New to photography & frustrated

I am just so frustrated. Granted I am stuck in the world of Point and shoot, but really am trying to learn the dslr. Trying to take baby steps. No, I dont have a high dollar calibrated monitor to see wht I'm looking at and no I don't have expensive post processing software. I really just want to take decent photographs. And I'm seeing some unbelievable detail in a lot of pictures on this board. Argh!! Any suggetions? This photo is straight out of the camera with no pp other than resizing and the settings dpp is using.

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Don't get frustrated keep shooting reading and learning and it will become together. The main problem with the photo is focus it is not on the bird. You mention not having "expensive" editing software, but you should have the software which comes with your camera. While perhaps not as robust as some of the image editing software on the market, typically it can be quite capable.

Are you shooting in raw? Looks like a decent image to me, certainly has more potential than the version posted. Software isn't "super expensive", if you know anyone in education/student, lightroom is $90!

Quick update on your shot using the FREE google software called Picasa. I added some fill light to lighten you underexposed bird, did an 'auto contrast' on it, added some shadows back into the bird, reduced the saturation because the red was now 'glowing' and added a tad of sharpening.

You don't need a several hundred dollar photoshop program to correct images. Something free like Picasa will help you get your feet wet, understand how corrective tools work and help your photos along the way. Nothing wrong with your shot, they just need some TLC to make them better!

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …erphotography/6​738037911/

Thanks for the comments guys. Snyderman, you are correct it was a little dark. Just wanted to post without any correction to show what was my initial result. I am using Picassa, but generally only for organizing. Yes, this was in RAW format, so I utimately could correct any issues. Camera is set for center spot metering. Still learning DPP, but with the software if I click the tab to show the focus point, the primary focal point was just below the beak of the bird and dead on his chest. It was cloudy at the time of the picture and I was exactly 27' from the bird. Lens is 400 5.6.

I use DPP for processing my RAW images and it works fine, you don't NEED expensive software. Getting it as right as you can in the camera to start with is the first step to great images. Erm... 27 ft is a bit far away, get closer use a blind and wait patiently, set something up in your back garden (yard) with some food for them, ideal for some practice.

nolimit wrote in post #13743992
Thanks for the comments guys. Snyderman, you are correct it was a little dark. Just wanted to post without any correction to show what was my initial result. I am using Picassa, but generally only for organizing. Yes, this was in RAW format, so I utimately could correct any issues. Camera is set for center spot metering. Still learning DPP, but with the software if I click the tab to show the focus point, the primary focal point was just below the beak of the bird and dead on his chest. It was cloudy at the time of the picture and I was exactly 27' from the bird. Lens is 400 5.6.

Remember 'spot metering' is larger than the focus square you see in the viewfinder when shooting. This is a perfect example of knowing that your subject was on a pretty light surface and maybe +2/3 stop exposure comp was necessary to expose the dark bird properly. Live and learn.

More on processing: Another free download is Adobe Camera RAW, referred to as "ACR." It's a raw file editor and more robust than either DPP or Picasa. There are so many 'free' photo manipulation software packages out there. No excuse for not correcting our images even though most of us can't swing big money for CS4.

dave

Actually nolimit, I think you're doing exactly what you should be doing....and that's showing a desire to learn. Give an idiot (all due respect to all the idiots out there) a 1D MkIV and an L lens and their pictures won't be perfect right off the bat either. Read about your camera, hang out on the boards seeing what others are doing, don't be afraid to experiment, ask questions, and you will make great progress. And we'll look forward to your excellent results in the near future.

You've got good gear it takes some practice.That's better than anything I got in the beginning.
Steve's (CamFan01) advice above is excellent.

nolimit wrote in post #13743992
Yes, this was in RAW format, so I utimately could correct any issues.

raws straight off the camera are going to always look like they'll need work. I doubt there is a picture on this board that has been straight raw from the camera and considered "done"

snyderman wrote in post #13744088
...

More on processing: Another free download is Adobe Camera RAW, referred to as "ACR." It's a raw file editor and more robust than either DPP or Picasa. There are so many 'free' photo manipulation software packages out there. No excuse for not correcting our images even though most of us can't swing big money for CS4.

dave

While Adobe Camera Raw may be a "free" download it needs a host to run and that certainly isn't free.

