First photos with my XTi

[Just Be]

Thanks to Manny on this site who recommended this great garden in the Seattle area.

These photos are straight from the camera. No PP. No filters. No tripod. All hand held (which shows).

This was just a little investigative trip to see the area for the first time. The folage will be better in the spring when I plan to go back.

Also this is the first time using Photobucket.

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o146/SCOTTWSEAHAWKS/IMG_0139.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o146/SCOTTWSEAHAWKS/IMG_0135.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o146/SCOTTWSEAHAWKS/IMG_0199.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o146/SCOTTWSEAHAWKS/IMG_0188.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o146/SCOTTWSEAHAWKS/IMG_0168.jpg

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o146/SCOTTWSEAHAWKS/IMG_0213.jpg

[inthedeck]

Nice...the waterfalls are interesting. You will have to work on exposure a bit, so that the skies aren't 'bright' and trust me, it's hard. I know.

Maybe use bracketed shots, so that you have three images...one a little overexposed, one underexposed, and one correctly exposed, and you can make it work. Or, you could always get some filters, as time and money allows. Circular Polarizer, or ND Grad filters, and the list goes on and on.

Nice job, though, I do like the waterfalls (#2 & 4)...and congrats on the camera.

[Just Be]

Thanks for the advice.

I will definitely use the bracketing next time out. I attempted to keep most shots at f8 and my thought is that it caused the shutter speed to be set slightly slower than it needed to be causing some overexposure.

I wanted to see what the camera would do without filters or a tripod. Hand holding that waterfall at 1/4 second was interesting.

So far I love the camera. Having only the 50mm was limiting, but I love the lens.

[inthedeck]

Hand held, at 1/4...nice. I couldn't do that if I REALLY tried. Got the serious shakes...can't help it...and need a tripod most of the time (except in really good conditions).

The 50mm will be fine...and brings out more creativity than a 'zoom' or an 'L' or whatever. Fine tune your skills...and you will be a happier person. Then, get the glass...and whoop some A$$!

Enjoy ... I know you will.


EDIT: Oh, by the way, I took the liberty of making some slight adjustments to one of the pictures above. Please download the image, and then I will get rid of it...hope that's alright? PM me, if it's not OK...and I will take it down as soon as possible.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/inthedeck/IMG_0199.jpg

[Just Be]

Thanks!
Leave the photo up.
It looks great.
I have not had time to PP them yet.

[inthedeck]

Will do. It's your shot...remember? :) Just let me know, when you want to take it down...and I will do so.

[beckybun]

beautiful shots! i'll have to check that place out some time

[Just Be]

Will do. It's your shot...remember? :) Just let me know, when you want to take it down...and I will do so.

Did you just add some saturation? I'm learning how to use my new camera and soon I'll be tackling Adobe Elements 4.0. I haven't experimented with it yet.

[Just Be]

I did set the WB to "Cloudy". Should I have just left it on "Sunny"? Would that have helped the exposure any?

The conditions were in between sunny and full shade. Odd time of day, but I took what the conditions gave me.

[inthedeck]

Generally, you would use a 18% gray card, to get correct WB. Landscapes can be tricky, since the light from the sky tricks the camera into thinking that that is the best place to meter off of. This is where the person using the camera has to determine what to do.

For the picture adjustments -- worked a little bit of the Levels, Hue/Saturation, adjustment in the midtones, and a little bit of lightness. Created a frame, saved it, and posted it. Shooting 'RAW' will help a bit with all the PP, if you have time. Otherwise, JPEG is easier to deal with, most times...

I didn't use AE 4.0, but Photochop CS. (photoshop, really). Don't really know what AE 4.0 can do...but I am sure it can do some of the things I mentioned.

Here's a great thread, mentioning WB... http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=54281

Enjoy, and hope I helped a little.

[Rumrunner]

I did set the WB to "Cloudy". Should I have just left it on "Sunny"? Would that have helped the exposure any?

The conditions were in between sunny and full shade. Odd time of day, but I took what the conditions gave me.

Well, alot of people like to set the W/B to coudy on a sunny day because it will warm up the picture. It's really your preference on that. I like to set the white balance manually. To do that, you would need to take a snap shot of either a gray card or a something pure white, and set up your white balance of of the snapshot. Your manual should show you how to do this.

[ben4633]

Great pics, I just got an XTI myself. What exactly is photobucket?????

[Just Be]

Great pics, I just got an XTI myself. What exactly is photobucket?????

It's a free photo upload service. I recommend it.