PF Photography: Tips, Tricks, & Photo Sharing

[_Mayday_]

This thread is for anything related to Photography. I am quite new to photography and I do not know a lot about it, so any pointers would be great. I've seen some really great shots in the competition threads, so let's see what PF has to offer

Hosting your Photos

I use http://imageshack.us/", it hosts your Image and can also resize the image. I think as a general guideline we should stick to a maximum image size of 640x480 so that the thread doesn't become cluttered and take ages to load up. If you feel that the image would look better a bit bigger then I'm sure that is fine.
This is my dog Pie, as you can see she loves her Tennis Balls.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2123/pie3er7.jpg

This one is out in the garden. I had a play around with the focus but I think there is still
some room for improvement, I tried to use the bricks a backround just to add some definition.
http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/456/edited1xh6.jpg

This one makes me want to cry. It was such a great opportunity to take a great shot, but
its come out a bit fuzzy, its one of those moments I can't imagine come around to often
For anyone that is interested it's in South Africa.
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/7043/cheetahrf1.jpg

This should be good

 

[Evo]

Cute dog! Nice photos!

 

[turbo]

I've posted this on PF before, but it's one of my favorites.

 

[Evo]

Awww, that's so cute!

 

[turbo]

The chipmunks will come to me and climb on me to look in my hands and pockets for seeds, but the squirrels always act very suspicious. They don't run away because they want to stay near the bird feeders, but they'll retreat to a place where they can keep an eye me until I move off. This was shot at a focal length of 360 mm, with a 35mm film equivalent focal length of 577 mm, so you can see I was some distance away from them and still they were nervous.

 

[_Mayday_]

Evo
Thanks

Turbo-1
That's an awesome shot! Is this in your Garden? I sometimes struggle with photos like this of wildlife as a lot of the time it can look quite dull, but yours works really nicely

 

[_Mayday_]

I've just come across an Image Manipulation programme, It is quite nice for touching up your photos. It's called http://www.gimp.org/" . and it's free. You might want to check it out the site has screenshots and shows you what it does.

Just a question concerning my Photo of the dog. It looks a bit dull, I am very pleased with what is in the Photo but it is lacking something? Anyone got any ideas?

 

[larkspur]

I've just come across an Image Manipulation programme, It is quite nice for touching up your photos. It's called http://www.gimp.org/" . and it's free. You might want to check it out the site has screenshots and shows you what it does.

Just a question concerning my Photo of the dog. It looks a bit dull, I am very pleased with what is in the Photo but it is lacking something? Anyone got any ideas?

The dog photo is adorable but it has a blue tint to it. Notice how the dogs fur is bluish instead of white. The photo needs to be "warmed up" by adjusting the color balance. Not sure how to do this with GIMP. To prevent this in the future you can set your camera's white balance to "Cloudy" to warm up your photos.

 

[larkspur]

Hope you don't mind, I played with the image to show you what can be done. The warmer version is the top one and the bottom one is your original.

http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/2123/pie3er7.jpg

 

[_Mayday_]

Cheers, I've done something similar myself. Thanks for the advice though!

 

[turbo]

Evo
Thanks

Turbo-1
That's an awesome shot! Is this in your Garden? I sometimes struggle with photos like this of wildlife as a lot of the time it can look quite dull, but yours works really nicely

Thanks! The squirrels are sitting on the ledge of my log house, overlooking our vegetable garden. I liked the scene in part because the squirrels blend in quite well with the weathered logs, and in part because it looks like the standing squirrel is reassuring its sibling.

 

[Evo]

Yeah, it's that reassuring paw that makes the picture "talk".

 

[larkspur]

Baby Blues

 

[turbo]

Ooh! nice detail!

 

[turbo]

Since I have lots of squirrels stealing my bird food, I make them pay by modeling for me. This one is a baby, probably recently weaned.

 

[larkspur]

Ooh! nice detail!

I'm lovin my new macro lens!

 

[larkspur]

Your squirrels are just so cute Turbo!

 

[FredGarvin]

Larkspur, that is a great shot of your cat. Because of that, I have to share my main fuzzy man...Elvis.
http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/4835/elviskittytreesmallwm2.jpg

And here is my favorite of Wyatt. I just like how the lighting worked out with the colors.
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9383/wyattsleepinginthesun2zh7.jpg

 

[larkspur]

Larkspur, that is a great shot of your cat. Because of that, I have to share my main fuzzy man...Elvis.
http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/4835/elviskittytreesmallwm2.jpg

[/URL]

Gorgeous cat Fred!

