1st Timer to Digital - Comments/Help Please

[JeffreyP]

Hi everyone,

Just signed on to the forums. Just got into digital shooting. I did mostly film SLR (canon EOS Elan) and just made the switch to a Canon D10 a few weeks ago. With film, I found it frustrating/difficult to learn from my mistakes because of waiting for developing time, cost, etc.

Now with digital I want to really get back into it, since I can at least immediately see my shots to see (what I did wrong!)

I am very new to shooting, but need some help to find my way around & improve my skills. Could someone comment on the two shots below and help me out if you have a chance?

I took them last night of a foglight on the Delaware river by my home. It was EXTREMELY foggy last night & thought the shot would be neat. I took about 25 shots in P mode with a lot of different settings. It was pitch black where I was in the field, except for the foglight. It was neat to look at. I took my shots on a mini tripod that I carry in my bag, and did a range of settings. Needless to say, I was disappointed somewhat. I know these shots are bad! The one below was the only one I was somewhat happy with (kind of.......).

Canon EF 35-70mm lens. Shot taken at 70mm, shutter 1, ap 3.5, iso 400 exposure comp -1, awb, medium fine size 2048x1360. The first one is cropped & sized down. The second is cropped, sized down & adjusted for color balance & saturation in Photoshop.

I have no photoshop skills (yet), but if these could be salvaged somehow, I'd like to hear about it. Any recommendations for learning photoshop (website, book, etc?)

Any comments good or bad appreciated. Thanks to all for taking any time to help.

Jeff

http://home.comcast.net/~puff-puff-give/wsb/media/798915/site1002.jpg
Cropped & Re-sized Only

http://home.comcast.net/~puff-puff-give/wsb/media/798915/site1003.jpg
cropped, resized & touched up for sat., color, & contrast

[gsmx2]

I like the shot. Interesting and challenging condition. I like the way you worked on the second shot to cut down on some of the diffusion and sharpen the penetrating aspect of the light.

gsm x2

[RockOne]

Cool effect.

[PhotosGuy]

I like the first one - the diffusion is the whole reason for the pic in the first place, isn't it?
Google for photoshop tutorials. You'll find lots!

Photoshop - your first steps
Entering the world of Photoshop for the first time, an introduction.
http://www.ephotozine.com/techniques/viewtechnique.cfm?recid=128

Jay Arraich Photoshop Tips
http://www.arraich.com/ps_intro.htm
If your image needs tonal and/or color correction, and you have a hard time judging how much is enough, here is a technique that should help.
http://www.arraich.com/ps6_tips_hhowmm1.htm

I took the pic. What do I do now?
Instant Photoshop - A Fast-Start Introduction to Photoshop For Photographers
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/instant_photoshop.shtml
Understanding DSLR Workflow
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/digital-workflow.shtml
A Digital Workflow Primer
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/techniques/process.shtml
An Image Processing Workflow - Step-by-Step Processing of Photographs using Photoshop
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/workflow1.shtml

Digital tips, P$hop tutorials;
http://www.jtgraphics.net/all_digital.htm

tutorials
http://user.fundy.net

TIEMdesign P$hop tutorials:
http://tiemdesign.com/HowTo/

Eyes on Design P$hop tutorials:
http://www.eyesondesign.net/pshop/tuts.htm

EXCELLENT P$hop resources
http://www.myjanee.com/

P$hop advanced techniques:
http://www.photoworkshop.com/registered/softwarecinema/misc_tutorials.html

Photoshop Curves - - A Command Primer
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/command_primer.shtml

Adobe Studio Exchange is your place for actions, plug-ins, extensions, tutorials, and other helper files that allow you to easily add new features to Adobe products. You can even create your own files, upload them, and share them with the entire Adobe Studio Exchange community.
http://share.studio.adobe.com/

Huge Photoshop tutorial list
http://www.icehousedesigns.com/tutorials/photoshop/huge_photoshop_tutorial_list.php

That should keep you busy for awhile!
:wink: