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Digital Camera pic of the day (2 Viewers)

I got the Lumix FZ200 when it was an Amazon lightning deal the other day. I took a bunch of pics of my dogs to try it out. This is the only one that turned out decent (IMO). Keep in mind I have no idea what I am doing but I am looking for feedback.

Look at me

 
Buddy Ball 2K3 said:
I got the Lumix FZ200 when it was an Amazon lightning deal the other day. I took a bunch of pics of my dogs to try it out. This is the only one that turned out decent (IMO). Keep in mind I have no idea what I am doing but I am looking for feedback.

Look at me
Click to expand...
I don't really have any input about the photo itself. But one trick when it comes to portraits—if you can even call it a trick—is aim to have the eyes in focus. I'm not sure how that camera's focus system works (mine shows clusters of tiny red squares in the autofocus area), but try to fix the focus on the eyes and then recompose the shot (or just focus manually, which is probably a bit tricky for a beginner (hell, I still suck at it).

So basically: get the autofocus trained on the eye area (usually by lightly pressing the shutter button), then frame the shot ho you want it and press the button fully. Do this quickly, before the subject moves, and don't recompose too drastically or the focus field will change, depending on how open your aperture is. This is very handy when using a wider aperture (smaller aperture number, e.g. f2.8).

 
pantagrapher said:
Buddy Ball 2K3 said:
I got the Lumix FZ200 when it was an Amazon lightning deal the other day. I took a bunch of pics of my dogs to try it out. This is the only one that turned out decent (IMO). Keep in mind I have no idea what I am doing but I am looking for feedback.

Look at me
Click to expand...
I don't really have any input about the photo itself. But one trick when it comes to portraits—if you can even call it a trick—is aim to have the eyes in focus. I'm not sure how that camera's focus system works (mine shows clusters of tiny red squares in the autofocus area), but try to fix the focus on the eyes and then recompose the shot (or just focus manually, which is probably a bit tricky for a beginner (hell, I still suck at it).

So basically: get the autofocus trained on the eye area (usually by lightly pressing the shutter button), then frame the shot ho you want it and press the button fully. Do this quickly, before the subject moves, and don't recompose too drastically or the focus field will change, depending on how open your aperture is. This is very handy when using a wider aperture (smaller aperture number, e.g. f2.8).
Click to expand...
Great info, never even thought of trying that. I tried to do a manual focus and gave up on that rather quickly,I never realized it would be so difficult.

I assume trying to focus on an animals eye is almost impossible right?

 
Buddy Ball 2K3 said:
pantagrapher said:
Buddy Ball 2K3 said:
I got the Lumix FZ200 when it was an Amazon lightning deal the other day. I took a bunch of pics of my dogs to try it out. This is the only one that turned out decent (IMO). Keep in mind I have no idea what I am doing but I am looking for feedback.

Look at me
Click to expand...
I don't really have any input about the photo itself. But one trick when it comes to portraits—if you can even call it a trick—is aim to have the eyes in focus. I'm not sure how that camera's focus system works (mine shows clusters of tiny red squares in the autofocus area), but try to fix the focus on the eyes and then recompose the shot (or just focus manually, which is probably a bit tricky for a beginner (hell, I still suck at it).

So basically: get the autofocus trained on the eye area (usually by lightly pressing the shutter button), then frame the shot ho you want it and press the button fully. Do this quickly, before the subject moves, and don't recompose too drastically or the focus field will change, depending on how open your aperture is. This is very handy when using a wider aperture (smaller aperture number, e.g. f2.8).
Click to expand...
Great info, never even thought of trying that. I tried to do a manual focus and gave up on that rather quickly,I never realized it would be so difficult.

