Beginner Glenfinnan 31/07/2022

[Deleted member 96017]

Hi,

As mentioned in my thread in the welcome section of the forum, I'm new and just starting out learning.

Yesterday, worried if I'd bitten off more than I could chew, I set out with the kids to the Glenfinnan Viaduct for my first proper attempt at some serious photography with my new gear. I'm overall pleased at the results, but there's always room for improvement. I learnt a lot yesterday, but I think I now have more questions than answers! Hints/tips/feedback/criticism welcome Camera/lenses in my signature.

It was a lovely sunny day, and sadly, that has taken its toll on a few of my pics. Pics are a mixture of Auto and Aperture Priority. Train purely Auto so I didn't screw up and waste a 6 hour round trip! I didn't have any lens hoods with me, but I've ordered some, so hopefully that'll show in future shoots. As mentioned, the weather was bright and sunny so a lot of my pics featured an overexposed sky and some lens flare. How should I work around this in future? Is there a remedy in post-processing? I noticed that I'm not keeping the camera as level as I could when not using the tripod I borrowed, so that's something else for me to work on.

I've been reading up on how using a higher f-stop gives you a greater field of view. As you can see from my basic lenses, my max f-stops are quite low, yet the camera would allow me to set higher and higher f-stops well above my max f5.6 - I assume that the lens doesn't go above f5.6 and/or the camera mimics higher?

Anyway, enough waffling on from me, here's the best of my pics from yesterday. Slight edits in DPP4.

https://imgur.com/UJq4Lrx

View: https://imgur.com/UJq4Lrx

https://imgur.com/BRy9s1V

View: https://imgur.com/BRy9s1V


https://imgur.com/PQGloEn

https://imgur.com/9cSnu7x

https://imgur.com/eF5bdKD

https://imgur.com/3tp47wN

https://imgur.com/gP3Pxpy

https://imgur.com/0g2VJ9l

https://imgur.com/54TgTIE

(I'm working on figuring out how to embed the photos)

 

[Adam-G]

Hi Stuart! I'm in the beginner's boat too (been shooting just over a year). I'm at work currently so I can't see all your images but the couple I can see look really good for someone just starting out.

To explain your aperture confusion, the range quoted on your lens means is the range of the widest aperture throughout your zoom range.

For example, your 18-55mm can shoot at f4 at 18mm but the widest it will go at 55mm is 5.6.

The thing that always catches beginners is the inverse nature of aperture numbers. Basically, the bigger the number, the smaller the aperture hole becomes. This increases depth of field but lets less light in.

For a shallower depth of field, a wider aperture is needed (smaller number).

With regard to managing exposure in bright situations, a fast shutter speed, low ISO, narrower aperture or combination of all three can help depending on your intent.

 

[Deleted member 96017]

Hi Adam,

Thanks for your reply and feedback. I do hope you can make time to view my other images.

I was aware of lower f-stop = wider aperture, however I really appreciate your explanation of max aperture vs focal length, makes perfect sense.

Thanks also for the tips for the future.

Cheers!

Stuart

 

[Adam-G]

As you can see from my basic lenses, my max f-stops are quite low, yet the camera would allow me to set higher and higher f-stops well above my max f5.6 - I assume that the lens doesn't go above f5.6 and/or the camera mimics higher?

Apologies if I explained the f-stops unnecessarily, it was this sentence that made me think there was confusion around it as a camera can't mimic an f-stop.

When you say your maximum f-stops are quite low, in lens terms that would be referring to faster lenses (f2.8, f1.8, f1.4 etc] which is why when you said you can set it higher and higher I thought there was confusion that you can mechanically set your lens to f8, f11, f13, f16 etc which would be perfectly normal.

Again, sorry if I've read that all wrong. I'll go check your gallery out. Looks a lovely place to take photos.

 

[woof woof]

Lovely pictures Stewart. You certainly have an eye for a good picture. Well done

Higher f numbers like f8, f11 etc give you more depth of field whereas apertures like f1.4, f1.8 etc give less depth of field. Note that narrower apertures like f8, f11 and so on reduce the amount of light entering the camera and thus your shutter speed may drop or your ISO may increase.

Field of view is different and relates to the view you capture and the focal length, 18mm, 35mm, 50mm etc.

One good thing about digital is that you can sit and experiment with settings and view the results on screen and it doesn't cost you a small fortune in film and developing

Well done on the explanation Adam