New to photography - tips wanted

Hello everyone. Great site here with a lot of knowledge! I just decided to take up photography and bought myself a Rebel XT two months ago. I have added a used 75-300mm lens to my EF-S 18-55mm to get a feel for the focal lengths that suit me.

I've been reading "tips" from all over the internet and have my second "basic photo" class this weekend. While I've hit a couple of shots I've been happy with, I also know it's a long road to becoming adequate and browsing the photos here and in people's galleries has left me very humble. LOL

Anyway, I'm figuring the best way to improve is to get suggestions on my photos and then try to go out and apply what I learn. The first thing I notice is the very shallow DOF and 'bokeh' everyone is getting for portraits that I've never gotten to this point. So if anyone would be so kind as to critique these first two I would be grateful.

Both of these are with my kit lens and no PP except cropping. (I only know red eye removal and exposure adjustments so far LOL)

Cheers,
Rick

First shot is at 34mm, 1/60, f4.5, ISO400

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Was a fill flash used in #1? If so you could have used a lower ISO than 400. And the blown out sun distracts from your subject in #2. What modes? You still using just auto modes (green or P) or creative modes?

First, thanks for the tips. These shots were a few weeks ago shortly after getting the camera and composition was about all I was concerned with at that point. The first shot was probably in the portrait mode and I'm pretty sure flash was not used, but I'll check the exif data again. I've recently read about using the flash outdoors and have started using it as much as possible for fill.

The second shot I think I was playing with Tv, but I can't recall for sure. I now use the creative zone modes almost exclusively, but I'm slow at making the adjustments and often miss some nice shots. I'm now getting better at using the histogram to look for blown out highlights and reshooting. Hopefully I can show some better stuff soon. LOL

Is it a slow day / night on here or are my shots so bad people can't even constructively comment?
It's alright I have big shoulders. Fire away! LOL

there's nothing artistic about the first shot. it's a snapshot worthy of your refridgerator or maybe the family album. nothing original about it.

the second photo, while a good exposure, is pretty cliché. there are many people who love their little japanese-made cars AND have decent digital cameras. the result: many photos of cars in front of various backgrounds with no context. this kind of shot might work if it were for an ad with copy written for the photo so it all makes sense, but without that, it's just some random photo of a car and a sunset.

LOL. Well thanks for the totally unimaginative critique. Of course the first shot is not intended to be artistic. Is it technically correct? Is it over exposed? Should the settings have been changed.

On the second shot what does the make of car have to do with people taking photos? Do people not take photos of domestic cars? BTW, it's not a japanese car, but obviously details are not your strong suit.

Welcome to photography! It sounds like you're on the right track by taking the classes and experimenting with composition and settings. You might consider investing in some prime lenses, starting with the 50mm f/1.8 lens, which is only about $70. I also highly recommend the 85mm f/1.8 for portrait shots. To achieve the background blur and narrow depth of field, set your camera on Av and shoot wide open at 1.8. If the depth of field is too narrow, increase the Av number by a few stops until you find a setting that pleases you. Like anything, if you practice a lot, you'll improve.

Darkhamr wrote:
LOL. Well thanks for the totally unimaginative critique. Of course the first shot is not intended to be artistic. Is it technically correct? Is it over exposed? Should the settings have been changed.

On the second shot what does the make of car have to do with people taking photos? Do people not take photos of domestic cars? BTW, it's not a japanese car, but obviously details are not your strong suit.

Critique means pointing out what is wrong and right with your photo. Do not get upset when someone does what you've asked them to do, which is point out the shortcomings of your photo. There is no such thing as a "good" or even "decent" or "not crappy" photo that does not have some degree of artistic merit to it. If you aren't intending for shots to be artistic, you essentially aren't intending them to be good, so there isn't much point asking for critique is there?

The first photo is in focus and not overexposed or underexposed. There is still alot that could have been done differently with it.

Oh I have no problem with critique and wouldn't even be upset with comments like"your pictures are pure crap because of so and so reason." It's the internet I expect all kinds of comments, but the "your picture is a cliche import car shot" doesn't tell me much. Does that mean it's good or bad or just over done?


Anyway, the first shot was after about a week of me experimenting with manual type settings. It's just a "snapshot" I know, but I was looking for comments as to whether the depth of field or other aspects are what I should be trying to achieve and or expect with the 350D and kit lens.
No big deal though.

Thanks that lens is next on my list. I almost bought it the other day, but I decided to let my wife give it to me as a xmas gift.

Darkhamr wrote:
LOL. Well thanks for the totally unimaginative critique. Of course the first shot is not intended to be artistic. Is it technically correct? Is it over exposed? Should the settings have been changed.

On the second shot what does the make of car have to do with people taking photos? Do people not take photos of domestic cars? BTW, it's not a japanese car, but obviously details are not your strong suit.

Hi Darkhamr
This is an excellent forum. Unfortunately there are a few posters here who seem to equate constructive criticism with ridicule and belittling remarks. I have contributed regularily to four or five forums now over the last few years and I have to say I have not seen this in any of them.
On a positive note this forum also possesses some of the best and most helpful critics I have come across. So, stay with it.

I think overbend is talking about me, well come to the forum, Also get more then u need in a shots sometimes if its a one off because if you take it too close you might cut off something important say a speeding car, so if you take it with more space then you need to do is crop and you have a lovely picture

Well I think the first shot is very nice! It's well exposed and the skin tones are nice. The pose from the little girl is quite charming IMO. It will stand a bit of a sharpen. Someone called it a snapshot though, and without being unkind, that's what it is- albeit a nice one. What makes it a snapshot is that messy background with that ladder and all the rest of the clutter. The shot would be in a whole different league if you'd picked a nicer background. The more you do photography the more you realise how the backround is crucial overall and you have to learn to look for clutter. It's there in the viewfinder, you just have learn to 'see it' before you press the shutter button. Don't just take your subjects where you find them - if the background isn't suitable - move them.

Same with the shot of the car. Don't just take the shot on the drive. Drive somewhere a little more photogenic. Imagine the same shot with just a nice blue sky as background (maybe use a polariser) instead of all those messy distracting trees.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the welcomes. I am getting to realize you need to take multiple shots either with the same settings / composition or with slight differences to work with. I'm still trying to get used to feeling invasive while taking pics. It reminds me of when I was a kid and everyone used to yell at my aunt to hurry up with her pics! LOL

Tonky, that was an excellent and useful critique. I think it was just the kind of criticism needed by the poster and proves that criticism can be constructive.

Don't be afraid to blast away with digital. Bracket exposures, try several apertures for DOF and try different shutter speeds on moving subjects. Try different ISO settings too. Zoom in/out, adjust the composition. The great thing is you can study all your pics and their individual settings later. This way you soon learn how your camera responds to changes and it slowly becomes second nature.

These shots are both well exposed. First one has a cluttered background that detracts from an otherwise excellent shot (would make a good project for Photoshop). The second has the distraction of a blown out sun and I think it would have been more dramatic with the whole rear wheel in shot from very close to the ground - commando style