First Photos with DSLR, Thoughts??

[annnewjerz]

So, I ordered and received my first DSLR last week (the Nikon D60). Right now, I just have the kit lens, which was an 18-55mm VR that came with the body. I haven't had the opportunity to take many pictures because of the crappy weather over the weekend...but here are a few I took on my first day of some of the pets. The detail on the pix that I am posting isn't nearly as nice as when I look at them full-sized on the CPU, but I didn't want huge images showing up on the post.

Any thoughts, opinions, suggestions for improvement are VERY WELCOME (just try not to be too mean, I am a newbie, after all ) That being said, I am actually really satisfied with how they turned out considering I know nothing. I am so excited to learn...especially on a day with nice weather.

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This is Snuffles, one of our cats. First picture out of the box, no flash, ISO 100. My concern with this one is that it seems to have a little bit of a yellow-y tint. Maybe because it was night with no flash and I didn't boost the ISO or prolong the shutter speed because it was a handheld pic and I was worried about getting a blurry image.

This is Rocky. Again, the color seems to have a little bit of a yellow tint. We have green walls, wood floors and I was only using a ceiling lamp for lighting, could that be the cause?

This is Mickey. I don't have the color image on this computer, but I have the sepia version. I haven't figured it out yet, but I thought I read somewhere that the Nikon has the ability to shoot in sepia rather than converting with a program online, anyone know if that's true or not?

This is Winky. I do realize I chopped her feet off but she is a quick little sucker and two more seconds she would have been touching the lens with her wet little nose.

 

[PhotobearSam]

Winky is so cute...


The yellow cast in the pics come from your light bulbs...In your white balance settings, there should be one for Tungsten that would help when shooting indoors with light from lightbulbs. See how Winky does not have the yellow tinge because you were using natural light (Sun).

Also, you could go up in ISO a little to make sure you don't get too long of an exposure and get a blurry pic.

The darker the situation, the higher the ISO needs to be if you want to hand hold.


Not a bad start...get outside and show us some more.

 

[annnewjerz]

Winky is so cute...


The yellow cast in the pics come from your light bulbs...In your white balance settings, there should be one for Tungsten that would help when shooting indoors with light from lightbulbs. See how Winky does not have the yellow tinge because you were using natural light (Sun).

Also, you could go up in ISO a little to make sure you don't get too long of an exposure and get a blurry pic.

The darker the situation, the higher the ISO needs to be if you want to hand hold.


Not a bad start...get outside and show us some more.

I did see white balance on my menu options, but haven't had a chance to get more than 15 or so pages into the manual yet since the camera just came on Friday and I was too excited to sit down and read and learn how to actually use the thing

I do agree, I like coloration in the pictures of Winky much more than the others. I plan on taking a trip to the apple orchard and up to Mystic, CT/Newport, RI and Cape Code in October to see some fall foliage and hopefully get some better pix. The weather this weekend was a real bummer. Unlike my Olympus 1030SW point and shoot, I'm guessing I can't get my Nikon wet in the rain.

Thanks!

 

[YEKCIM]

My experience has been that Nikon cameras do a pretty crummy job with incandescent white balance. I used to shoot JPEG and the results were HORRIBLE, especially using auto WB. I shoot RAW now and there is a simple two click WB correction in Adobe Camera Raw, which I use in conjunction with Photoshop Elements 5. You may want to give it a try.

Otherwise, the shots look very good.

~Ed

 

[annnewjerz]

My experience has been that Nikon cameras do a pretty crummy job with incandescent white balance. I used to shoot JPEG and the results were HORRIBLE, especially using auto WB. I shoot RAW now and there is a simple two click WB correction in Adobe Camera Raw, which I use in conjunction with Photoshop Elements 5. You may want to give it a try.

Otherwise, the shots look very good.

~Ed

I've got to say, I had NO IDEA what RAW even was when I signed onto this board and started thinking about getting a DSLR (other than veggies and fish, that is ) I have been reading up on it and it definitely sounds like the way to go over jpeg, I'm just a little intimidated at the moment.

Right now I have just been using Picasa for free because I wanted to save for the camera before getting the software...didn't want to count my chickens before they hatched. Now that I've got the camera, that'll be the next thing I look into. I always thought Photoshop was so expensive, but now I see you can get PE6 for about $75 brand new, so I'll have to look into that since I don't think the older versions are compatible with Vista.

Keep your eyes open, I'm sure there will be a thread shortly from me about what the best software for the money is right now.

 

[handicap18]

I'll second what Ed said. Shooting RAW is easy and even with the free ViewNX software that comes with the camera (or a free download at nikonusa.com) White Balance is an easy fix with 1 click.

I love the angle on pic 2. Great job with that one and #4 is a keeper too. I'm not a cat guy, but that is a very cute picture.

Keep up the good work.

Feel free to PM me if you want some info on Cape Cod. I grew up there and spent my first 25 years in that area.

