Well here is my duck

OK, I am new, and for whatever reason, I am being told to post a duck. What's funny, is before I even knew this, I took duck photos with my new camera, my first all day outing just me and my little girl and my camera. I am a COMPLETE NOOB at photography, but I am obsessed. Anyhow. Here are my lame photos, from Parker Canyon Lake to Canelo and Sonoita. Then the weekend before, Willcox and Tombstone. Again, I am new. don't laugh. I love it here, and hope there is enough potential in these noob photos for me to really grow. I am LOVING this. My eyes are open behind the camera, and crossing late at night from the reading of the technicalities. But yeah, I feel like I have finally found a home.

Anyhow, there is no editing to these, as I am just now trying to lean post processing, so these are all straight out of the camera. I see a ton of edits I want to do, but that is an art in and of itself, I am sensing....

Anyhow, thanks for looking. I am happy to be here : )

OK. Here is my very FIRST EVER duck photo. I, too, never posted a duck photo on POTN, but at a recent vacation, I saw ducks, and out of the feeling of obligation to POTN, I was stressed about the duck and felt obligated to capture a permanent memory. Of a duck. And I too, feel obligated to post. So here it is:

I have now paid my dues.

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Right ON! That is a killer duck. Well, you know what I mean. Great, great shot

You're off too a good start, Deb!

Keep photographing, keep reading and keep posting!

Mike

You really think so? Thank you! I got a 40D last night and I am so freakin' excited I hardly know what to do But that means alot, what you said....thank you

I know you're a beginner, however we are ALL learning something

In some of your images, your focus is off. Also some of them are under and over exposed.

A few tips i will give you ( im sure you will get plenty of these in this thread)

When you're starting out, have your focus point on the centre point, dont try using others just now untill you know where your point ACTUALLY is.
One you will hear over and over and over again, is read the manual. But it is true.
take your time. You are not in a race, so just take your time, and shoot away.
Histrogram - this will help you with exposure after you've taken the image. The histogram is like a box with 3 parts. Dark, Mid, Light. Your histrogram MUST be low at the edges of dark and light. and it will wave about in the middle.

I'ts gone half 2 here now in the morning, so i am tired (still doing work though! lol) but im sure others will chip in with other advice for you.

PLEASE don't think i'm being rude with this post, however i know you want to get the best out of yourself with this, and want to learn more.

Hey, ive been pro for 25 years and i STILL learn each day something new

NO no no! This is perfect....exactly what I need and want to hear! I totally appreciate it! Thing is, some of these shots were in AF and here is the thing. I won't let this "handicap" stop me from rolling forward in this new passion called photography....but I cannot hold a camera still for the life of me. I know all the "proper stances" and whatnot, but I do shake. I cannot carry a tripod with me everywhere, its not realistic and also, I have kids, so with all that movement, I NEED to find a way to overcome or "trick" the shake. Your comments are inspiring, not condescending in ANY way! This is what I need to hear

Sleep well...I will post my next round tomorrow, from my new 40D. Thanks so much, Scott

Deb, you certainly do have some good things going here. The key is to practice, practice, and practice. And when you think you've practiced enough, practice some more. You can never be too good, there's always something to improve on.

In addition to giving your manual a thorough reading (a must!), I would suggest picking up a good beginning photography book. Understanding Exposure by Brian Peterson would be a great start. It's only like $20 and worth its weight in gold for someone that's new to photography.

And then go practice.

Tumbl3w33ds wrote in post #6561168
NO no no! This is perfect....exactly what I need and want to hear! I totally appreciate it! Thing is, some of these shots were in AF and here is the thing. I won't let this "handicap" stop me from rolling forward in this new passion called photography....but I cannot hold a camera still for the life of me. I know all the "proper stances" and whatnot, but I do shake. I cannot carry a tripod with me everywhere, its not realistic and also, I have kids, so with all that movement, I NEED to find a way to overcome or "trick" the shake. Your comments are inspiring, not condescending in ANY way! This is what I need to hear

Sleep well...I will post my next round tomorrow, from my new 40D. Thanks so much, Scott

Welcome to POTN!! I'm new too. Only here since June. I didn't even have a disposable camera before plunging head first into all this. I too have alot of trouble with the shakies, even with lenses that have IS. So far all I know to do is practice, practice, practice. Even with a tripod I have troubles. Do get the book that was mentioned. I bought it and it's wonderful! Above all have fun! I think it just takes alot of time and patience and did I already say "practice". Oh and as for processing, my favorite for that has been LightRoom2. Others may have better suggestions.

Tumbl3w33ds wrote in post #6561168
NO no no! This is perfect....exactly what I need and want to hear! I totally appreciate it! Thing is, some of these shots were in AF and here is the thing. I won't let this "handicap" stop me from rolling forward in this new passion called photography....but I cannot hold a camera still for the life of me. I know all the "proper stances" and whatnot, but I do shake. I cannot carry a tripod with me everywhere, its not realistic and also, I have kids, so with all that movement, I NEED to find a way to overcome or "trick" the shake. Your comments are inspiring, not condescending in ANY way! This is what I need to hear

Sleep well...I will post my next round tomorrow, from my new 40D. Thanks so much, Scott

Why not try a monopod? its a single leg and goes to the ground. works well too for that. OR make a counterweight. Check this video out here - it does work and while it does not look professional, and can look funny, who cares? I used that method to teach my daughter how to hold the camera steady - now she can do it without the counterweight and does it freehand.

One of the things i belive in, is not to mask the truth from people when it comes to their skills. Its the only way we learn, is to know the truth and move from there.

I agree with the book understanging exposure, its a very good book to have around. Even i have it in my bookshelf lol - just amazing.

AF is good, but make sure when you look through the viewfinder that the middle point is red. ALso check to which focus setting you're on in the menus (check your manual for how)

But ill say again, read the manual once from front to back cover, then read it again. you will ALWAYS have missed something out the first time in the manual thus reading it twice will help that
http://www.youtube.com​/watch?v=Af3aJ2kviJ4