Need some help

[Jj Sinoobpy]

Hi guys, i am very new in this phototaking industry
In fact, i just got a DSLR like a week back.
As i wanna polish my skills, i bought a 2nd hand Canon 500D / 18-55mm kit lens and 50mm f1.8 prime lens with warranty till March 2013.

I just took a photo, landscape of my house's back scenario.
The stats are f13, Shutter 1/100, ISO 100, AF with 18-55mm lens

I find this photo alittle blur. It's in JPEG format after taking. No editing was done. In fact, this was taken in the late afternoon.

Can anyone teach me so that i can polish my skill?

Thanks alot

 

[Jj Sinoobpy]

Here are some other pictures:

 

[LFC25]

The street name can still be read so it's not blur. Just that the pics are flat, lack of contrast.

The sky is also blown out in all pics. What was the metering used?

 

[Jj Sinoobpy]

f13, Shutter 1/100, ISO 100, AF with 18-55mm lens

Thanks dude. Is there any thing that i must keep a look out for?

 

[tecnica]

shoot more and learn along the way.

nobody is born a genius.

for a start, go google about the exposure triangle.

 

[Jj Sinoobpy]

shoot more and learn along the way.

nobody is born a genius.

for a start, go google about the exposure triangle.

Noted will do so.

 

[LFC25]

f13, Shutter 1/100, ISO 100, AF with 18-55mm lens

Thanks dude. Is there any thing that i must keep a look out for?

Were you shooting manual mode for these pics? If yes, did you adjust the shutter speed or the aperture to get a perfect exposure before you shoot?

 

[Jj Sinoobpy]

Were you shooting manual mode for these pics? If yes, did you adjust the shutter speed or the aperture to get a perfect exposure before you shoot?

I was using manual mode. I tried F8 and F13 with Shutter from 1/40 - 1/100.
But i could not get the right combination. I think i will try again tomorrow/Wednesday

 

[LFC25]

I was using manual mode. I tried F8 and F13 with Shutter from 1/40 - 1/100.
But i could not get the right combination. I think i will try again tomorrow/Wednesday

No wonder. I guess you know how to get a perfect exposure when using manual mode. If not, you can do a google search on how to shoot in this mode.

Hope this helps.

 

[Jj Sinoobpy]

Hey guys, i tried taking these after those photos on top:

All are at ISO 100, i am just playing with the aperture and shutter speed

 

[Rashkae]

All overexposed. FYI, we have a critique corner for a reason. The Newbies corner is not your gallery and C&C section.

As for your shots, try shooting in Auto. See if it then looks correctly exposed, etc, and check what settings the camera wants to use compared to what you are using.

 

[ziploc]

I spotted quite a few problems simply by glancing through the EXIF of your pics. You might want to take note of the following:

1. Obey the 1/focal-length rule of thumb for the shutter speed. This is a very important rule as it will determine whether you get camera shake in your pics. E.g. if the focal length you used is 20mm, since your 500D is having a crop factor of 1.6x, min shutter speed = 1/(20 x 1.6) = 1/32". Any shutter below that and you're likely to get camera shake, resulting in unsharp pics. You can look through the EXIF of your pics and see for yourself.
2. Shutter pressing technique - learn to gentle roll your index finger over the shutter release instead of pressing down hard.
3. I noticed that you're using center-weighted metering in many of the above shots. I would recommend you to start with evaluative metering first. You can move on to other metering mode once you master the basics.
4. Start by learning using aperture priority (Av) mode or shutter priority (Tv) mode. Understand which mode to choose under what circumstances. Once you master these, you can move on to manual mode. When using manual mode, start by using the exposure meter to help you make the settings.
5. Learn to find interesting subjects to shoot. Taking photos is like writting an essay. You should have a main subject, and try to eliminate whatever that has nothing to do with the main subject from the pic. As from the pics above, all of them has no subject. Think before you shoot, and ask yourself why is it so interesting that you are taking a picture of it to show your audience.
6. Understanding the basics of photography by learning the technicals. There are a lot of materials on CS to help you along. You can also find many books and magazines in the library.
7. Join CS' outings and learn from the more experienced members.

