I am so frustrated! Can't get a decent shot. Should I just give up this hobby?!

I am extremely disappointed at myself. Reading articles on daily basis and at this age, it is not as easy to process information as it used to be. After watching numerous videos, reading articles, threads, etc and then I go out to take some shots, hoping to capture 1 decent shot and I am not getting decent results at all. I am playing with different manual settings, but end result is not clear, not crisp, colors are off. Sometimes the sky is the look I want, then ground settings are off, (darker) and when I get the ground settings right, sky is off, and nothing is in focus. When natural light is amazing after a storm, I get the urge to drive 20-30 minutes hoping to capture 1 decent shot, and it is just not there.
After yesterday's storm, I was excited to take some pictures again and when I viewed on my comp, just horrible.

Seeing some of the pictures most of you guys are taking, they are just amazing! And, my pics are nowhere close to that. What am I doing wrong? Do I need to buy some filters? Or, what? So frustrated! It wasn't the 1st time.

camera T3i w/ Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4

I've uploaded images with my comments to why I didn't like most of the shots.
Flickr After The Storm Images - Click here

Take a deep breath. It's OK. We all get frustrated from time to time. Don't give up!

The best suggestion to me when I posted thoughts just like yours was to read "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. I know you have read articles and threads and I had, too. Mr. Peterson is very easy to read and understand. It's also quick to read. It really helped my photography. I checked it out from the library but you can also get it on Amazon or various other places.

Just a note on your pics. If things are not clear in a night shot it may be that you need a tripod with the longer shutter speeds. Also, you can change colors & saturation after you get them into your computer if you'd like them more vibrant.

If you have a specific pic you'd like to discuss, just post that pic and you'll get plenty of help here.

"Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson helped me too.

You have to keep in mind that you're only seeing the good shots being posted and often they're edited to bring out the best in them. With regards to the dark foreground/bright sky comment, I had the very same problem and still do on occasion. A lot of people overcome that by either using graduated filters, multiple exposures and or editing the images.

The shots that you linked are taken in poor light, that's going to make it trickier for your camera to focus. Also the shutter speed will be slower, which, if you're taking photos hand held, makes it more likely that you'll get movement and introduce blur.

I would use a tripod and also set the 10 second timer to reduce the risk of camera movement. Also, with my 24-105 lens, I find that keeping below f/11 help reduce image softness.

Don't give up, it's all part of the learning process.

There's nothing that replaces practice. Not many people are totally satisfied with their images in the beginning. Your camera is very capable of getting good pictures. At first, you could use the "P" (program) mode. This will let you set the ISO and even change aperture or shutter speed if you want. A lot of the "magic" to get good pictures is attributed to what steps one takes after the image is on the computer with different software. Keep at it.

As UKseagull mentioned, I hope you don't think that the picture will turn out amazing straight out of the camera. Most, if not all, amazing pictures require post processing. The camera is simply not capable of bringing out the best in a photo by itself. Post some photos and let us see what you're producing.

^ ^ I agree. Post some images.
"playing with different manual settings,..." is not a good recipe for good images unless you have a clear idea of why you're choosing those settings & knowing how a particular setting will help you get the image that you see in your mind.
Look at the links in this thread for some basic info: Canon Rebel XT Newbie needs help!

Since you are in the apple, I would head for B&H and or Adorama, and attend some of there workshops.

Call to find out when they have one about getting to know your camera and basic shooting

Heres a link of what they have coming up

http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …e_EventSpaceHom​ePageMonth

Additionaly, search for a local camera club there, to get you all the help you will need, to begin shooting photos you will like and be proud of. Club members will be all to helpful to get you shooting.

NewCreation wrote in post #16072182
Take a deep breath. It's OK. We all get frustrated from time to time. Don't give up!
... read "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson.
.. post that pic and you'll get plenty of help here.

Thank you for the encouragement. Last night I was ready to smash the thing (not literally) but not bothered with the an effort as much as I used to. However, at the same time, I am taking this as a challenge as well. I have placed an order for the book at the local library; will definitely read it.
Will post pic soon.

UKseagull wrote in post #16072241
You have to keep in mind that you're only seeing the good shots being posted and often they're edited to bring out the best in them.
I would use a tripod and also set the 10 second timer to reduce the risk of camera movement.
Don't give up, it's all part of the learning process.

I understand 'they' are only posting their best shots, but I am certain they might not be doing a lot post processing or camera should be doing most of the work However, I feel that I am nowhere close to that and in full disclosure, I do not wish to do any post processing, at least not yet since I am still trying to learn the capabilities of the camera.

