Lanes and Train Track - C&C Needed please

ScarySquirrel

ScarySquirrel

ScarySquirrel

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I went on my first outing with my new camera having only really had a chance to take a picture of a cat since getting my 400D.

I struggled with light and so a lot of my pictures came out either blurry or too dark so I definately need to invest in a tripod.

Here are my favourite 4 from the lot. I have done some PP and I do sometimes feel like I go a little over the top.

I got some really useful tips from Messiah Khan with my cat picture so hopefully everyone can help me out with these too. I might do a few of them in black and white tonight to see how they turn out but I don't have time now.

1//

lanewy4.jpg


ISO 100 - F1.8 - 1/60 sec - Canon 50mm 1.8 II

2//

sideoftrackey9.jpg


ISO 200 - F3.2 -1/50 sec - same lens

3//

tracksfk1.jpg


ISO 200 - F2.0 - 1/200 sec - same lens

4//

trackstonowherejo3.jpg


ISO 200 - F2.0 - 1/160 sec - same lens



Firstly, my own C&C. I know that my judgement when it comes to what aperture to use is wrong. I find myself using very low apertures and the simple reason for that is because I had to keep the shutter speeds down as I have no tripod. Anything more on the aperture resulted in a blurry image.

As for ISO selection, I never even notice a difference, I think I just need more time and practice. Anyway, over to you guys, any C&C welcomed :)
 
Hope no trains run along there!

1) - Not bad but the crop is too fat and puts me off. Try trimming a bit off the right hand side.

2) - Good subject but it looks very like a quick snap rather than a thought out photo. You could have probably come up with a better angle.

3) - The best of the bunch for me although I think the DOF is probably a bit too fine, I would like to see a bit more track in focus to draw mu eye up into the curve.

4) - looks like a model railway because of the DOF in the foreground, nice shot though.

Overall pretty good, you on the right track....hehe!
 
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i must admint 3 is the best of the bunch and i agree with MookJong that it could do with a little more DOF but saying that its better than what i can do. :rolleyes:
 
Only a steam train runs on that track on the weekends :)

Thanks for the comments, I completely agree with what you are saying. The DOF on number 3 is definately the main problem. I was struggling because I found that if I used a higher aperture the shutter speed was too long resulting in camera shake. What is the solution to this? Or is it simply to use a tripod?

What do you guys think of the PP? I didn't overdo the contrast or anything did I, I tend to do that usually.

I see what you mean about no. 1 and the fat crop, I will trim it down a bit tonight and see how much difference that makes.

Keep the crit coming :)
 
ScarySquirrel said:
I was struggling because I found that if I used a higher aperture the shutter speed was too long resulting in camera shake. What is the solution to this? Or is it simply to use a tripod?
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Don't forget that putting the ISO up will allow you to use a faster shutter speed, with that 50mm lens and ISO 200 you should be laughing on bright day so I dunno. But yeah a tripod and a larger DOF go a long way, especially when shooting into the distance like shot 1 and 4.

What do you guys think of the PP? I didn't overdo the contrast or anything did I, I tend to do that usually.
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Looks ok to me, maybe a touch dull but I still have a lot to learn about processing myself.
 
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Yeah MookJong said. Select the aperture for the shot and if you're not getting the shutter speeds you need up the ISO until you are!

Best off getting a tripod tho :p

The shot's aren't too bad but there's nothing really there to make you want to come back to see them again, if you see what I mean?
 
Mohain said:
Yeah MookJong said. Select the aperture for the shot and if you're not getting the shutter speeds you need up the ISO until you are!

Best off getting a tripod tho :p

The shot's aren't too bad but there's nothing really there to make you want to come back to see them again, if you see what I mean?
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I do know what you mean. This is my first outing though so I wasn't expecting much. I will go there again in the future on a brighter day and also when my skill shave developed more. There is a nice opening next to the track with a fence (that I climbed over) which I may go to again when the trains are running for some more interesting pics.

I'll try playing a bit more with ISO when I encounter the same problems, I was just concerned as people always say that the higher the ISO the more noise you get.
 
Nice shots.
Love N3, lovely dof and colours, may be crop it a bit lower? There is not enough sky to keep it, it just distracts imo.
Good work though.
 
Zheka said:
Nice shots.
Love N3, lovely dof and colours, may be crop it a bit lower? There is not enough sky to keep it, it just distracts imo.
Good work though.
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Thanks dude. Now you mention it you're right about the sky. Funny how someone mentioning something makes you see things in a different light.

I'll try out all the recommended crops tonight and I am deffo looking at getting a tripod. Will probably settle for a Velbon Luxi F as it suits my need well :)
 
tracks2sp4.jpg


I have tried another edit of this pic, any C&C welcome. Unfortunately the DOF problem cannot be fixed at this point (as far as I know)

As for the others I have realised that they aren't that great, there isn't really much to them. I think I need to get a better eye for what makes a good photograph.
 
ScarySquirrel said:
Unfortunately the DOF problem cannot be fixed at this point (as far as I know)
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I think shallow dof works very well here. No need to fix it, imo.
 
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