Just got a Nikon D60...A couple of questions

[TrueEeyore]

Hey everyone! We just got a D60 this weekend and it's so confusing trying to figure out the right settings. I took some pictures of my nephew yesterday.
Could you tell me if there's anything I could have done to make these pictures turn out better? I was using the 55-200mm zoom lens (I know nothing about lenses! I only have this one and the one that came with the camera) and the camera setting was on 'P'. I know you probably need the EXIF data, but it won't let me copy the information.

I tried reading tips online, but it's all foreign to me. I need it in dummy terms lol

 

[VVFF]

Hey everyone! We just got a D60 this weekend and it's so confusing trying to figure out the right settings. I took some pictures of my nephew yesterday.
Could you tell me if there's anything I could have done to make these pictures turn out better? I was using the 55-200mm zoom lens (I know nothing about lenses! I only have this one and the one that came with the camera) and the camera setting was on 'P'. I know you probably need the EXIF data, but it won't let me copy the information.

I tried reading tips online, but it's all foreign to me. I need it in dummy terms lol

Other than a few that are either a bit or a good deal out of focus, nothing is particularly wrong with the shots. Make sure you are focusing correctly if its its selecting the AF point or choosing it yourself if you choose to. Obviously, if you're in manual focus it's up to you to do this.

 

[RCDisneyFan]

It looks like some of the outdoor shots were taken in the shade...if your lens doesn't have VR, that could explain some of the softness. Also, a couple of them are a little blue - again due to shadows, I'm sure - if you don't have software on your computer, I think there are photo editing tools in the camera (there are on my D90) which will let you adjust the color balance.

The "P" setting is for program - which is fine to use if you understand what changing the aperture or shutter speed means to the picture. If you don't, you might want to use some of the automatic settings while you read up on exposure... or practice a lot on objects that don't move a lot (like sleeping dogs!)

 

[YesDear]

For someone who has just gotten their first SLR you are doing great. Is the lens you got with the camera a vr or not. If it is not you may have challenges with handholding it in lower light. It will be clearly marked on the left side of the lens and you will be able to turn it off and on.

As others have said, play and try the other settings. The flash on the camera is not a strong one so do not count on it for major flash pictures.

 

[kevrab]

I'm a photo editor for a daily newspaper and I think there are, honestly, pretty freakin' good. You've definitely have the eye. I especially like the one of the kid looking through the fence. A suggestion is when outside in the shade use the pop up flash on the D60 and get a little bit of fill flash.

 

[TrueEeyore]

Thanks everyone! It is a VR lens and the VR was on in those shots. I have Photoshop so I know I could fix up the pictures, I just don't even know where to begin! (Photoshop is as confusing as the camera to me! )
I'm excited to take the camera to Disney and I really want to learn how to take night pictures. I haven't tried that yet.

 

[kevrab]

In photoshop most of the items you'll need to increase the quality of your photos are under the Enhance column. To lighten or darken photos go under adjust lighting, go under levels and adjust the bars til it looks good. You can play with the color, sharpness, contrast under the enhance column also.

Photoshop, especially the CS versions, have a whole lot of gizmos to play with but at work we only use about 20% of them.

In fact I have to go to Detroit's Ford Field during the NCAA Final Four and help edit photos for newspapers. Stuck behind a curtain editing photos all day on a Mac and can't even watch the games. Oh well---rather be shooting and when on deadline you don't have time to pay with all the tools in Photoshop. The trick is to just use the bare essentials to make the photo quality look good for publication.