DSLR beginner, my first go (warning, large pics!)

[calibrax]

For the last few years I've been using a Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ7 bridge camera which has been excellent... but I felt it was time I bought a proper DSLR.

So this week I bought myself a Canon EOS500D kit (with 18-55mm lens and 75-300mm lens), and today I ventured out along the River Medway to try it out. Also took a few pics using bracketing, and merged them to make my first ever HDR pics. Very pleased with the camera! However I definitely need a tripod, as using the long lens meant I took quite a few shots which could have been great but were ruined by camera shake



whitechain by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


sunset by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


stmarys by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


speedboat by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


sign by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


pole by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


mud by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


medwaybridge04 by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


medwaybridge03 by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


medwaybridge02 by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


medwaybridge01 by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


medway03 by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


medway02 by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


medway01 by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


canoes by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


bigchain by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


And the HDR pics...


kingsnorthHDR02 by calibrax620ti, on Flickr


kingsnorthHDR01 by calibrax620ti, on Flickr

And a slightly "tweaked" pic...


bridge by calibrax620ti, on Flickr

Edited by calibrax on Saturday 10th December 19:38

[dibbly dobbler]

Welcome! Some nice work there

Liking this a lot



This is 'orrible!



Nowt wrong with HDR but best if the results are natural looking (in my opinion obviously )

[iphonedyou]

Good man, glad you're enjoying! Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Next step is getting yourself some photo management and editing software like Lightroom. Then, shooting in RAW, you'll realise how much better your photos can look with some judicious editing!

Keep at it!

[calibrax]

iphonedyou said:

Good man, glad you're enjoying! Thanks for sharing the pictures.

Next step is getting yourself some photo management and editing software like Lightroom. Then, shooting in RAW, you'll realise how much better your photos can look with some judicious editing!

Keep at it!

I have Corel Paintshop Pro X4 Ultimate which is pretty good, but I'll check out Lightroom, thanks! Have yet to try using RAW...

(BTW My photo host is a being bit flaky this week, so if at any point the pictures aren't there it should just be temporary!)

[Dogsey]

Photo's not working for me, try uploading to Flickr and then using the medium (640px) links in here.

[iphonedyou]

Dogsey said:

Photo's not working for me, try uploading to Flickr and then using the medium (640px) links in here.

Just you, working fine here.

OP, take a few photos in RAW and edit them using the raw software that came with your camera. It's a revelation, being able to take a photo and change every little detail after the fact!

[tank slapper]

Check how the white balance is set on the camera. A couple of those have quite a blue hue to them, which is easily fixed with a few level tweaks. If you use RAW, then you have a lot more scope for adjustment:

[Lucas CAV]

Can't see the pics!

[MarkRSi]

Dogsey said:

Photo's not working for me, try uploading to Flickr and then using the medium (640px) links in here.

Me too... well either that or you've taken a picture of a flat wall exactly the same colour as the PH boards, in which case excellent work

[calibrax]

tank slapper said:

Check how the white balance is set on the camera. A couple of those have quite a blue hue to them, which is easily fixed with a few level tweaks. If you use RAW, then you have a lot more scope for adjustment:

Yep, for a couple of the pics I still had the white balance setting on "tungsten" for indoors, hence the blueness. Luckily I noticed it early on before the entire days pics were affected!

[N88]

Some excellent shots there well done!

[calibrax]

Dogsey said:

Photo's not working for me, try uploading to Flickr and then using the medium (640px) links in here.

Thanks, have now edited my original post, as Flickr certainly seems more reliable. Also added one additional pic which I tweaked in Painstshop Pro to enhance the effect slightly


bridge by calibrax620ti, on Flickr

[calibrax]

And another HDR pic, this time of the sunset...


HDRsunset by calibrax620ti, on Flickr

[vtecstu]

Good set of pics you've got there, although I'm not claiming to be an expert by any stretch of the imagination!

One of my favourite things (which may be a reflection of my mental state at this time on a Saturday night) - a lot of the regular posters in this forum come up with quite arty, clever names for their pictures, whereas you've got straight to the point with "pole" and "mud". No beating around the bush for you!

[gingerpaul]

I'm no expert but here's my opinion for what it's worth.

There's promise in most of these. I really like the sunset. The silhouette of the ground is what makes it and the HDR version spoils it. In fact I don't like any of the HDR stuff I'm afraid. As dibbly says, in general it's best if you can't tell that it's been used in the first place.

As to where to go next I'd work on composition I think. The picture of the houses next to the river would be better if you hadn't chopped the end of the house off on the left and hadn't included the one on the right, or had fully included the one on the right, etc. The sign would be nicer if it didn't have the stream running along the very top of the picture. The best composition is the one under the bridge as it is obvious you have gone looking for that particular shot.

The best thing is to keep practicing and keep posting. Every time I load up the "Random Photos" thread it's a good reminder to myself to keep learning!

[calibrax]

Thanks for all the feedback, much appreciated!

The HDR pics do seem to be a bit Marmite... personally, I really like the pronounced surreal effect they give, but I can certainly see the potential benefit of more subtle application. As I learn I expect I will start to use it this way as well.

I totally agree that composition is not my strong point so far. I definitely need to take more time to set up my shots, and think more about the framing and applying the "golden rules" of composition (although I do think sometimes rules should be broken!). And I've just ordered a tripod, which will help.

I'm planning on taking some shots of my car tomorrow, once it's been washed and if I can find an interesting backdrop. Will try and get some reflection shots and some abstract angle shots.

[calibrax]

calibrax said:

I'm planning on taking some shots of my car tomorrow, once it's been washed and if I can find an interesting backdrop. Will try and get some reflection shots and some abstract angle shots.

Cancel that... bloody rain!

[gingerpaul]

I can see that you're thinking about composition. It's just that you need to experiment a bit and find out what works and what doesn't. As for the processing I think you'd find that an awful lot of photos posted on here could be defined as HDR. It's just that it's so subtle that you can't tell. I must admit that I struggle with this myself as it's hard not to get carried away when you sit looking at the same image for half an hour. I quite often come back to a picture after leaving it for a while and think "Oh..." to myself and calm it down a bit.

[rolex]

Kilometers! Have they towed Kent to europe?

[calibrax]

rolex said:

Kilometers! Have they towed Kent to europe?

I know! I didn't notice it when I took the pic, but I did when I uploaded it. We're slowly being drawn further and further into Europe without realising it...