First Pics

[NotAGolf]

Evening all.

Bought my first ever camera the other day (Fuji F50fd), and today was a nice day so thought I'd go for a wander down the beach and take some pics. Not only are these the first pics with my new camera, they're pretty much my first ever pictures. The only pictures I ever take are when out with mates on a night out!

Obviously they're not up to the same standard as all of you guys but I thought I should contribute something after learning so much from this forum over the last few weeks.

None of the pics have had any photoshop tinkering, only to reduce the file size so I can host them without signing up. Most were taken using standard modes as i'm yet to get my head round the whole apeture size and shutter speed as yet.

#1

#2

#3

#4

I realise I've got a lot to learn so any c+c would be fantastic.

 

[NotAGolf]

Thanks very much Yantorsen.

I did try get a bit closer but despite the relatively calm looking sea it was throwing quite a bit of spray at the shore so didn't want to get myself or the camera wet! The 4th one I agree with you, but there was no beach as it was high tide, so the water comes right up to the sea wall so I could only take shots from on top of the wall.

I am learning photoshop at the minute but I'm still in the early stages so it'll be a while before I get round to processing any pics.

 

[NotAGolf]

No I don't mind at all Yantorsen, go nuts!!! I did have another shot of the same place which brought out the colour of the wall more but the rest of shot was a bit out of focus. What exactly did you do to it? I'm not after exact number etc, just a rough idea.

And thanks very much for the kind words Begbie and Derek.

 

[NotAGolf]

Took a few more piccies today as it was low tide so I could actually get on to the beach:

#1

#2

#3

Not as happy as the first few I posted but still quite pleased. I think #3 is more of a potential picture, I'm not really happy with it as it is but I feel with a bit of processing I could tweak it into something a little more impressive. I'm still learning about photoshop though so it'll be a while yet!

 

[NotAGolf]

Thanks for all the positive comments and your work on the images. I don't mind you playing with the images at all.

I particularly like the second image in your second set.

Thanks, I quite like it too. Was chuffed with how it came out cos I couldn't actually see the screen as there was a massive puddle just behind the camera so I couldn't get into a position where I could see what I was actually taking a picture of!

I seem to find the close up style pics easier to do, both in taking the picture and seeing the image (as in I can just be walking along and spot something on the floor that might look good). I find it harder to take big expansive shots as I havent had much practice as composing a scene.


I did have a go at playing with the image (just altering levels, brightness, contrast saturation etc) but couldn't come with anything as good, instead I went the other way and made something a bit crazy:

I just like the effect of the sun through the clouds and the slight reflection on the beach


Does anyone know of a decent book or online guide about using photoshop to improve images? I'm working through a couple of books atm but they're more to do with photoshop as a whole, rather than the specific functions that can help improve images and how to use them properly?

Thanks again.

 

[NotAGolf]

Not that I know what I'm talking about at all Yantorson but that looks very good (as do all you reworks in this thread).

I get the impression you tend to to apply to a lot of post processing on your images. Also it seems to be a bit 'extreme' as in really bringing out the colours and textures and making it very sharp.

Is this your 'style' as it were or do the pictures I've done just lend themselves to that method more?

Don't mean to cause any offence by any of the above either, it could be all a load of rubbish, like I say, I'm still learning!!!

 

[NotAGolf]

Thanks very much Camalot.

The camera is a Fuji f50fd. They can be had for around £120ish. The main reason I went for it is because I bought it in package which came with an underwater housing as I'm going traveling soon and will hopefully be doing a fair bit of snorkeling and diving.

I've only had it for a few days but I'm definately hooked. Been out for a couple of hours each day just wandering around the beach taking snaps! I do sometimes feel a bit odd though laying on the floor taking pictures of old rope and twigs! Hopefully i'll get used to it otherwise i'll never be able to take cityscapes in busy streets!

I'm already tempted to buy a proper SLR camera but I know I don't have the skills set or the money for one yet so I just want to improve my skills with this Fuji for now.

 

[NotAGolf]

Yes you are correct in saying they are all very dramatic, I just like that look atm

tbh most of my images of my own aren't all that dramatic, I was more trying to show with a bit of processing you can bring out quite a lot that you didn't realise was there.

The pictures being of sand and having subtle coluors do lend them selves to extrmeme processing as well I guess.

I can show you some more subtle processing if you like.

That'd be fantastic if you could spare the time. I'm in no rush though so if you dont have the time then no problem.

I do find this whole processing malarky very intersting though, like you say it can not only improve the look of what you have, it brings out things that I couldn't even see before. It's like capturing the photo is only half the work!

 

[NotAGolf]

nice start mate, can tell that you will become quite good when you get a few more shots under your belt..my advice would be to remember focal points in shots and learn about histograms if you havn't already. exposure is key sometimes although if your shooting raw it can be saved..but you wanna get the shot right as you take it rly

Thanks again for the nice comments. I know what you mean about the focal point, I think that's the reason I find it easier to take macro pictures as I mentioned in an earlier post. It's a damn site easier to have a focal point when only shooting one thing .

I know what histograms are as I covered them in an image analysis module I did at uni, although this was a computer science course so I learnt how to make them and how to alter them, I didn't learn how to apply this practically however! As I understand though you generally want a fairly even spread accross the graph??

Unfortunately my camera doesn't have the option to display a histogram anyway so I can only really evaluate the image after I've got back to my computer which is a bit of a dissapointment. The camera also lacks the ability to save in raw as well which is a bit of a bummer. I suppose I don't need to shoot in raw just yet but it would have been nice to have the option in future when I'm a bit more used to things.

 

[NotAGolf]

that underwater casing looks really good from what I've seen, I'd love to have something like that, would be great. Have you tried it in the sea yet?

Lol, no not yet, bit too chilly for me atm! Shall wait til I get to Thailand and Australia where the water will be a alittle warmer

Furthest I've got is the bathub to check for leaks so the only underwater shot I have so far is of the plug!