I will use more of tripod. That is one thing I haven't been doing. Didn't want to run around the field with bulky tripod with camera mounted or not, just when the storm is coming. Thank you for the feedback.

mark48 wrote in post #16072284
...you could use the "P" (program) mode. This will let you set the ISO and even change aperture or shutter speed if you want.

I just moved up from auto to AV/TV to M; and now 'P' .. oh boy.! That is the next thing I will be learning, soon. As you have mention about setting the ISO, can't one just do that in 'M' and leave the ISO to whatever #?
Thank you all for feedback. I will post a pic for C&C

Image 1: Here's an image that I felt could have been much better right out of the camera without PP. Background light was very nice to the naked eye, Sun hiding behind the clouds with plenty of colorful light around but came out too dark and when I adjusted either the shutter or aperture, it was still getting too dark or light.
Image 2: although darker scene, not completely dark, Sun hidden behind the clouds, still felt that it could have much sharper.
Image 1:

I'm still very much a novice myself, but here's my thoughts (I'm happy to be corrected).

In the first image, your camera presumably exposed for the sky, this will make the foreground darker. Unless you use a filter, you're unlikely to get the camera to record the image as your eyes see it. If you do manage it 'in camera', please tell me how you did it Most people would edit the RAW file to bring back the foreground, or take multiple exposures/shots.

In your 2nd image, there's not such a big contrast between the sky and foreground, your camera finds this easier to manage and it looks more like how you saw the scene. It's actually not a bad shot at all! You need to straighten the image and you'll need to edit it to do that.

Looking at your images, I think it's more of a lack of understanding (please don't take any offense) on how the camera creates a photo than anything. If you're shooting with the sun in the scene, the camera will most likely exposure for the sun/sky if u're on the Evaluative (I believe that's what it's called) Metering mode. If you bump up the exposure so that you get details of the trees and the tennis courts, the highlights in the sun/sky will blow out. The problem is that our cameras do not have the dynamic range to capture both as our eyes can. So, you need to post process the image and "recover" the dark areas if you expose for the sky like you have here. Another way is to use flash (but that's unpractical here since it's such a large area).

I hope that makes sense.

Sorry if you don't want me editing your photo. Just say so and I will delete this post but if you're willing take a look at this. It's still not perfect but I think it illustrates a few realities of this photography hobby.

1) your camera sensor is only capable of recording a limited dynamic range, much less than you see with your eyes. If you have no detail whites and no detail shadows in your photo there is nothing, short of graduated filters, you can do in camera to extend the dynamic range.
2) I've read many comments from newer photographers that say they don't want to do post processing, they think they should be able to produce gallery quality work straight from the camera. I find that that might be possible if you control all the light and the subject and take the proper amount of time to get things tuned in. For the normal landscape type shot you can't control everything so post processing is required.

DoctorLove wrote in post #16072732
Image 1: Here's an image that I felt could have been much better right out of the camera without PP. Background light was very nice to the naked eye, Sun hiding behind the clouds with plenty of colorful light around but came out too dark and when I adjusted either the shutter or aperture, it was still getting too dark or light.
Image 2: although darker scene, not completely dark, Sun hidden behind the clouds, still felt that it could have much sharper.]

I wouldn't beat yourself up too much on that 2nd shot. It's fairly interesting to see the contrast that you've got set up here between the courts and the background. If you had kept the horizon level (since it looks like you're on a slope), and maybe taken the shot from a different angle where that light pole on the first vertical 1/3rd of the shot wasn't so pronounced it would've been a much more dramatic picture.

I won't beat a dead horse here because all the others have already explained quite well on the subject of exposure, but this is a great exercise to see the limitations of what the camera can achieve without post processing.

And you mention that you don't want to run around with a tripod, how about a monopod? It's lightweight, still provides you some stability (better than nothing) and will still allow you that run and gun type photography.

Hope this helps and don't give up! You'll love this hobby once you get into it .

They're not bad shots considerig the conditions you had. As was mentioned in an above post, your camera is not capable of capturing the dynamic range that our eyes are sensitive to. If we could get an image sensor that was was sensitive as our eyes that would be a VERY expensive sensor for sure!

As Bob showed, I think for what you were trying to capture you'd need to bracket some shots for an HDR shot, or play around with PS and do a faux HDR with one shot. Read up on exposure, and don't give up. Keep reading and trying to understand how your camera's image sensor works. I too have heard newbies (not that I'm the all expereinced) say that they don't want to do any PP and I chuckle. Unless you have complete control of all your lighting and have your camera dialed in spot on there's no way around it. Every photo gets processed.