entrance to the lake

[Catalina]

[Catalina]

-I like that the foreground is in the shadows.
-The pole to do exercise on the left, shouldn't be there

-The background is not vivid enough.-but somewhat I like it,
please critique and critique
Cordially,
Catalina

[Stagecoach]

-I like that the foreground is in the shadows.
-The pole to do exercise on the left, shouldn't be there

-The background is not vivid enough.
-but somewhat I like it,
please critique and critique
Cordially,
Catalina

Catalina,

There is nothing I can detect that's sharp within the image and there's a lot of noise from the high ISO used. Settings were 1/60s, f5.6, ISO1600 with flash.

The wide aperture would have given you a limited DoF but something should have been sharp if you had focused correctly. It's also possible that you had camera movement at that shutter speed.

Grahame

[Catalina]

Dear Grahame:
Thank you for teaching to me. For taking time.
The ISO was chosen by the camera ( which was on automatic I guess )
The shadows that give the pine trees are quite dark
- The autofocus was broken, so I focused manually, ad I did not knew how to do it
As fr the noise, I forgot what was it. Cold you please explain to me?
Is there something good on the photo?Cordially,
Catalina

[Stagecoach]

Catalina,

Noise appears as random speckles and increases with higher ISO values and for this reason we try and keep the ISO value as low as we can but this of course depends upon available light.

In this scene in the shade you had little choice other than to increase (lengthen) the shutter speed in which case the ISO could have been decreased. This then gives further problems in that with a longer shutter speed it is far more difficult to hand hold the camera to achieve a sharp shot. A tripod could have been used 'but' if there was wind/breeze present there may have been movement in the leaves/branches that a slow shutter speed will not freeze.

When focussing manually firstly decide which part of the image you want sharpest and I would have chosen the tree trunk in this scene. Simply rotate the focus ring back and forth whilst looking through the viewfinder until you find the point where what you require is sharpest. It would also be useful to roughly learn the affect of DoF with apertures used.

'Is there something good on the photo?',.......................I think there may be something better to make from this scene and that is to shoot from lower so that the lake is seen in the gap above the gate if I'm judging it correctly?

Grahame

[Catalina]

Dear Graham:
The lake has a horrible structure of cement in the middle that my father built for the geese to reproduce there: We have not geese anymore but he structure is still there.

Next time I will try:1. with the tripod 2.. whit a lower ISO (about 400 will suffice?) 3.I will use longer shutter speed

4.The tree trunk is beautiful. You are right. The focus will be there

By the way my husband is going to buy a new lens because tis was forced and he autofocus does not work, Can you recommend me another lens or the same Nikor 18-55?

Thanks a lot for your teachings, I appreciate them a lot. You ae a very kind a generus person.CataLIN

[Stagecoach]

Dear Graham:
The lake has a horrible structure of cement in the middle that my father built for the geese to reproduce there: We have not geese anymore but he structure is still there.

Next time I will try:1. with the tripod 2.. whit a lower ISO (about 400 will suffice?) 3.I will use longer shutter speed

4.The tree trunk is beautiful. You are right. The focus will be there

By the way my husband is going to buy a new lens because tis was forced and he autofocus does not work, Can you recommend me another lens or the same Nikor 18-55?

Thanks a lot for your teachings, I appreciate them a lot. You ae a very kind a generus person.

CataLIN

Hi Catalina,

My guess about the lake view was wrong.

Unfortunately I'm unable to recommend lenses (other than what I own) as I am somewhat out of touch with what's available on the market these days, living on an isolated island with no camera shops or photo magazines I no longer take much interest and just try to make the most of what gear I have.

I suppose it comes down to budget, what's available and the focal lengths you consider will be useful for what you intend to photograph. If you can give an idea of 'subject areas' you will certainly get some very good advice from other members here.

In the meantime concentrate on your manual focusing technique, it soon becomes very easy and fast and should not hinder you at all if you are going to be photographing static subjects mainly.

Grahame