A Hop, NO Skip, and Many Mishaps to a Disney Dream!

[jenseib]

Ok, ladies (since you said ask away..... you may end up regretting that ) take this picture for example. This may sound stupid, but it has the SLR "look" to me. Maybe it is b/c part is in focus and part is out of focus???? Those types of pictures seem to have that SLR look (sorry but I have no better way to describe it than that). Is this something that can only be done with a SLR or (if I can figure it out) can it be done with a high end point and shoot? For the most part, I feel like my pictures are almost as crisp and clear as ones I see from an SLR, they just don't have that depth feel to them. If that is something that my camera can do, then I'd like to just practice that technique before I take the plunge. I hope this doesn't sound completely dumb!

Btw, I just noticed it, but that one guy has some really big hair!

For a blurred backgorund you will do much better with and SLR. I use a wide open aperture, which can be done with a manual setting on a point and shoot, but P & S's have different lenses (I don't know the technical terms off hand) and they get more depth of field at the same settings. To get less depth, like this picture and many of my flower pictures, you want to have a wide open aperture. I personally like that look too. I have actually been trying to get more depth in some pictures as I play around, just to get out of my groove. A great book to help understand this is "Understanding Exposure".

This is the copy I have, but I'm pretty sure there is an updated version...let me look for that link too.

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003

Yep, here it is

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306263482&sr=1-1

 

[mom2rtk]

Ok, ladies (since you said ask away..... you may end up regretting that ) take this picture for example. This may sound stupid, but it has the SLR "look" to me. Maybe it is b/c part is in focus and part is out of focus???? Those types of pictures seem to have that SLR look (sorry but I have no better way to describe it than that). Is this something that can only be done with a SLR or (if I can figure it out) can it be done with a high end point and shoot? For the most part, I feel like my pictures are almost as crisp and clear as ones I see from an SLR, they just don't have that depth feel to them. If that is something that my camera can do, then I'd like to just practice that technique before I take the plunge. I hope this doesn't sound completely dumb!

Btw, I just noticed it, but that one guy has some really big hair!

That shot was done on a Canon 50D, the same one Jen has. Here's the EXIF data:
f/6.3
1/250
ISO 200
300mm

I'm no expert on P&S cameras, but I think you can do this with a good one. I think you're talking about what I would call "selective focus". You can do this by shooting at a large aperture (the smaller f numbers). But shooting at a distance can accomplish it as well. The blurry background behind a focused subject in the foreground is referred to as "bokeh". Another way to get this effect is to shoot from a longer distance or with a lot of space between your foreground and background.

I do think that regardless of what you do, learning more about exposure would be really helpful. "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson is a great place to start. It's an easy to understand book (with lots of great photos) that teaches the exposure triangle.

 

[mom2rtk]

A great book to help understand this is "Understanding Exposure".

LOL! It really is a good book, isn't it?

We're worse than the camera store salesmen pushing the Nikons!

 

[jenseib]

That shot was done on a Canon 50D, the same one Jen has. Here's the EXIF data:
f/6.3
1/250
ISO 200
300mm

I'm no expert on P&S cameras, but I think you can do this with a good one. I think you're talking about what I would call "selective focus". You can do this by shooting at a large aperture (the smaller f numbers). But shooting at a distance can accomplish it as well. The blurry background behind a focused subject in the foreground is referred to as "bokeh". Another way to get this effect is to shoot from a longer distance or with a lot of space between your foreground and background.

I do think that regardless of what you do, learning more about exposure would be really helpful. "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson is a great place to start. It's an easy to understand book (with lots of great photos) that teaches the exposure triangle.

That was my shot!

 

[mom2rtk]

That was my shot!

LOL! They had the same lens too!

I figured that out right after I posted. And the sad part? I had just seen it in your TR this morning!

 

[jenseib]

LOL! It really is a good book, isn't it?

We're worse than the camera store salesmen pushing the Nikons!

I just started reading it again for the 3rd time. I'ts been about 2 years since I last read it and even though I "know" the stuff, I keep going oh yeah, I forgot about that.

 

[jenseib]

LOL! They had the same lens too!

I figured that out right after I posted. And the sad part? I had just seen it in your TR this morning!

Thats OK. I sometimes see other peoples shots on the Pop thread and swear they stole my pictures. LOL! Even though I know they didn't.

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Ya'll are cracking me up!

 

[mom2rtk]

I just started reading it again for the 3rd time. I'ts been about 2 years since I last read it and even though I "know" the stuff, I keep going oh yeah, I forgot about that.

