Tips needed!

Tootz

Tootz

Messages
24
Name
Sophie
Edit My Images
No
Hi everyone,

stumbled across these forums on my search for some photography tips! Im new to photography and trying to teach myself as I go along. I bought myself a Canon 1000d earlier in the year and Im still using the standard lens it came with (it hasnt got IS), I will upgrade the lens when I have the spare cash and once ive got to grips with the settings etc.

What I think im struggling with is taking decent pictures outside, alot of the pictures I take arent as sharp as Id like and can look a little bit too dull. Im sure this has something to do with the lens but was wondering if anyone can give me some tips on how to make the most out the standard lens I have at the moment. I havnt got round to adjusting the settings in depth, I think it all scares me a bit! Would it help to have a polarised filter when shooting outside?

Ive attached a few of my favourite pictures, and a couple landscape ones which I need help with!

summer-1.jpg
cows-1.jpg
eggs-1.jpg
whiteblossom-1.jpg


To me, these ones look like they could've been taken with a normal compact camera.

graves.jpg
field.jpg


What needs changing? As you can probably tell, im literally pointing and shooting! :( Thanks guys.
 
Last edited:
As boring as it sounds, I would recomend reading the manual first. Cover to cover.

That's what I did and it did help me. I've had my 500D a few weeks now and feel I have progressed well.

Outside pictures, I like to take a test picture, look at this histogram, and see if I am over/under exposing etc, then adjust to suit.

Have a play, stick it in Av mode - the shutter speed will be adjusted for you, shoot, look at it, look at the histogram, and see what affects moving the aperture have.

Make sure your white balance isn't funny(top arrow), and the picture style (bottom arrow).
 
Its hard to help with the exif data for the pictures.

Stick that up and i'm sure someone will have something to add! :-)
 
Ok thanks - I did get half way through reading the manual but got a little bit impatient!!

Ill have a play around tonight and try and post the exif data.
 
Tootz said:
What needs changing? As you can probably tell, im literally pointing and shooting! :( Thanks guys.
Click to expand...

What youve written there is what needs to be changed in my opinion :D

Try to think more about what you are doing before you press the shutter button. If you have an idea in your head about how you want a shot to look, experiment with your settings until you achieve the look you are after (reading the manual will help with this). I was told a lot of years ago by someone I really respect that I should really 'Interrogate' the scene before I pressed the shutter button. Look for intersting angles, look for foreground interest in your landscape photos, know the RULES of composition and exposure, and look for a way of translating what you see into a shot that tells the viewer a story about it.

I admit that, when I was first told the above that I thought 'What a load of old ****! BUT, it has pretty much always stood me in good stead :thumbs:
 
I think your first four shots (the small ones) show that you've got a good eye. Next thing would be to take the camera off auto and play around; you're not paying film costs so you've nothing to lose except a little time.

Use the different modes and make radical changes, like taking shots at the largest and smallest apertures you can get on your lens with the given focal length and then review the results on the camera. Once you start noticing the differences, play with the settings some more to fine-tune and get closer to the results you find most pleasing.

It's useful to be aware of things like the rule of thirds both for composition and for knowing when you're breaking them deliberately.

Finally, I have a personal rule - if you can't get it working after three attempts, read the manual. Who wants to bury their head in a book when you just want to go out and play? ;)
 
Yes, if you just point and shoot, that's what you will get. The camera only records the scene it's looking at, just like a compact (and they can take great pictures BTW) and if the light is dull, the images will be dull. They key is to find an interesting angle, with good light, and composition - which is down to you. But that will come with practise, unless you're compeletely visually inept - which very few people actually are if you work at it a bit, and the fact that you've bought a DSLR is a promising sign ;)

The advantage of a DSLR is in three main areas. Image quality, but often only noticeable in larger output sizes. Depth of field control, so you can creatively decide what is in focus and what isn't. And of course the system versatility with interchangeable lenses, flash etc.

I doubt that the lens is the problem. Have a look at 40,000 images here on Flickr taken with it http://www.flickr.com/groups/18-55canon/ There are better lenses for sure, that will do more things, but you can pay 3x the price and more for a marginal improvement in most situations.

I've got a feeling you might like the results you get with a nifty-fifty - Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens for about £80. It's main trick, apart from being very cheap, is that it delivers very shallow depth of field which is something you pretty much cannot get with a compact. Flickr again, only 130,000 examples with this one :eek: :D http://www.flickr.com/groups/canonef50mm/
 
Last edited:
HoppyUK said:
I've got a feeling you might like the results you get with a nifty-fifty - Canon 50mm f/1.8 lens for about £80. It's main trick, apart from being very cheap, is that it delivers very shallow depth of field which is something you pretty much cannot get with a compact. Flickr again, only 130,000 examples with this one :eek: :D http://www.flickr.com/groups/canonef50mm/
Click to expand...

I was actually looking at that lens earlier today! Think I might have to treat myself to a little purchase.

Thank you all so much for the advise - I think Im too keen to take pictures that Im not taking my time with it and working out the best ways to capture them!
 
Tootz said:
I was actually looking at that lens earlier today! Think I might have to treat myself to a little purchase.

Thank you all so much for the advise - I think Im too keen to take pictures that Im not taking my time with it and working out the best ways to capture them!
Click to expand...

Just don't get too bogged down in your results, remember photography is meant to be fun at the end of the day.

Good luck.
 
Also remember that the rules of composition, like all rules, can be broken :thumbs: Although it is an essential to know them and use them, don't be afraid to try something just because it breaks the rules! For the majority of us a photo is a personal thing and as long as the outcome is something you like then you can't be wrong :D
 
Tootz said:
I was actually looking at that lens earlier today! Think I might have to treat myself to a little purchase.

Thank you all so much for the advise - I think Im too keen to take pictures that Im not taking my time with it and working out the best ways to capture them!
Click to expand...

Haha! Get one. Use it at low f/numbers and it'll give you different and interesting results. It'll also make you think - and focus very carefully! Check out that Flickr link - it's great for portraits at f/1.8 and the closer you get the less depth of field you'll get. Also good for shooting in low light.

Then review your results, try to understand what's happening. You'll get hold of the basics fairly quickly, build from there. Nobody got good at thus stuff overnight ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top