My First Photoshoot - Canon EOS 600D

[Navz]

Hey all,

some of you know i got my 1st Camera last week, I have been reading up a lot on this forum and i finally took some photos last night - These are my first ever pics i snapped and I have A LOT to learn, would like some feedback. I used Picasa (to straighten etc), know nothing about photoshop etc but i will be buying Photoshop elements to learn.

Please can you give me some feedback and what do you think for a first timer like me -

Pics are at the following link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/navz187...7626462996927/

[donoreo]

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[Navz]

Originally Posted by donoreo

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[jet_kit]

Hi Doc,
No problem with the link. Some nice compositions with the different coloured towers, but nothing very strong. You need to arrange things so that the eye is drawn to a specific part of the picture. Do a bit of reading on the 'Rule of Thirds' (it's not difficult) and then have another go.
Photography is like any other techinical enterprise; you have to know the rules, then you'll have a good idea what is going to happen when you break them.
Read through the forums on this site - they're crammed full of advice.
Good luck

[chris-p]

You've got some really good, bold shots in that set. For me, it's mixed overall.

I'll post some in here and try to explain what I mean...

First of all - this one works really well...



It's bold, colourful and well balanced. Personally I'd crop it in a little from the edges but otherwise I like this.

This next one is a good attempt as well, but you've not quite pulled it off perfectly. It's a little too bright but you've used leading lines and the bold shapes to give some direction to the photo. It's a bit blurry as well.



But, like I said, it's a mixed bag for me. This next one doesn't work because it's got no real centre of attention. The ghostly moving people in these don't really work for me at all. You've also got the shadow of your camera and tripod in the shot...



This last one does and doesn't work all at once. Compositionally it's good. Like some of the others it's bold and strong but the fading desaturation doesn't do anything at all except make you feel like the centre of the photo is too saturated.



I would suggest looking for tighter compositions - keep your photographs more focused. You've got blur in a lot of these shots which could be the mirror moving around so I would also suggest damping you camera movement. The techincal bits are easy to sort though.

My advice is to spend more time looking and positioning the camera carefully. Look at the edges of the frame and make sure there isn't too much or too little space, that you've not cutt the top or bottom off something and that things aren't either poking in or falling out the sides of the frame.

[ianpinion]

Hi Navz,

I've had a look through your set and for a first attempt you've done pretty well, but as Chris has pointed out there are a few technical things you need to work on. These should come with practice, though my best advice is to slow yourself down, check everything is how you want it before you take the shot to make sure you've composed it well, that you've only included the elements you want to capture and kept the frame clean of the bits you don't want in shot. Think about how and where you've positioned yourself to take the shot and assess whether it would be better if you moved yourself forwards, backwards or to oneside or the other. Then double check your camera settings to make sure you have left something set from the previous shot that will have a deterimental effect on your next shot. Lastly, have a clear vision in your mind of how you want the shot to look and be guided by this so you capture it just so.

Rome wasn't built in a day, but review your own shots and look at them to see if there is anything you're not happy with. Identify what has caused it and then find out how to prevent this happening again. Sometimes this is easy, but if there's anything you're unsure of just ask.

[OldBoy]

If it's you first camera then, don't worry too much about the first shots, just get out there and enjoy yourself. It's the quickest way to learn. In six months time you will be able to look back at these shots and see where you went wrong/or could improve. It's the way most of use learn and still learning today.

[Navz]

Hey everyone, Thanks for the amazing feedback and comments, i am taking it all on board, I have also added to my lenses and now have the following:

1. Canon 50mm II f/1.8
2. Canon EF-S 18-55mm II f/3.5-5.6
3. Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6

Could someone please give me a breakdown of what each lens is best suited to in general.

I am not planning on buying any more lenses now until i master my camera with all three of these lenses.

Do a lot you you taake pictures and then crop out what you need, or do you just take the picture without considering crop etc?

Thanks once again.

[OldBoy]

Originally Posted by Navz

Hey everyone, Thanks for the amazing feedback and comments, i am taking it all on board, I have also added to my lenses and now have the following:

1. Canon 50mm II f/1.8
2. Canon EF-S 18-55mm II f/3.5-5.6
3. Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6

Could someone please give me a breakdown of what each lens is best suited to in general.

I am not planning on buying any more lenses now until i master my camera with all three of these lenses.

Do a lot you you taake pictures and then crop out what you need, or do you just take the picture without considering crop etc?

Thanks once again.

The 50mm lens is close to what your eye will see and been F1.8 will be good for low light shots.
The 18-55mm is ok for landscape shots at the 18mm end and the 55-250mm for wildlife and the like. As they go to F5.6 at the zoom end you will need bright conditions to get the best from them. Remember, any lens can be used for landscapes, wildlife or people shots and even macro althought, you won't get lifesize or 1:1.

As to crop it's best to consider the composition before taking the shot, but with wildlife you may only get one chance so, in that case take the shot and crop later. Most shots are cropped to reduce the size of the image posted online and keep the subject in 100% view.