New Camera / New Photographer

[thisbejonas]

Decided I wanted to get a little more serious with photography so I went and upgraded my P&S canon A710IS with a canon EOS 40D with kit lense. I have not learned any post production as everytime I have tried I think I make the photo worse than the original. So for now I am concentrating on learning to get "good shots" Since I have bought the cam I have been on a job in the oilfield so I dont have alot of different subjects to shoot also I work at night so so far all my shots are night shots. Please feel free to browse the other pics in my flickr and leave comments on them as well. Sorry for the life story here

[Japaslavian]

Originally Posted by thisbejonas

So for now I am concentrating on learning to get "good shots"

This is probably the best advice anyone could ever give you for digital photography, and you've got it already!

As for the shot, great work. Especially if you're starting out with night shots, something I've yet to conquer. Exposure is looking pretty good. Just a little hot where the lights are, but that's hard to avoid. You might drop down your ISO to 100, especially if you're going to be shooting a 30 second exposure, just to try to avoid as much noise as humanly possible. Maybe try to get the entire crane(?) in the frame.
Nice job!

[starrylaurie]

I think that's the whole rig, isn't it? I was going to ask - do you have a tripod? I think that's why your moon shots are a bit blurry. I don't have a tripod and can't get a moon shot in focus to save my life. Your rigging shots are nice though! (Especially if you're not using a tripod!)

I'm a newbie myself, but thought I'd drop by your page and take a look. Btw - I was going to comment, but none of your pics had a comment box. Hmm... ???

[mfmarsphoto]

Overall I think you got a nice shot, but maybe if you composed it in portrait rather than landscape for this tight a crop. I actually enjoy taking night shots since you have to pay more attention to the details of what is going on.

One suggestion. Check to see if your camera has a Noise Reduction feature and then set the ISO rating on the camera as low as possible while using a tripod. Noise and camera shake will be cut down greatly

[JonTheStudent]

Originally Posted by Japaslavian

Maybe try to get the entire crane(?) in the frame.

Nice shot, I also agree with Japaslavian, with the amount of space you gave it on picture 0935, or a slightly more.

[thisbejonas]

Well part of my problem is that the pics were using a tripod. iso on most of them was 200 yet if you look at the full size pic it really isnt very focused, looking through the camereas view finder it looks good, then on the cameras screen it looks good but then full size it really isnt that good of a pic. I have some pics i took in portrait mode but on these i wanted to get the entire location in the picture. Also I know I didnt use the thirds rule but in order to get the entire scene into the pic it is virtual impossible. Any more ideas on how to improve the pic is apreciated as I can reshoot the shot thanks

[wulf]

Try manually focusing. The autofocus system might be getting fooled by all the contrasts thrown up in the low light situation. Manually, try and get it close but then take several shots, using that as a central reference point.

You are at a fair distance from the subject, so focus won't be as critical as when closer up. You can also try focusing on something at the same distance that is bright and clear; in manual mode, this focal distance will be retained as you point the camera back at your intended target.

Wulf

[Saralonde]

I understand you wanting to get the whole scene in the shot, but its feels awkward to me that the top of the tower is cut off. If you do go back, try a shot in portrait empahsizing the height of the tower. It may not work, but it could be interesting.

[JAHphoto]

Originally Posted by thisbejonas

So for now I am concentrating on learning to get "good shots"

That just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Getting good shots is 110% more important than learning to use photoshop.

I like the picture, the long exposure really makes the lights look cool.

I would suggest making a vertical version; get the whole crane, and crop out that tree.. it seems out of place, kind of distracting.

[Atlas88]

I really like night snots..especially how the colours play against the black. To my eye the yellow staircase on the left when isolated against the night sky would perhaps make an interesting shot?

btw, do you know what the green/blue streak in sky next to the tower (right) is? Lens flair? Comet??