newbie to DSLR - critic this photo please

[belanda]

hi all, I took this flower in a local garden when testing out my new 400D and lenses. This is my first DSLR and would definitely hope to get tips here to make better pictures!

[Sime]

hey there belanda! welcome to DPS... how are you finding your 400D? This shot looks just fine, well positioned, maybe a touch "blown out" in the whites.. and the tiny bit of pink in the top right maybe draws my eye away a bit, but a great start and an easily fixable image. Well done.

Sime

[MatthewBotos]

Nice composition and depth of field; as a cropping junkie I'd second Sime's comment on the bit of pink.

As another newcomer to the world of DSLRS and rapidly procreating lenses, I'm curious which ones you're starting with?

[belanda]

Sime - having had no previous experience with DSLR, I say the 400D is awesome! what does "blown out" mean ? is that like a special photography term ? and wow, I didnt even realize that pink spot...ok thanks for tip!

MB - I bought the Kit 2 lens(IS 17-85mm) with the 400D, a zoom lens (IS 70-300mm) and couldnt resist the macro lens too (f/2.8 100mm). So far, extremely pleased with them, especially the tele lens.

[subrataofkris]

Originally Posted by belanda

Sime - having had no previous experience with DSLR, I say the 400D is awesome! what does "blown out" mean ? is that like a special photography term ? and wow, I didnt even realize that pink spot...ok thanks for tip!

Blown out means the white petals do not have sufficient details. The white petals reflect a lot of light, whereas the rest of the picture retains a lot of light, so when you take the exposure in the camera, in an auto scenario, the white portion gets overexposed. Here since your flower is the main subject, you can go closer to the flower, take the exposure of the petals, then either lock the exposure compose and click, or set it in manual and click.

Keep learning photography, we all do.

[clockdoc]

Hi and welcome to the group. Nice work for just getting into the dSLR world. You obviously have had some photographic experience or art training as evidenced by your eye for composition. Which lens was used for this shot? We are happy to help where we can.

[peeperita]

welcome belinda....i think you're gonna love it here....

nice composition and the exposure sits well with me.....i agree that the out of focus pink in the upper frame could be dealt with but, still it's not enough to make you any less proud of this image....

lovely image!

peeper

[belanda]

Originally Posted by subrataofkris

Blown out means the white petals do not have sufficient details. The white petals reflect a lot of light, whereas the rest of the picture retains a lot of light, so when you take the exposure in the camera, in an auto scenario, the white portion gets overexposed. Here since your flower is the main subject, you can go closer to the flower, take the exposure of the petals, then either lock the exposure compose and click, or set it in manual and click.

Keep learning photography, we all do.

hi, thanks for that tip! in this case however I'm unable to go closer as the flower is in the middle of a huge lake and I was already standing on the edge. But I will take note for next photo with white main elements. This photo with the white swans also seems "blown out" I guess ?

[belanda]

Originally Posted by clockdoc

Hi and welcome to the group. Nice work for just getting into the dSLR world. You obviously have had some photographic experience or art training as evidenced by your eye for composition. Which lens was used for this shot? We are happy to help where we can.

hi clockdoc,

thanks!

I used the 70-300 for this shot as it was in the middle of a lake. Here are other details of the shot.

File Name
IMG_0312.JPG
Camera Model
Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
Shooting Date/Time
11/24/2007 10:21:15 AM
Shooting Mode
Manual exposure
Tv( Shutter Speed )
1/100
Av( Aperture Value )
5.6
Metering Mode
Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation
0
ISO Speed
100
Lens
EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM
Focal Length
260.0 mm
Image Size
3888x2592
Image Quality
Fine
Flash
Off
Red-eye Reduction
Off
White Balance Mode
Flash
AF Mode
One-Shot AF
Picture Style
Portrait
Sharpness
2
Contrast
0
Saturation
0
Color tone
0
Color Space
sRGB
Noise Reduction
Off

anything else I could have done differently based on the settings above ?

[belanda]

Originally Posted by peeperita

welcome belinda....i think you're gonna love it here....

nice composition and the exposure sits well with me.....i agree that the out of focus pink in the upper frame could be dealt with but, still it's not enough to make you any less proud of this image....

lovely image!

peeper

hi ! thanks! And yes I'm finding myself checking into DPS a few times a day now to read and get tips!

(oh and my nickname is belanda ;-), dont worry, many get it mix up with belinda)