still learning but feel free to comment

[gokenin]

File size: 361662 bytes
File date: 2007:08:26 13:44:07
Camera make: Canon
Camera model: Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Date/Time: 2007:08:26 08:54:55
Resolution: 800 x 600
Flash used: No
Focal length: 72.0mm (35mm equivalent: 624mm)
Digital Zoom: 1.375x
CCD width: 4.16mm
Exposure time: 0.0025 s (1/400)
Aperture: f/3.5
Whitebalance: Manual
Light Source: Daylight
Metering Mode: center weight

File size: 175371 bytes
File date: 2007:08:26 10:20:03
Camera make: Canon
Camera model: Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Date/Time: 2007:06:24 20:55:37
Resolution: 800 x 600
Flash used: No
Focal length: 61.4mm (35mm equivalent: 387mm)
CCD width: 5.72mm
Exposure time: 0.025 s (1/40)
Aperture: f/3.5
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix

File size: 200987 bytes
File date: 2007:08:26 10:14:40
Camera make: Canon
Camera model: Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Date/Time: 2007:08:19 14:34:30
Resolution: 800 x 600
Flash used: No
Focal length: 54.9mm (35mm equivalent: 346mm)
CCD width: 5.72mm
Exposure time: 0.0010 s (1/1000)
Aperture: f/3.5
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure Mode: Auto bracketing

File size: 231995 bytes
File date: 2007:08:26 10:17:07
Camera make: Canon
Camera model: Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Date/Time: 2007:08:08 17:30:45
Resolution: 800 x 600
Flash used: No
Focal length: 72.0mm (35mm equivalent: 454mm)
CCD width: 5.72mm
Exposure time: 0.0100 s (1/100)
Aperture: f/3.5
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix

File size: 286541 bytes
File date: 2007:08:26 10:15:56
Camera make: Canon
Camera model: Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Date/Time: 2007:08:19 07:44:13
Resolution: 800 x 600
Flash used: No
Focal length: 72.0mm (35mm equivalent: 454mm)
CCD width: 5.72mm
Exposure time: 0.0031 s (1/320)
Aperture: f/3.5
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix

 

[DVC Jen]

nice sharp, crisp photos. The main thing that I would suggest would be to be a bit more aware of your compostion when you are framing your subject.

Can't wait to see more shots from you.

I wish I could get my oldest DD to use her S3 more. So you do you like yours?

 

[Master Mason]

With the baseball shot a few things

1. The action is not in the picture
2. You can't see any of the players faces
3. no central point of focus

I shoot a lot of baseball every year, and it is tough, especially if your kid is playing because you go into fan mode instead of picture mode

keep working at it, it will come with practice and look at others pics as well to get ideas.

 

[jann1033]

i like the bridge(?) the best...wondering how it would look in B&w

 

[MarkBarbieri]

With the bird shot, try shooting with a wider aperture (lower f-stop number). That'll make the background blurrier so the bird will stand out more. You should also avoid putting your subject smack dab in the middle of the picture. Read some articles on composition for ideas on how to visually organize your shots.

 

[gokenin]

I dont know if taking them off center makes the pic any more visually interesting?

yes its a bridge and used corel paint to make it B&W

sports during the day but dont think its that much better

 

[rtphokie]

1. need Bokeh (lower the f-stop)
2. not seeing what story this is supposed to be telling. Need to see players faces I think
3. the pole in the foreground is distracting. If the either thoe whole streetcar were in the frame it it were cropped/zoomed in on the street car and the cars it would make an interesting old vs. new juxtiposition.
4. busy background, pole is distracting. No focus on the what the photo is about
5. I really like this photo. The cropping is nice and the geometry makes for an interesting photo.

 

[rtphokie]

the last one of the softball pitcher, what is the picture of? The pitcher? The pitcher and the rest of the team? Go in tighter.

Also, avoid the cable in the foreground, it looks like the poor girl is about to get clotheslined.

