vacation

Taken on family vacation to Black Hills SD. please C&C. so i can learn more, i am a young photographer always looking to learn something new.

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first shot of Mt. Rushmore is really good. Excellent exposure. Looks like you're using the 'green box' (full auto) setting?

The bird shots are obviously and harshly flashed and most likely with the camera's pop up flash? At close range, you get the really sharp, defined shadows like you see in the images.

I recommend reading that book everybody recommends called Understanding Exposure. I read it too and it's a valuable read. Next step, get camera out of full auto mode and learn how to set f/stop to get proper depth of field, dial in a safe shutter speed and raise ISO setting until you have a proper exposure.

Until you do, using a Canon A540 point and shoot will produce equally good images.

dave

You are a young photographer as in young in age? How old are you?
I think you should look into the "rule of thirds" and apply that rule to your photographs.
Also, are you using your flash? there are shadows that are casted behind your subjects that are not doing anything for your pictures. Are you shooting in Automatic mode or are you using manual settings?
I dont think you pictures are bad, but they have a long way to go to be considered great. It doesnt look like you are using manual settings, your depth of field looks very wide meaning that everything is in focus. When shooting one subject like the birds, try using a larger apature to blur the background, it will make your subject pop out more. Lastly, read, read, read posts in this web site, there is a ton of info here and you can learn a lot. Keep shooting!

I am 24 yrs old, i have always enjoyed photography, but never went to school for it or have yet to take any classes on it, i just go on learn by doing and reading different post that i find on here, yet i still have many questions on how do do thing with my camera.
the first mt. Rushmore photo was not taken with my camera set on on the little green box i rarely use the the full auto setting, i enjoy playing with my camera to figure out the best setting to shoot, i don't learn anything if i don't try new things. these are what my camera was on when that photo was shot
Shooting Mode Manual Exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed ) 1/4000
Av( Aperture Value ) 5.6
Metering Mode Spot Metering
ISO Speed 800
Lens EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
Focal Length 90.0 mm
Flash Off

was your flash off for the bird pics?
what camera are you using?

try using lower ISO values whenever you can. It will lead to less noise in your photos and allow a bit more creativity because the shutter and aperture values wont be so jacked up - particularly on a bright subject. Having said that, beware of using too slow a shutter speed when at the far reaches of your zoom. If shooting at 250mm, try to have at least 1/250 as a shutter speed.

Your shot of the buffalo is a keeper.

NeutronBoy wrote in post #12596657
try using lower ISO values whenever you can. It will lead to less noise in your photos and allow a bit more creativity because the shutter and aperture values wont be so jacked up - particularly on a bright subject. Having said that, beware of using too slow a shutter speed when at the far reaches of your zoom. If shooting at 250mm, try to have at least 1/250 as a shutter speed.

Your shot of the buffalo is a keeper.

Great tip, will have to try this for myself.