Equipment Advice - New Member (Scotland) and Nikon User

[TootieBear765]

Hiya

I should introduce myself. My names Lynette (TootieBear765), my DH is Andy (TartanTigger) and we're from just outside Edinburgh in Scotland. Having worked our way through a range of PAS cameras, most recently Panasonic Lumix FZ7, we have made the leap and also invested in our first DSLR, a Nikon D40 with an 18-55mm lens (on offer which is the only way we could afford in during the blessed credit crunch lol!). We were going to York for a weekend trip so we also invested in a 55-200mm lens too and have had some rough practicing, generally using the automatic focus settings.

We are both keen to develop our skills a little and get to grips with f settings and ISO's which we have no idea about, as entry-level photographers although we both have a good eye for an artistic photo. In essence we would like to get some basic advice on using our lenses and ahead of our Disney Christmas week to Paris from 22-26 Dec we would like some idea of 'essential' but 'reasonably' priced equipment we might invest in to give ourselves the best chance of getting some stunning shots e.g. flash, filters, lens to capture good close-ups or wideangles without needing a remortgage...

Any advice for us would be HUGELY appreciated, and having browsed various threads, can I just say how simply amazing all your photos are. We are totally in awe, inspired to achieve photos which come even close and now suffering from NAS and terrible lens lust (DH wanted a 500mm zoom until he saw the prices... they cost more than our car )

On a plus side, living in Scotland we have some simply incredible scenery and architecture to tap into, its amazing. Its really livened up my drive to and from work as I sit in traffic trying to figure out 'shots' I'd love to capture...

Thanks for any help and advice and I look forward to hopefully sharing our growth as photographers with you all!

Lynette

 

[jfinke]

Not an expert here...

But, my advice is to shoot, shoot, and shoot some more. Experiment. Play with settings. Keep track of what works and what doesn't. The wonderful thing about digital vs. film is that there is no secondary cost until you want to print.

Some people recommend staying in program mode (canon guy here, I assume it is the same on the Nikons). I say pick Av and play around. I don't think you are going to learn much without understanding how the different settings work in concert with each other.

And I envy you for your views. I went to Edinburgh twice when I spent a semester in England. Beautiful town. Broke my camera there. Fortunately, I had just changed my roll and didn't lose any photos.

 

[alan]

Hi Lynnette,

I'm Alan, from Falkirk - welcome!

I'd second what jfinke said - go out and take lots of pictures. However, be aware that there is a problem taking pictures in Scotland right now - our air is very heavy with moisture (even when it's not raining) and the moisture in the air can make distant objects a lot more blurred than they would be in clear weather.

Okay. Apart from taking lots of pictures, I would recommend that you get your hands on the book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. I know that Falkirk Libraries have it, I don't know about West Lothian. But you could request an inter-library loan and it could be gotten in for you. Or you could buy it from Amazon.

This book tells you a lot about the factors that need to be juggled to make the technical aspects of SLR photography work. By getting your head round the technicalities, you are then free to concentrate on the artistic part (I'm fairly competent at the techy stuff, but lousy at the composition)

And then, it's back to what jfinke said. Take as many pictures as possible. Go to Linlithgow Palace and shoot it. Or Cairnpapple. Or Almondell Park or Blackness or Stirling or Bathgate and just gets lots of practice. Even the fountain in Mcarthur Glen could give some decent pics.

I hope you'll be posting your trip photos when you come back!

regards,
/alan

PS I don't know if you've thought about getting your hands on some photo editing software, but it's amazing the difference that some small amount of editing can make to a picture. If you're not techy, try Picasa - a free download from www.google.com/picasa. If you are techy, you might want to think about something like Photoshop Elements...

 

[alan]

jfinke, where's KS?

regards,
/alan

PS About a week after buying my first ever digital camera I went to a works night out in Edinburgh. I took the camera to take some snaps, and when I got home realised I didn't have it. It was a Fujifilm FZ1300Z, in all its 1.3 megapixel glory. I guess Edinburgh and cameras just don't mix!

 

[ukcatfan]

jfinke, where's KS?

regards,
/alan

PS About a week after buying my first ever digital camera I went to a works night out in Edinburgh. I took the camera to take some snaps, and when I got home realised I didn't have it. It was a Fujifilm FZ1300Z, in all its 1.3 megapixel glory. I guess Edinburgh and cameras just don't mix!

KS is for Kansas

 

[AbsolutLaney]

Go out and take lots of pictures..

 

[jfinke]

KS is for Kansas

What s/he said.

