Noob... trying to learn M

I have been using this camera for a couple months and after a few C&C posts I've decided to try and move forward to understanding and using M-mode. I've got a few shot here from this weekend in Dallas..(at the Aquarium). Let me know what you think.

1

I really love the first pic.

Maybe try and restoring some of the lost detail on the right side of the pic. It looks like shadow has taken out some of the detail on the coral

I think most of your shots are under exposed... The in camera metering system is not the greatest unless you kn ow how to use it. it searches for middle grey. So if your going to use it, i suggest you change the metering mode to spot and put the little circle on something that looks middle grey to you. The palms of your hands works sometimes. And so does green grass and blue sky. Sots look great though!!! Keep up the good work!

MikePrattPhotography wrote in post #10445219
I think most of your shots are under exposed... The in camera metering system is not the greatest unless you kn ow how to use it. it searches for middle grey. So if your going to use it, i suggest you change the metering mode to spot and put the little circle on something that looks middle grey to you. The palms of your hands works sometimes. And so does green grass and blue sky. Sots look great though!!! Keep up the good work!

I agree with most of them being under-exposed... i've been trying to use the palm of my hand some... it just seems like I am having to bump the ISO to very large numbers... I am still struggling with whether that is acceptable or not...whether that should be the tool that I use to get the shot or whether I should change the way I am shooting... thoughts? Suggestions?

Nefertitties wrote in post #10445210
I really love the first pic.

Maybe try and restoring some of the lost detail on the right side of the pic. It looks like shadow has taken out some of the detail on the coral

Thanks! i was trying to get my own daughter to stand up there but I didn't have any luck with that... I took this while I was trying to setup for the shot that I really wanted. I think it turned out really nice though...

any suggestions on how to restore that detail in the coral?

Sam,
Unfortunately these samples were taken in the most challenging light you are going to find. High contrast shots like the snake, and multiple planes of light and shadow like the aquarium photo are tough. Sometimes its not about getting the "correct" exposure but about getting the parts of the photo you want exposed correctly. What I mean by that it in the aquarium shots you have to choose which part of the image you want to be properly exposed and let the rest fall where it may.

Are you using your histogram to check your exposure? If not that can be very helpful as a starting point.

The first shot works for me. You kept some shadow detail in the kids & the blown out area in the back would have totally lost that in an Auto mode.

True. Usually, this works well for me under more user-friendly conditions: Need an exposure crutch?

PhotosGuy wrote in post #10446994
The first shot works for me. You kept some shadow detail in the kids & the blown out area in the back would have totally lost that in an Auto mode. True. Usually, this works well for me under more user-friendly conditions: Need an exposure crutch?

Funny... you're comments and critique of some images that I posted last week were the impetus for me moving to M-mode. I've been working with your detailed suggestions and I can say that I think the results are getting better. I am taking several shots to a local pro today for some one-on-one advice. While your comments weren't "harsh" they were very "decisive" about what I needed to do...thanks for your frankness.

Go back and become an expert with Aperture priority first. Once you get that down then move to M if you still feel the need.
Why make it more difficult?

I have found that when I shoot in M, I always take a light reading with my hand held meter. I pick the shutter speed I feel the situation requires and ISO that will help me get to the stop that I want.... But sometimes it's hard to get an incident light reading like on your snake photo... Just practice, practice, practice.

Another vote for the first picture, given that highlights alert would have been going into a china syndrome, you took the right decision to override and go manual. Under the circumstances excellent work.

Great pic but a little dark. I adjusted it a bit...

AltezzaGirl wrote in post #10448952
Great pic but a little dark. I adjusted it a bit...

thanks... I like the coral being lighter... but it looks like that either introduced or exposed some funny artifacts in the boy's clothing...

I think that it's interesting that noone has mentioned the last two shots... I thought those were rather interesting if for nothing but the unusual texture of the tree...

Probably because we find the first photo so compelling!

One suggestion from my experience with manual exposure... Set you camera to spot-meter, and use the center point and the in-viewfinder meter to get a rough estimate of your exposure, and definitely become friends with the histogram.

The wonderful thing with manual mode is that once you've dialed in your exposure for a particular environment, you can often shoot away and have good consistency in your exposures.