole lot better knowing that you get oof(i had to think fir a min what that meant) shots and its not just me plus all the ones youve binned, i have been sorting out my photos because of migrating to photos app and couldnt believe how really bad a lot were compared to a lot of my recent stuff so i am encouraged to continue to learn and improve, hoping to go the the leicester uni boat racing regala later to get some shots.do i take my 35 85 or 18-55 70-300 would be a good length i reckon but i dont have one lol.im not saying there are not some good photos taken a while ago its just that im getting far more critical of the not so good. Anyway its like the guitar, its not just about having the perfect guitar or even playing the correct notes or chords its that plus using self expression to create something that feels good and satisfying
Cheers for everyones input, we all have a story to tell.
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If you haven't got a long lens, you have to shoot with what you have. But that means shooting appropriate subjects for the gear too. Don't try to shoot long range action shots, get into the on shore stuff, up close and personal.
 
lol nice one Ken.

ok I'm very very pleased with my shoot this afternoon,but its raised a question or 2.

eg A nice old rolls wedding car cream and Burgundy.the shot has come out nice and sharp,good colours and I'm very pleased with it.

ok i was looking at the focus point,i use NikonD3300 centre focus point.where the hell do you chooses to focus,i know if its portraight its on the nearest eye, yes but where in heavens name do you focus on a big car like that.
also it was nice and bright day i was using the Nikon 85mm 1.8 G.
with a lot of light available,how do you choose what aperture to use because a few would have done for the shot,that really confuses me.if its low light i understand use more open aperture but what about in this case with good light and still object.
and lastly(for now :)) I can't see how i can improve the photo in Aperture ,thats it,what should i try and improve if anything?

thanks for reading and hopefully offering some advice.but overall very pleased with today but still scratching my head,i like to know why.:)
 
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SsSsSsSsSnake said:
lol nice one Ken.

ok I'm very very pleased with my shoot this afternoon,but its raised a question or 2.

eg A nice old rolls wedding car cream and Burgundy.the shot has come out nice and sharp,good colours and I'm very pleased with it.

ok i was looking at the focus point,i use NikonD3300 centre focus point.where the hell do you chooses to focus,i know if its portraight its on the nearest eye, yes but where in heavens name do you focus on a big car like that.
also it was nice and bright day i was using the Nikon 85mm 1.8 G.
with a lot of light available,how do you choose what aperture to use because a few would have done for the shot,that really confuses me.if its low light i understand use more open aperture but what about in this case with good light and still object.
and lastly(for now :)) I can't see how i can improve the photo in Aperture ,thats it,what should i try and improve if anything?

thanks for reading and hopefully offering some advice.but overall very pleased with today but still scratching my head,i like to know why.:)
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DoF tables, have a look and memorise them, come back and I'll give you a test.

Seriously, I still use old manual focus lenses with DoF lines marked on them so it's quite easy figuring out what is and is not in focus. I just use this knowledge with more modern lenses.
DoF preview button is another way.
Generally, pick a point which you want to be in focus, close down to f5.6 or f8 and you should be fine.
You don't need to use f1.8 all the time.
 
I'm in the same boat, and I am my own worst critique! Even the ones everyone else say are really good, I always manage to find something I'm not happy with. o_O

But I like this about me, because it drives me to improve all the time (y) ;)
 
lol David I've seen your work so i know you are ok :)
Ken where can I find the DOF tables.
thanks for that about aperture size.
DOF preview button,i remember on my canon 600d i tried that and couldn't see any difference when I pressed it,couldn't understand it at all.shall see if there is one on the Nikon.
Jamie i agree some what,it drives you onwards but sometimes it gets a bit much,I'm like that with my guitar playing too,well everything really :ROFLMAO:
 
One step forward, two steps back. We've all been there.

http://www.dofmaster.com/doftable.html Change first figure to 85 and camera to Nikon D3000 series.
You can keep a note of a few figures to jog your memory, maybe f1.8 and f8 at a few distances.
 
thanks Ken just had a look ,I'm going to have to put my thinking head on here lol
 
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think it's time for this old chestnut...

A-photographers-learning-curve.jpg
 
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