 

[Astronuc]

Larkspur, that is a great shot of your cat. Because of that, I have to share my main fuzzy man...Elvis.
http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/4835/elviskittytreesmallwm2.jpg

[/URL]

Great shot Fred.

He looks like he's wondering about you.

 

[matthyaouw]

Are non-cute photos allowed?

MoreLove the cat close-up Larkspur!

 

[_Mayday_]

larkspur Nice shot, I like it how the eyes are clear and sharp with the soft smooth background of the cats fur.

turbo-1 I like that shot more actually, the wood grain works so nicely. I'm having trouble with my focus, I can change it an make it work but only short range. The focus in your shot is great, but how did you manage it?

 

[FredGarvin]

Is this picture done with a really high f-stop? I love how her fur just seems to fade into the background. Even your most basic pictures amaze me.

 

[FredGarvin]

Great shot Fred.

He looks like he's wondering about you.

Thanks. I often think if Elvis wonders about me and just what the heck I am doing. He is one photogenic cat (I think).

 

[larkspur]

Is this picture done with a really high f-stop? I love how her fur just seems to fade into the background. Even your most basic pictures amaze me.

Thanks Fred.
Yes, it was f/3.2

 

[neutrino]

The photos I dare to share with the rest of the world are stored http://www.flickr.com/photos/bunch_of_photons/" . C&C, advice, tips, etc. are most welcome...I have a LOT to learn.

 

[turbo]

The photos I dare to share with the rest of the world are stored http://www.flickr.com/photos/bunch_of_photons/" . C&C, advice, tips, etc. are most welcome...I have a LOT to learn.

Yeah, sure! In the short time you've had that camera, you've posted some great pictures. I love the silhouetted crows.

 

[larkspur]

The photos I dare to share with the rest of the world are stored http://www.flickr.com/photos/bunch_of_photons/" . C&C, advice, tips, etc. are most welcome...I have a LOT to learn.

You have some very nice shots in your group Nutrino.

If you really want to learn how to improve I would suggest joining the Flickr group Photowalkthrough. Then post a photo in the discussion section with the title RIA. ( Rip It Apart.) They will be brutally honest but that helps you learn faster when someone points out the flaws and tells you how to improve.


Another group that will be brutally honest is http://www.photosig.com" . If you can take the constructive criticism you will improve rapidly.
Just reading the criticisms of other peoples work will help you.

I am not a very good critic because I am too positive and I hate to hurt someones feelings with critical remarks (even if I can sugar coat it)...these groups don't care about feelings. They just want to get quality work from you.

 

[Mech_Engineer]

Cool, I like to post pictures now and then...

My current background on my computer:

 

[_Mayday_]

Larkspur I might have a look at that group, thanks for the link.

Mech_Engineer Great shot, the focus is pefect.

I have a few I've taken recently both have a few minor issues.

I don't think the focus is quite right, and I think the photo is a bit too rich in colour and contrast, but I am happy with what is in the shot
http://img108.imageshack.us/img108/9345/flower2yn0.jpg

Sheep!
http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/2544/sheepwr5.jpg

 

[Andre]

happy Valentine picture

 

[neutrino]

Yeah, sure! In the short time you've had that camera, you've posted some great pictures. I love the silhouetted crows.

You have some very nice shots in your group Nutrino.

If you really want to learn how to improve I would suggest joining the Flickr group Photowalkthrough. Then post a photo in the discussion section with the title RIA. ( Rip It Apart.) They will be brutally honest but that helps you learn faster when someone points out the flaws and tells you how to improve.


Another group that will be brutally honest is http://www.photosig.com" . If you can take the constructive criticism you will improve rapidly.
Just reading the criticisms of other peoples work will help you.

I am not a very good critic because I am too positive and I hate to hurt someones feelings with critical remarks (even if I can sugar coat it)...these groups don't care about feelings. They just want to get quality work from you.

Thank you for the kind words, guys. And thank you, larkspur, for the links. I belong to one http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/index.php", where I post occasionally (under the name of 'underexposed').

The problem(s) I have with photography, apart from actually composing, exposing and capturing an eye-pleasing scene, is that I'm very impatient when it comes to post-processing.(At least make the bad ones look decent, even if you can't create a good one in the first place. ) I'm not really sure what I'm doing when I'm moving the levels slider or adjusting curves, and I also have this nasty habit of preventing the photo becoming even a tad unrealistic.

