Help an undeserving owner of a D200!

[acg]

My lovely wife gave me a D200 as a wedding present 2 weeks ago. Now I have never even owned an SLR before so I am well over my head here!

I want to use the camera for some sports events but mainly for landscapes – I love the alps and spend as much time there as I can

The camera is fantastic- but so beyond my current capabilities as to not be funny. She also bought the 18-70 lens but I think I will be looking to grow the lens collection rather quickly (brilliant – the camera is too good for me so spend even more on the hope of eventually justifying it !)

So please help of genuine newbie in improving my limited ability, and taking some photos that do even the slightest justice to my equipment

[V6GTO]

Look here for iinspiration...

www.stevecarter.com/cumbria/cumbria.htm

www.stevecarter.com/western/western.htm

Martin.

[GetCarter]

Cheque in the post Martin.

My tips for landscapes... (for a beginner)
Get up and out early and/or stay up late - most of my shots are taken before breakfast or at sunset when the sun is low - this gives much more depth, as shadows work for you.
Never take a shot with the sun behind you. (Well almost never)
Take hundreds of shots, not dozens.
Once you've had the camera a few months (leave it in 'P' mode and have fun with it for a while) experiment with the camera in Speed (or Apature) priority mode. This will enable you to determine how much depth of field you get (how much is in focus).
Read the bit in the manual named 'bracketing' and do it (I do it all the time now). This will cover your back re: exposure.

Have fun and good luck.

Steve

edited to add... blimey those two pages need some serious updating! Ta for the prompt Martin.

I've just finished updating the main gallery - which currently has the snappy address: www.stevecarter.com/2005/2005-0.htm

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 14th August 14:25

[V6GTO]

GetCarter said:

Never take a shot with the sun behind you.

Never say never.

Martin.

[GetCarter]

V6GTO said:

GetCarter said:

Never take a shot with the sun behind you.

Never say never.

Martin.

Especially on this forum!

[acg]

Many thanks Steve
PS Your site looks fantastic

[Imperialism2024]

This is just IMO, but I prefer to take landscape shots on days when there are interesting clouds in the sky. Otherwise, if the sky is just blue, it will tend to look a little more dull in photos. But I guess it's a matter of opinion...

-D

[elderly]

GetCarter said:

Take hundreds of shots, not dozens.

I can tell you were not brought up in the days of the Field Camera
using 5"x4" or even 10"x8" film !!!!!

[GetCarter]

nope - I was a medium format git.

Thank goodness for digital. At the local fete last week I took about 600 photos (without opening the camera).

Bliss.

[miniman]

V6GTO said:

www.stevecarter.com/cumbria/cumbria.htm

www.stevecarter.com/western/western.htm

[Imperialism2024]

miniman said:

V6GTO said:

www.stevecarter.com/cumbria/cumbria.htm

www.stevecarter.com/western/western.htm

Most of those are in my screensaver...