Camera Labs

Try and avoid the use of zoom. Use your feet instead!

As soon as you use zoom on a compact you start introducing noise. Your best results will be at your widest setting.

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Canon 550D, Canon EFS 17-85 IS USM, Canon EF 75-300 IS USM, Canon EFS 10-22mm USM, Canon EF35mm F2.

Got some of the gear but really still no idea...

Yep, sorry. I was looking at the trees in the picture before mine and was thinking that it was surprising that the picture looked so much like home, considering that it would be hard to find two places further apart on the earth while still having trees (If it had been taken in New Zealand, it would have been past that "1/2 way around the world point") I posted it for comparison purposes only, but never stated that. Everything is wrong with my last picture - and I should have stated that in my first post. It was on automatic settings, using a digital zoom, handheld in a moving vehicle (probably even had a dirty lens...) and was poorly edited. My only redeeming quality here is that now I KNOW that it was a poor picture, and how to avoid it in the future. 4xxxx had a really good point, and I did read the link he provided (before he posted it actually.) The picture before mine was a good picture, and deserves the attention.
My apologies to Steve for stealing his thunder...

X

X your pic is also quite good! Don't get us wrong! As we keep saying you have an eye for a good pic ! Worthy of posting but as you are now realising the camera you are using has limitations. The limitations can be overcome if you know how.

As you can see from some of my compact shots, the canon power shot I use is a sub $200 compact, it too has limitations.

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Canon 550D, Canon EFS 17-85 IS USM, Canon EF 75-300 IS USM, Canon EFS 10-22mm USM, Canon EF35mm F2.

Got some of the gear but really still no idea...

X, no need to apologise for anything, now you have realised digital zoom is not to good your shots should be better. I'm not sure about Robs comment about being wide open in daylight as I think things will turn out a little over exposed which was my experience with a compact and my camera now..

I would suggest shooting outside your house for a test and use auto and then a few more of the same scene using different setting, On the PC you can look at the exif’s and see what settings are best for that particular light.

Many believe using auto does not make them a phototog, there's nothing wrong with auto and cameras now days shoot pretty good images with this setting. It’s not a bad learning tool if you look at the exifs . I park my camera on P mode which is like auto for that chance shot that you just need to fire off. and have got what I think are good shots. This one was a shot on P mode, got a few shots off before it was gone.

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=8854&p=258197#p258197

Keep Shooting as you have great scenery up there.

Cheers

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Nikon D7000, D40X, Nikkor 18- 200 VR II, f3.5-5.6, 70-300 AF non VR, Kit Lenses.

Yep should have clarified I meant wide as in 28mm which is typical of most compacts on their normal setting.. I think..it would be stopped down to about f3-f5 at this...

Ie ignore the zoom!

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Canon 550D, Canon EFS 17-85 IS USM, Canon EF 75-300 IS USM, Canon EFS 10-22mm USM, Canon EF35mm F2.

Got some of the gear but really still no idea...

Thanks everyone and Happy New Year!
I drove out to Lake Michigan yesterday to see how much ice was on the Lake so far. The harbor is almost completely closed now. This is one of my favorite pictures from yesterday, even though it is not completely level (I was having trouble seeing the screen.) I've been busy working with new settings. Please feel free to point out anything you'd change. I liked the colors on this one - editing was limited to resizing and a slight crop. Canon Powershot SX 150 IS (TV, 1/800 sec., ISO 80, f 4.5, full sun, handheld)

Algoma Harbor Light:

nice shot ! well framed and good subject matter. Only change, (minor, minor issue (which is a bug bear of mine !) is level up the photo and make the lighthouse straighten up just a tad (minniscule amount) ! and level up the horizon. This way the lake doesnt drain out)..

much sharper and clearer shot !

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Canon 550D, Canon EFS 17-85 IS USM, Canon EF 75-300 IS USM, Canon EFS 10-22mm USM, Canon EF35mm F2.

Got some of the gear but really still no idea...

i should read the post as well as look at the photo !

level up the photo in post processing.. i never really get a level photo when i shoot so i always start by leveling and cropping to suit.

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Canon 550D, Canon EFS 17-85 IS USM, Canon EF 75-300 IS USM, Canon EFS 10-22mm USM, Canon EF35mm F2.

Got some of the gear but really still no idea...

Great shot! It does look a tiny bit unleveled but you did a pretty good job

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Gear: Canon SX20 IS, Canon Rebel T3i, Canon EF-S 18-55mm
Wishlist: Canon 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II
Visit me and leave me a comment in My Flickr

Thanks! You guys are gold! I didn't realize leveling up was even an option. Rob, I know you tried to tell me before, but I didn't GET IT until now. I knew how to rotate, crop, and resize, but now I know how to level, too. I won't make that mistake again (I can't stand having a picture slightly "off" either- I'm the kind who will go through public buildings like hospitals and straighten the pictures on the walls.)
I fixed it, but now photobucket is acting up and I can't post the better picture here, but thanks for the comments. When I can, I will edit the other post with a leveled picture.

X, I agree with Rob’s comment. I don’t know why but I have developed a habit of not shooting the horizon level, if I'm not posting it anywhere I leave it. What software are you using for PP

I did say your camera can produce better shots and now you have proved it.


Cheers

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Nikon D7000, D40X, Nikkor 18- 200 VR II, f3.5-5.6, 70-300 AF non VR, Kit Lenses.

Thanks 4xxxx. Right now I am using photobucket for editing and posting. I knew the camera was capable of more too, I just didn't know then how to GET everything I could out of it. (I tend to learn best by doing.) I've completely changed how I take pictures with that camera in the past few weeks. I'd rather spend my time taking pictures than editing them, so I have to become a better photographer.

This is from when I'd only been shooting for a few months (sep 2011).


Riverbank by stevejwphoto, on Flickr

Nice shot

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Gear: Canon SX20 IS, Canon Rebel T3i, Canon EF-S 18-55mm
Wishlist: Canon 50mm f/1.8 II, Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS II
Visit me and leave me a comment in My Flickr

I love the sky on that one. What camera were you using for that picture, and what settings were you using? It looks like a beautiful spot! You are definately a faster leaner than I am.