I have a couple of photos that I was "working on," which haven't yet been posted to Flickr. I'll post the shots in the groups you mentioned over the weekend.

 

[turbo]

Hey, Nav! Here's a shot you won't see at home. I was working at my computer when I saw a big dark shape outside my window, I grabbed the body with the 100-400mm on it and took a few shots through the window. There were 4 turkeys and since the snow in front of the house is over four feet deep, they were nearly at eye level.

 

[larkspur]

Be My Valentine

 

[larkspur]

Hey, Nav! Here's a shot you won't see at home. I was working at my computer when I saw a big dark shape outside my window, I grabbed the body with the 100-400mm on it and took a few shots through the window. There were 4 turkeys and since the snow in front of the house is over four feet deep, they were nearly at eye level.

Wow! I would have been excited to get that shot too!

 

[Cyrus]

Fantastic work!

 

[hypatia]

Hey, Nav! Here's a shot you won't see at home. I was working at my computer when I saw a big dark shape outside my window, I grabbed the body with the 100-400mm on it and took a few shots through the window. There were 4 turkeys and since the snow in front of the house is over four feet deep, they were nearly at eye level.

What a great and tastie shot! The birds look really healthy for this time of year.

 

[turbo]

larkspur and hypatia, thanks both. The birds were only about 4-5 feet away, and I should have grabbed my other 30D with the 28-135mm lens on it, but the 100-400 was closer at hand and I didn't want to miss the shot. When I see these birds in the road and I'm on my Harley, I think "DANGER" - got to miss them or risk serious injury or death. But when they're just out my front window in the sun, it's pretty neat. Their iridescent body feathers almost make up for their almost-naked vulture heads. No Toms today, just hens and young-uns.

 

[larkspur]

Fantastic work!

Thanks Cyrus!

 

[turbo]

Fantastic work!

Par for the course for larkspur. If she ever posted images like some of the stuff I come up with, I'd ask if she had a bad day. Usually top-notch stuff from this lady.

 

[larkspur]

Par for the course for larkspur. If she ever posted images like some of the stuff I come up with, I'd ask if she had a bad day. Usually top-notch stuff from this lady.

Thanks turbo.
What do you mean "the stuff I come up with"? You have some great photos in your collection. You have a real talent with the squirrel photography.

 

[Cyrus]

Thanks Cyrus!

The eyes look like an ocean of water with sandy white beaches of fur surrounding it.

 

[turbo]

Here is a female Hairy Woodpecker that knocked herself silly hitting a window. I ran out and held her until she came around, and then held her up to the fascia-board on our eaves where she liked to perch until she wanted to cling to that, then hung out with her until she felt well enough to move off to a nearby tree. I love these birds! PEEK! My wife snapped this pic with my old Olympus 3040 P&S.

 

[Math Jeans]

I envy you.

 

[~christina~]

I just wanted to show what my new camera has produced for me
now all I need is a longer lens ...

(taken at the local zoo..I love those snow leopards I'll post a few more of them if anyone's interested in seeing them)

 

[turbo]

VERY nice shots, Christina, and I'd love to see more. Might I suggest putting your sigs in less-obtrusive locations. I don't sig mine at all, because they're not great enough to steal, but if I did, I'd try to make the unobtrusive.

 

[turbo]

I envy you.

For helping an injured woodpecker? I'm sure you'd do the same, with your love for animals.

 

[hypatia]

Woah, those are some BIG Puddy Tats! Great photos!

 

[~christina~]

VERY nice shots, Christina, and I'd love to see more. Might I suggest putting your sigs in less-obtrusive locations. I don't sig mine at all, because they're not great enough to steal, but if I did, I'd try to make the unobtrusive.

Thanks turbo

About the watermark...my thoughts are that if they are in obstrusive locations then they're less prone to theft.
(people can and will crop and I've seen it happen to others and thus that defeats the purpose of the watermark)

Woah, those are some BIG Puddy Tats! Great photos!

yes they are, Thanks hypatia

 

[larkspur]

I just wanted to show what my new camera has produced for me
now all I need is a longer lens ...

(taken at the local zoo..I love those snow leopards I'll post a few more of them if anyone's interested in seeing them)

Nice shots Christina. My favorite is the leopard.