Where to start.

[kas]

Santa was kind and I got my first DSLR, I do not know the first thing about photography at ALL. I took all my previous photos on the pre set settings and any good results have always been luck. So where do I start??

Do I try and read up on it, or just get out there and muck about with the camera. It is nature I will be trying to photgraph as that is my interest, I got lucky yesterday with the common seals below, but they were just taken on auto. I would have preferred no light reflection in their eyes but other than that I was quite thrilled.

Any ideas on how to get into photography will be most wecome.
Cheers Kas.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f170/kasm/comm1.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f170/kasm/comm.jpg

[North Light]

Kas,
There is not much wrong with either of those! Excellent.

I favour the getting out and using it method, some knowledge of the technical bits does help, try this site:-
http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

[Deemac]

kas, great shots.

Just get out and have fun. What kit did you get?

[nirofo]

Hi Kas

Practice, practice and more practice is the only way, you can pick up some tips from books but really the only way is to get out there and take shots. If you're mainly interested in wildlife then patience is a virtue, be prepared for lots of failures, learn about your particular subject and above all the art of fieldcraft. When you do occasionally obtain that winning shot it makes it all worthwhile.

Incidentally, your seal shots are not bad for a first attempt with a DSLR.

I suppose you'll be looking for a long lens next, then you'll be hooked !!!

nirofo.

[kas]

Thanks for the advice and kind comments, a real bonus as I have admired photographes from all three of you with Awe.

I got a Canon EOS 40D with the EF-S 17-85mm f4-5.6 IS USM and EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM lenses, which may sound daft for a pure beginner, but as nature is my interest a wildlife photographer I know advised me to get some good kit to start with otherwise I would have ended up faustrated and given up.

Even with this equipment it will be impossible to get close up shots of alot of birds I love to watch, but I am thrilled with it and look forward to learning how to work it. Maybe once I have mastered it I can then look at to progressing. I will check out the website North Light, Cheers.

Thanks again.:)

[nirofo]

Hi Kas

You've got yourself a good bit of kit there, now the hard work starts! First of all make or buy a hefty beanbag that you can drape over your car window, get lots of bread and get yourself down to the harbours and bait the gulls; you should have plenty of opportunity for all sorts of pictures here. Buy or make yourself a hide and use it at low water mark where the waders feed, be ready to move back with the tide though. If you have a feeding station in the garden or access to one, then you can set it up so you can photograph the birds on twigs and logs etc. A flash gun comes in handy here, not to fully light the subject but to give it a lift and a eyelight. A good sturdy tripod with preferably a fluid head is also a must for wildlife photography.

You'll learn the hard way what works and what doesn't, but remember, in all cases the welfare of the subject comes first. If in doubt pull out.

If you need any help or suggestions for setups etc, you can contact me or GGB if you like.

nirofo.

[Kevin Milkins]

HI Kas
I was enjoying your thread and the seal photos are great, then you mentioned the Canon EOS 40D:eek:

I have developed a nervous twitch when ever it is mentioned.

I done my home work on my next upgrade and I had sought of piched myself at the Canon EOS 40D and Which magazine had sold the idea to me with a great review on it.

I had planned to get a bargain when I went on holiday a couple of weeks ago and the pound went tits up against the Euro.:(

I am sure we will see some great posts in the future from you and I will be as jealous as hell.LOL Happy snapping

[North Light]

kas,

A few more sites that might be of interest.

http://www.naturephotographers.net/

http://www.naturescapes.net/

http://www.heatherangel.co.uk

[futurelegends]

Kas

Keep an eye on these threads:

http://forum.caithness.org/showthread.php?t=57017

http://www.thursocameraclub.co.uk/

[kas]

Thanks again for the all the comments, advice and web links.
Have been hiding in the garden, but I am still not getting the results I would like. I can not even get shots of the seals like those first ones, I will just have to try harder. Nirofro I am looking for a hide, and will try to get a beanbag sorted. Have you seen any white winged gulls at the harbours yet, I have drawn a blank. I think this is the best of the garden shots, still using the pre set settings though.
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f170/kasm/robin-1.jpg

[nirofo]

Hi Kas

Here's a link to a fairly cheap hide, you'll need to get some scrim netting for the front to go round your lens and hide yourself, you can fasten it in with safety pins or velcro. You can buy the scrim net in Thurso at Harpers.
http://www.ultimatenaturegear.co.uk/Wildlife-Photography-1Man-Chair-Hide___1330.htm

Bean bags are simple to make, I made mine from a scatter cushion cover filled with dried peas. Don't use anything smaller than peas, smaller stuff becomes too tight in the bean bag to allow your lens to snuggle down into it. I put the peas into a plastic carrier bag first before trying it in the bean bag, when I think I have just the right amount I seal the carrier bag with sellotape, (stops the peas getting damp if it rains). Don't overfill the bag either or your lens will just sit on the top of the bag. Make sure the bag is big enough to sit easily on your car window, it should be able to support your camera with telephoto lens attached without you having to hold on to it all the time. I made one that takes a 500mm Nikkor with TC14 attached and holds it rock solid.

Try setting up twigs or logs just below or next your feeders for the birds to land on before and after feeding, they need to be as close as you can get them without the feeders appearing in your photo frame, (try not to photograph them with a peanut or slice of bread in their beak). You can try chopped up fruit or raisins scattered on the ground to attract Blackbirds, and if your lucky you could get Redwings or Fieldfares. Robins love worms, collect a few and put them in a shallow container on a stand near to your twig or log, you might get some interesting shots. A stick about 2-3 feet long knocked into the ground with a margarine container nailed on top make s good feeder for worms etc.

Not seen any white winged gulls yet, but there was a Great Northern just off the Thurso Harbour breakwater yesterday, didn't come close enough for me unfortunately.

That's a great shot of a Robin, nice pose and the sticks just right, no glaring cut ends to spoil the photo.

nirofo.