CamFan01 wrote in post #13744325
Actually nolimit, I think you're doing exactly what you should be doing....and that's showing a desire to learn. Give an idiot (all due respect to all the idiots out there) a 1D MkIV and an L lens and their pictures won't be perfect right off the bat either. Read about your camera, hang out on the boards seeing what others are doing, don't be afraid to experiment, ask questions, and you will make great progress. And we'll look forward to your excellent results in the near future.

Probably the best advice I've read in a while.

Goodysgotacuda wrote in post #13743941
Are you shooting in raw? Looks like a decent image to me, certainly has more potential than the version posted. Software isn't "super expensive", if you know anyone in education/student, lightroom is $90!

snyderman wrote in post #13744088
More on processing: Another free download is Adobe Camera RAW, referred to as "ACR." It's a raw file editor and more robust than either DPP or Picasa. There are so many 'free' photo manipulation software packages out there. No excuse for not correcting our images even though most of us can't swing big money for CS4.

dave

Hang on here, fellas!

Good advice is being given to nolimit, but these two things muddy the water!

First, advising someone to get LR/Photoshop "if you know anyone in education/student" is bad advice, because it is advising them to do something illegitimate! In fact, it's against the forum rules to give such advice, and I'd advise you to delete that suggestion pronto!

And then, saying that Camera Raw is a "free download" and a "free editor" is, well, nah. The only way of acquiring Camera Raw is by purchasing either Photoshop CSx, Photoshop Elements or Lightroom, and Elements, which is actually a good program and quite inexpensive, has only a "stripped down" version of Camera Raw with a pretty slender toolset.

Seriously, I'd avise learning to get the most out of DPP that it offers, because it really is a capable Raw processor and also it makes it quick and easy to get a "quick start" on Raw files if you learn to play with things like Picture Styles and White Balance and such.

Then, as you are going, you might check out PS Elements for its photo image editor -- it's a pretty powerful app that goes way beyond DPP, and beyond Picasa as well.

As to your photo, well, something we all have to deal with is focus "slipping" here or there. It's something to work on, keeping your eye glued to the viewfinder and learning to "detect" which part of the subject is getting "nailed" or especially if the focus is shifting to some part of the scene that is not the actual subject. This happens a lot with birds that are in, say a tree with branches around.

One thing that helps is to take a shot, refocus, and take another, and another -- you hope that at least one shot will "nail" things. 'Course, as you get more consistent, you end up with more "keepers", which can get "boring"!

tonylong wrote in post #13745105
Hang on here, fellas!

Good advice is being given to nolimit, but these two things muddy the water!

First, advising someone to get LR/Photoshop "if you know anyone in education/student" is bad advice, because it is advising them to do something illegitimate! In fact, it's against the forum rules to give such advice, and I'd advise you to delete that suggestion pronto!

Who's to say he is not a student or teacher? I didn't suggest to offer some kid $20 to go buy him some software or pirate it off the internet.

My University book store sells it to anyone with an I.D for the given "education" cost, regardless if you are a photography major or math major. My point wasn't to bend the rules, I was more implying that there is a chance that he holds a University I.D and could obtain it by walking into the store. I should have phrased it a little clearer, I agree on that.

Thanks guys for all the comments and especially the encouragement. Really just have to learn the limits of the lens and obviously the correct way to use both it and the camera. I see all these incredible shots on here and just have a hard time believing everybody is getting that close to their subjects. And here I thought I was doing good to get within 27' of this skittish fella. At 6-2 I have a tough time making myself any smaller! Ken commented to understand and getting it right coming out of the camera is the first goal..and that is exactly what I hope to accomplish. When that doesn't happen I'll turn to the software. On that front, from what I've read I'll probably stick with DPP as it sounds like more than an adequate program. Still having trouble learning the unsharp and/or the sharpness tools. I can manipulate the controls all I want and see absoultely no difference in the image. Thus is it my monitor? Is that type of adjustment done better in a program like DPP or in a follow up program like Elements? As for other processing software, I'm still reading up on that. PS Elements vs Lightroom vs others. So much to learn...so far to go. Suppose to be a nice sunny day here tomorrow. Going to the riverfront to stalk some pelicans! Hopefully they are fat and happy and will stay still for me!!

Tony, was up in your part of the world on a 1200K bike ride a few years back. Stunning scenery. Too many hills though, I'm a flat-lander ya know!!

Larry