Beginner's First Try

[Hui Song]

This is my first time loading my photo to CIC.
I got a Nike D600 and start to learn the photography more seriously three month ago. I am still reading the tutorials for beginner, I hope that I can learn and share in the CiC community.

Uploaded are my images taken at Niagara Fall in July. At that time, I just got my Nike D600 with 28~300mm lens, and had not even read about the basic exposure triangle yet. I did take care the picture's composition and color etc. But all of my pictures are point and shoot level. The camera was set as auto. Any suggestion for the camera setting if I want to shoot them manually?


#1. Rising Mist


#2. Over the Fall


#3. Cave of the Rainbow


#4. Endure the Hurricane

[praphul]

Hi hui song ,

Firstly i dont see any images. But all i can say is that as ur using the auto mode , its time that u switch to creative modes ( p , Av , Tv , M ) in ur camera. Start with P mode wherein u just need to control the iso settings and the shutter speed and aperture is decided by the camera. Note down various combinations of shutter speed and aperture that u use for a particular iso..gradually , u will develop to know the desired settings for a particular scenario. Then switch to Av / Tv and then to Manual .

More over experiment with the metering in the camera . Its u who should make the photograph .

Regards ,
Praphul.T

[Hui Song]

Hi praphul,
Thanks for your quick reply.

I just fixed the image uploading issue. I think you can see the picture now.

[Donald]

Hui

Yes, we can now see the pictures. Well done for that.

The first thing I would comment upon is that you, obviously, do have creative and artistic skill in terms of composing an image. These pictures, in my opinion, demonstrate how you are thinking about the picture, as opposed to just pointing your camera ata scene and pressing the shutter.

As Praphul suggests, the next major step in your learning and development should be mastering the use of your camera. We often write on this forum that one of the most important things is getting to know your camera so well that you can operate it without having to consciously think about it. That is related to learning how to use it to its maximum potential. Moving away from using it on Auto is nerve-wracking to start with. But in the longer term, you will find it has been very valuable to do so.

[GeorgeM]

Sometimes, when a scene is really important to me, I'll use P mode as a fail-safe and then do a series of Ap or M shots.

[Brownbear]

I adore the composition in the first image... Beautiful and dramatic...

I've learned a lot by using aperture and shutter speed priority... and they are very easy to use.

[Hui Song]

Hi

Thanks all of you for your comment and suggestion. Last one and half month, I spent all my spare time learning the basic of exposure, lightroom 5 and photoshop C6. A few local parks are my practice places. It is really time consuming. Time management skill seams very important if I want to continue pursue my photography hobby.
I do have many questions and issues related to my recent study and practice. They will be the topics of my future threads and posting.

Thanks again!

[Wavelength]

Nice images; kindly place a gap between posted images; there is a problem of visual overlapping that affects separate evaluation of images
Regards

[Hui Song]

Nice images; kindly place a gap between posted images; there is a problem of visual overlapping that affects separate evaluation of images
Regards

Just add the gap. It indeed looks much better with gap in between. Thanks!

[Wavelength]

Thank you too; they definitely look better with more identity
Regards

[rpcrowe]

Hi and welcome...

IMO you obviously have a firm creative grip on photography. Even though you are a beginner, you have some lovely images here. I totally agree that you might be best advised to forego the A mode and start with cone of the semi auto modes. I suggest that you at first try the P mode which will allow you to adjust your shutter speed and f/stop as well as adjust your total exposure but will still keep you in the ballpark for most of your exposures.

OTOH: IMO a beginning photographer is better off working in one of the semi auto modes while he or she gains confidence. Believe me, it is a lot easier to gain technical competence than it is to learn how to compose and shoot! You are well on your way to good composition and shooting...

[nimitzbenedicto]

Hi and welcome...

IMO you obviously have a firm creative grip on photography. Even though you are a beginner, you have some lovely images here. I totally agree that you might be best advised to forego the A mode and start with cone of the semi auto modes. I suggest that you at first try the P mode which will allow you to adjust your shutter speed and f/stop as well as adjust your total exposure but will still keep you in the ballpark for most of your exposures.

OTOH: IMO a beginning photographer is better off working in one of the semi auto modes while he or she gains confidence. Believe me, it is a lot easier to gain technical competence than it is to learn how to compose and shoot! You are well on your way to good composition and shooting...

Totally agree. Very practical advice.

May I also suggest you start off by enjoying Photography.
Have fun with your camera/gear.
Enjoy taking pictures, editing, viewing and sharing them.

For technical know-how, just back-read threads/posts/tutorials here in CiColour, follow posts about topics you want to know about, or simply start a thread with your question.

Meanwhile, welcome and have fun.

[Dave Humphries]

Just add the gap. It indeed looks much better with gap in between. Thanks!

It also helps if you number them for ease of reference by responders.

You may find this helpful too; How to Get Effective Feedback for your Posted Images

Welcome to the CiC forums from Dave

[Hui Song]

It also helps if you number them for ease of reference by responders.

You may find this helpful too; How to Get Effective Feedback for your Posted Images

Welcome to the CiC forums from Dave

One more helpful advice. I add the number and name to the images.
The "How to Get Effective Feedback for your Posted Images" is exactly what I want to know for preparing my next thread. Thanks!
Two more Q:
1, I am thinking of converting the #1 into B/W. Will that be better version for that picture?
2, I find there are mini competitions in forum. If I post a picture asking for advice, after I revise the picture base on other member's feedback, can I post that image into the mini competitions?

[Andrew76]

Hello Hui Song, you've got some great advice here already - I'll just try to answer your last two questions.

1, I think you should give it a try, because that's the fun part of digital photography, insert your own reality, as one of our members suggests. Personally, I'm not sure if you'll like the results, B+W photos really pop when there's a HUGE tonal range in the image, or lots of textures/layers to the photo, your image #1 is lacking a little in both of those, so although I'm a very big fan of black, and white, I think the little bit of colour here actually helps this shot.

2, Of course you can! The mini competitions are just meant to be fun, with a little competitive edge to them. It's a great way to get a feel for how you're doing.

I hope to see some more of your work soon!

[Hui Song]

Hello Hui Song, you've got some great advice here already - I'll just try to answer your last two questions.

1, I think you should give it a try, because that's the fun part of digital photography, insert your own reality, as one of our members suggests. Personally, I'm not sure if you'll like the results, B+W photos really pop when there's a HUGE tonal range in the image, or lots of textures/layers to the photo, your image #1 is lacking a little in both of those, so although I'm a very big fan of black, and white, I think the little bit of colour here actually helps this shot.

2, Of course you can! The mini competitions are just meant to be fun, with a little competitive edge to them. It's a great way to get a feel for how you're doing.

I hope to see some more of your work soon!

I tried convert the #1 to B/W. Your advice on the B/W photo make sense for me now.

I learned a lot from my first CiC thread. Thank you all and I will post more soon.

[Rhoads238]

Hey and welcome to cic and not bad at all. I like the way that you composed the third shot the best. There is a lot of emphasis on the rainbow. I really benefited from reading the tutorials on the cic home page when i was starting out. I also tried taking pictures around the house of things, changing settings to see the effect. Don't be afraid to push buttons to see what they do.