New member/New to photography

[AVenom]

Hello all....I've just come into my first SLR(Cannon Digital rebel)
It was given to me by my father who has upgraded.
I've been using an Olympus Camedia C-3030 for about a year, and was happy with it.
My main focus is going to be automotive photography, as I'm involved with a few car clubs localy here in Rochester, NY.
I am very interested in some beginner advice, basic and most imprtant things I need to know before I start shooting.
Any help is appreciated!

_dave

[AVenom]

Here are 2 pictures I took with the rebel, and the first thing I notice is that they're not nearly as clear/crisp as the photos I see posted on this site.
Does this have to do with the settings on the camera?
I've also seen a number of people talking about using PS with their pictures.
Is it just as important to be proficiant with PS, as it is to be a good photographer?
Again thanks....
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h50/AVenom0/Automotive/Steelwheels.jpg


http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h50/AVenom0/Cats/Siamese.jpg



http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h50/AVenom0/Automotive/lakesidecopy.jpg

[sugarzebra]

Hi Dave & welcome to POTN.
My advice would be twofold; buy a few good books to learn about the art & technique of photography (exposure, composition, depth of field, focal lenghts etc) and secondly get out and take lots & lots of pictures to help understand what you have read about and hone your photographic skills. Most importantly have fun and enjoy this great hobby. Also, you will need to familiarize yourself with PS!!

[In2Photos]

Welcome to POTN. Now to answer your questions:

There is a lot of great information on this website in the stickies located at the top of each forum, make sure you check them out. Some of the books that always get mentioned here are anything by Bryan Peterson and Scott Kelby. The first is about taking pictures while the second is about processing pictures. "Understanding Exposure" is kind of like the end all be all book of the basics. For more specific info on automobile pics see the transportation forum in the photo sharing section. Depending on the software you plan to use, the book will change for that. PS work is needed on most DSLR images because the camera has a filter on the sensor that causes it to be a little soft. Better lenses will help in this regard but won;t guarantee that no processing will need to be done.

For questions to which you cannot find the answers, do not be afraid to ask them here.

[Sean-Mcr]

Welcome pal

Well a good way to learn aside from asking questions, is have a look around places like WWW.PBASE.COM you'll come across galleries that will interest you greatly and galleries that will bore you to tears. Spend time in the galleries of those whos work you feel you have an affinity with, check out their settings in their exifs, it will tell you the tools they used ect. But most of all study the photograph itself, figure out why you liked it. What drawn you to it, i don't think that it will end up being how sharp it was ect. But its content will ultimately be the factor that will be and should the most important thing