 

[gokenin]

 

[LMarge]

nice macro on the sunflower - but consider taking only a portion of it, not the whole thing, it just makes the compostition a bit more interesting than - oh, there's a sunflower! I like the close crop on the streetcar - much better!
Blessings,

 

[SharonLowe]

Like the cropped street car. Agree on the flower. In particular, notice that the flower isn't perfect - several damaged petals. Try zooming in on the center with some petals radiating up from the center. As for composition, yes, moving things off center adds drama and interest. Just as a start, read the Wikpedia article on the Rule of Thirds:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds

Keep working at it - you have some nice subjects. The bridge is really great. I might add a bit more contrast to the b&w version but otherwise, it is very nice.

 

[gokenin]

I undestand that the idea of dividing the visual aspects and was just wondering I know that the S3 has the classic lines on its viewfinder was wondering if it might be a good idea to leave this function on to train with till i get used to entire logic of not always centering the item that you are taking the picture of

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I like the bridge and the cropped streetcar the best.

It looks like the ISO is too high in the baseball/softball shots; are you using Sports mode. Sports mode is notoriously noisy on the S3, because it chooses higher ISOs.

You would probably get lower noise and a sharper image at the S3's sweet spot (aperture 4.5); switch to Av mode, set the aperture to 4.5, set the ISO to 80 or 100 (for a daylight game) and see if you're getting a shutter speed of at least 1/500 ... shouldn't be a problem.

If you're not getting enough light, open the aperture until your getting the speed you want. I do a lot of outdoor nature photography with my S3, and I consistently get high shutter speeds without raising the ISO.

Just a general rule with the S3, or any small-sensor superzoom camera, don't raise the ISO unless you absolutely have to ... you'll get much less noise if you can keep it at ISO 200 or less. If you *need* to use ISO 400, make sure you have Noise Reduction software (I use Noiseware Community Edition; it's legally FREE and an excellent product).

I leave the grid-lines on all the time ... not just for training purposes, but also so I can set my horizons level and either at the top line to highlight the ground or the bottom line to highlight the sky.

Pictures generally look better when you use the Rule of Thirds and keep your subject at the crossings of the grid lines. There's no shame in using the lines -- it doesn't make you any less of a photographer!

There's not much you can do with the S3 to get a better bokeh; the aperture doesn't go below 3.5 at the far end of the zoom (it's 2.7 at the wide end).

By making full use of the zoom and putting as much distance between yourself and your subject and the background as possible can get a nice DSLR-like background blur....

Here's a couple of examples from the S3 thread:
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=20365783&postcount=721
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=19499049&postcount=520
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=19427939&postcount=494

 

[gokenin]

nice sharp, crisp photos. The main thing that I would suggest would be to be a bit more aware of your compostion when you are framing your subject.

Can't wait to see more shots from you.

I wish I could get my oldest DD to use her S3 more. So you do you like yours?

I very much like the S3 I think that its a great learing tool if you are thinking about heading into an SLR you at least have the groundwork with the functions instead of going straight into it from a P&S. I do have to admit I keep looking at SLRs and looking at Pentax only because it looks like all lenses made for any slr they ever made can be used with there digital so that opens the reseller market for lenses if I ever make the jump. Course that the thinking this instant but that can change to

 

[Groucho]

I do have to admit I keep looking at SLRs and looking at Pentax only because it looks like all lenses made for any slr they ever made can be used with there digital so that opens the reseller market for lenses if I ever make the jump. Course that the thinking this instant but that can change to

You are correct, the Pentax DSLRs can use any Pentax SLR lens ever produced. You will need an adapter for the very old screw-mount ones and the medium-format ones, but those are getting into the real exotica and/or vintage lenses.

Although I have been hungering to pick up a used screw-mount Zeiss 180mm F2.8 from Germany or eastern Europe one of these days... though Zeiss is going to start producing new lenses in the K-mount again now, so that's an option too.

Unfortunately, used Pentax lens prices have shot up in the past couple years due to popularity, but there are still many good buys out there.