New camera, test shots. (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter zocr-AZ
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- Mar 14, 2007
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You are off to a great start.
A couple pics look like you are trying to hold the camera too close. A macro lens can focus very close but your kit lens can't. Look up the minimum focusing distance for your lens. I bet you need to be about 2 feet back from the tank to get the focus at its best. So, practice doing that and cropping down rather than trying to frame the same shot the people with macro lenses and making. On the web, no one will know the difference.
Also, do a little reading on depth of field. Then, set your camera to Av mode and select a smaller aperture (bigger f number). With a tripod and the pumps off, use the timer to be sure the camera isn't moving for the longer shutter times. This will bring more of the frame into focus on the shot.
One other tip is to shut off the room lights so you don't get any reflection or stray light off the glass and be sure you shoot perpendicular to the glass to avoid distortion.
You'll be a pro in no time. Your first shots are certainly better than my first tries were. I happen to think some of the best coral photographers (and aquarists in general) in the country are right here in the twin cities. Ask lots of questions and you'll be turning out incredible shots in no time.
A couple pics look like you are trying to hold the camera too close. A macro lens can focus very close but your kit lens can't. Look up the minimum focusing distance for your lens. I bet you need to be about 2 feet back from the tank to get the focus at its best. So, practice doing that and cropping down rather than trying to frame the same shot the people with macro lenses and making. On the web, no one will know the difference.
Also, do a little reading on depth of field. Then, set your camera to Av mode and select a smaller aperture (bigger f number). With a tripod and the pumps off, use the timer to be sure the camera isn't moving for the longer shutter times. This will bring more of the frame into focus on the shot.
One other tip is to shut off the room lights so you don't get any reflection or stray light off the glass and be sure you shoot perpendicular to the glass to avoid distortion.
You'll be a pro in no time. Your first shots are certainly better than my first tries were. I happen to think some of the best coral photographers (and aquarists in general) in the country are right here in the twin cities. Ask lots of questions and you'll be turning out incredible shots in no time.
Thanks for the tips hypertech! I have noticed the same thing, there are alot of really good coral photographers right here on this site.
I have been reading a lot about camera settings and everything. There is just SO much to learn. I will try playing with the other settings on the camera. I have only been using "P" mode which tends to use only large apertures while I am shooting the tank.
When you say Av mode, are you referring to Aperture priority mode?
I have been reading a lot about camera settings and everything. There is just SO much to learn. I will try playing with the other settings on the camera. I have only been using "P" mode which tends to use only large apertures while I am shooting the tank.
When you say Av mode, are you referring to Aperture priority mode?
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Yes, I mean the aperture priority mode. With the limited exception of some flash modes (that I use program mode (P) for), get in the habit of only using Manual (M), Aperture Priority (A/Av), and Shutter speed priority (T/Tv). You're pictures will thank you.
The other things to learn a bit about is ISO - try not to use auto ISO unless you have a reason to turn it on. The more you learn to control, the better your shots will get because then you are telling the camera how to make the shot you want rather than snapping a whole bunch of shots and hoping the camera turned out a few good ones.
I use ISO 100 or 200 most of the time unless the available light is not enough and I move that up. The higher the ISO the more noise and grain you will get in your pictures so you get higher quality images at low ISO. BUT, lower ISO needs more light to expose properly so you have to compensate with shutter speed or aperture which in turn affects other things about your composition like depth of field and motion blur.
Depth of field, aperture, shutter speed, ISO noise - these things are all related. Do some reading on the basics of exposure and it will help you learn how to balance these things to get the shot you want. I use very different settings for coral shots and fish shots. The logic in the cameras now is very good - you will get decent shots using that. Once you learn to tell the camera to make the shot you are asking it for your shots will go from what is now very very good to among the best around.
The other things to learn a bit about is ISO - try not to use auto ISO unless you have a reason to turn it on. The more you learn to control, the better your shots will get because then you are telling the camera how to make the shot you want rather than snapping a whole bunch of shots and hoping the camera turned out a few good ones.
I use ISO 100 or 200 most of the time unless the available light is not enough and I move that up. The higher the ISO the more noise and grain you will get in your pictures so you get higher quality images at low ISO. BUT, lower ISO needs more light to expose properly so you have to compensate with shutter speed or aperture which in turn affects other things about your composition like depth of field and motion blur.
Depth of field, aperture, shutter speed, ISO noise - these things are all related. Do some reading on the basics of exposure and it will help you learn how to balance these things to get the shot you want. I use very different settings for coral shots and fish shots. The logic in the cameras now is very good - you will get decent shots using that. Once you learn to tell the camera to make the shot you are asking it for your shots will go from what is now very very good to among the best around.
I appreciate the info hypertech. If you have a good suggestion for a source to learn the basics, I would appreciate it. There is a lot to take in. And I am playing in manual mode, but it becomes overwelming sometimes.
thepollock
Senior Member
i think your doing one hell of a job just starting out. :beerchug:
i might have to bribe you to come up and shoot some pics of my stuff.
i might have to bribe you to come up and shoot some pics of my stuff.
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2007
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Don't worry about manual mode. There really is no reason to do that at this point. Manual is useful in situations where you are controlling the lighting - like flash/strobes - or where the internal meter can't evaluate the composition right and you want to use specific settings.
I've heard the book Understanding Exposure recommended a lot but I haven't read it myself. There are probably dozens at the library that teach it. Also take a look at your camera manual and see what they gave you with it. Canon sends some good stuff along but I don't know about Nikon.
The web is littered with tutorials about exposure, but if you aren't finding what you are looking for, send me an email in about two weeks once I get through finals and papers. I might have time then to start a wiki about photography and coral photography. Then we can get all the others to weigh in on it and make a nice reference.
BTW - my long posts are in no way me saying your pics aren't good - they are. Almost good enough that I don't believe this is your first SLR
A lot of people (and particularly Zibba) helped me out with tips and tricks for coral photography so I'm just trying to pass along what I learned.Edit, this is a canon forum, but here is a decent article to get started.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=414088
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I linked a few really good sources for learning coral photography in this thread:
http://www.tcmas.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9691
http://www.tcmas.org/forums/showthread.php?t=9691
Thats hilarious! Yeah this is DEFINITELY my first SLR camera. I have only used one other camera(besides throw away cameras) and it is a very basic and very old HP digital camera.
I appreciate all the suggestions! I posted in here because I wanted everybody to give me their opinions. It's a HUGE bonus that everyone seems to like my shots so far.
I appreciate all the suggestions! I posted in here because I wanted everybody to give me their opinions. It's a HUGE bonus that everyone seems to like my shots so far.
I am kind of disapointed with the background on the pic of the gramma loreto, but he is a hard fish to get a picture of!
That is one of the the cases that I feel some editing software would come in handy...
Also, I guess I need to turn off my pumps for fish shots too.
That is one of the the cases that I feel some editing software would come in handy...
Also, I guess I need to turn off my pumps for fish shots too.