n00b animal shots- c&c please

[40d]

Hi. I've enjoyed photography for years with cheapo P&S digi's and finally took the DSLR plunge a couple of weeks back when I bought my 40d, (hence my highly imaginative username). Some c&c would be much appreciated...

All shots are handheld using 28-135 kit lens.

http://www.interwebby.com/potn/0907/IMG_1396.jpg

http://www.interwebby.com/potn/0907/IMG_1471-3.jpg

http://www.interwebby.com/potn/0907/IMG_1498-2.jpg

http://www.interwebby.com/potn/0907/prairie-dog.jpg

TIA :)

[Cr4zYH3aD]

nice exposure and details - hope i had a 40d !

[asxu]

was just taking a sneak peek of the exif information of your pictures, do you have any reasoning behind using shutter priority (tv)?

it's just that i used to use this when i first bought my 350d, and am just wondering if it was intentional or that's the only mode you feel you can properly make use of?

[Riverlander]

I had a look at the exif data too.
Learning what shooting mode is the best to use takes quite some time.
I would STRONGLY suggest that if you are taking pics in relatively normal situations (like these) you use the P mode and allow the camera to work for you -- it is designed to do that. Learn to use the ISO as well.
TV and AV modes are generally reserved for situations where you are trying to "create" or "handle" something a little different -- or where something is against you (light, movement). Maybe you want to try for a specific result.
Having said all that the pics are quite good. The light is not fantastic in any of them, and is definitely from the wrong direction in the pic of the rhino.

[40d]

Cr4zYH3aD : Thanks :) Good things come to those who wait

asxu & RiverLander: Thanks for looking. A couple of not-completely-sensical reasons why I chose shutter priority... 1. When I first got the camera, (4-5 days earlier), my first 800 shots were all in the basic zones because I didn't know what the others were for. I felt I should be trying the others out. 2. When I first arrived at the zoo and took photos of snakes through glass they came out real dark until I upped the exposure time. 3. I thought it was more 'pro' to use these modes :o I'll be sure to try out P mode next time :)

[doidinho]

Ive found that leaving the camera in manual mode almost all of the time is best for me. The advantage of M over P is that its easy to adjust the exposure from what the meter thinks is correct very quickly. I also think the flash pops up automatically in P mode as well which I don't like. I'm not sure if in P mode the camera chooses the ISO for you.

I'm new to DSLR as well and started using M mode exclusively on someones recommendation after having the camera for a week. To my surprise learning to use the camera in M mode was extremely easy.

In short my two cents would be to use manual mode most of the time, save Tv and Av for special situations, and never use P mode. By doing this you will come to realized that there is more than one way to arrive at the same exposure and ultimately have more control of and understanding about how your camera works.

Goog Luck

[chabooky386]

good shots with the 40D. one thing i could advise you is when taking pics of animals make sure not to cut off any limbs in the process of taking them. Like the 1st one the feet were cut off. the 2nd on the ear was hacked a lil... but small stuff like that arent hard to keep in mind next time...

[40d]

doidinho: Thanks for the advice. I'll give M mode a try, I hate it when the flash pops up of its own accord especially when I'm wearing a baseball cap and it hits the visor.

chabooky 386: Thanks for looking, I was gutted to have cut the pigeons feet off in that one. I got a few more with the feet in place but none that came out as nicely as that. Chopping the rhino like that was actually intentional as I wanted to fill the frame in the way that I did but I can see how it may have looked better with both ears in the shot. I'll defintinely keep your advice in mind next time :)