New to Photography..and DP Challenge

06/06/2008 02:19:37 PM · #1

Hello.

I am fairly new to photography. I have only had my camera for a year. I have only had an external flash and additional lense, besides the one that came with my Digital Rebel XT, last weekend. And I am still fairly new to photoshop.

I am so excited to have found a site that is dedicated to photography AND filled with such talent that I can learn from.

I am ADDICTED TO Photography. It feels like a drug.And i want to learn all that I can to improve myself.

I recently started taking portraits..and I was wanting some tips on how to improve my photography. You don't have to be nice..I am good at taking criticism..and it is the only way I can become better. Thanks!

The subject is a fairly young pregnant woman whose husband is away in Iraq. I did the photo's for free so that she could give him a nice fathers day present.

//www.flickr.com/photos/egamble/

Message edited by author 2008-06-06 14:34:18.

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

06/06/2008 02:20:44 PM · #2

also...how do i make little thumbnail pics from my flicker account appear on posts?

thanks again.

boyd2000

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

06/06/2008 02:34:51 PM · #3

Eric,

Overall your pictures look excellent. The one taken from behind has a far too bright background on the left, really blowing out all detail. The right side is very dark, so the brightness range is more than the camera can handle. I'd recommend finding a location without direct sunlight. The flower one looks great, though it's a little too bright on her top. In Photoshop you could probably fix that by using the quickselect or magic wand or even the lasso to select the overbright area and lower the brightness a little. Some experts can probably give you better advice. On the black and white one the lady's dress kind of blends into the water. This may no be a great shot for B&W conversion because of that. I've had my XTi for just over a year, so I'm no expert either. You can click the world icon to make a link with text of your choice to point to the Flickr account, but I don't think you can put thumbnails in the message unless they are pictures at dpchallenge.com. If you are registered and not a member you can't put up pictures except for challenge entries.

Welcome to the group.

Boyd

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

06/06/2008 02:39:35 PM · #4

Boyd,

Thanks for the reply.

I am going to go and try the brightness change on the shirt right now.

:)

as for the brightness...I am a school teacher..and the only free time I had to schedule for her was right after summer school around 12pm..I hated it...but she had summer school at the local college later in the afternoon. Do you know anyway to tone down the blown out look?

Eric

Message edited by author 2008-06-06 14:41:56.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

06/06/2008 02:45:52 PM · #5

Welcome new one.
You can learn a lot about how this site works by using the bar with drop downs at the top of the page. Try "Community"- "Forums"-"Site Feature Discussion" topics.
If you register you can post a portfolio, thumbnails, and do a lot of other interesting things here.
The girl's face is very bright in the first shot you posted. That's the only major thing that I notice without getting in depth about the technicals. The general concept of the images and locations is good though.
Enjoy the site. You have found a happy place if you like your camera.

levyj413

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

06/06/2008 03:43:13 PM · #6

Originally posted by egamble:

also...how do i make little thumbnail pics from my flicker account appear on posts?

thanks again.

You can't. You can only create thumbnails for shots here at DPC. If you become a paying member, you'll get portfolio space. Otherwise, you'll be limited to challenge entries.

You can, however, post full-size images. Just keep it to no wider than 500 pixels per forum rules.

You can do it two ways:
1) Copy the URL of the actual image, then in the forum window, click the little icon that looks like a colored square in the icon bar above where you type. I don't know what it looks like to a non-paying member, but to me, it's the fourth from the right. Looks like this:

2) Type the code yourself. Surround the URL with
{img} {img}

Replace the { and } characters with [ and ] - I had to use the curly ones or the system would try to interpret what I've written and display the image instead of letting me show you the code.

For example, the code for the image below is:
{img}//farm4.static.flickr.com/3104/2556800352_b81a2a2de0.jpg{img}

Message edited by author 2008-06-06 15:49:19.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/06/2008 06:46:40 PM · #7

thanks a ton!

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

06/06/2008 06:52:09 PM · #8

Originally posted by egamble:

I am ADDICTED TO Photography. It feels like a drug.

Welcome to DPC. Are you sure you can handle another addiction?

Checked out your flickr photos - overall they're all excellent! Definitely appear to make you a potential contender around here.

Enjoy. And stay away from the cafeteria food. Stick to the vending machines.

suemack

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/06/2008 07:07:43 PM · #9

Welcome to dpc Eric. Be warned, this place is very addictive!!!

Very quick edit done using a duplicate layer of your background, changing the mode to multiply (you could either add a mask and invert) then with a soft brush on her face brush back some of the details. If you're working in photoshop elements if you add an adjustment curves layer, change the mode to multiply, hold down your Ctl and hit I to invert the mask, then again with soft brush brush back some details on the highlights.

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

06/06/2008 07:18:16 PM · #10

wow...what a difference a little layer did!

Thanks for the tip.

it really makes the photo look alot better.

levyj413

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

06/06/2008 08:41:15 PM · #11

I got so caught up in answering your image posting question that I forgot to comment on the images. I like all of them. In fact, I really like how you processed the second and third ones.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/06/2008 11:10:51 PM · #12

I know that I look like an idiot..but where do i find the URL of the image only on Flicker? I have been trying for about an hour and can't find it.

Message edited by author 2008-06-06 23:18:43.

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

06/06/2008 11:30:39 PM · #13

Originally posted by egamble:

I know that I look like an idiot..but where do i find the URL of the image only on Flicker? I have been trying for about an hour and can't find it.

Top of your browser window in the address bar.

ETA: Welcome! :-) OH maybe not... Flickr is weird!

Message edited by author 2008-06-06 23:35:42.

levyj413

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Nikon

06/06/2008 11:37:28 PM · #14

Originally posted by thegrandwazoo:

Originally posted by egamble:
I know that I look like an idiot..but where do i find the URL of the image only on Flicker? I have been trying for about an hour and can't find it.

Top of your browser window in the address bar.

ETA: Welcome! :-)

Wazzer: that'll give the URL of the HTML page that hosts the JPG, but not the JPG itself.

Eric: if you're using Windows Firefox, point to the image, right-click, and choose "copy image location." If you're using Internet Explorer, right-click and choose "properties" and then copy the URL.

If you're on a Mac, I'm not sure, but I'm guessing there are similar options in the right-click menu.

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/06/2008 11:40:26 PM · #15

HA! I just figured that out then return to find your confirmation! LOL

You know I learned something today...

:-)

Message edited by author 2008-06-06 23:41:28.