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Shop Pictures (new camera)

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freestyledork
Posts: 345 - Karma: 17
So I decided to sell my rebel xti, and get a rebel t1i being that it was 3 generations later it has some obvious advantages. I sold my xti on craigslist ended up getting 470 for it with a kit lens. So I then bought the t1i on B&H for only 649 (body only). The camera came in this friday and I wanted to test it out but never really got the chance. Well today I took it to work and got what I think to be pretty nice but I'm no pro. So here they are... please leave a comment letting me know what I can do better or how much you hate them. (I know your out there) . I trying to learn how to get off that oh so comfy full auto setting. Thanks


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Nov 8 2009 6:35PM
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erichkuss
Posts: 839 - Karma: 12
Kinda boring
Nov 8 2009 6:59PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Lay off the whole macro style of shooting. Also, this is your second dslr, and you are still shooting on full auto?You should probably get on that.. But how about this, instead of us telling you what you did wrong, how about you tell us what you liked about each shot?


Also, why do I hate 95% of shots that aren't photo journalistic?
Nov 8 2009 7:21PM
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freestyledork
Posts: 345 - Karma: 17
Like I said I'm pretty noob when it comes to photography, so let me show you how |\|0O|3 i really am.
First I don't know what you mean by "macro style"
Second what do you mean "why do I hate 95% of shots that aren't photo journalistic?"

I really only like the first 4 trying to get the reflection of the glasses to show the picture.
Nov 8 2009 7:35PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Macro photography used to mean shooting small objects and making them larger than life. Now it typically means getting really close to something and focusing on just that object while making the rest of the background blurred.

Photo Journalism is photos that tell a story, all the pictures in the newspaper are photo journalistic shots.

"I really only like the first 4 trying to get the reflection of the glasses to show the picture." Do we really need four shots that tell the same story. Actually what are the glasses shot telling us? What makes your image glasses shot unique?
Nov 8 2009 8:01PM
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dergblerp
Posts: 1303 - Karma: 77
I agree with 'despite'.  You upgraded slr's yet haven't learned how to shoot manual?  that makes no sense.  It's really not that difficult once you learn how the camera works.

I guess the only advice I can give you is to take a lot of pictures.  The ones you posted aren't terrible, but they definitely don't look like they were taken by someone who has owned not one but two dslr's.  (for the record the xti and the t1i really aren't that different, especially if you don't know how to use them!)  Get shooting.  Never take another picture on auto!  A great alternative to auto is Av mode, which is aperture priority.  You set the Aperture, and the camera chooses the best shutter speed to match it.  You also have full control over iso and white balance with this setting, whereas you have control over none of this on auto.

Nov 8 2009 8:06PM
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freestyledork
Posts: 345 - Karma: 17
The pictures were shot on AV. and the only reason I switched out the xti and t1i is the resale value i got for my xti. I only had the warrenty for another 3 months. Thanks for the advice so far. The shots were more or less just shots of some things I had laying around the shop. I couldn't pick out what ones I wanted to upload so I picked them all. Out of the first 4 what one did you like the best? and can you give me an example of a photo that is journalistic and why it would appear that way? Thanks.
Nov 8 2009 8:14PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
pick up a newspaper.
Nov 8 2009 8:48PM
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eheath
Posts: 61601 - Karma: 123,027
you could have at least upgraded...
Nov 8 2009 9:17PM
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skinnylove
Posts: 6807 - Karma: 167
You have a lot of camera shake/out of focus going on.
Nov 8 2009 10:58PM
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freestyledork
Posts: 345 - Karma: 17
are you saying the xti to the t1i inst an upgrade? that's like saying the 30d to a 50d isn't an upgrade...
Nov 9 2009 1:06AM
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eheath
Posts: 61601 - Karma: 123,027
Well maybe so, but i feel like could stepped up to a 50d or a 40d and bumped out of the rebel series. but that is my very unintelligent opinion, im more of a video than photo guy.
Nov 9 2009 2:26AM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
It was an upgrade, but it wasnt necessary. I feel that until you figure out how to use a camera, you could be use a mark IV or a 1 MP P&S and you would get the exact same result.
Nov 9 2009 8:24AM
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freestyledork
Posts: 345 - Karma: 17
I only upgraded because of the deal I got and my cameras warranty running out. Wanting to use it in the snow makes it more vulnerable to damage. Yes I realize that upgrading isn't going to make me a better photographer and I don't think i ever implied that.  Finally the thread isnt about my switch from an xti to a t1i it was about telling me whats wrong with the photos and how to make them better. So far from what you guys said this is what I got from it.
- Don't even bother if it's not photo journalistic
- Don't shoot macro
- Don't blur anything
- The shot can't be boring


Nov 9 2009 8:48AM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
Try to find some more interesting subjects, walk around the neighborhood a bit.

Definitely set the camera to manual for a bit as you walk around, even manual focus if you're so inclined. This doesn't mean you always have to shoot manual, sometime Av or Tv are best for the situation, but once you've mastered manual all your decisions regarding the camera are a lot easier. Learn about how aperture, ISO, and a shutter speed all affect the final result.

Look up some of the basic rules of photography too. Things like leading lines, composition, getting in close, rule of thirds, etc. There are tons of sites out there with more information than you can possibly read.