That should keep you busy for a while. Happy shooting.

 

[Jj Sinoobpy]

All overexposed. FYI, we have a critique corner for a reason. The Newbies corner is not your gallery and C&C section.

As for your shots, try shooting in Auto. See if it then looks correctly exposed, etc, and check what settings the camera wants to use compared to what you are using.

Hi Rashkae,

Noted.
Apparently i tried to post my photos in the critique section. It can't be posted cos it says that i am still less than 30 days old in this forum, which i am not sure why.

Thanks for your advice thou

 

[Jj Sinoobpy]

I spotted quite a few problems simply by glancing through the EXIF of your pics. You might want to take note of the following:

1. Obey the 1/focal-length rule of thumb for the shutter speed. This is a very important rule as it will determine whether you get camera shake in your pics. E.g. if the focal length you used is 20mm, since your 500D is having a crop factor of 1.6x, min shutter speed = 1/(20 x 1.6) = 1/32". Any shutter below that and you're likely to get camera shake, resulting in unsharp pics. You can look through the EXIF of your pics and see for yourself.
2. Shutter pressing technique - learn to gentle roll your index finger over the shutter release instead of pressing down hard.
3. I noticed that you're using center-weighted metering in many of the above shots. I would recommend you to start with evaluative metering first. You can move on to other metering mode once you master the basics.
4. Start by learning using aperture priority (Av) mode or shutter priority (Tv) mode. Understand which mode to choose under what circumstances. Once you master these, you can move on to manual mode. When using manual mode, start by using the exposure meter to help you make the settings.
5. Learn to find interesting subjects to shoot. Taking photos is like writting an essay. You should have a main subject, and try to eliminate whatever that has nothing to do with the main subject from the pic. As from the pics above, all of them has no subject. Think before you shoot, and ask yourself why is it so interesting that you are taking a picture of it to show your audience.
6. Understanding the basics of photography by learning the technicals. There are a lot of materials on CS to help you along. You can also find many books and magazines in the library.
7. Join CS' outings and learn from the more experienced members.

That should keep you busy for a while. Happy shooting.

thanks Dude. You get me started. Apparently phototaking is just so chim.. LOL. Seems like i have alot of catch up to be done. haha. Will you be going to take shots this weekend? I will like to learn from you.

 

[catchlights]

Hi Rashkae,

Noted.
Apparently i tried to post my photos in the critique section. It can't be posted cos it says that i am still less than 30 days old in this forum, which i am not sure why.

Thanks for your advice thou

you can post one or two photos at the normal gallery sections to seek for comments other than critique corner, you have lot of basic technical issues to address, critique corner it is not the best place for you at this moment.

 

[Jj Sinoobpy]

you can post one or two photos at the normal gallery sections to seek for comments other than critique corner, you have lot of basic technical issues to address, critique corner it is not the best place for you at this moment.

Noted with thanks
I will take more photos and try first before reposting again. By the way, may i know if you can advise me further in the thread to enhance my photo taking skills?

 

[SkyStrike]

By the way, may i know if you can advise me further in the thread to enhance my photo taking skills?

Read more, Shoot More.

I believe many points in this thread already can take you many months to years to master it well. You may also want to read up the stickies as these threads contains alot of info from how to hold camera > getting the right exposure > Getting the "right" angle (this 1 also depends on your creativity)

 

[catchlights]

Noted with thanks
I will take more photos and try first before reposting again. By the way, may i know if you can advise me further in the thread to enhance my photo taking skills?

there are many photography books available at our National Library, you can pick anyone of them suit you or interest you.

 

[ziploc]

One more point that I noticed in your photos but forgot to mentioned previously: try not to go beyond f/11 unnecessary (or unless you're shooting macro). The "sweet spot" of most lenses are usually around f/8, where they are the sharpest. Beyond f/11 and diffraction will start to set in. Using a wider aperture will also help raise your shutter speed.

 

[kelchew]

Hey guys, i tried taking these after those photos on top:

All are at ISO 100, i am just playing with the aperture and shutter speed

the place you stay have a nice view...