 

[YEKCIM]

I've used PICASA on RAW files from my D50 and it worked fine. You may want to give it a shot. Also, fwiw, I use PSE5, which is $39 shipped (if you choose basic snail-mail), from THIS online retailer. It is an OEM version, so CD only - no box, manual, etc.

~Ed

 

[dr_zero]

Does this look more like it? This was Paintshop pro with the auto white balance option.

 

[orchjoe]

This is Mickey. I don't have the color image on this computer, but I have the sepia version. I haven't figured it out yet, but I thought I read somewhere that the Nikon has the ability to shoot in sepia rather than converting with a program online, anyone know if that's true or not?

I would shoot a color version for all of your photographs and then convert on the computer. That way you always have a color version. It is easy to convert to sepia and B/W.

Here are a couple of programs like photoshop that are free (until you get PS Elements)

Artweaver (a Lot like PS)
Gimp (Very strong learning curve)

 

[annnewjerz]

Does this look more like it? This was Paintshop pro with the auto white balance option.

Perfecto! I wouldn't have really thought anything was off with the coloring in the first picture if it wasn't for the fact that I know my cat's fur is white...not yellow

Thanks!

 

[thomas998]

Maybe I shouldn't give you more software to think about... but you might want to check out DXO.com optics pro standard... in addition to doing well with nikon raw.. the software is designed for specific cameras and lenses and correct automatically for pin cushion and barrel distortion... at the very least its worth down loading there trial version... which lasts for 21 days and running your photos through it... who knows it may be enough to get you hooked on it.

 

[annnewjerz]

Maybe I shouldn't give you more software to think about... but you might want to check out DXO.com optics pro standard... in addition to doing well with nikon raw.. the software is designed for specific cameras and lenses and correct automatically for pin cushion and barrel distortion... at the very least its worth down loading there trial version... which lasts for 21 days and running your photos through it... who knows it may be enough to get you hooked on it.

Thanks for the recommendation. I have a running list at this point and am open to any and all recommendations. On top of everything, I just need something that is user friendly. I know it will take time to figure out the ins and outs of any program, but something that is designed for use by a professional when I'm just beginning may not be the best.

Thanks again!
Ann

 

[YEKCIM]

Just my $0.02 and others will, no doubt, have differing views, but I have found that, *for what I do*, Elements is pretty easy to learn. I had Paint Shop Pro, and found it difficult to learn, but that is just me. Others report just the opposite. 99% of my editing is:

* Adjust exposure and white balance in Adobe Camera Raw and export to Elements
* Crop in Elements
* Adjust levels in Elements
* Resize in Elements
* Sharpen in Elements
* Save for web in Elements

I also, from time to time do some cloning to remove blemishes, etc, and an occasional black and white conversion and on rare occasions, fiddle with distortion correction. I have found all these very easy in Elements. It does everything I need it to do, and have not found it to be difficult to learn. Keep in mind that I have not delved into the mysteries of layers and curves and all that. Maybe some day. I'm an old dog and averse to new tricks, though.

~Ed

 

[annnewjerz]

Just my $0.02 and others will, no doubt, have differing views, but I have found that, *for what I do*, Elements is pretty easy to learn. I had Paint Shop Pro, and found it difficult to learn, but that is just me. Others report just the opposite. 99% of my editing is:

* Adjust exposure and white balance in Adobe Camera Raw and export to Elements
* Crop in Elements
* Adjust levels in Elements
* Resize in Elements
* Sharpen in Elements
* Save for web in Elements

I also, from time to time do some cloning to remove blemishes, etc, and an occasional black and white conversion and on rare occasions, fiddle with distortion correction. I have found all these very easy in Elements. It does everything I need it to do, and have not found it to be difficult to learn. Keep in mind that I have not delved into the mysteries of layers and curves and all that. Maybe some day. I'm an old dog and averse to new tricks, though.

~Ed

That acutally sounds perfect. I'm interested in the basic aspects of editing the pictures...I'm sure some of the other things Elements offers are fun and I will fiddle around with them, but for now everything you listed sounds right up my alley.

I, too, am adverse to new tricks...even though I am a very young dog. Maybe in a few years when I really know what I'm doing, I'll want something better and at that point...I can upgrade to something more fancy schmancy.

 

[annnewjerz]

Just wanted to add a few more I took this weekend/tonight. Still haven't really had a chance to get outside with it, can't wait until this weekend since the weather is supposed to be nice.

Some flowers I have been drying out.

The recycling..yes, I am that desperate for things in my house to shoot.

Side view mirror in the parking lot of the law firm I work for.

Shot of my Grandmother and younger sister, for my Grandmother's 86th birthday (full auto, I believe).

 

[dr_zero]

Perfecto! I wouldn't have really thought anything was off with the coloring in the first picture if it wasn't for the fact that I know my cat's fur is white...not yellow

Thanks!

Try the free trial of paint shop pro and see how you like it, it's set up for both novice and advance users with one step fix and then manual tweaking of pics.
http://www.corel.com/servlet/Satellite/us/en/Product/1184951547051