Advice on todays pics

[Joe662]

Took these tody with my new lens. Am new to DSLR so not sure what im doing right/wrong. Would appreciate any comments on these. Was pretty dull so not ideal conditions

[pressld2]

Hi Joe,

The main thing you're doing wrong is linking to external images!

We only allow images that have been loaded to WAB so that we don't suffer from lots of little red crosses in years to come when the external images have disappeared.

If you upload to the Gallery (for good quality shots correctly identified and titled with "Common Name - Latin name") or the image library for everything else, then you can link to them from your forum posts.

Dave P.

[squishy]

you've got me on tenter hooks for these photos now

[Joe662]

ok at last inda worked out how to use the galery on here. There's first three, cant seem to upload the other....

[Joe662]

couple more

[glsammy]

Hi. A belated warm welcome to WAB from me.

Firstly, not all the shots have the EXIF info on them, making it more difficult to offer answers on the technical side. It's often when you save an image using "Save" as against "Save As" that can do this.
From the ones that have the info, the main points I'd make are:
1) Change from shutter priority to aperture priority. Using shutter priority usually forces the camera to open the lens completely, and that's not what you normally need with wildlife shots. By using aperture you can set the F stop to something like F8 for instance. In this case because the light was so poor, you might as well shoot with the lens wide open!
2) Use ISO 400 as your starting point.One of the images had ISO 200, making the camera choose a slower than ideal shutter speed.
3) Shoot in better light! Bad light rarely give good shots, unless it's some thing unusual your trying to get. Good light is essential to get good detail with plenty of contrast and colour.
4) Try and get closer. The Cormorant is simply too far away. Even in good light you'd struggle to get a good shot from that distance. The same with the Blue Tit shot.
5) Watch your focus.

Good luck with your next outing!

[Dan Salter]

and some 'non technical' advice that uses your 'eyes and legs' and not technical camera features and confusing numbers is composition!....dont just look at your subject in the frame, look at its relation to the rest of the frame?...

For instance, pic 4 of the goose is ruined by the reed sticking out of its head...if you moved a few feet either way this could have been avoided. Same with the blue tit shot....we want to see a blue tit...not the pole a blue tit is hiding behind?....its these little 'arty' things and a little thought and looking at the image as a whole 'piece' that can really make or break a shot!.

However, it all comes with practice, and the fact you are using WAB for advice is a great start and a wise thing to do, so you will learn fast im sure....dont give up!

[Joe662]

Thanks for for the comments

Sammy if i change to aperture priority wont i then have problems with the camera choosing too low of a shutter speed? Using shutter priority just seems easier for the time being as i dont quite "get" apperature. I know what it is but not really when i would want use one setting over the other. Whats the disadvantage of having the lense wide open over say F8?

Dan, you are totally right lol. I hadnt even paid any attention to that reed before you mentioned it. Sure will take more notice next time when setting the shot up.

Cheers
Joe

[posie]

not bad for a beginner though...Posie..

[Joe662]

ty posie, am praying for a nice clear day on saturday so i can go out and try in better light