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Terrific fun! And well done, despite the difficult circumstances. The Exif shows that the light was grim, but you used your widest angle which gives the maximum light-gathering, as well as giving considerable depth of field even at your largest aperture.
Shutter speed was perilously slow for a living subject, but you have a very well-behaved model, and you got away with it. The only motion blur is in th e enthusiastically wagging tail.
Another time though it's worth trying to aim for more cooperative light and a considerably faster shutter speed, 1/125 second or faster, if possible. How are you setting your camera are you using a program mode or auto? That info isn't showing up.
You've done the important things in post proceeding - you've rotated, lightened and cropped. I felt the image could actually take a slightly tighter crop, to give sufficient background but really put the spotlight on your puppy. I lightened overall and also did some very gentle dodging and burning on the fur.
My modification has uploaded twice, I'll try to get that sorted...
Moira
Shutter speed was perilously slow for a living subject, but you have a very well-behaved model, and you got away with it. The only motion blur is in th e enthusiastically wagging tail.
Another time though it's worth trying to aim for more cooperative light and a considerably faster shutter speed, 1/125 second or faster, if possible. How are you setting your camera are you using a program mode or auto? That info isn't showing up.
You've done the important things in post proceeding - you've rotated, lightened and cropped. I felt the image could actually take a slightly tighter crop, to give sufficient background but really put the spotlight on your puppy. I lightened overall and also did some very gentle dodging and burning on the fur.
My modification has uploaded twice, I'll try to get that sorted...
Moira
Auto can give good results but it's not guaranteed. The camera has a very good calculating brain but no intuition or common sense - for example it can't tell whether the puppy is sitting still or getting excited...
First be sure that you understand the main settings - ISO, aperture and shutter speed. If you have any questions there, feel free to ask! Then look at taking more control.
First be sure that you understand the main settings - ISO, aperture and shutter speed. If you have any questions there, feel free to ask! Then look at taking more control.
Remember that it's about letting the right amount of light into the camera. Evening light is gentler and very attractive, but evenings will generally give less light than earlier in the day, which creates problems when you need a faster shutter speed, because the faster the shutter speed the less light is allowed in.
The camera increased ISO (light sensitivity) to cope with the low light, but that comes with the downside of poorer image quality. Large aperture (low F number) also lets in more light, but accurate focusing becomes that bit more important.
It's really like juggling three balls and keeping them all in the air at once. But getting to grips with this will allow you to take much greater control of your photography, and to aim specifically for specific effects.
The camera increased ISO (light sensitivity) to cope with the low light, but that comes with the downside of poorer image quality. Large aperture (low F number) also lets in more light, but accurate focusing becomes that bit more important.
It's really like juggling three balls and keeping them all in the air at once. But getting to grips with this will allow you to take much greater control of your photography, and to aim specifically for specific effects.
I think your original is very jice, and Ive uploaded a mod using that one.
The lens is an IS model, and its done very well at that speed under the circumstances; a live subject though is always a risk with a slower shutter as the subject can move during the exposure, as the tail has in this.
You can always pop up your flash, and if the scene needs a bit more light, it will fire, - worth trying sometime.
Both Moira and I have blogs here that go into the settings quite a bit if you fancy a read.
Regards
Willie
The lens is an IS model, and its done very well at that speed under the circumstances; a live subject though is always a risk with a slower shutter as the subject can move during the exposure, as the tail has in this.
You can always pop up your flash, and if the scene needs a bit more light, it will fire, - worth trying sometime.
Both Moira and I have blogs here that go into the settings quite a bit if you fancy a read.
Regards
Willie
A lovely characterful shot, and a good crop. Moira has brought in extra detail, making it glow.
Your mission - should you choose to accept it - is to learn how to use aperture, shutter speed and ISO to get the result you want...
It will be frustrating at times - but the more you understand the basics, the better your pictures can be, and reliably so.
Your mission - should you choose to accept it - is to learn how to use aperture, shutter speed and ISO to get the result you want...
It will be frustrating at times - but the more you understand the basics, the better your pictures can be, and reliably so.
I think it's very brave of you to be putting photos into the Critique Gallery when you aren't yet in command of your camera, Charlotte.
In this gallery you are going to find that critique often includes advice on camera settings, suggesting that you might have used something different. Once you understand the reasoning behind such advice, your progression will be rapid, and you will get a great deal of satisfaction from taking control of your camera and consequently producing better pictures.
