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dragonfly
09-Jan-09, 19:22
here's some shots taken today with my new toy (2nd hand Sony a100 with my old 35mm Minolta lenses). Found taking photos with dslr very different to ordinary digital but getting the hang after lots of practicing!

Please leave feedback as to where to improve as I really don't have the first clue about settings (everything done on auto) nor do I know how to manipulate in any software programmes, other than cropping!!!

Taken at Dunnett around midday

Action shot of dog running - could have done without the backend being so visible!!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/3182772520_c97afe6315.jpg

Arty photo!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/3182871916_4d19fdc286.jpg

Dunnett Head
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/3182869756_0364724518.jpg

dragonfly
09-Jan-09, 19:27
Thurso East at 3:30

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/3182877328_7aebd4e17c.jpg

Scrabster @ 4pm

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3421/3182045273_77dab1403c.jpg

the love of my life (well one of them anyway!!!)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/3181914937_0dbf00ef39.jpg

Dorrie
09-Jan-09, 19:31
You have a really nice eye for a photo, they are lovely.

I can't help you much with settings etc as I am in the same boat. What I have done to try and learn them are to set myself some projects. I searched the internet for photography projects and found quite a few suggestions that lent themselves to my environment, as well as some fun things such as, travelling 10 minutes in any direction and shooting what is there, etc, etc. There are also a lot of sites that will help you with settings but what I am doing now is reading the manual that came with the camera. Doing it with the camera in my hands and actually adjusting settings as I am reading it. I need to learn how to change my camera settings before I can use them! lol

If you want to pm me I can send the addresses that I found last night but Google is pretty good. :)

dragonfly
09-Jan-09, 19:39
thanks Dorrie :Razz

I've looked at the book but find it confusing - I'm the type of person who only reads instructions when they get stuck! more hands on than read and learn!!!

I need someone to explain things to me. Now I have my camera I should be joining the camera club but have so much on other nights its hard to find time :roll:

Deemac
09-Jan-09, 19:53
Your shots look fine. A great start. As has been said before, its not all about equipment. An eye for a good photo is half the battle. You could always come along to one the Thurso Camera Club meetings. Beginners are always welcome. Visit: www.thursocameraclub.co.uk for further info.

Julia
09-Jan-09, 19:57
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/3181914937_0dbf00ef39.jpg

I adore this photo, it's great!

Raven
09-Jan-09, 20:01
I do agree with Deemac, although I would recommend that you familiarize yourself with the basic functions of the cam. That shouldnt take too long, and the time is well spent... ;)

dragonfly
09-Jan-09, 20:12
Your shots look fine. A great start. As has been said before, its not all about equipment. An eye for a good photo is half the battle. You could always come along to one the Thurso Camera Club meetings. Beginners are always welcome. Visit: www.thursocameraclub.co.uk for further info.

thanks deemac I'd love to join but its finding time (not easy when you work and have 3 dogs to walk afterwards!!) but I am really interested about learning the ins and outs so will have to make the time ;)

dragonfly
09-Jan-09, 20:13
I adore this photo, it's great!

very easy to take a good photo when the subject is as gorgeous as he is :lol:

2little2late
09-Jan-09, 22:47
[QUOTE=dragonfly;480608]
Action shot of dog running - could have done without the backend being so visible!!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3298/3182772520_c97afe6315.jpg

Once you get use to photo software hopefully you will be able to clean his back end up. Shame you'll only be able to do it permanently on the photo :) ;)
Cracking photo though and lovely dog.

Mystical Potato Head
09-Jan-09, 23:15
You'll soon get the hang of the manual settings,the more you use them ,the easier it becomes.
Excellent start.

Dorrie
10-Jan-09, 09:59
Last night I made a loaf and used it to play with my camera. I used the shutter function for the first time, which still wasn't quite right but I played with it a bit after, this was my result though, just using the kitchen lights and one other:

http://forum.caithness.org/picture.php?albumid=40&pictureid=214

I took loads of photo's changing the shutter speed until I had what I thought I wanted.

