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I have been an avid user of point and shoot cameras, but this is my first DSLR and I am very much a newbie to photography. I took this picture on the side of my house during the late evening. I have a Canon Rebel XS and used a EF S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS. The settings I used were ISO 100, focal length 36mm, 1/100 sec at f/4.5, and no flash. Please give me any pointers you may have. Again I am a beginner and need to learn, so critique away!

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The first and biggest thing I noticed was the blown out highlights on the sign. Too much loss of detail.

What is the best way to fix that?

Re- shoot. If you shot in RAW, you can try to bring the details back. (not sure if the XS is capable.)

Since I am new to photography I am not sure what blown out highlights means. Is that where detail on the "E" on house is lost due to too much light?

major hotspot

djrtbrahma wrote in post #10438064
Since I am new to photography I am not sure what blown out highlights means. Is that where detail on the "E" on house is lost due to too much light?

The top right part of the sign is overexposed. I'm guessing it's a reflection of the sun.

Just my opinions, but you might want think about how you framed that picture. It also might be a little more interesting with a larger depth of field. I'd like to at least see all the lettering in focus.

Yes, it is way to harshly lit by the sun.....if you have another go, wait until dawn/dusk..you will get cleaner and sharper results?

I like Turners paintings better.... Having said that - and I was just joking - some more serious comments:
I think you would have wanted the text on the sign all in focus - with the edge fading out of focus and the brick wall getting vague.... That means you have to look at your "depth of field". I presume you shot this from pretty close, say 1 meter (3 feet and something). That means that with your camera the DOF is only 14 cm (less than 6 inches) - given the focal lenght (crop sensor) and aperture. That shows. Have a look at a depth of field calculator in the internet or if you have an iPhone get an application that shows you how to handle that important factor.

The light and the time of day were probably wrong. This sort of shot is easier to take when it is overcast or the whole of the wall is in the shade. You can salvage some by using the graduated filter function in the RAW processor in Photoshop. (But then you have to shoot RAW).
Keep shooting!

Flo wrote in post #10438363
Yes, it is way to harshly lit by the sun.....if you have another go, wait until dawn/dusk..you will get cleaner and sharper results?

Or wait when a cloud blocks the sun, as that gives a soft light depending on the size of the cloud...

Much better lighting! And the focus is far better...not sure of the crop? Would it be possible to take some off the top?Above the HOUSE lettering?

The second shot is better, exposurewise, though I prefer the framing of No. 1. I would also try to increase DoF to get all the words in the sign sharply in focus. In fact, the background isn't so distracting that it "has to be" blurred out.

Why are you shooting at ISO 100? ISO 200, 400, and even 800 shouldn't be problematic with correct exposure, and will help you get that shutter speed up.

@Op
Was the shutter speed definitely 1/10 and not 100th?

I kept the ISO at 100 because I thought it would reduce noise, but I will try using a higher ISO. The speed was noted in Light Room as being 1/10th. I will go try increasing the ISO and the DOF and post an updated photo shortly.