Newbie Please critique

[ecsong187]

I have had my Canon Rebel XSI for a few months. I just made the huge jump from a point and shoot to this DSLR. So I am really overwhelmed at the moment. I know that their are so many useful tools in this camera, but I still am grappling with the basics of ISO, Aperture, shooting in raw mode?,etc.
So my question is does anyone know of any really good books to help me out with learning to use this great camera? Also any good photography teachers in Seattle?
My main interests are shooting in black and white like portraits, architecture, cars, bands, everything, but in black and white. I just love how it seems to convey so much more emotion.
I've included some of my amateur photography.
Thanks
Edwin Song

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/ecsong187/Canon%20Pics/new%20canon%20pics/IMG_0128-1.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/ecsong187/Canon%20Pics/new%20canon%20pics/IMG_0201.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/ecsong187/Canon%20Pics/new%20canon%20pics/IMG_0211.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/ecsong187/Canon%20Pics/new%20canon%20pics/IMG_0279.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/ecsong187/Canon%20Pics/new%20canon%20pics/IMG_0528.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/ecsong187/Canon%20Pics/new%20canon%20pics/IMG_0549.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i279/ecsong187/Canon%20Pics/new%20canon%20pics/IMG_0362.jpg

[tonytsang]

IMOP
Overall: Please work harder for composition
Pic 1: The silver car is distracting. Crop it off. Change the angle to catpure the orange car.
Pic 2: Too much objects and not sure what you want to show here. Foreground grass is too much.

Pic3: IMOP...wrong angle. I will blend down, shot it from the person behind and include more reflection from the sea or ocean.

Pic 4: Don't put the leave in the center! In create the contrast and saturation as the color here is a bit boring

Pic 5: No room for cat. Cat is underexpose too much. Noise too high

Pic 6: Should capture the whole cat instead cut it into half.

Pict 7: not too bad but IMOP, I will capture the whole body (including his arm). If not, then i will ask him to change angle and let the light hit on his face to decrease the shadow.

[Saucyrossy]

Your 3rd, 4th, and 7th photos are all solid starters.

Some suggestions.
Light is your friend on the 3rd photo, you have a beautiful sunset on the water, make that the focus as in center that, or the person, either way learn the rule of thirds and use it. Also if you were lower to the ground with a perspective that gave you more of the water and or sky it would of helped or a bit more top down, as you have it now there is a TON of empty space (as amazing as the water is) which makes it look distracting when the person on the log imo could of really stood out for you.

4th photo (the leaf) the leaf looks cool but I would of liked to see you get closer up on it, or lower to the ground and make the leaf look larger than life.

7th Photo (person) is a really solid photo.....not much to complain about with that one.

[lonelyjew]

Hi ecsong187!

The last one is the best but, all in all, they seem more like snapshots to me than photography. The difference between a snapshot and a photograph is the planning. With a snapshot you see your subject and you take a picture of it. With a photograph on the other hand you aren't just paying attention to the subject but rather everything that is in the frame as well as how you are portraying the subject. Keep shooting, it'll come, I've been at it for a while now and am still shaking off old habits.

As far as literature, everyone seems to recommend understanding exposure by Bryan Peterson. There are also tons of great resources on the internet as well. Here's one great website

http://digital-photography-school.com/digital-photography-tips-for-beginners

[ecsong187]

ok thanks guys I understand that I have a lot to learn and that is why I came to this forum. The comments have already been quite helpful.
Yea you are right they pretty much are snapshots. I have never heard the comparison of snapshot vs. photograph, but it makes total sense.
Thanks for the advice
Edwin

[chughey]

I also shoot an Xsi. I have had it for little under a year. If u are interested in shooting portraits/bands u may look into the 50mm 1.8 . It is a good buy for the improved image quality from the kit lens. Read up on Depth of field, composition, and get aperture/shutter/iso down to a science. :) I'm not a pro by any means, but this will help u out.

[tonytsang]

I also shoot an Xsi. I have had it for little under a year. If u are interested in shooting portraits/bands u may look into the 50mm 1.8 . It is a good buy for the improved image quality from the kit lens. Read up on Depth of field, composition, and get aperture/shutter/iso down to a science. :) I'm not a pro by any means, but this will help u out.

I am not a pro either... Just a newbie as well.

However, I believe that it is better to masterize your camera before change any lens. It is better for us to learn how to make the shot, how to compose the pictures, and what angle to shot.

Once you know it well, then you should look for lens to improve more.

Picture quality is always control by human, no matter which lens, which camera, and not other way around.

It is just my opinion, sorry if you don't agree :oops:

[ecsong187]

Thanks Tony your posts have been really blunt and honest which is what I was hoping for when I came here. I know that I need to really work my butt off on learning the basics. So I am looking into some local photography workshops & classes. I just seem to get all of the terms mixed up.
thanks

[chughey]

I understand and agree totally. Understanding the relation between shutter/iso/aperture along with composition are most important above equipment. I simply felt the need to suggest that due to my frustration with kit lens quality :)

[tonytsang]

Thanks Tony your posts have been really blunt and honest which is what I was hoping for when I came here. I know that I need to really work my butt off on learning the basics. So I am looking into some local photography workshops & classes. I just seem to get all of the terms mixed up.
thanks
you are welcome.

I am sure taking workshops and classes will help you a lot if you have the time to do it. Personally, I have a work and don't have time to spent on the workshop or classes.

Another alternative is to look at other Pro advices in this forum or google it around.

[tonytsang]

I understand and agree totally. Understanding the relation between shutter/iso/aperture along with composition are most important above equipment. I simply felt the need to suggest that due to my frustration with kit lens quality :)

Frustration with the kit lens? If i not mistaken, you are using the new kit lens on XSI which has IS embedded, right?

I heard a lot of people in this forum said that the lens was under estimated. I kind of agree. The only problem is the kit lens is not fast enough for low light situation. It is why I got my Tamron to replace it.

[jetcode]

My favorite is the last one and the cat. I hope you don't mind I wanted to see the cat better so I edited your print.

[ecsong187]

thanks Jetcode that makes it way easier to see the cat. It looks awesome

[Rachel B]

Understanding exposure is a great book!!!!!!!!!!

[Pinnacle124]

Thanks, I'll try this lens!

[Living Daylight]

+1 for understanding exposure and +1 for learning more before getting a new lens.

[KnightRanger]

Hi ecsong187!

The last one is the best but, all in all, they seem more like snapshots to me than photography. The difference between a snapshot and a photograph is the planning. With a snapshot you see your subject and you take a picture of it. With a photograph on the other hand you aren't just paying attention to the subject but rather everything that is in the frame as well as how you are portraying the subject. Keep shooting, it'll come, I've been at it for a while now and am still shaking off old habits.

As far as literature, everyone seems to recommend understanding exposure by Bryan Peterson. There are also tons of great resources on the internet as well. Here's one great website

http://digital-photography-school.com/digital-photography-tips-for-beginners


Thank you for this link. I had seen it before, and thought it was just another money pit. I spent an hour here and learned a ton, now I feel guilty because it cost me nothing but time.
Thank you.