Frustrated I cannot get good G2 pics!

[fearby]

It ain't as easy as I thought - it seems whenever I stray from auto my pics are out of focus or distorted in some way!
Could I use an example and ask people to give their opinions as to how I could improve the quality of these pics?
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~fearby/duck.jpg
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~fearby/angel.jpg

[JenLJ]

Distorted when you post them to the web, or what? Explain more......

[fearby]

Apologies - distorted isn't the best word.To clarify - the duck was much more colourful in real life and I had really expected to see that in the photo.The other photo was disappointing in that it was just too dark - what could I have done to get more from that particular photo?

Regards

[JenLJ]

When I was searching for a camera back in the day, I read the problem you are having with that model in many different places. However, without knowing what modes you used, it's hard to say what you could do better. Try shooting in just auto if you are unsure of how to work manual mode properly. Meaning choosing the proper ISO, shutter AND aperture for proper exposure for the particular shot. Did you use vivid? That would cause a dusk shot to appear very dark, as well as using an improper ISO, shutter and aperture. The first picture looks fine to me. You could try shooting brightly colored subjects during the day in vivid, as I've found this brings out the color very well and also, it looks as though it was bright out that day so bracketing would have helped, as well as stopping down the ap. or using a higher shutter to let less light in. As for the dark shot. Try setting exposure comp. to a positive or use spot metering. Try posting in your pic in the G2 forum above. I bet you'll get lots of responses there. Good luck!

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7246

[Leighow]

Well there some good news here. There is nothing wrong with your camera. Indeed, I suspect that, like Jen says, your problems relate to setting and experience.

SHOT #1 – Composition, time of day, and interfering shadows
************************************************** *
The big controversy about the G2 relates to its auto-focus. You should SEARCH that issue on this forum. But you are OK. Even though the bike wheel seems to be out of focus, the bird is pretty sharp – so focus is not the issue! So, how might you re-shoot this assuming that the bird stays put! Well I would start by taking a look at Craig’s-

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8620

Here the top-down-back lighting creates uniform on the entire bird .. and .. there are no shadows or foreign objects (SEARCH for ELAND’s definition of SLR where R = rubbish) detracting from the image. Next, your shot seems to have been taken earlier in the morning or later in the evening. The light is great, but the shadows from nearby objects have fallen on the duck’s head and in turn, have reduced the color that you were expecting. In contrast, the water surrounding Criag’s shot seems to be a nice. Not too, that red is the complement is green – so the grass does not offer much color support. Finally. here is a link to a macro shot of my own.. BUT .. you have yo scroll down the original post. It could be sharper (It was hand held in an awkward setting). I am only including these to quiet your G2 fears. (Also, SEARCH for Don Ellis’s G2 shots for further proof of the camera’s abilities. )

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3797


Shot # 2 : BACK LIGHTING
**********************
As Jen says this shot is going to be a challenge for any camera. The issue of aperture setting. If you expose for the sky -- the people will be underexposed, and vice-versa. You eye may have adjusted more that the lens! E-comp can help, but I am not expert at that ! However, I am attaching a backlit shot of my own where I was impressed with the play of light created by the sunlit foreground and the shadowed background. You will notice that the Cattails are in shadows, like the "people" in your shot. Your own shot is of course more extreme – almost “black & white”. However, PS curves, brightness, hue and color balance controls might help to lighten and salvage a bit of the image. I would attempt this for you, however I am running out of “free” online photo storage space.

http://www.photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=8828


Keep trying. At this stage it is all a free lunch!

[blacknstormy]

Just had a quick play with the colours, and got rid of the tyre (?) in the foreground......
Hope you don't mind

[img]http://www.fototime.com/5FB90A07A8A8DB9/standard.jpg[img]