Chance the dog

[alortie]

I recieved my camera two days ago and have been experimenting since. I was wanting to know if I am getting the focus right? I would appreciate any advice you can give me. Like I said I am just learning and wanting to make sure I'm on the right path. As of now I have no photoshop or any other editing programs. Trying to learn how to shoot decent pics before I get one.

Exif
Camera: Nikon D3000
Shutter Speed: 1/6
Aperture: f/5.3
Focal Length: 44mm
ISO speed: 200
Metering mode: spot

[Weird Girl]

Hello there. I am in the learning phases as well but from what I see, the eyes are not in focus like they should be. Are you using auto or manual? Also, have you played with changing where your lens is focusing? I would suggest reading the whole manual for your camera but especially check out the focusing features. You can also play with depth of field (opening and closing down aperture/f stop)- the wider open your aperture, the smaller of an area you will have in focus. If you are not shooting in manual mode yet, I would suggest starting with either aperture priority or shutter priority to focus on one at a time until you get the hang of it, then combine the two together... that's what I did anyway and it helped a lot! Your dog is very cute and I am a huge dog lover (have 5 myself). Keep shooting and posting, I have learned so much here already!

[alortie]

I am shooting in manual (mostly apeture priority) trying to get the hang of it. I bought my camera from a friends and unfortunelty it did not come with the manual, but I am researching and trying to figure out as much as I can!

[Barbara V]

To me, the focus is fine, he's clear from the snout to ears. I don't really see a problem with it.

You could probably find that manual online somewhere like eBay, for under $20.. manual and software. Others may know a better way. Contacting the company maybe?

[dasmith232]

Regarding focus, I see that his snout is very sharply in focus and tail is not. The range of what is "acceptably in focus" (in my opinion) includes the eyes, and even extending to his ears. As you enlarge, the range of acceptable focus might be more apparent. For this small image, it's fine.

Regarding his eyes, the reflections might be part of what's distracting. For portrait work, it's common to include a "catch light" or reflection that is of your choosing (typically a flash, and often from something larger than the built-in popup flash). Seeing that *you* are in the reflection (with your camera) is possibly distracting, but that's not a focus issue.

Regarding the composition, you might try getting down to his eye-level. There are lots and lots of pictures in this world taken from a height of around 5.5' or the typical eye level of the photographer that's "just standing there" looking up or down. Get down low, and maybe even *very* low to get interesting pictures. On the other hand, any time that I get down low for pictures with my dogs, they think that it's play time and getting a nice picture has little to do with which focus points or camera mode I've selected...!

[alortie]

Thanks for the advice everybody. I found a manual on ebay! Hopefully it'll get here soon. I did get down and got a great picture of the cat. Yeah wasnt happening with Chance it was play time!

[Chuckie17]

I like the photo. Cool dog! I agree getting down to their level helps a bunch and fun.

[Neils]

You can usually access a manual on line on the companies web site, no need to buy off ebay.