Afghan Morning

[Jester757]

I am new to photography and i wanted to get some pointers, right now I am on deployment in Afghanistan and because of OPSEC concerns it has really challenged me to find good spot to get good shot my utlimate goal is to get the Afghan mountains while they snow caped but I need a wide angle and a good zoom. But that is another story...here is what I got so far while this morning.

Shot with a Nikon D3000
18-55mm@32mm
f/7.1 1/15
ISO 100


Shot with a Nikon D3000
18-55mm@36mm
f/5 1/50
ISO:400

[crockny]

Well you have done well with what you have. You picked the right time of day so you are off to a good start. I love the pinks. Not the most photogenic of areas so I think you did well -- I especially like the first one with the reflections ... although the 2nd one really shows what you have to deal with ... you have made good use of leading lines in both pictures. The top ones seems a little tight to me with the leading line going off the page at the upper right with nothing really interesting at the end of it ... but all in all a good job!

[Hill Country Hack]

Let me start by thanking you for your service. I did 20 yrs myself in the AF.

You do not need a wide angle lens or good zoom to get your snow capped moutain shots. Your current lens will do just fine if used correctly. A tripod is just about a must for landscape shots taken during the golden hours. But if you are creative, you can find a stable object to set your camera on and use the self timer to allow you to depress the shutter release and let the camera "settle" before firing. Landscapes are typically shot at between f8-f11. The proper f-stop and the use of hyperfocal distance (info can be found in this forum) are standard tools one uses for landscape/cityscape, unless one is looking for a different look.

I'm not all that sure what your subject is in your first shot. Is it the relection of the light pole? If so, I would have shot a bit wider to not cut off the puddles. The puddles make a nice diaginal line in the frame and the pole reflection going in the vertical is a good contrast for me.

Try taking the second shot again from just a bit lower prospective and maybe just a bit more pointing down the road. I like the fog/mist in the shot as well as the color in the sky.

For you desired mountain shot, can you get on top of the brown building in your second shot without becoming a target?

Keep shooting and keep posting. Be safe.

[Jester757]

Originally Posted by crockny

Well you have done well with what you have. You picked the right time of day so you are off to a good start. I love the pinks. Not the most photogenic of areas so I think you did well -- I especially like the first one with the reflections ... although the 2nd one really shows what you have to deal with ... you have made good use of leading lines in both pictures. The top ones seems a little tight to me with the leading line going off the page at the upper right with nothing really interesting at the end of it ... but all in all a good job!

Thank you, for your honesty I see what your saying about the leading lines I was trying to get the eye to go to the mountain in the background but the building was in the way and there was a smoke shack that was creeping in the tightness of that upper right hand area.

[Jester757]

Originally Posted by Hill Country Hack

Let me start by thanking you for your service. I did 20 yrs myself in the AF.

You do not need a wide angle lens or good zoom to get your snow capped moutain shots. Your current lens will do just fine if used correctly. A tripod is just about a must for landscape shots taken during the golden hours. But if you are creative, you can find a stable object to set your camera on and use the self timer to allow you to depress the shutter release and let the camera "settle" before firing. Landscapes are typically shot at between f8-f11. The proper f-stop and the use of hyperfocal distance (info can be found in this forum) are standard tools one uses for landscape/cityscape, unless one is looking for a different look.

I'm not all that sure what your subject is in your first shot. Is it the relection of the light pole? If so, I would have shot a bit wider to not cut off the puddles. The puddles make a nice diaginal line in the frame and the pole reflection going in the vertical is a good contrast for me.

Try taking the second shot again from just a bit lower prospective and maybe just a bit more pointing down the road. I like the fog/mist in the shot as well as the color in the sky.

For you desired mountain shot, can you get on top of the brown building in your second shot without becoming a target?

Keep shooting and keep posting. Be safe.

I can get on top of some things like bunkers but i was told by the camp police that i couldn't get higher than their towers. I do have a tripod, its a cheap one that I got at the exchange but it will work for the time being, I just need to get a remote or a corded trigger for it. Thanks for your input.