I assume trying to focus on an animals eye is almost impossible right?
Click to expand...
no harder than focusing on a human's

I use point focus, and just move my focus point depending upon how I want to frame the scene

 
Here's my first effort...it was about 5 degrees outside, so I'm surprised I was able to get anything that wasn't blurry from my shivering! Any tips/comments/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23707404@N04/sets/72157639940985914/

Went to the Houston Marathon this morning and took some shots... trying to learn my new Nikon D3200. I got everything set up last night. Cleared the memory card, cleaned the lens. Just about everything except charging the battery. :wall:

Maybe having 1/4 charge left, I didn't get to shoot as much as I would have liked but I got a couple of shots I am happy with. I thought the art installation in the background, coupled with the bright clothing of the runners, lent itself to some color saturation.

If I had more juice, I would have tried to catch some different shots -- almost all had the background in focus and the runners blurred. I like it, but I would have liked to have some with the runners in focus and more of the big packs of runners.

Overall it was a good learning experience and a good time.

 
I'm looking to buy a digital camera. I want to be an artist and I realize that writing and painting both require a lot of skill, whereas photography is all subjective. So far I have narrowed down my choices to the Nikon D5100 and the Canon Rebel T3i. The Nikon is more expensive in stores and has more prestige among 'professional amateur' photogs but on Ebay the Canon sells for more. I am leaning towards buying the Canon kit for like $470 shipped. Thoughts?

 
wilked said:
Arid Filch said:
I'm looking to buy a digital camera. I want to be an artist and I realize that writing and painting both require a lot of skill, whereas photography is all subjective.
Click to expand...
:unsure:
Click to expand...
My bad, photography also requires a lot of skill. For one thing, you have to have very strong wrists. And the ability to click with your pointer finger.

Whatever, my question still stands for anyone who is willing to answer. Nikon D5100 or Canon T3i? Probably won't see a difference either way but the unusual resale value on Ebay got me wondering.

 
Arid Filch said:
wilked said:
Arid Filch said:
I'm looking to buy a digital camera. I want to be an artist and I realize that writing and painting both require a lot of skill, whereas photography is all subjective.
Click to expand...
:unsure:
Click to expand...
My bad, photography also requires a lot of skill. For one thing, you have to have very strong wrists. And the ability to click with your pointer finger.Whatever, my question still stands for anyone who is willing to answer. Nikon D5100 or Canon T3i? Probably won't see a difference either way but the unusual resale value on Ebay got me wondering.
Click to expand...
:lmao:
 
Ignoramus said:
Arid Filch said:
wilked said:
Arid Filch said:
I'm looking to buy a digital camera. I want to be an artist and I realize that writing and painting both require a lot of skill, whereas photography is all subjective.
Click to expand...
:unsure:
Click to expand...
My bad, photography also requires a lot of skill. For one thing, you have to have very strong wrists. And the ability to click with your pointer finger.Whatever, my question still stands for anyone who is willing to answer. Nikon D5100 or Canon T3i? Probably won't see a difference either way but the unusual resale value on Ebay got me wondering.
Click to expand...
:lmao:
Click to expand...
Yea, you're one to laugh. No offense but when taking race pictures, I think you are supposed to focus in on the people not the grass. Might want to return that fancy camera if you can't figure out the features.

 
Arid Filch said:
Ignoramus said:
Arid Filch said:
wilked said:
Arid Filch said:
I'm looking to buy a digital camera. I want to be an artist and I realize that writing and painting both require a lot of skill, whereas photography is all subjective.
Click to expand...
:unsure:
Click to expand...
My bad, photography also requires a lot of skill. For one thing, you have to have very strong wrists. And the ability to click with your pointer finger.Whatever, my question still stands for anyone who is willing to answer. Nikon D5100 or Canon T3i? Probably won't see a difference either way but the unusual resale value on Ebay got me wondering.
Click to expand...
:lmao:
Click to expand...
Yea, you're one to laugh. No offense but when taking race pictures, I think you are supposed to focus in on the people not the grass. Might want to return that fancy camera if you can't figure out the features.
Click to expand...
Not gonna lie, though, the grass looks really good in some of those shots.

