New here

Hello everyone, I am new here. I am retired from the Army and now focusing on my photography. Here is some of my images. I am a bit rusty, but I am very interested in becoming a good wildlife and bird photographer.

Welcome, and lovely shots.

I don't need to tell you, of course, that they're all marred by the very prominent watermark. You might consider, since you're linking from another site, uploading a size there that you won't worry so much about being stolen and minimizing the watermark for use here. You'll get more views and more comments if people aren't distracted from the birds.

agree the watermark is far to prominent that aside they are very good shots of a difficult subject keep it up

Unless you're a professional photographer who makes a living at photography, I personally don't really see a need for a watermark. However, if you're are going to use one then I would recommend it not being so intrusive, and you might consider turning off "Image Editing OK". Wouldn't be too practical for anyone to edit you picture with the watermark.

Additionally, The 50D can take some great pictures, It takes even better pictures in full Manual mode. I suggest getting away from Auto and get the hang of shooting in Manual. You might miss a few shots, but in the end, you will like the results of those you do get much better.

Having said that, they are very nice pictures. I always love a good picture of a Hummingbird.

i have to agree with everyone here so far. Lose the auto and go to at least some form of manual.

I can't say it better......... but Welcome to the forum, you will get lots of help and advice here, this is a very friendly forum, if you put a shot on the internet, it can be copied very easily, if some one wants one of your shots on the internet they will get it. Lets see some more with out the watermark!

welcome to forum, lovely shots

Thanks. I screwed up on the watermark and now I have to re-load those images to get it removed. I agree as well about it, I just have not had time to fix it yet. As for shooting in auto or manual, I shoot either in complete manual mode or in AV or TV but never on auto that I can ever remember unless being bumped there by accident. Will have to check my meta data on those images but I am almost positive I was shooting in shutter priority on them.

DM1975 wrote in post #12285626
Thanks. I screwed up on the watermark and now I have to re-load those images to get it removed. I agree as well about it, I just have not had time to fix it yet. As for shooting in auto or manual, I shoot either in complete manual mode or in AV or TV but never on auto that I can ever remember unless being bumped there by accident. Will have to check my meta data on those images but I am almost positive I was shooting in shutter priority on them.

Camera Maker: Canon
Camera Model: Canon EOS 50D
Lens: EF70-200mm f/2.8L USM
Image Date: 2011-04-03 13:02:27 (no TZ)
Focal Length: 200mm
Aperture: f/5.6
Exposure Time: 0.0008 s (1/1250)
ISO equiv: 400
Exposure Bias: -0.33 EV
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: program (Auto)
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: No (enforced)
Color Space: sRGB
GPS Coordinate: undefined, undefined
Photographer: Photographer: Stephen Morrow
Copyright: Do not copy, sell, display, or alter image without permission

If I am not mistaken that is P (Program AE), you probably turned it one too far.

It had to have been bumped there by accident. I have never consciously shot in auto. I started in film with a Pentax K1000 with no auto anything and don't like shooting in auto at all. I even shoot with my strobes on manual most of the time too. Either way I do not see where it hurt the images here unless you think I should trash them for being on auto? Please don't think that the auto setting is what my photos should be judged by.

DM1975 wrote in post #12285723
Either way I do not see where it hurt the images here unless you think I should trash them for being on auto? Please don't think that the auto setting is what my photos should be judged by.

Nah, They are mighty fine images. Please don't take insult to suggestions to use full manual. Whatever you are comfortable with.

I've still got my old Pentax 35mm slr hanging around somewhere. If I remember it still has a roll of Fujichrome slide film in it.

Mine is within arms reach of me sitting on my shelf with my Russian TLR and my old Brownie Hawkeye with bulb flash. I think I have an old roll of ektachrome(sp?) in it. honestly tho, I hate shooting in Auto or the big green P.

DM1975 wrote in post #12285794
Mine is within arms reach of me sitting on my shelf with my Russian TLR and my old Brownie Hawkeye with bulb flash. I think I have an old roll of ektachrome(sp?) in it. honestly tho, I hate shooting in Auto or the big green P.

I've somehow accidentally turned it to something other than manual, and then when I go to adjust the shutter speed or f/stop I wonder why it's not working right. So I know it can be done. Don't sweat it, just keep shooting nice pictures like that.
Which reminds me, Time to fill all the bird feeders. Should be seeing the Ruby-throated coming around again.

Ok, the photos should be replaced soon with non-watermarked ones. I will be adding a less intrusive one thoughas a bunch of my photos I took while in Iraq got spread all across a bunch of French websites once. Gonna stick with some kind of watermarking.

DM1975 wrote in post #12286104
Gonna stick with some kind of watermarking.

Most of us use some watermarking, but the fact is, you really have to choose between showing off your work and protecting it. These days, it's really not possible to do both. Me, I only upload a 9x7 max size 100dpi image with an unobtrusive watermark. Somebody could take it, crop the watermark and print it, but it'd make a crappy 8x10, so...