some tips please

[tigertom]

I have been playing round with a new bridge camera I have not the best in the world but its what I have for now want to get best out of it any advice please some of my testers be low

used auto for this one


next two taken with macro






was trying out zoom on this but think needed bit more also used manual setting of f 3.0 1/1200 ev-2

as said was trying camera out so was not expecting much how can I improve in future
Thanks
MIKE

[tigertom]

Just thought on the pintail pic may also of been on auto as well
mike

[Tringa]

I think you are doing the right thing, ie taking photos in different situations.

The auto setting will work well in many situations, but it can be fooled and having more control of the photo is useful.

Given the day looked fairly grey, the photos you posted are good.

I don't know how much you know about photography but there is a lot of info online. These tutorials - Learn Photography Concepts - are pretty good IMO.

Just learn everything you camera can do and take loads of photos.

Also get a photo editor. I think every one of the several thousand photos I have taken since I got my first digital camera about 2 years ago has had some processing through a photo editor.

You can pay a lot for editors but there are also many free ones available. My favourite free ones are GIMP (lots to learn, but powerful) and Photoscape (less powerful, but very easy to use).

BTW what camera do you have?

Dave

[tigertom]

GE X5 not the best but not to bad 14MP 15 times optical zoom will help me get hang of things befor geting into a DSLR
MIKE

[Geoff F]

Not a lot wrong with those shots; but it is difficult to give specific advice without seeing the camera settings which you used.

With the fungi, I would like to see a fraction more space at the top of the scene. Sometimes, rotating the camera by 90 degrees or cropping the resulting image to give a portrait view, say 4 x 5 ratio can produce an improvement.

Also carefully removing any grass or dead twigs near the subject can give a 'cleaner' image.

[Paul mabbott]

I don't see any basic problem - you might be able to improve the pictures by editing: the waterbird pictures would look better cropped of extraneous water and weed; the fungus might be improved by fiddling with contrast or brightness.
Good luck.

[tigertom]

Thanks for the advice had another play about today over cast and bit gray took these two both on manual setting

This one 1/80 F 3.0 have cropped this one a bit as well


This one again just trying out manual 1/125 f 3.0


going to try for some more serious shots next
thanks again
MIKE

[Alan Livsey]

Hello Mike
Nice shots. I'm no expert, but i would suggest including less man made objects in the photo, poor Blue Tit looks like he's in a cell! Is that a Squirrel proof feeder he's in?
Try and photograph the bird doing something natural, feeding/preening/flying etc... All easier said than done of course, but 'practice makes perfect'.
Know your camera's abilities and get familiar with it's functions. Study the photographs of professional wildlife photographers, composition,shutter speeds,aperture etc.... and enjoy it.
I like to look through the Wildlife Photographer of the Year book, i'm going to be in it, one day....

[tigertom]

Originally Posted by Alan Livsey

Hello Mike
Nice shots. I'm no expert, but i would suggest including less man made objects in the photo, poor Blue Tit looks like he's in a cell! Is that a Squirrel proof feeder he's in?
Try and photograph the bird doing something natural, feeding/preening/flying etc... All easier said than done of course, but 'practice makes perfect'.
Know your camera's abilities and get familiar with it's functions. Study the photographs of professional wildlife photographers, composition,shutter speeds,aperture etc.... and enjoy it.
I like to look through the Wildlife Photographer of the Year book, I'm going to be in it, one day....

I Know what you mean about man made objects only took that pic to get a feel for manual setting it is natural pics I will looking to get, Thanks for your compliment my on pics
MIKE