 
Arid Filch said:
Ignoramus said:
Arid Filch said:
wilked said:
Arid Filch said:
I'm looking to buy a digital camera. I want to be an artist and I realize that writing and painting both require a lot of skill, whereas photography is all subjective.
Click to expand...
:unsure:
Click to expand...
My bad, photography also requires a lot of skill. For one thing, you have to have very strong wrists. And the ability to click with your pointer finger.Whatever, my question still stands for anyone who is willing to answer. Nikon D5100 or Canon T3i? Probably won't see a difference either way but the unusual resale value on Ebay got me wondering.
Click to expand...
:lmao:
Click to expand...
Yea, you're one to laugh. No offense but when taking race pictures, I think you are supposed to focus in on the people not the grass. Might want to return that fancy camera if you can't figure out the features.
Click to expand...
I'll be the first to admit I'm still learning but, uh, how does that support your hypothesis that photography takes no skill?
 
Arid, you won't get too far in here criticizing others who are seeking help...

I can offer some advice on the running photos. I grabbed exif info from one of them

Exposure 0.025 sec (1/40) Aperture f/7.1 Focal Length 55 mm Focal Length 55.0 mm ISO Speed 400
Click to expand...
To reduce runner blur, you need to reduce shutter speed. You can do this by going to a lower aperture (you shot at 7.1, you might try 4-5) or increasing ISO (I would give ISO 800 a shot here). Do both and you can prob get your shutter speed to 1/200 or so, which should be fine at that focal length to freeze the image.

Another (likely more pleasing) option is panning

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnSdmQ2IGYE

If you can pan and get some slight blur with that colored background it would look really interesting I think. The video doesn't show it, but you can just simply move your body for running, no skateboards needed

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Capturing the background and leaving the runner a blur is actually kind of artistic. I know you weren't doing it on purpose, but I think you may have been on to something. I'm going to explore the idea.

 
Arid Filch said:
wilked said:
Arid Filch said:
I'm looking to buy a digital camera. I want to be an artist and I realize that writing and painting both require a lot of skill, whereas photography is all subjective.
Click to expand...
:unsure:
Click to expand...
My bad, photography also requires a lot of skill. For one thing, you have to have very strong wrists. And the ability to click with your pointer finger.
Click to expand...
Keep talking and continue to prove you don't know anything about photographic arts.

 
pantagrapher said:
Buddy Ball 2K3 said:
I got the Lumix FZ200 when it was an Amazon lightning deal the other day. I took a bunch of pics of my dogs to try it out. This is the only one that turned out decent (IMO). Keep in mind I have no idea what I am doing but I am looking for feedback.

Look at me
Click to expand...
I don't really have any input about the photo itself. But one trick when it comes to portraits—if you can even call it a trick—is aim to have the eyes in focus. I'm not sure how that camera's focus system works (mine shows clusters of tiny red squares in the autofocus area), but try to fix the focus on the eyes and then recompose the shot (or just focus manually, which is probably a bit tricky for a beginner (hell, I still suck at it).

So basically: get the autofocus trained on the eye area (usually by lightly pressing the shutter button), then frame the shot ho you want it and press the button fully. Do this quickly, before the subject moves, and don't recompose too drastically or the focus field will change, depending on how open your aperture is. This is very handy when using a wider aperture (smaller aperture number, e.g. f2.8).
Click to expand...
I've had a lot of trouble with this the past couple of months. I've been taking portraits of my daughter for Senior pictures/Christmas presents. One of the obstacles I've found is in my older Nikon D60. There are only 3 focus boxes (left, right and center). I was having trouble framing her in the picture and keeping one of the focal areas on her eyes/face.

Looking at the newer models, they use a lot more focal points. The D5200 uses up to 39.

I think it's time to move up to a new camera.

 
KCitons said:
pantagrapher said:
Buddy Ball 2K3 said:
I got the Lumix FZ200 when it was an Amazon lightning deal the other day. I took a bunch of pics of my dogs to try it out. This is the only one that turned out decent (IMO). Keep in mind I have no idea what I am doing but I am looking for feedback.

