Nothing like a new camera to make you feel smart as a box of rocks!

:rolleye2:

Wow! SO much to learn! Still so much of just the basics to figure out. It's frustrating, because I'm a bit obsessive about being "good" at whatever I put my hand to....and this just makes me feel so dumb! LOL But, I do realize it's a learning process, and will take lots and lots of practice. Just need to figure out the best way TO practice. There's gotta be a better way than just pointing at stuff and getting frustrated at fuzzy pictures! :please:

My models were exceptionally uncooperative...well, except for the dead tree...that one didn't try to run out of the frame. :rofl: I took a whole bunch of pictures....and out of all of them, only these turned out worth sharing. (And the last two are the same picture, just different crops)

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...000/Mira-1.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...000/Mira-2.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...00/spencer.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...000/tree-1.jpg

http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x...000/tree-2.jpg

Comments and advice welcomed!!

I completely understand! I am very tech minded and I just got a new cam too. I was trying to take videos and I couldn't figure out how until I watched a you tube video!

They look good. I like # 2.

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Originally Posted by ama1997

They look good. I like # 2.

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Thanks...that was her finally giving up and realizing I wasn't going to let her escape from the big black eye that kept staring her down. :rolleyes: She really hates cameras!

The pics aren't that bad!! New cameras always take a little bit of practice. I would definitely like to see some more photos of BPs LOL, and you get to practice even more!:D:P

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Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany

The pics aren't that bad!! New cameras always take a little bit of practice. I would definitely like to see some more photos of BPs LOL, and you get to practice even more!:D:P

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I'll definitely be practicing with the snakes! Used two of them today, and out of all the pictures, only that one was remotely decent. Also need to figure out how to set them up in a good light situation where they can't escape. I've got so many pictures of a nicely focused body with a blurry head and neck zipping out of the picture! :rofl:

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Originally Posted by JLC

I'll definitely be practicing with the snakes! Used two of them today, and out of all the pictures, only that one was remotely decent. Also need to figure out how to set them up in a good light situation where they can't escape. I've got so many pictures of a nicely focused body with a blurry head and neck zipping out of the picture! :rofl:

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The flash on the camera works, but if you can get the flash off camera. ( dont want to get in trouble. The flash on the camera now does not come off) You will be amazed an the difference. Nikon makes a cool little flash the sb400 its cheap, you will have to buy a cable to get the flash off your camera. Not sure if it comes with a defuser or not, but they are cheap too. I hardly ever use the flash, I like the natural light thing myself.

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Originally Posted by ama1997

The flash on the camera works, but if you can get the flash off camera. ( dont want to get in trouble. The flash on the camera now does not come off) You will be amazed an the difference. Nikon makes a cool little flash the sb400 its cheap, you will have to buy a cable to get the flash off your camera. Not sure if it comes with a defuser or not, but they are cheap too. I hardly ever use the flash, I like the natural light thing myself.

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Yeah, I prefer natural light as well. I've always hated the effects I got with the flash on my old camera. When at all possible, I will try to work with what light I have or find ways to add light before using the flash. Once I get all these other basics down, I'll look into an external flash. (And don't worry, I won't try to yank the onboard flash off the camera! :P )

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Originally Posted by JLC

I'll definitely be practicing with the snakes! Used two of them today, and out of all the pictures, only that one was remotely decent. Also need to figure out how to set them up in a good light situation where they can't escape. I've got so many pictures of a nicely focused body with a blurry head and neck zipping out of the picture! :rofl:

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LOL isn't it annoying when snakes just can't sit still for just 5 seconds?:rolleyes::rofl:

Also if you do get some really good photos, I recommend trying out GIMP. I downloaded it off of a website (it'll pop up if you just type in GIMP on Google or whatever search engine you use) and I use it to level out the White Balance for all of my photos I take with my camera.

It truly does make a huge difference if the White Balance on your camera is a bit off or the lighting in the room changed the White Balance of the photo. I could post some pics for an example if you'd like of a before and after. I'm also going to take new photos of everything in the reptile room this week so I'm definitely using GIMP to White Balance the photos.

Judy I'm glad you got your camera. I know how excited you were about it. I would reccomend using your flash until you are more familiar with the cameras functions.

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Originally Posted by JLC

I've got so many pictures of a nicely focused body with a blurry head and neck zipping out of the picture! :rofl:

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Just remember smaller aperture will give you more detailed shots and the higher shutter speed will help with blurring though you will have to sacrifice one somewhat to gain the other. I would recomend trying to mess around with it on manual settings so you can get a better feel for it.


Did you figure out how to use the auto focus points yet? If not look that up in your manual this will help you out on those shots where the body is in focus but not the head.