First few photos with XSi

I just received my XSi and these are the first few photos i've taken so far.

Here's a few more i just took of some water drops...

The first two are very much out of foc us. It will help to also learn how to control the depth of field (via f-stop, focal length, and focal distance).

The last 3 are pretty good, but #3 is, in my opinion, rendered a bit too light.

#1 - the center is the focal interest, so it should be crisp. However, it's the edges of the petals that are more in focus.
#2 - is an uninteresting subject (to me)
#3 - Everybody is going to wonder what those black specks are. So you may as well get them in focus, or clone them out in post processing. A smaller apperture, like f/8.0 would help to get the entire flower and the ants in focus.

You've been practicing! Congratulations! And you've asked for critique. Don't be discouraged, take it for what it is, honest critique from others who have been there.

Now go re-shoot using what you're reading and see what happens!

And let us know how you do!

welcome to the newbies-with-an-XSi club!

it looks like you're experiencing the same issues i have been. #1 shows you had ISO 100, 1/80", f/5.6.

my best guess is that you need a lot more light on the subject. it may have appeared in focus when you took it, but the slow shutter speed and low light makes it easy to get a fuzzy pic. i keep making that mistake myself.