Learn how your camera works, learn the basic photography rules, and then break and reinvent them. Have fun and shoot as much as possible.
Nov 9 2009 12:38PM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
Also, I'm not sure about anyone else but what has always drawn me to photo journalism is the control the photographer has over making the shot. Events don't wait for the photographer, and yet they're still able to nail the exposure and the composition during political events, wars, etc with such precision. I don't have the speed for those kinds of images, but I love looking at them in newspapers and such.

If you're ever looking for some inspiration: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/

I have a lot of site bookmarked. Let me know if you want me to point you towards some of them.
Nov 9 2009 12:49PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Lose the negative approach.I never said DONT do anything, just one way in preferred over the other. Go shoot macro if you want, go blur all your shots if you want, hell go take a boring blurred macro shot for all I care.

Shots that tell a story will always be stronger than ones which don't.
Nov 9 2009 2:30PM
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Trent_Palmer
Posts: 226 - Karma: 936
Wow, some definite harsh responses. Hey, we all need to start somewhere and I think you are doing a fine job.

Let me first say that I liked your "macro" style shooting on this, and I will take that as a style choice you made (nothing should really happen by accident) so I dont know about everyone telling you not to do it.

A little color grading could do a lot on these, so what I would do is pick your favorite few and then spend a little time in photoshop doing some tweaking until you got a few you rally like, you'll learn a lot through this.

As for the actual photos:

I personally liked the second shot you have up there, focusing on the reflection is always cool and the negative space you gave with the whole right side out of focus was appealing to me.

Also the last shot was cool to me too. But did make me feel like it should have been framed a little bit more to the right, seems like there is a lot of emphasis on the tools and not the ski (again, that is a personal opinion, and if you felt that you wanted to empasize the tools over the skis then ignore my comment on that.)


Basically dont let any of these comments get you down, sure a lot of people on here are good at this stuff and really know what they are doing, but for every one of those guys there are five others that think they know what they are doing but really just like to put everyone else down. Keep working with it, you'll get it.

Oh, and the T1i is a great little camera, you dont need a super expensive camera to get great shots, so I wouldnt sweat that.


Nov 9 2009 3:14PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Everyone needs to get past the artsy macro phase if they want to actually learn anything about photography.

I think you should just leave this thread where its at, go spend the next 3 days shooting then reply back Friday with new shots in which you've had time to shoot. Then we can  give you a better critique.
Nov 9 2009 9:08PM
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1080ski
Posts: 4424 - Karma: 191
Here ya go.

This one i shot at my schools Woodsman team parents weekend show. I think its photojurnalistic because it shows to the audiance a few things. First, it tells them what the person is doing (cutting wood). The expression on the girls face shows that she is focusing a lot on what she is doing. The umbrellas in the back tell that there is rain, and the people tell that there is a crowd. The photo tells a story.
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this one i like because the expression of the father shows that he is happy/proud at what the kid is showing him (a middle school diploma)
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The first was taken for my schools newspaper, and the second was taken for a local paper at home this summer.
Nov 9 2009 9:51PM
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freestyledork
Posts: 345 - Karma: 17
This is a shot on full manual settings with a flash. I took it at a work party last night...

Thoughts?

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Nov 15 2009 5:03PM
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1080ski
Posts: 4424 - Karma: 191
I like it! I would crop in closer to the action so there isnt so much space with nothing there. Much better than round one though.
Nov 15 2009 9:36PM
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michelle
Posts: 6290 - Karma: 428
Everyone needs to start somewhere if they want to learn anything about fucking anything, give the guy a break.

Anyways, I think your shots are composed nicely, I don't see the big fuss over your pictures. You were just messing with your new camera, everyone does it. And honestly, with what you bought the camera for (not trying to go out there and sell in galleries and everything), I think your choice in equipment was perfect. You can do awesome stuff with the T1i. (Claim, but fuck it) I've done over a dozen juried shows with my Rebel XTI, so anyone saying the Rebels aren't decent bodies are way off. You just need to know how to get everything you can out of it, which just takes time and practice. If you just wanted a nice camera to shoot your friends and daily shenanigans, you've got it. And if you want to push your skills and try to make money or show your work, you still have the right camera.

Go out, do your thing, and get critique (if that's what you want) outside of Media and Arts. Try and get an invite to the Photography Cult, or check out other forums/websites for photography.



Nov 15 2009 11:05PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
...and there goes your argument.

We are not being dicks to the guy, he asked everyone for their opinion and they gave it to him. How can he expect (not that Im saying he was) a good critique with some shots "he just messed around with." I don't into my classes with work I was just playing with and ask for a critique, I walk in after looking through everyone of my images, select which ones I like, and then form my opinion on what I did well, and what I could do better, then ask for others opinion.
Now, he did what I asked him to do (..sorta, spend more time with the camera and get back with some new shots) and look what happened, he captured quite a moment. Its not composed very well, the lighting is flat, but its still better than his first.

OG poster, zoom in or crop in, I suggest zoom. Tight action shots can be money. As far as flashes go, those are a whole nother beast. I suggest trying to shoot in natural lighting as much as you can until you are fully comfortable shooting on manual, and understanding and correcting the meter.
Nov 15 2009 11:46PM
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dergblerp
Posts: 1303 - Karma: 77
I don' think anyone's saying that the rebels are bad bodies.  Most who replied are just confused as to why someone would upgrade from an xti to a t1i, especially without a decent understanding of the xti to begin with.
Nov 15 2009 11:51PM
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