Hi all,
I eventually have that D-slr we have talked so much about!!! here are some of the shots so far. I have only used it inside at the moment as the weather is crap here.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/scoobykid/IMG_0405.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/scoobykid/IMG_0393.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/scoobykid/IMG_0349.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/scoobykid/IMG_0222.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/scoobykid/IMG_0199.jpg

All of these are straight of the camera. What sort of stuff should I be doing to make them better? nearly every picture I see on here says "levels changed in photoshop" or something like that. I have photoshop CS2 so I just need to know what to use it for! And don't be scared to tell me if they are crap as they are only my first time with the camera anyway.

And I would like like to pick your brains yet again (sorry), I am going to be getting a lense next week (hopefully). The one I was thinking of was the Sigma 70-300 APO macro, but the non APO one is only £115 and this fits my budget better. Is the APO really worth that extra money that I could spend on something else?

While I'm at the photography shop, I was thinking of getting some filters, I understand a UV filter will protect the lense from sunlught(?).

All advice welcome,
Thanks,

Scott.
;)

So This is what you spent your money on :)

Did you ever get the 10% off them ??

Just about to order my D80, finally, then I can post up some of my efforts :D

Not my money as it is a christmas pressent from Mum and Dad. Didn't get the 10% off but I am going to try and sort it out with them.

Scott.



Ps. these are not my official Subaru Models they are just cheapo toys, all my proper models are boxed and sealed, they can be found here (http://bbs.scoobynet.com/members-gallery-5/528522-people-say-im-sad-am-i-part-two.html?highlight=people+say+i+am+sad) along with the rest of my collection.

Good old Mum and Dad :thumb:

Just read your link, thats not a collection it's a shrine !! fantastic stuff, like the others said, good on you, I used to do it with Ferraris and Porkers but chucked all the boxes, Doh ! got a couple of scoobs knocking about, thankfully I kept these in their cases :)

Some body must be prepared to tell me how to make these better...

Please.

Scott.

composition.

one photo has the ****ter in the background!

I like them.

On the small stuff, dust the things beforehand as loads shows up.
Focus is fine, sharpness is fine. As said, backgrounds aren't the best but compared to the crap I've produced with mine, I'd be well pleased with those.

For super neat backgrounds on small stuff, give your local art store a visit and pick up a few sheets of bendable A1 or A0 cards in different colours and have a play.

I can't comment on the lens youmentioned but having gone through a large number of lenses, I would say think hard about what you'll be shooting before laying out any cash, big focal lengths and big appertures are very attractive (and very expensive) but absolutely useless if they don't meet your needs.
There is a school of thought that you should spend a while with a 50mm lens on the camera and nothing else and this will make you think a lot more about composition. I tried it but got bored - I like big zooms :D

Good work and keep em coming!

composition.

one photo has the ****ter in the background!

LMAO, least no one was on it at the time ;)
With regards to the plee for help, are you taking your shots in RAW or as jpg?
RAW lets you 'correct' white balance and exposure after the shot is taken. Although it's always better to get it right in the camera, as it's your first DSLR it might be worth having that extra safety net.
As for CS2 tips, I would really really recommend purchasing a magazine called Digital Photo. Every month it has a CD containing video tutorials for photo processing and manipulation. If you subscribe you get a pretty decent camera bag as well :thumb:

Matt

What lens did you get with it?

get outside and take pictures of trees/buildings/streets/people.

beyond auto levels and unsharp mask, indoor lit product shots are difficult to assist on.

Get the APO version of the lens, the different in cost isn't much, but the APO version is supposed to be worth the difference. You may not notice the difference immediately, but 6 months, 12 months later you will...

A UV filter does not protect the lens, but serves as protection to the front element, and can cancel out some atmospheric effects that UV light can cause.

I've never had the non apo version, but it seems to get rather lukewarm press. I have the APO version, I'm very happy with it, and it seems to win a lot of best budget zoom awards. I'd spend the extra 50 quid.

There is a school of thought that you should spend a while with a 50mm lens on the camera and nothing else and this will make you think a lot more about composition.

There is - but they're wrong! :D

I made the mistake of buying a 50mm lens shortly after I got my first DSLR 'because I was told it was a good idea' - and I've hardly used it. Even when I do, it's attached to a set of extension tubes for close-ups.

That's not to say it's a bad lens - far from it - but it doesn't suit me. I have a big, heavy 24-70mm zoom instead and love it!

i virtually only ever used a 50mm 1.4 on the D70

and now only have a 50mm 1.2 on the canon.

It's a simple setup and does make me think about composition.

I'm no expert at this butbriefly, if you open the photo up in photoshop cs2 or elements doesn't matter. Then press Ctrl+L you will open up the "Levels" window. It shows you a histogram..... if you have any free space on the left or right (or both) then drag the sliders up to the start of the histogram. This has the effect of changing the brightness.

Here is your original photo

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b117/scoobykid/IMG_0199.jpg

and here is mine with the levels adjusted (and a bit of sharpening) :thumb:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y134/chrislivingston/IMG_0199.jpg

The difference is marginal in this example but can make quite a difference. Look at the outline of the letters, everything else is very marginal... just shows the quality of a Canon :thumb:

Well done Scotty :)

You've got the 18-55mm kit lens, right? Nothing wrong with that. The stuff you use it for, the pics you like/dislike etc, will tell you a lot about which next lens to get. What's the rush?

Forget Photoshop for now. Maybe have a twiddle with levels/parameters in the camera, but just leave it at that. What you need to learn is the art/craft of photography, which is a combination of reading (you have read the Understanding Photography sticky, haven't you? Hand on heart now ;) ) looking at inspirational images - eg spend a few weeks browsing PBase Photo Database - Photo Hosting - Photo Sharing - Web Photo Galleries (http://www.pbase.com) - and just go and shoot loads of stuff.

Think about what it is you're trying to capture, then ask yourself why you did/did'nt succeed. This takes time although a few months of concentrated effort will get you a long way. It is you that will take great pictures, not a fancy camera. ;)

Keep us posted and good luck,

Richard.

Agree 100% with Richard - the most important thing is to look at, and take lots, of photographs. There's no excuse with digital, delete the failures, copy the good ones off the card and start again :D Remember scrounging a couple of quid off my parents to get a roll of HP5 on my way to a rugby match - 36 frames, shoot that in the first 10 mins now :D

Learn about technique, composition, what the camera will do but more importantly how to get the camera to do WHAT YOU want it to do. Don't get dragged into thinking that you need a new lens to take better pictures.

Gareth

If you see a cracking photo on the net you can challenge yourself to try and reproduce it, or interrogate it for its EXIF information, and find out what settings the photographer used.

looking at inspirational images - eg spend a few weeks browsing PBase Photo Database - Photo Hosting - Photo Sharing - Web Photo Galleries (http://www.pbase.com) - and just go and shoot loads of stuff.

It's also well worth having a look through the archives on here: [daily dose of imagery] (http://wvs.topleftpixel.com/)
Some stunning photos and updated daily....

Agree about the Exif on images you like, gives you a great insight as to what settings you should be using..

Enjoy the camera.....

i virtually only ever used a 50mm 1.4 on the D70

and now only have a 50mm 1.2 on the canon.

It's a simple setup and does make me think about composition.

Chefdude,
How do you like the 50mm 1.2L so far and how fast is the AF on this lens? Which camera are you using again from Canon? Thanks, Daniel

Scott,
Congrats to your 400D! Have lots of fun with it and keep on posting. :)

Canon Digital Photography Forums (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=261304) (you'll need to register)

70-300 APO version for sale, £ 110, Milton Keynes, selling due to upgrade to L glass