5UBs Photographs

fiveub · 10 Mar 2014 at 10:01

I wanted my own thread to just post up some of my favourite photos that I have taken with my Canon 650D.

Feel free to criticise my photos, or teach me anything, this is the main reason as to why I have started this thread to see my progression.

I will be honest and I am pretty new when it comes to photography, and some photos I am posting here may not have been set on manual mode. But from now on I am looking to use manual mode, so I can force myself to understand the settings and be able to do more with the camera.

So here is what I have taken so far. Thanks for looking.

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

7)

8)

fiveub · 10 Mar 2014 at 11:12

Thank you.

I seem to be a fan of taking photos of animals, next weekend I am going to go to the Monkey Forest, I went there recently but I went with someone, so didn't get a chance of taking as many photos as I wanted. - So may go on my own and go crazy with the camera.

fiveub · 10 Mar 2014 at 13:28

If I remember correctly it was the kit lens. If not, it would have been the telephoto lens.

fiveub · 10 Mar 2014 at 15:40

Zogger said:
As you are looking for criticisms a few minor things...
1. I think the kangaroo(?) is a bit close to the edge of the frame, and being in the shade is a not really standing out as a subject.
2. focus is good, subject is facing to the right so would generally try to place it on the left, but it depends on what else there is to the right... Possibly a candidate for B&W as it's the colours are not very exciting
3. I think the focus is slightly in front of the fish and not on the fish? Interesting subject! sand perhaps feels a little over-saturated.
4. possibly a bit tight on the subject, again facing out and slightly blurred - always difficult to get good shots in these places.
5,6,7 are good shots
8. white balance is a little warm for my taste and the coat is distracting

I think most of them would benefit from a little more processing colour wise to improve on the 'out of camera' look but it's largeley a matter of taste.

Otherwise good shots for starting out
I wouldn't worry too much about manual mode or not manual mode if you are talking about the 'M' mode. As a learning tool it can useful, but for convenience and actually getting the shot you want, Aperture priority is the go-to shooting mode for me. Manual tends to just be an exercise in twiddling dials until the exposure meter sits in the middle - everyone has slightly different methods for exposure compensation etc. though.

Much appreciated, thank you for your thoughts and feedback.

ChocolateStarfishRammer said:
What the hell is that fish :O

James J said:
Looks like a puffer fish.

Sure is.

Unfortunately a dead one though.

fiveub · 15 Mar 2014 at 17:21

I have been to the Monkey Forest today. Not had much time to look at all the photos or edit any. - I have a couple here, does anyone have any tips on how to capture the fur more? Either when taking photos or in editing stage? It seems like the fur is a bit unreal in the photos? Not sure if that is just me, or if you think so too?

fiveub · 13 Apr 2014 at 08:27

Took this one yesterday at the ZSL London Zoo, the fella just ran up to my lens and started eating out of the bushes.

fiveub · 13 Apr 2014 at 08:43

Some said they thought this photo would look better in B&W, so here it is:

fiveub · 14 Apr 2014 at 14:49

Andy how about these for the frog and eagle? I have a couple more. I like the effect myself of the same animal being out of focus in the background and having focus on one. But maybe that is just me. Here are a couple more of just a frog and eagle.

fiveub · 20 Apr 2014 at 15:43

A lot of the images here have not been edited and just cropped. I need to learn the processing. I have used some Canon software on a couple to have a play with HDR stuff but didn't really turn out well so the images are just RAW at the moment.

When editing your photos, is there a process that you go through?

Is there something you always edit when doing so, or do you just edit on the fly and just change things depending on what the photo looks like?

fiveub · 22 Apr 2014 at 19:52

I went to the Monkey Forest again today. I am preferring these shots to my previous.

1)

2)

3)

4)

As regards to editing, what software would you recommend? Anything that is free?

fiveub · 13 May 2014 at 06:07

A couple more. - Still not edited. Just resized. Need to learn the whole editing thing when I have my new PC in a few months.