Anyhow, I have to post my homework here for the rest of the group to see via a link to the photoclass blog. Our first assignment: Read some basics from the blog and take a picture representing "old"
I took a picture of an OLD cross-stitch project I found in my craft drawers from at least 5 years ago. I am finally finishing it up (and redoing large sections of it). My first picture turned out awesome:
And then I realized *gasp* it was in auto mode. Drat! So while I did take it at the right time of day to get good natural sunlight, it was a no go. Just when I thought I was getting good fast! So I tried some in manual mode. They're certainly not as great since I took it after my little one was asleep for the night so I only had indoor lighting, but the point is to learn... and manual sorta scares me. So off we go!
Oh, and my settings in manual were (with no real logic whatsoever, except maybe the ISO):
ISO 200
f 2.8 (my camera wouldn't let me set it lower)
1/30s
My camera is a Cannon Powershot SX120 IS
PS: There is still room to join the class! Come on! Resistance is futile!
Great job! Manual scares me so much!! I don't like how my pictures are turning out even when they look good. I think I'm comparing myself to the professionals and should remember that I'm a beginner! And I'm not really artistic! I hope this class does me some good. And I look forward to seeing your future pictures! Awesome.
ReplyDeleteGreat job Jamie!! And you're right taking photos in manual, especially at low light is really intimidating at first. Some suggestions that you might want to try today in low light--turn that ISO up. Try at least 800 if you are taking them indoors at night-I often take it all the way up to 1600 (turning up the ISO means that your shutter speed can be faster as well). If you aren't blowing these up big, the extra noise isn't really going to make a difference. Another setting that I'll be going over in a couple of days that is especially important in low light is white balance. Play around with the different white balance settings and see which one works the best in your lighting. It depends on your camera, but I would think something like "florescent" would work well. You want the one that makes the whites in the photo the whitest. Like I said, I'll be going over this in a couple of days. Great job!
ReplyDelete