New to photography and looking to improve

Greetings everyone.

I'm new here and extremely green when it comes to photography. Below you will find one of my better shots (I think) which was done with a Powershot A710 IS using automatic settings. I took the picture in the kitchen, next to the patio door while the sun was setting.

I'd like to know what you think and also what types of settings I should go for in order to reproduce and improve similar images.

Thanks in advance.

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For what it is...I give it an OK. Like the look of the cat. The shadow is the main problem here. Got to think about composition when shooting.

I sort of like the shadow - looks a bit like a bandanna - perhaps a tighter crop would be better.

My first thought was "Ninja Cat".

If you were going for the interestingness of the shadow, you got it. Focus and exposure are good.

I like the ninja cat title as otherwise that shadow is extremely intrusive.

you are in auto mode...so you took a snap shot. I guess the only CC is "way to push the button"

Buy a book called "Understanding exposure" by Brian Peterson, set your camera on Manual or "M" and never take it off that setting again...Happy learning, cant wait to see some "M" pictures!

Thanks for the comments.

I'm not a big fan of the shadow either but getting him to stay put anywhere is a challenge. The cropping idea is interesting, I will try different things.

As for the exposure, thanks for the reference, I'll see if I can't find that book at the library.

Thanks everyone!

I say just buy the camera and start shooting everything in sight. A beautiful cat. The more you shoot the more you realize what pleases you.

LNJ Photography wrote in post #11190446
you are in auto mode...so you took a snap shot. I guess the only CC is "way to push the button"

Buy a book called "Understanding exposure" by Brian Peterson, set your camera on Manual or "M" and never take it off that setting again...Happy learning, cant wait to see some "M" pictures!

Disagree slightly here. He made choices regarding composition, moment of shooting, and in fact were he actually shooting manual, I'm not sure he would or should have used any different of a Tv or Av. I shoot in Manual 99% of the time and would suggest that one is equally capable of making snapshots in that mode.

But obviously I do concur with you that knowing HOW to have control over these variables is definitely good advice for the future.

Christopher Steven b wrote in post #11191764
Disagree slightly here. He made choices regarding composition, moment of shooting, and in fact were he actually shooting manual, I'm not sure he would or should have used any different of a Tv or Av. I shoot in Manual 99% of the time and would suggest that one is equally capable of making snapshots in that mode.

But obviously I do concur with you that knowing HOW to have control over these variables is definitely good advice for the future.

JMO i feel AV and TV should never be an option, thats just me though....

as for the OP i dont think you will find that book in a library, i could be wrong but even so, this will be a book you would want to own any how..if you are serious about learning. Its like the bible, you may have read something 3 times already in that bookbut further in your photography walk and you read it again...all of a sudden it makes a new sense!

AV is a great option when shooting in changing light.

I like the cat picture. Now get rid of the old camera and purchase your first SLR