Practice shots using nifty fifty

[luvsadog2]

These were taken handheld after work today .. C&C welcome.

[luvsadog2]

A couple more .. I'm pretty happy with the bokeh on these, but tempted to go out tonight and buy a 100mm 2.8!

[DerekSimon]

The first picture with the red berries is somewhat hard for me to find a focal point. i think that is because there are numerous subjects of the same thing. The others look really great in my opinion. Let me know if you do get the 100mm 2.8, I would love to see some shots with it.

[kanonshooter]

These are very nice. Nice dof.

I have found that busy backgrounds and the nifty fifty do not work too well together. The less busy, the better imho. Makes for a more pleasing bokeh. #4 is my favorite. Number 3 my least. Number 4 is my favorite. Number three, my least.

[luvsadog2]

Thank you both for your comments... yes, I think #4 is the best of the lot as well. I'm a newbie getting used to shooting in AV instead of automatic, so just doing a lot of practicing -- but having a good time. I might get the 100mm tomorrow if I can wait that long, lol. Thanks again!

[Lightworks Imaging]

Where is the alleged "bokeh"? In my understanding the concept of "bokeh" (much OVERUSED, even less understood) is the abstraction of the points of LIGHT in the background of an image. Not the blurred background, i.e. "shallow DOF". Look it up. And the photos are nice, more of the same stuff I shoot, daily, but the focus is good and the composition, although not stunning is solid, if tame. The 50mm f/1.8 II lens is not known for it's great macro characteristics, so the macro lens you mentioned may give you more of the effect you are looking for.

[kanonshooter]

Where is the alleged "bokeh"? In my understanding the concept of "bokeh" (much OVERUSED, even less understood) is the abstraction of the points of LIGHT in the background of an image. Not the blurred background, i.e. "shallow DOF". Look it up.

I looked it up...you are wrong, and if you refute this, who cares, because most here have a concept of what the term refers to in the images they post, smart ass...(sorry luvsadog, no disrespect to your post)

from wikipedia (credible enough for me in this case)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh

"Although difficult to quantify, some lenses enhance overall image quality by producing more subjectively pleasing out-of-focus areas, referred to as bokeh. Bokeh is especially important for large-aperture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aperture) lenses, macro lenses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macro_lens), and long telephoto lenses (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephoto_lens) because they are typically used with a shallow depth of field (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_of_field). Bokeh is also important for medium telephoto "portrait lenses" (typically 85–150 mm on 35-mm format) because the photographer would typically select a shallow depth of field (wide aperture) to achieve an out-of-focus background and make the subject stand out"

[Nathan]

Actually, you're both right. Photography is light. Call me the smartass and let's get back on topic, please. :p

I actually like #3 the best. I like the tonal range and it feels so warm to me. After a week of the flu and here in Boston it's still not Spring yet... that photo makes me feel nice.

[luvsadog2]

Thank you all for your C&C .. as I indicated earlier, I'm a total newbie as far as shooting in anything than automatic and have so much to learn about photography, including bokeh (which a few weeks ago I had never even heard the word before) -- these are just practice shots to get comfortable with shooting in AV and manual focus using my XSi while learning the basics of photography. I know the shots are somewhat tame, but I was working with what was easily accessible to me right after work. Here's a shot to show what I'm capable of .. of course, this was taken on full automatic with absolutely no idea of what I was doing other than pointing & shooting using my XT. So I hope to move on to more interesting subjects once I feel I understand what I'm actually doing :lol:

[gking]

I like the first two despite the flower not having proper DOF. I like the composition of both. The flower could use a darker yellow background to make it jump out better than it does there.

[Nathan]

Here's a shot to show what I'm capable of .. of course, this was taken on full automatic

On automatic, that's more of a shot of what your camera is capable of. However, your eye for composition in that shot isn't bad. Pick up a copy of Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson and get to know Av and Tv before going fully M.

Looking forward to your progress.

[luvsadog2]

On automatic, that's more of a shot of what your camera is capable of. However, your eye for composition in that shot isn't bad. Pick up a copy of Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson and get to know Av and Tv before going fully M.

Looking forward to your progress.

Thank you Reign .. funny, I just got that book last week and have just started reading it .. unfortunately, it's more fun to keep taking photos than sitting reading, lol.

[Nathan]

It's a quick read, but useless if you don't shoot. Read a chapter at night and spend the part of the next day shooting using what you read.

[luvsadog2]

Good advice, thanks Reign!