I forgot to mention that im using complete manual focus, im trying to get used to learning how to focus, and yes i noticed and was extremely dissapointed about the out of focus, any tips on how to get the manual focus sharp?
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.
