tlc

Ask away I will try to answer you and hopefully some more knowledgable folk will answer too, Assuming you are talking about not using the flash, what I do is have the iso up, I usually don't go over 800 but think I can go a lot higher with the 7D and in your camera somewhere you will have white balance, there is usually a few options so try a couple of different ones to see what suits. It depends what look you are wanting to achieve. then depending on what iso you are using adjust your shutter speed to suit or alternatively your aperture or both if shooting in Manual mode. Hope I have explained it so you can understand, have a play and see how you go. remember the slower the shutter speed the more light that gets in but then you need a very steady hand or a tripod.

Love the page already! I've just started a FB page for my photography too, just for my better shots or what I think is ok. :laugh:

Thanks so much for the input, I really appreciate it. Wish I didn't have to go to work this arvo so I could play some more!!

:laugh: That's what I'm doing but clearly I'm not doing it right! I think because there is so much it can do I need to find out exactly what it can do. Generally I never read instructions ever I just jump right in. Bit over my head this time, plus coming from Nikon everything is soooo different. Well same but different! Focus would be a great challenge! Is this one too basic do you think, I know it would be for you pro guys but maybe not for the new ones?

Yes letting the camera do that, Ok its clear to see I met read the manual and the dozen book I have on this camera. :laugh: I wish I only like to shoot inanimate objects they are soooo much easier. :laugh:

It was on one shot, as you can tell I haven't read the manual yet. :laugh: Don't even know what the other two do yet? Im guessing they make a difference?

Helen and I tried to revive the challenges but the excitement quickly died off.... lets pick something easy to strart with for the month of August :) SammieS, I have just been back to have a look at the challenges and I noticed the one in April "Bokeh" it didn't have much interest and I thought that would be ok for a first challenge but changed my mind after seeing that thread. :laugh: Maybe in a couple of months if there is enough interest we could revisit, so I kept the first one pretty basic and open to anything really as long as you use manual settings, hope you will join in. I think there is a few with new cameras keen to give it a go so fingers crossed there will be some interest, if not then nothing ventured nothing gained! I can kill a thread quicker than lightning so who knows how it will go.

Ok I made a start, August Challenge we could perhaps keep this thread going with ideas, if anyone can think of anything they would like to work on please post your ideas here. The August challenge is pretty basic but gets you working off auto and P modes so I know it will help me a lot. Hopefully others will find the same.

Ok I will start as I have some questions about the following photos that I hope someone can answer, The first shot the ducks head is slightly out of focus but the second shot the ducks head is quite in focus, same settings have been used for both photos so am I right in assuming because of the different direction of the ducks head in the second shot the camera has automatically focused on it better than it did the first time? How could I have made the ducks head more in focus in the first shot, would changing my aperture to a higher number made a difference? exif data AV mode iso 200 f /3.2 1/1600

This has been done before but as suggested in my other thread maybe we choose something that has been done in one of the older challenges, so I thought what better way to start than back to basics and we can build from there. Back to basics - Practicing on portraits (human or animal) for Av and capturing movement for Tv - if you are shooting manual, the world is your oyster! Spread the word that this is a great time for people to jump into the challenges. This month will be examining shooting in AV and TV modes and for those who have a good grasp; you will be shooting in M mode only. A or AV - Av is the aperture priority mode on your camera. Essentially, the smaller the number, the larger the opening/aperture is. In Av mode, you select the size of the aperture and the camera will automatically set the shutter speed S or Tv - is your shutter speed. If you are shooting something in motion, depending on the speed of your subject, you will want a shutter speed of at least 1/200th of a second. If you start playing with slow shutter speeds, you may want to use a tripod. When using the Tv mode, the camera will automatically set the aperture. Manual - you need to set the ISO, Tv and Av yourself. The best way to learn manual mode is to keep it SIMPLE, check your results in the back of the camera and practice. So for anyone who's new to challenges I think we will not have a limit on when and how many you post, just post whenever you feel you have something you want to share. and there will be others who will be able to give you constructive criticism (cc) most of all have fun and don't be afraid to ask questions if you have any. Hope I have explained this well enough for everyone to understand.

Teebs I'm so sorry. RIP Beautiful Boy x

Maybe we could just have a few going and people could post in them as often or as little as they like so its not like you have to stick to a time line. One thing I'd love to do is get people to take a picture in RAW (if you shot in RAW or Jpeg which ever and post the pic SOOC and then the edited version. Another thing I love to do and it helps a lot with learning what the cameras is capable is light painting or long exposures at night, its fun but its not everyones cup of tea.