Look at me
Click to expand...
I don't really have any input about the photo itself. But one trick when it comes to portraits—if you can even call it a trick—is aim to have the eyes in focus. I'm not sure how that camera's focus system works (mine shows clusters of tiny red squares in the autofocus area), but try to fix the focus on the eyes and then recompose the shot (or just focus manually, which is probably a bit tricky for a beginner (hell, I still suck at it).

So basically: get the autofocus trained on the eye area (usually by lightly pressing the shutter button), then frame the shot ho you want it and press the button fully. Do this quickly, before the subject moves, and don't recompose too drastically or the focus field will change, depending on how open your aperture is. This is very handy when using a wider aperture (smaller aperture number, e.g. f2.8).
Click to expand...
I've had a lot of trouble with this the past couple of months. I've been taking portraits of my daughter for Senior pictures/Christmas presents. One of the obstacles I've found is in my older Nikon D60. There are only 3 focus boxes (left, right and center). I was having trouble framing her in the picture and keeping one of the focal areas on her eyes/face.

Looking at the newer models, they use a lot more focal points. The D5200 uses up to 39.

I think it's time to move up to a new camera.
Click to expand...
If your camera has a setting to set the focus point, then a possible solution is to simply use center point focus 100% of the time. My camera (Canon T3i) has a number of focus points and I generally ignore all of them and just use the center point. For each picture, I'll get my subject in the center of the frame and allow the camera to autofocus on whatever is right smack in the middle. I'll then recompose and push the shutter button the other half.

I like this because I have total control on what's in focus. The con is you have to be more aware of what setting you are on; if I'm on aperture mode and shooting at 2.8 to 4.0, I might have the 2nd or 3rd person in the picture out of focus. The other con is if you give the camera to someone else, they won't be aware of this (learned the hard way).

I do the same with exposure - effectively telling the camera to only pay attention to what's in the middle of the frame. Helps a lot when subjects are backlit. Since I do mostly people pictures and not landscape, I think this works well.

 
You can also just take a step back, center the subject, and recompose later by cropping (granted, this is not totally ideal)

 
Small side note, I crop many of my photos after shooting, it can make a big difference to cut out some distracting thing in a corner, align the photo with the horizon, and sometimes recompose the scene. For those that aren't doing it, give it a shot (pun intended)

 
wilked said:
Small side note, I crop many of my photos after shooting, it can make a big difference to cut out some distracting thing in a corner, align the photo with the horizon, and sometimes recompose the scene. For those that aren't doing it, give it a shot (pun intended)
Click to expand...
This is one thing I really like Picasa for. When you press the crop button, the program gives you 3 ideas for cropping the photo and usually 1 or 2 of the suggested crops are something I wouldn't have thought of on my own.

 
Thanks Brony, I will try the focus and readjust method.

Mostly I'm finding the focus to be off by inches. If she is leaning against a tree, the focus point for some reason becomes the tree, instead of her face. Auto mode has proved worthless for portraits, due to there only being 3 focus boxes. In full manual mode, I'm using the camera's built in focus setting (dot at the bottom of viewfinder) to tell me when I am in focus. Even doing this, the camera is focusing on the tree that is to the left and behind the subject by 6-8 inches. The face/eyes end up being a bit soft.

I played around with the D5200 and the D7000 last month and got a much better feel for how the additional focal points would be beneficial for what I was trying to do.

 
Brony said:
Spent a week's vacation up in Traverse City, MI. Surprisingly beautiful part of the Midwest. Our place was right by the water so lots of beers and pictures at sunset time.

The one with rocks at the beach

Cliche beach shot

The one with sunflowers

The one with the girls on the dock

Been farting around more with Manual mode. I'm coming around. I like that once you set it for a given condition (say, exposed correctly for my kid's face in the shade), then you can just fire and forget for the most part. If they were at a park, I would usually keep Manual set on if their face was shaded, and then switch to P if they went in the sun. Not as difficult as I had thought.
Click to expand...
That sunflowers photo is really cool.

 
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