My FIRST scenic pictures, tell me EVERYTHING I screwed up please :)

[AprilArchambeau]

I do not have any fancy lighting or any of that yet, and to be honest I would not know WHAT to get, I know there are programs where you can see the settings I had set, so please use it. I went around taking pics like a nut ball today. These are downsized a bit. The camera is an XSI with the kit lens, and thats it.

I tried, and I KNOW my settings are messed up, I havent even had the camera a week yet and I am over 1,000 clicks or just random things, I hope that I can make this a profession one day, just need to understand it first lol.

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj244/AprilArchambeau/CopyofIMG_0577-1.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj244/AprilArchambeau/CopyofIMG_0582-1.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj244/AprilArchambeau/CopyofIMG_0599-1.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj244/AprilArchambeau/CopyofIMG_0626-1.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj244/AprilArchambeau/CopyofIMG_0628-1.jpg

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj244/AprilArchambeau/CopyofIMG_0668-1.jpg

[AprilArchambeau]

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj244/AprilArchambeau/CopyofIMG_0621-1.jpg

And my puppy :)

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj244/AprilArchambeau/CopyofIMG_0674-1.jpg

What would be the best settings for moving pics like this so they do not blur? I had it on a1 servo I believe with ISO at 100 if that matters :)

http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj244/AprilArchambeau/CopyofIMG_0780-1.jpg

[skygod44]

Hi there, and well done for taking 1000 shots in your first week of dSLR ownership!

As to C&C:
I don't want to take away the sheer joy of learning, so I'll just give you some comments and pointers. Hope that's ok....

First set:
(Remember, this is all subjective, as would be anyone's comments)
I don't see why you took the first shots of the old bridge supports in such a way. Look again at your photos. Where is "interesting"? Work out what it is, and focus on that.
Landscapes and country scenes are, in my opinion, very difficult to get right because there can so easily be a load of boring, pointless clutter in the frame.
So, you need to re-think....what is this shot about? What will a stranger "see" when they look at my photos? Is it cool? Is it crap? If the latter, shoot again and re-style until something jumps out of your picture and grabs you.

The geese. Cute, but birds are such a challenge unless you have very expensive prime lenses. I have a 100-400, but still, my best shots of birds are when they're not bothered about my presence, and I can shoot much closer, showing some interesting behaviour, etc.....

Second set:
The flowers, for me.....nah.

But the dog. I like these a lot!
Can you see why?
Here's a clue - the subject.
Here's another clue - the background.

Right....it's my lunchtime, so hope that's some help.
Catch you later, and keep at it!

[aram535]

I kind of like the bridge (last image in the first set), although the image didn't capture it, the location has potential.

Shooting is ok, shooting random thing is ok, fancy lighting is not needed.
What is needed is to learn from your mistakes. If you take a shot and you don't like the outcome, change the settings and take another shot. What changed? How can you use it? Hopefully that puts something in the back of your head to get you on the right track.

Gotta read your manual on White Balance, and Exposure.

[masterwillems]

For the bridge shot and the pillars that crumble, try shooting during Noon or Dusk, this way the lightning is more interesting and if you have a nice little red glow to a clear blue background sky would made it allot more interesting as a picture.

Also shooting such pictures in the night can be very nice, take something you can place the camera on for a longer time (a box, bag or maybe you can use a rock if you dont have a tripod) and make an exposure of 5 minutes (a remote would be handy here) look what the result is and change the exposure time to the way you like it.

Keep up shooting and you will learn!:D

[neilwood32]

As Master has suggested, the best thing you can probably do is shoot at a different time. Sunrise and sunset are the favourite of landscape photographers because the light quality is better. Try taking the same shots during either the firsat hour of daylight or the last hour and see what a difference that makes - i can almost gaurantee the photos will be better!