Newbie photos...

To me, every single photo here has some pretty serious focusing problem, as none of them are sharp or in focus. I would suggest working on this aspect further or learning to better use the AF functions of your camera, as getting a solid in focus shot is critical to almost every picture.

Either that, or give your camera and lens a thorough testing to make sure it is not malfunctioning. If this is what the camera supposedly produces "in focus", it may be defective.

I'm not trying to be mean, just honest. None of these pictures are in focus.

Edit: actually on second look, some of these photographs may be blurry due to camera shake or movement. Learning proper handholding techniques and/or using a tripod or other stabilization tool (brace the camera on a railing or bench, etc) might help.

 

In my opinion, it's pretty hard to focus manually. I would also suggest, that you use the AF from your camera.

You have an eye for motives, even though you need to set them more in scene. Also keep in mind, that beautiful pictures aren't about raw picture quality, but about the motive and what you want to express.

 

The easiest way is to set the camera on a tripod and use LiveView zoomed in 10x to see what you're doing.

 

Some of those images you posted could be improved. The church needs cropping, remove the first flor and that brick building to the left. The purple tree need light on it and a less cluttered background. Trees are hard subjects but at least they don't mind waiting while you walk a circle around them looksing for a good background or maybe even wait for better light.

I did you kid photos recently and they don't wait you you have to run fast to get the "correct" background and light angle.

The new AF cameras are a not easy to manually focus especially if you have a "slow" f/5.6 kit lens. Only manual focus camera used to have a things like "micro prisms" or a split image focus aid in the view finder. Today you'd need to replace the view finder screen to get those features. That is if the camera you bought has user replaceable screen. That is a rather high-end feature.

In any case for the images you took, if you want to manual focus you'd ned a tripod and a magnifier, few people have good enough eyes

Also I did not check but what looks like OOF (Out of Focus) might be camera shake.

The technical end of photography is now VERY easy. Looking at your work the first thing that jumps out is not the focus. That is OK if you keep the images small. But it looks like you should take a trip to the library and get sme books on art. Maybe on photography but art in general too. Read about composition. Composition applies to photos and graphic arts and oil painting. At the very least learn about rule of thirds, use of lines spac and color "check the edges" any introductory art book will have those basics

One other tip, every picture tells a story, be sure you know what story you want to tell before tripping the shutter

Then try this: Find a photographer you like and go out and take 20 shoots that are attempts to copy his style. As a student there is no shame is doing a total "rip off" copy of a master's work. Get some big coffe table books and find a style you like. Do no more then 20 shots, edit them, keep the best 2 or 3, evaluate those. Then shoot another 20.

Figure this takes a long time, years not months

Resist the temptation to buy more photo equipment unless you just can't get any of the shots you want. One exception is a tripod. Those will improve every shot because they make you think "should I move over two feet?, wait for the airplane to move?,....

The easy part of photography is the technical stuff. Automation mostly does that for you now. So all that is left is the hard part. Study those coffee table books from master photographers and see if you can find and copy a style. later develop your own. But that is later.

 

^^Great post, ChrisA.

 

I'd suggest there's no reason to use manual focus just for the sake of it; it's not really a "skill" you need to learn (all you do it turn the focus thing until the image is sharp) and it's not easy to do without some significant magnification. And it the huge majority of situations, it offers no advantage.

In the thumbnail views I actually quite like how some of those pics look, but they're ruined when you look at them bigger and they're unnecessarily out of focus.

 

I grew up on those lenses. They certainly had their limitations with fast moving wildlife, sports, etc. I do shoot manual but now it is usually when I want to see how the same subject looks at different settings or I just want to be old school. I have two manual lenses on my short term wish list, good manual lenses are not inexpensive.

FWIW - I would not recommend starting off shooting manual to learn about the basics of photography with today's cameras.

 

The first one is from my front yard, the second is from my backyard. I hope they turned out okay. I took them with my phone. I don't have a DSLR yet, but I should be getting one soon.

 

Focus may or may not be an issue......

I only looked at the exif data from one of your pics (the last one the browny looking tree......this was shot at 1/6 F36 ISO 100

You need to have a faster shutter speed if you are handholding your camera. A good understanding of how shutterspeed Aperture and ISO interact to get an exposure would help improve your photo's

As with any beginer I would reccomend you try and find a good local course. A good photography teacher will help you more than anything else I could recomend

Also consider checking out bryan pattersons 'understanding exposure' its a great book on the basics and very easy to understand.

 

I think you've got a very good eye.

I'd practice getting your subjects level, and begin thinking about placing your subjects with the "rule of thirds" as others have said, which is not die-cast but a very good starting framework to have in mind when considering compositions. It helped me a lot when I first grasped this. It's also very handy in post-production when you're tweaking your photos in Aperture or what have you ... good cropping can make a world of difference in your picture's impact. The link explains it nicely.

Clouds are an endlessly fascinating subject for photography ... the lighting, the shapes, the moods they can convey. Ever changing ... I love how you've incorporated them into your photos here. Very nice.

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Lots of good advice in this thread, keep at it. Always remember - it's what you see that distinguishes a good photograph, not the equipment. You're both off to a fine start

 

They look as though they have been over sharpned to correct the focus issue?

 

You will get used to the people after a while, they will just vanish as your attention is on the composition....I used to feel that way about shooting, but not now...beauty can be found just about everywhere...Your imagination is your best friend!

 

Wow, okay...I have a couple of Nikons, a high end Everio for video stuff ( I use it for stills too) favourite lens? Probably a zoom...I have a couple of compacts too, am looking for a new DSLR when the CC stops smoking after new iPad etc.

I shoot video for work purposes, stills mostly for pleasure...Some of the best shots I ever took we're with an old Fuji Finepix compact....Long since retired...I will upload a couple later....( on my iPad at the moment ) best way to look at things is to experiment, and enjoy yourself....Always have plenty of batteries to hand, and plenty of storage.....Then shoot shoot shoot...All pros will tell you it's how they work...We are blessed with cards theses days....I remember 35mm. Then unless you were rich, you HAD to be selective, or lucky. Nowadays, it costs nothing to take a few shots...Enjoy yourself too!

 

As promised...On my iMac now..Give the newbie a break

 

Thanks, guys!

 

I am very much an introvert and hyper-aware of what is going on around me, so shooting around people is something I'm not entirely comfortable with yet. However, I've found that listening to some music, a playlist I REALLY like, helps a lot to relax me. I'll eventually hit a point where the music is taking up any extra mental space that the photography isn't using, and the people around me just melt away.

 

A couple things if I may chime in....

You've got a good eye, but I think you should take the photo from the perspective that strikes you initially. After that, move a little to one side or the other and see how your subject changes with the background/surrounding.

Definitely get a tripod and work with autofocus.

Don't mess with HDR. The church photo screams of HDR and not in a good way. Look at the halo near the building/sky intersection.

And the most important thing I can say is, watch what the light is doing. If it's coming sideways across your subject, you're going to have strong contrast with areas of light and dark.

Try shooting with the sun at your back about an hour before the sun goes down...aka the golden hour. It's amazing how well it works.


Good luck, keep shooting and posting them here.

 

Not so sure if this counts as photography, as it was just me messing around with me phone. I thought I'd just share.