Hi guys in another thread Reverand Jo suggested maybe we could do some photo challenges for the ones learning their cameras but anyone could join in. Who is interested? We could change the challenge monthly a bit like Alicia used to do here but only we could make it a certain type of shooting excersise, say you could only post shots in a certain mode etc, any ideas welcome. Please pop a post up if you'd be interested in joining in and if you have any suggestions or ideas. Hope the pros might join in too as we learn a lot from you guys. I know there is a few here that have recently got new cameras and it might inspire others to get out of auto mode and have a go at something different!

Maybe you could make a call to the local council in your area and make them aware of a dog at large and tell them the situation, that way if they come knocking you have all bases covered.

Great idea about the challenges! I've just been to the park and shot only in av mode, will check out the shots after work. Got chased by a rouge duck too. :laugh: the things we do for our art!

Thanks Jo, great feedback. When I open and import to Lightroom Raw files just import like jpegs. Is that the same as camera razor is that something completely different? I have LR4. It's hard to just sit and play with the 50mm as I find if I just stop in one spot, sitting or standing the dogs are too close. I'm looking at getting a 17 -70mm soon so I'll have some more options.

I don't know about the 30mm but the guy in the shop told me similar although he said he had the 50mm and loved it. He has the same camera as you and tried to talk me into that which was my other choice, I nearly caved but stuck to my guns since I had made up my mind. :laugh:

I found a site today and it has some great stuff and easy to understand, THIS explainers crop factors. There is lots of other stuff on there that is helpful. It's a lot to get your head around isn't it?!

:laugh: he is a special boy, his eyes are even more amazing in real life. He has such expression, so many people say he looks like the saddest dog ever. :laugh: Ill hopefully be able to capture more of his happy face when the weather gets better, he loves being a couch spud but is happiest out and about running like the wind!

Thanks for the explanations, I find it really hard to get my head around how it all works and its stupid as I've been taking photos for years, mainly just to lazy to really try to understand it all. The course I did helped a lot, but I still find myself scared to use manual modes, don't know why what's the worse that can happen! ok my goal for this week is to use AV mode only and see what happens, I'll report back next weekend or maybe even earlier with some results!

So I should be using AV mode then, its something I have never really done, with Nikon I was mainly using Shutter priority, I will have a play with AV mode. I totally understand what your saying about the focus points. I had a look at the exif data and most of all the shots I took were iso 320 and 1/25 sec at f 1.8, these were mostly shot on P mode. The flash was not out for any of the shots here. The detail lost could be in my editing? I lightened it up a fair bit so it could be that. Thanks for all the info, I am probly not reading enough and just want to use the camera to learn. Its funny the one of all 4 dogs together was at f1.8 but they all seem reasonably in focus, maybe that is because I was further away and I did crop that slightly to get them a little closer? Yet the one of my OH with all dogs I was the same distance away and they are all blurry?

Fantastic shots, love the little bird, he is looking at you so intently! :) Looks like you have a lovely afternoon. What lens/lenses did you use if you don't mind me asking? I think you have the sigma 17 - 70? I am thinking of getting this lens, I have seen your pics on flickr and they are fabulous!

31/52 Not sure if I am on track, I think this is the start of week 31, On their best behaviour!

Miss Tully Jo Out and about freezing my butt off! :laugh: Another thing I discovered today was live view, I rarely use live view although I do use in not he the G1X as there view finder is awful as you can see the lens through it. But on the 7D it is pretty awful, the focus is slower and it sounds awful to shoot with! Im guessing no one uses live view? Although it might come on handy for some things.

Well with no decent days to get out and about apart from a freezing cold day, I thought i would post a few shots here, I haven't had much of an experiment just been snapping to get used to all the settings, changing the iso for inside and EV for outside etc, took a few on TV mode. So far so good but a few shots I have hoped would be better were crappy, I am not used to the focus points and haven't got a clue how to get the camera to focus on the whole shot not just part of it, must do some reading up soon. I took a stack of pics of Hubby and all 4 dogs posing for a shot but none of them were all in focus, Mainly two dogs in focus the rest blurry, that was a little disappointing! Not the end of the world I can always reshoot. Anyway here is a few that i liked. The Awesome foursome My boy Bailey James The big fella most unimpressed about having a bath. :laugh: Post tub