New Canon Xsi user need some help

Hey everyone.
My name is Eric and new to this forums, also new to DSLR cameras. I just got my Xsi yesterday, but so far I can't figure out how to take nice photos. I saw a lot people in this forums took great photoes with my camera. I am just wondering if someone can give me some tips on the setting of the camera, or what modes to be in to take different kinds of pictures.

Thank You

co_kids wrote in post #6104389
Hey everyone.
My name is Eric and new to this forums, also new to DSLR cameras. I just got my Xsi yesterday, but so far I can't figure out how to take nice photos. I saw a lot people in this forums took great photoes with my camera. I am just wondering if someone can give me some tips on the setting of the camera, or what modes to be in to take different kinds of pictures.

Thank You

My advise is to you is to read the manual. my first dslr was also an xsi too then i moved up to a 40D after a couple of months, im not saying that im a good photographer now but im better. i read my manual and played with my dslr everyday after work. and of course this forum, learned a lot here.

whatever you do try to stay out of the basic modes and start playing around with the creative modes. (i.e. Manual settings, Av, Tv, etc)

Find some local photography classes in your area and learn about some of the basics of photography. It's actually harder to get good shots with a DSLR (vs. a point-n-shoot) so learning some of the basics will help alot.

Good luck!

And in the meantime, pick up and read Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure"

Hi Eric,

Taking great photos needs in essence 2 skills...

Natural ability/ a good eye/ artistic inclination, etc. all of which one needs to be blessed with, to take stunning photos/ create great art, etc. However with practice, learning and experience, you can certainly improve upon and broaden your creative limitations. Regular exposure to the works of other artists who's work you admire, plus a will to experiment oneself are invaluable tools to this "learning".

The other aspect and arguably easier to "master" is the technical nature of photography, for that there is really no substitute for practice and study. Start with the camera manual, and read...read...read all you can about apertures, depth of field, shutter speed, iso, etc. until it's coming out of your ears. Then practice....practice..​. practice... till you know what it all means and how it affects your final pics.
Once you've got an understanding of that, there post processing....

to sum up, enjoy your hobby, experiment, and always look for an opportunity to learn more.
Finally, if you post a few sample pics, we can maybe suggest specific tips/pointers.

Happy shooting....

Farhad.

jeromego wrote in post #6105205
My advise is to you is to read the manual. my first dslr was also an xsi too then i moved up to a 40D after a couple of months, im not saying that im a good photographer now but im better. i read my manual and played with my dslr everyday after work. and of course this forum, learned a lot here.

whatever you do try to stay out of the basic modes and start playing around with the creative modes. (i.e. Manual settings, Av, Tv, etc)

*****
you got all that equipment in your list in the matter of a couple of months?! wow. I salute your bank acct.!

What are you trying to shoot? What lens are you using? Do you use a tripod, or handheld? Do you have an external flash?

Start with one "genre" of photographs, and get the hang of that, then move on. That's what worked with me.

There's a few other things you can do.....

1) Post pictures in the comment and criticism section....
2) Ask others how they get pics you like
3) Wander through the Internet and look for information- there's 20 trillion photography sites with beginner's info.
4) Books can be good, but I find most of my info on the net
5) Join a camera club.
6) Ask EVERYONE questions!

Welcome to POTN by the way....

ceriltheblade wrote in post #6105360
*****
you got all that equipment in your list in the matter of a couple of months?! wow. I salute your bank acct.!

Are you kidding! it broke my bank acct. this is worse than any other addiction out there. i started with the rebel xsi in june and just got the 40D a couple of weeks or so ago. the first lens i bought was the 28-135 and sold the kit lens that came with the xsi, then got the 55-250 and the macro and after reading all the threads in this forum about the 70-200 2.8 IS, decided to get it a week before i got the 40D. and the rest of the other stuff. huh! thank god im still single or i wouldnt have been able to get all these. but this is it. or no, maybe one more WA L lens. lol!

Hi, Eric.

There is a lot of good information posted above. Do I sense there is a more specific question, though?

Have you taken a bunch of pictures that were disappointing, but you don't know why? While I do believe firmly in having a good foundation, mostly one can work to improve and see results, and learn the basics along the way. The new whiz-bang cameras do not completely obviate the need for understanding a lot of photography, but are programmed (fairly well) to produce decent pictures (maybe not award winning) pictures out of the box.

They won't substitute for understanding composition, difficult light, or a host of other things. The camera will focus and expose properly in most situations.

My friend wanted to photograph birds - probably one of the most challenging subjects to try to start with - but we were able to get the information he needed to make good pictures - and "slip in some technical stuff" besides.

So - start with subjects that are simple - i.e., ones that don't run away, and ones with which you can fill the frame with you existing lenses. Work from there.