First Day with New Camera

[joe.norman]

I am just a beginner with a new toy.

I just purchase a Canon Rebel XSI camera and am learning to use it. This picture was taken with the default portrait settings with a 75 - 300 mm 1:4-56 lens.

I would like to know what people think.
Also, how to get this type of quality picture with the manual settings.

368443

[rsagusti]

looks good,

you can do sooo much on manual mode its not even comparable to the auto modes. I would suggest reading understanding exposure to learn what ISO, Aperture and Shutterspeed do for a photo.

I shoot 100% manual and pretty much started manual right out of the box, when I do put it in an auto mode I just get frustrated that I can't control everything, maybe i'm just type A :)

Have fun with your new Toy!! They can get addicting :)

[710 Studio]

I second what Rachel said. Manual mode may take a little while to get the hang of, if you are a BEGINNER beginner (as opposed to an advanced beginner, I guess). But, there are a ton of resources on the 'Net that do a good job of explaining ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Just do a Google search for "SLR camera tutorial" and you'll find a bunch of stuff.

After the boring part (reading), you get into the exciting stuff... going out into the field and using your new found knowledge. You'll shoot some awesome stuff, to begin with, but you'll also wind up shooting some utterly crappy stuff. But, it's the crappy stuff that will help you learn what NOT to do, in the future. Before you know it, you'll be shooting beautiful art! The key is to just be patient during the learning process and never be TOO critical of yourself. Above all, HAVE FUN DOING IT!

You'll find that manual mode will open up a whole new world... more so that simply changing from point-and-shoot to DSLR to begin with!

Good luck... I look forward to seeing your progress through the learning period!

[oldvultureface]

If you are a RAW (pardon the pun) beginner here's an excellent intro to SLR photography.

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=414088

[kimber3131]

this is beautiful! I just bought the same camera and am looking into a new lens. This lens takes great shots. I need to learn how to do manual settings as well. I'm new to all of this.

[joe.norman]

Thanks for the replys and the info. I found a great tutorial at: http://web.canon.jp/imaging/enjoydslr/
It helped me really understand the camera and about taking photos. I started a page on flickr if you want to see what I've been doing, http://www.flickr.com/photos/38866132@N02/3574268863/in/photostream/. I would love people to critique my pictures.

Here are a few I took on manual mode:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3381/3576757031_c07532baef_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3367/3577561576_99ab1a5400_o.jpg

[bobbyz]

I like that flower shot.

[duane0524]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3381/3576757031_c07532baef_o.jpg



I like this one a lot, nice job.

[Damn Rican]

really like the first but like every one sd, learn that cam..