Our guidelines say, "The Critique Gallery is your opportunity to learn about photography on a personal level.
We will assist with all aspects of photography, all the way from the basics, camera controls, composition, post processing, etc so that you can grow, become competent, and effectively graduate from the CG."
You have already started to get to grips with editing your pictures, and you give us important information about your shots in the description box, so that's a very good start. I think you'll make a lot of progress here. Remember, we all had to start from the beginning, and for some of us it was late in life
.
Pamela.
In this gallery you are going to find that critique often includes advice on camera settings, suggesting that you might have used something different. Once you understand the reasoning behind such advice, your progression will be rapid, and you will get a great deal of satisfaction from taking control of your camera and consequently producing better pictures.
Our guidelines say, "The Critique Gallery is your opportunity to learn about photography on a personal level.
We will assist with all aspects of photography, all the way from the basics, camera controls, composition, post processing, etc so that you can grow, become competent, and effectively graduate from the CG."
You have already started to get to grips with editing your pictures, and you give us important information about your shots in the description box, so that's a very good start. I think you'll make a lot of progress here. Remember, we all had to start from the beginning, and for some of us it was late in life
.Pamela.
Hi Pamela, is it brave? I just figured I'd do it once and never again but I got such good advice that I figured hey.. I can learn slowly. I work full time in nursing and I have been burdened with multiple chronic diseases BUT in the time I'm not working or ill I try and take photos. My progress is most likely going to be slow but I feel I am listening to what people are kind enough to share with me. I just need to tackle my camera settings.. I did have a quick fiddle this afternoon with it but I think I need to read some forums for my camera as well. I truly appreciate all the feedback, and I hope it's not infuriating that I keep making the same mistakes. I'm very much a person in my career and personal life who thrives off of being told what is good and what needs extra work.
I will withhold from uploading until I figure out how to understand shutter speed and so on. While I get what shutter speed is, I don't understand how to control it. Is that I need more light? Or is it a function on the camera? I'll have to read the articles written by others above in the comments x
I will withhold from uploading until I figure out how to understand shutter speed and so on. While I get what shutter speed is, I don't understand how to control it. Is that I need more light? Or is it a function on the camera? I'll have to read the articles written by others above in the comments x
There are two important settings to know about. One is aperture priority, where you set the aperture (f number), and the camera automatically calculates shutter speed. The other is shutter speed priority, where you set the shutter speed and the camera automatically calculates the aperture.
Either way you need to either set the ISO (light sensitivity) or put it on automatic. I would strongly recommend the former, it will help you to learn about exposure.
I'm not a Canon user, I'm a Nikon gal. but the EOS 1100D manual is here , and you need to look at page 16.
Either way you need to either set the ISO (light sensitivity) or put it on automatic. I would strongly recommend the former, it will help you to learn about exposure.
I'm not a Canon user, I'm a Nikon gal. but the EOS 1100D manual is here , and you need to look at page 16.
It's an attractive image.
It is worth getting to understand what the various settings do.
The front of the dog is dark, and the camera has been influenced by the bright areas of water in the background. This is where you need to use a little positive exposure compensation but it's all about recognising the situation first.
Having said that, it's not that dark and easily adjusted in software as Moira's mod shows.
you were on the right track yourself, comparing with the oroginal so I think sometimes it's a question of 'how far should I go?' You can always push it furhter and if it looks wrong pull back a bit on the sliders. Ctrl + Z is also your friend.
It is worth getting to understand what the various settings do.
The front of the dog is dark, and the camera has been influenced by the bright areas of water in the background. This is where you need to use a little positive exposure compensation but it's all about recognising the situation first.
Having said that, it's not that dark and easily adjusted in software as Moira's mod shows.
you were on the right track yourself, comparing with the oroginal so I think sometimes it's a question of 'how far should I go?' You can always push it furhter and if it looks wrong pull back a bit on the sliders. Ctrl + Z is also your friend.
We will still be here.
Learning slowly is a good idea, one step at a time.
You'll soon be eager to try out your newly acquired knowledge. And that's the key.....practice.
Awaiting your future "controlled" images.
Pamela.
Learning slowly is a good idea, one step at a time.
You'll soon be eager to try out your newly acquired knowledge. And that's the key.....practice.
Awaiting your future "controlled" images.
Pamela.