Raven
10-Jan-09, 10:01
Last night I made a loaf and used it to play with my camera. I used the shutter function for the first time, which still wasn't quite right but I played with it a bit after, this was my result though, just using the kitchen lights and one other:

http://forum.caithness.org/picture.php?albumid=40&pictureid=214

I took loads of photo's changing the shutter speed until I had what I thought I wanted.

Your loaf looks absolutely, mostly YUMMY Dorrie! ;) Thank goodness I just had my breakfast, otherwise I would be drooling on the keyboard [lol]

Torvaig
10-Jan-09, 11:48
Dorrie, where do you live again? That loaf looks delicious; get the kettle on! Good picture by the way.....:)

kas
10-Jan-09, 12:12
Great shots, the dogs portrait being my favourite. Keep me posted on any tips you learn.

North Light
10-Jan-09, 12:54
dragonfly,
Some nice shots here.

Dorrie,
I'm beginning to feel hungry.

Dorrie
10-Jan-09, 16:40
HeHe, thanks for you comments, the loaf was not bad, but I made another one this morning which was better (learning from my mistakes). It's a sandwhich loaf where I put 3 ingredients into it, 1 in each plat! We took the new one on a walk with us to Badryrie - which was............. interesting. I won't do the walk again in the winter - not good on boggy ground, but it was exilerating! When my legs have thawed out I might feel that I enjoyed it a bit better. I did take the camera and took a couple of photos but my hands were too cold. I haven't looked at them yet though.

Deemac
10-Jan-09, 18:08
Dorrie, best to wear gloves at this time of year for photography. I use some cycling gloves I bought in the local sports shop so I can still get at all the controls. Works a treat.

dragonfly
10-Jan-09, 20:58
Took a trip around the coast from Thurso to Wick today to drop off my old camera and to take some pics with new one! Light wasn't great but here are my efforts

Castlehill Harbour

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3316/3185685162_f85ee70bf3.jpg

John O'Groats

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3378/3185699170_fd2d098e19.jpg

Stacks of Duncansbay - amazed I managed to get a pic here as it was soooo windy!!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/3185712102_e73f024cde.jpg

dragonfly
10-Jan-09, 21:01
and a couple more that took my fancy

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/3185706884_c683f4967e.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/3185722546_8ec765bc7a.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3185721010_83841fffe0.jpg

nirofo
11-Jan-09, 03:32
Keep it up dragonfly, some great shots there.

nirofo.

Dorrie
11-Jan-09, 12:15
Dorrie, best to wear gloves at this time of year for photography. I use some cycling gloves I bought in the local sports shop so I can still get at all the controls. Works a treat.

Thanks DeeMac, I have a thin pair of gloves that I use but cycling ones might be warmer, and I had taken them off at the time. I was halfway back to the car before my fingers came back!

Dragonfly, I love your first two pictures, the colours on the boat and the colour reflection in the water is lovely and I really like the tops coming off of the waves!

dragonfly
11-Jan-09, 20:25
thanks again Dorrie :Razz

can anyone tell me whats happened in these photos and how to stop it happening in future

Pink/purple in clouds - top left hand corner
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3452/3188774962_2075dd1b30.jpg

orbs in pictures - in this case bottom right
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3304/3188771832_d5b95f44fb.jpg

took a few photos today that had this in them and not knowing how to remove them am a bit lost!

nirofo
12-Jan-09, 02:25
Hi dragonfly

It's called flare, it's usually caused by direct or side light which is reflected on the front element of the lens. You can normally get round this by using a lens hood designed for your particular lens, this will help to cut out light coming in from the side, I have one on all my lenses. Try and avoid shots with extreme highlights coming into the lens from directly in front. Make sure your lens front element is kept as clean as possible, smears and dust are possible causes of flare, they will reduce the quality of the image in any case. Fit a Skylight 1A or 1B filter to your lens, leave it on all the time, helps to protect your front element.

nirofo.

dragonfly
12-Jan-09, 09:10
cheers Nirofo, I have the hood attached to the lens but not turned the right way round :roll: I'll make sure I do this when taking it out the case from now on :)