 

[YesDear]

I think the best thing you can do is invite all of us to Scotland and arrange a tour of all the great scenery you and your husband have to share! I am sure we will all be very very helpful in improving your photography skills. Only question is do you have enough beds for us or should we bring our sleeping bags?

Oh yeah, welcome!!!

Shoot, shoot, shoot, and pay attention to what you do and how you did it. The books are a great resource.

What do you want to take pictures besides the great scenery we are coming to see? People, places or things?

Oh, and we are a great group to get you to spend money on your new hobby!! Just ask and we will be glad to tell you what to get!

Did I say welcome? Welcome and ask any question you want. Most of us do not bite......... hard.

 

[saturndb]

I agree with YesDear. We should comeout to you and help you learn your camera! When do you want us to come (lol).
As everyone has said practice makes perfect.

 

[spinetnglr]

Im new here too .. so welcome to a fellow newbie. I too have a Nikon D40 with the lenses you have. As most of the others have said the best thing to do is get out and shoot. I recently started an online course geared directly for the D40 and have learned alot of things only one week into it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We're going to Scotland?? Can't wait, have always wanted to go there. :

 

[Jeff Fillmore]

What s/he said.

s/he?

 

[ukcatfan]

All man here!!! I am constantly surrounded by women though. The DW and three DDs here at home and then I am one of three men in my department of about 25 at work.

 

[jfinke]

You never know... And some people offend easily.

Whoohoo!! Road trip. I think I may still have my "free" tshirt from the haunted pub crawl I did in Edinburgh.

 

[Chikabowa]

I second Understanding Exposure as one of the best resources for beginners to start to learn the relationships between aperture, shutter and ISO.

The #1 investment that I suggest a photographer make - a speedlight (I love the SB-800, but the SB-600 is better for the tighter budget/less functionality, but better than the SB-400 because it has a rotating head). The #2 investment - a tripod. The #3 investment - either the Nikon 50mm f1.4 or the Sigma 30mm f1.4 (Nikon Mount).

These are great investments that are just simple tools you need to do the best job possible. My philosophy is to get it right in camera so I post-process is a breeze when I get home, and between these three investments, you have a great beginning arsenal at your fingertips.

 

[alan]

KS is for Kansas

Thank you - I thought I had most of the state abbreviations, but looking at that map I realise I've still got a lot to learn!

regards,
/alan

PS I'd wait a couple of months for your road trip. Right now, the leaves look drab and dead rather than rich and golden, and the air is totally full of moisture. Come in January and the moisture should have frozen out of the air, and frost and snow will make everything look much prettier. And don't worry, the pubs will still be open

 

[Quicklabs]

Welcome! You will never run out of things of which to take photographs there in Scotland. One of the most beautiful countries I've ever visited (and some of the nicest people). For now, I'd say buy lots of memory cards. When you take pictures, use your RAW+JPEG setting. That way, when you are feeling more comfortable with post-processing, you will have the RAW files. I am sorry that I didn't do it that way. Sure wish I could have fixed up some of the shots I've taken over the past year or so.
I am very much looking forward to seeing your pictures.

 

[jfinke]

Thank you - I thought I had most of the state abbreviations, but looking at that map I realise I've still got a lot to learn!

regards,
/alan

PS I'd wait a couple of months for your road trip. Right now, the leaves look drab and dead rather than rich and golden, and the air is totally full of moisture. Come in January and the moisture should have frozen out of the air, and frost and snow will make everything look much prettier. And don't worry, the pubs will still be open

It is hard to keep up with countries you don't deal with on an everyday basis. In the USA, every state has a two letter abbreviation. Most of them make sense, others.... eh.

Then there is the size. When I was in England, my "adopt a family" had an 18 year old son who couldn't grasp the size of Lake Michigan. Or talking to the people who wanted to visit and think a week is enough to spend some days in Florida, drive to NYC and hang out, and then drive to Los Angeles.

I may have to go scan some of my Scotland pics now (yes, they are that old). And you can see the travesty of me in a plastic kilt next to a hairy cow.

 

[alan]

I may have to go scan some of my Scotland pics now (yes, they are that old). And you can see the travesty of me in a plastic kilt next to a hairy cow.

Thank goodness it wasn't a sheep

Actually, if I manage to get an ADR for Cinderella's Royal Table I am hoping to manage to pack my kilt outfit, and wear it to CRT. Well, I'd get dressed up for a real princess, so why not Cinders?! I think the pictures would be great

regards,
/alan

 

[annnewjerz]

FYI - I sent you a PM. Recommendations as well as some questions re: Scotland because of a possible upcoming trip