Hello (w/Flame Suit on)

[RinkRat]

Hi everyone. I am brand new to phtography. How new? Purchased my first camera on 7/3/04. (Brand new Drebel Kit) I've always admired all types of photography, and thought I would try it as a hobby. Actually, I've wanted to try photography, but life kept getting in the way. I am a computer geek by trade, and really like messing with Photoshop, so lots of my pictures will be "edited".

Before you see my first pictures, I have a question. I enjoy reading books opposed to web pages, so what books should a beginner be looking at?

Thanks!

P.S. Here's the pictures for everyone to make fun of...

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze75feo/drebel/SamonSwing.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze75feo/drebel/Singleflower.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze75feo/drebel/flower-saturation.jpg

[vfilby]

Hi and welcome to the forum fellow geek.

I like the first two the best. With the B&W image I would try and increase the contrast a bit more by altering the image before desaturating. Take a look at these links:

http://194.100.88.243/petteri/pont/How_to/n_Digital_BW/n_Digital_BW/a_Digital_Black_and_White.html#N102EF
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=34977&highlight=

Vince

[ryuwulf]

The first one is very good, but the ground is very bright. Try burning that in.

The second has good color.

The third is a little underexposed.

Good try on all of them

[Radtech1]

Greetings and welcome. As far as books go, it is a matter of taste. Recomend that you go to the library and check out a few before ponying up $30+ on something that does not address what you are interested in.

As far as the photos go:

1) Good, a little blown in the whites, and should have a vertical crop, not horizontal - and for God's sake - get that kid something to eat!

2) Weakest one of the bunch. Flat colors and mundane use of the subjects.

3) Best one of the bunch. Normally, I might want to see all of at least one, but with all 3 flowers in the frame, you have what is needed. The coloring on them is much more interesting than it #2. I would not desat all the way to black and white, though. Try one leaving some green.

All in all, not bad.

Welcome,

Rad

[RinkRat]

Hi and welcome to the forum fellow geek.

I like the first two the best. With the B&W image I would try and increase the contrast a bit more by altering the image before desaturating. Take a look at these links:

http://194.100.88.243/petteri/pont/How_to/n_Digital_BW/n_Digital_BW/a_Digital_Black_and_White.html#N102EF
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=34977&highlight=

Vince

Great links, I will work on that tonight. Thanks.

This just a hobby for you as well, or did you migrate from Computer Geek to photo Geek? ;)

Thanks for the comments.

RinkRat

[RinkRat]

The first one is very good, but the ground is very bright. Try burning that in.

The second has good color.

The third is a little underexposed.

Good try on all of them

I see what you mean on the 1st one.

I set the camera in Manual mode, & pretty much guessed from that point.

Thanks for the info.

RinkRat

[vfilby]

This just a hobby for you as well, or did you migrate from Computer Geek to photo Geek? ;)

Well it really is just a hobby, but I have been paid on occasion. I don't think I am allowed to fully migrate until my masters thesis is finished. ;-( Stupid thesis.

Vince

[RinkRat]

Greetings and welcome. As far as books go, it is a matter of taste. Recomend that you go to the library and check out a few before ponying up $30+ on something that does not address what you are interested in.

Ah, I will do that. Good idear.


1) Good, a little blown in the whites, and should have a vertical crop, not horizontal - and for God's sake - get that kid something to eat!

I'll try the vertical crop. Thanks. BTW, Not my kid, but I'll pass that along to his parents. :)


2) Weakest one of the bunch. Flat colors and mundane use of the subjects.


I was hoping to make the colors a little "chalky", but I get what you mean about mundane.


3) Best one of the bunch. Normally, I might want to see all of at least one, but with all 3 flowers in the frame, you have what is needed. The coloring on them is much more interesting than it #2. I would not desat all the way to black and white, though. Try one leaving some green.

Leaving some green is what I attempted to do in #2, It didn't even cross my mind in #3.


All in all, not bad.

Welcome,

Thanks. Gives me hope that I had some kind of "eye" for pictures.

I'm sure you will be seeing many more from me real soon.

Thanks again.

RinkRat

[whowie]

I like image #1. It borders on an effect called "faux infrared" or fake infrared. It's a technique (and there are many approaches) used on digital images to make them look like they were shot with infrared film. Check out my site at http://www.lightimages.org for some examples.

If you're interested in this type of thing I could probably scare up a short list of instructional WEB sites and PS actions to help you out or you could just google search for faux infrared or digital infrared.

[RinkRat]

I like image #1. It borders on an effect called "faux infrared" or fake infrared. It's a technique (and there are many approaches) used on digital images to make them look like they were shot with infrared film. Check out my site at http://www.lightimages.org for some examples.

If you're interested in this type of thing I could probably scare up a short list of instructional WEB sites and PS actions to help you out or you could just google search for faux infrared or digital infrared.

Hmmm... Not what I was shooting for, but I see what you mean.

Sure, I'd be interested in reading about that.

thanks.

RinkRat

P.S. I like the photos on your site.

[mdude85]

Nice shots, especially the first one. On the second one, I would suggest turning off flash for macros. Consider decreasing your shutter speed to capture more light instead of filling with flash. Also your focus point which ought to be the center of the flower in this case, is pretty soft. You may want to sharpen that up in PS. Number three is kind of busy and dark and I can't say that I like it so much. Good luck!

[Big_B]

This just a hobby for you as well, or did you migrate from Computer Geek to photo Geek? ;)

Well it really is just a hobby, but I have been paid on occasion. I don't think I am allowed to fully migrate until my masters thesis is finished. ;-( Stupid thesis.

Vince

Me too!! I can't wait till the damn thing is all done.

[whowie]

RinkRat, for Digital IR try these as a starting point:

http://www.vividlight.com/articles/2116.htm
http://www.apogeephoto.com/may2003/odell52003.shtml
http://dpfwiw.com/ir.htm
http://bermangraphics.com/press/infrared.htm
http://www.infrareddreams.com/

You may not be able to shoot actual IR with the G3 even with an IR filter; something to do with an internal filter in the G3 that filters most of the IR from the shot. You can, however, create fake IR images in Photoshop.

Good luck