I SWORE I had read it. Then I couldn't find my copy so I looked up what it looked like and had never seen it before! I finally ordered a copy. I've been back and forth and all over in it. I knew a lot of what was in there, but I'm trying to cement it in place.

Thats OK. I sometimes see other peoples shots on the Pop thread and swear they stole my pictures. LOL! Even though I know they didn't.

Well, I hope you're picking out some nice shots to claim!

Ya'll are cracking me up!

I just figure I need to laugh at myself before anyone else gets the chance..........

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Thanks for all the help and advice. I think I will check out that book and play around with the manual settings on my P&S before I go any further with the SLR. If it turns out that I'm too dumb to figure it out on the P&S, then I will have saved myself some money! Besides, I'm concerned that I will loose my zoom capabilities with a starter SLR. Right now I have a 20x zoom and LOVE it. It looks like the starter level SLRs don't have much zoom at all without buying another lens. And that's more money than I have at the moment. My P&S also has video and looks Like I would loose that as well without more $$$ involved.

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for all the help and advice. I think I will check out that book and play around with the manual settings on my P&S before I go any further with the SLR. If it turns out that I'm too dumb to figure it out on the P&S, then I will have saved myself some money! Besides, I'm concerned that I will loose my zoom capabilities with a starter SLR. Right now I have a 20x zoom and LOVE it. It looks like the starter level SLRs don't have much zoom at all without buying another lens. And that's more money than I have at the moment. My P&S also has video and looks Like I would loose that as well without more $$$ involved.

I think that's a great way to start. Don't assume you won't get any zoom on a DSLR kit though. It depends on the kit you choose. You can get the Canon with a very nice 18-135 lens now. They also sell the kit with 18-55, but I hear the 18-135 is quite nice, so I'd find that kit.

Also, my friend found a kit with her Sony and the 18-200 and is quite happy with that.

Have fun learning!

p.s. Can you tell I love spending other people's money?????

 

[jenseib]

Ya'll are cracking me up!

I SWORE I had read it. Then I couldn't find my copy so I looked up what it looked like and had never seen it before! I finally ordered a copy. I've been back and forth and all over in it. I knew a lot of what was in there, but I'm trying to cement it in place.


Well, I hope you're picking out some nice shots to claim!



I just figure I need to laugh at myself before anyone else gets the chance..........

I think some of the shots I took must've inspired others to take them too. At least thats my sotry and I'm sticking to it!

Yep, I must laugh at myself or I might cry!

Thanks for all the help and advice. I think I will check out that book and play around with the manual settings on my P&S before I go any further with the SLR. If it turns out that I'm too dumb to figure it out on the P&S, then I will have saved myself some money! Besides, I'm concerned that I will loose my zoom capabilities with a starter SLR. Right now I have a 20x zoom and LOVE it. It looks like the starter level SLRs don't have much zoom at all without buying another lens. And that's more money than I have at the moment. My P&S also has video and looks Like I would loose that as well without more $$$ involved.

No problem. I started out doing manual on my P&S and then went to the SLR. It's much easier on the SLR though. I wouldn't get rid of the P&S totally though. I kep mine around and am thinking of getting a newer model, just can't justify spending money on it right now.

 

[jenseib]

I think that's a great way to start. Don't assume you won't get any zoom on a DSLR kit though. It depends on the kit you choose. You can get the Canon with a very nice 18-135 lens now. They also sell the kit with 18-55, but I hear the 18-135 is quite nice, so I'd find that kit.

Also, my friend found a kit with her Sony and the 18-200 and is quite happy with that.

Have fun learning!

p.s. Can you tell I love spending other people's money?????

I do too!

 

[jenseib]

Since we're talking pictures and I am sitting here editing some, I thought I'd share one I just did. It was kind of a cool shot...at least I think so. I did not take it like this on purpose, but I had focused in on the buds...well I was trying too and there was a lot of forground leaves and stuff and it just came out kind of cool.

 

[mom2rtk]

That's beautiful Jen!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Very nice! Looks like something from a Southern Living magazine!

 

[jenseib]

That's beautiful Jen!

Very nice! Looks like something from a Southern Living magazine!

Thanks...

Here is another I liked

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

See, there's that fuzzy background again! That's what makes the picture look professional IMO. Great shot!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

The last picture with Claire by the tree is so professional looking. Those shots with the short depth of field are my favorites. I don't know if I want to go to a DSLR. I have a Canon film DSL that I haven't used in several years. I was into photography quite a bit, but the digital P&S are so easy to use & carry. I don't want to carry around all that weight any more.

Here's hoping that you get to go on the TA trip. Your DH sounds like mine when it comes to things like that.

 

[Stefy]

Sending lots of your way