Rebel XSi / 450D Users Unite

Melissatwins wrote in post #8265890
Hello everyone. I came here a while ago... maybe back in Feb/March while I was waiting on Dell to send me my camera! I got it in, and I didn't take it out for a while. But I am starting my 365 day project w/ my husband on August 1st, as well with a lot of other ladies in another forum I am apart of. I just wanted to share an image for critique, and I also wanted to know about which program do you use for editing? LR 2.3 or Photoshop (full version or elements?) or both? Right now all I have is LR 2.3. I am still very unfamiliar with it, but I am thinking I need elements or the full version of PS to go a long with it. What are your thoughts?

Hi, and great image! Personally I have found that LR is a wonderful program, but, it needs to be supplemented with either Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. The latest version of Photoshop Elements (7?) has almost everything that the full Photoshop has. Elements is a lot less expensive, and, a lot easier to learn.
Lastly, don't let LR intimidate you....google for some tutorials, or little videos, and, as good as LR is, you do not need to master and use all its features.
Good luck, and, have fun!

Joe Tiemann - Reinheim

Some great pics again guys

Im going to north wales next week for the day... any tips on beach photos?

Salma, great photo! You really caught your eyes - beautifully sharp.

Reinheim wrote in post #8266241
Hi, and great image! Personally I have found that LR is a wonderful program, but, it needs to be supplemented with either Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. The latest version of Photoshop Elements (7?) has almost everything that the full Photoshop has. Elements is a lot less expensive, and, a lot easier to learn.
Lastly, don't let LR intimidate you....google for some tutorials, or little videos, and, as good as LR is, you do not need to master and use all its features.
Good luck, and, have fun!

Joe Tiemann - Reinheim

Thank you so much for all of your help! Now I'll have to beg hubby for Photoshop elements 7!

How does every one get crisp and clear shots? I am so jealous, and I know it is not our camera, but in another forum I am a part of most of the ladies there have Nikons, and their images are always so crisp and clear and their colors are wonderful. I must not be using my camera right. I have TONS to learn, that is why I am doing a 365 day challenge.

The key to sharp photos.

Shoot RAW and process your photos later in something like Lightroom. Sharpen to taste and make sure export has sharpening for screen enabled (Or for print if printing).

Shoot with a fast shutter speed. 1/320 or faster depending on subject matter and available light.

Shoot at a higher aperture number. Depending on available light and lens type. A good ball park figure for sharper photos is f/5.6-11 but it really depends on the lens you use.

If you cannot shoot with a fast shutter or higher aperture due to low light then use something to steady the camera like a tripod or wall etc.

Melissatwins wrote in post #8267411
How does every one get crisp and clear shots? I am so jealous, and I know it is not our camera, but in another forum I am a part of most of the ladies there have Nikons, and their images are always so crisp and clear and their colors are wonderful. I must not be using my camera right. I have TONS to learn, that is why I am doing a 365 day challenge.

Nikon cameras tend to process jpegs a little more than Canon cameras. To achieve the color and clarity you want, you may need to do post processing. Personally, I think that post processing is just as significant as taking the pictures themselves. I like the fact that Canons don't do as much processing, giving me the opportunity to take the picture in whatever direction I like. If you're doing post processing, you may want to use RAW instead of jpeg. RAW files have more dynamic range, allowing you to push the processing further for some of those shots that weren't quite right.

For crisp pictures, just keep in mind that your shutter speed should be roughly equal to 1/(focal length x 1.6). So if you're shooting at 55mm, then your shutter speed should be 1/(55 x 1.6) or 1/88 or faster. Since your lens has IS, you could probably get away with 1/60 or so. But if it's an action shot (e.g. kids, animals, etc.), you may want to use a shutter speed of 1/200 or faster to "freeze" the action.

As for color, you will want to do it in post process. You COULD achieve it as well by getting high quality glass, but once you get a taste of L lenses you're bank account may shrink quite a bit

Also do not forget that slow shutter speeds can be used for low light and for effect. Sometimes a bit of motion blur helps to create a feeling of movement you may want. Example below.

Sunday afternoon, July 12, 2009

Hi, Melissa,

I think you are on the right track. As your other friends have pointed out, some cameras, apparently Nikon is one, do a bit more of processing in the camera. Our Canons can do the samel. Please refer to your manual, page 156 (and even a bit before, page 154) to bump up in-camera enhancements. This will affect jpeg files, so, if you decide to shoot in RAW, or, have your camera set to record in jpeg and Raw, the jpeg files will have that extra push, but, your RAW files will not, so you can start from scratch with them. Also, set your resolution to the highest. This will, of course, use more memory from your card, but, you will have a head start to displaying or printing larger images.
We all had/have so much to learn, but, go slow, keep going, and, don't worry if only 1 or 2 out of 50 snaps is worth a hoot. You will get those good ones, I promise.

Joe

loving this camera...

with my sigma macro lens...

dogwalker wrote in post #8266826
Salma, great photo! You really caught your eyes - beautifully sharp.

Thankyou

Salma wrote in post #8266120
Self Portrait, I was just testing my speedlite here, I have no idea how to use it so much to learn.

your new flash and lens on great eyes!

kinghong1970 wrote in post #8268030
loving this camera...

my girls getting a head start...

what is it? are they programmed from birth to sparkly things?

my Isabella...

actually, this was after she drank some pool water... did not realize it was so deep... LOL!

maybe in the wrong section?...

cute girls - I like that last pic !

watt100 wrote in post #8268303
your new flash and lens on great eyes!

Yeah both lens are flash are new, i'm still learning how to use them both, i'm having issues with the flash because my pics come out so yellow

So much to learn.

Thanks for your comment

Wow on the canyon pic. Well I'm getting that 17-55 I think as my next lens. I haven't seen a bad shot from that thing. Amazing. Great shots everyone else. Wow.

Too funny! Who the hell scrawled that on her ass though?

Naughty!

kinghong1970 wrote in post #8268030
loving this camera...

maybe in the wrong section?...

lol that is quite funny. Something to pull out in the future for embarrassment purposes.