[hollywoodhr]

Hi everyone, i would also like to thank Helena for starting this thread and to all that have contributed so far, ive had my KR for approx. 2 years and other than shooting in auto and P modes on trips away ive never tried to explore what is possible until the other day when i was off work for the day and discovered this thread and started taking pics from the advice given, downloading, taking more pics and so on and now i have a far better understanding of the basics so thanks again for getting me started as well

Darren

I'm glad this thread has helped you too!

[weijen]

If it's not too late, I'll add that dull hazy weather tends to sap a lot of sharpness and contrast from a photograph - since I noticed many of the photos are taken during heavy overcasts. Try to snap during the bright sunny season, I'm sure the results are easily pleasing.

[timmijo]

I'll second that. As a photographer, I am mesmerized by a hazy, foggy, misty outdoor scene and would like to master photographing it. I think there are many beautiful things in the world that photography cannot fully capture. But we try.

[hollywoodhr]

Hey!


I went out and took some photos of a friend of mine. I don't I guess they are fine... But still the edges are soft, imo.





Filename - IMGP4938.jpg
Make - PENTAX
Model - PENTAX K-r
Orientation - Top left
XResolution - 300
YResolution - 300
ResolutionUnit - Inch
Software - PENTAX Digital Camera Utility Ver. 4.30
DateTime - 2012:12:10 19:23:11
Artist -
YCbCrPositioning - Co-Sited
Copyright -
ExifOffset - 286
ExposureTime - 1/80 seconds
FNumber - 8.00
ExposureProgram - Aperture priority
ISOSpeedRatings - 800
ExifVersion - 0221
DateTimeOriginal - 2012:12:10 13:34:40
DateTimeDigitized - 2012:12:10 13:34:40
ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
ExposureBiasValue - 1.30
MeteringMode - Center weighted average
Flash - Flash not fired, compulsory flash mode
FocalLength - 35.00 mm
FlashPixVersion - 0100
ColorSpace - sRGB
ExifImageWidth - 4288
ExifImageHeight - 2848
InteroperabilityOffset - 30754
SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
CustomRendered - Normal process
ExposureMode - Manual
White Balance - Auto
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 52 mm
SceneCaptureType - Standard
Contrast - Hard
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Hard
SubjectDistanceRange - Close view

GPS information: -
GPSVersionID - 2.3.0.0

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Mode - Auto
Quality - Good
ISO - 800
White Balance - Auto
Lens Type - smc PENTAX-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL II

Thumbnail: -
Compression - 6 (JPG)
XResolution - 72
YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
JpegIFOffset - 30896
JpegIFByteCount - 7695






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ComponentsConfiguration - YCbCr
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MeteringMode - Center weighted average
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FlashPixVersion - 0100
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ExifImageWidth - 2848
ExifImageHeight - 4288
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SensingMethod - One-chip color area sensor
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White Balance - Auto
FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 49 mm
SceneCaptureType - Standard
Contrast - Hard
Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Hard
SubjectDistanceRange - Close view

GPS information: -
GPSVersionID - 2.3.0.0

Maker Note (Vendor): -
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Quality - Good
ISO - 800
White Balance - Auto
Lens Type - smc PENTAX-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL II

Thumbnail: -
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YResolution - 72
ResolutionUnit - Inch
JpegIFOffset - 34074
JpegIFByteCount - 5560






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FocalLengthIn35mmFilm - 49 mm
SceneCaptureType - Portrait
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Saturation - Normal
Sharpness - Normal
SubjectDistanceRange - Close view

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GPSVersionID - 2.3.0.0

Maker Note (Vendor): -
Mode - Auto
Quality - Good
ISO - 200
White Balance - Auto
Lens Type - smc PENTAX-DA 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 AL II

Thumbnail: -
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I tried adding noise to one of the pictures, when I photoshopped them, and well, I guess the result was better... This is just a random edit, so she could pick out her favorite.



This evening I tried chaning the ISO level, maybe that would make a difference, too. I never really liked noise on photos, but I've looked at many and it's not that bad





Well, these two are macroshots, which usually turn out the way I want. It's the, umm. I don't know what they're called, the overall thing. I posted these just because...

Mainly, I used Av mode, but there were photos that I shot in P mode, though I'm not sure if they're here too.

---

Last edited by hollywoodhr; 12-30-2012 at 08:01 PM.

[musings]

hollywoodhr,

They do seem a bit soft. What sort of post processing are you doing to the images, or are these the jpgs from the camera with whatever processing happens in it?

I did a little bit of PP to the first image - boost the saturation and contrast a little, apply a slight 'S' to the curves to and a small amount of sharpening. It has a bit more zip than your image and more sharpness.

Regards, Gary

[musings]

I've done similar PP for another 2 of your images.They have a bit more life and colour:

Regards, Gary

[hollywoodhr]

These are converted from PEF to JPG, in the Pentax umm, processing program that came with the camera. I haven't edited them in any other ways.

[JimJohnson]

Heavy overcast with falling snow makes for very soft light. Yes you can punch such photos up in PP such as shown by musings. Personally, I'm slightly more in favor of the original softer portraits.

What part of the world was the snow falling? I live in one of those few non-mountainous areas in the continental U.S. where snowfall is a fact of life for nearly six months of the year (we average 20+ feet of snowfall each year) - but it seems not much of the country has snow right now, at least at the lower elevations.

[newmikey]

These are converted from PEF to JPG, in the Pentax umm, processing program that came with the camera. I haven't edited them in any other ways.

I happen to think that they look fine this time, your settings make sense and out come these images which are a perfect base for further processing. You chose to shoot raw and straight (automatic) raw conversion may sometimes seem a little soft but there is lots of detail waiting for a bit of unsharp masking there.

I think you did really well here

[hollywoodhr]

What part of the world was the snow falling?

That would be Estonia

I think you did really well here

Thank you!

[JimJohnson]

That would be Estonia

Okay, that makes sense. Estonia is 59 degrees north and subject to snowfall from the sea to its immediate west. It makes winter conditions similar to my part of the world near the center of Lake Superior - with one exception. This time of year sunlight at its brightest is like late afternoon here at 47 degrees north. Especially with overcast skies, the light is very soft. Personally, I think you used this light very effectively.

[hollywoodhr]

Okay, that makes sense. Estonia is 59 degrees north and subject to snowfall from the sea to its immediate west. It makes winter conditions similar to my part of the world near the center of Lake Superior - with one exception. This time of year sunlight at its brightest is like late afternoon here at 47 degrees north. Especially with overcast skies, the light is very soft. Personally, I think you used this light very effectively.

Wow, thank you!

[NS_Sailor]

Do you have a Flash other than the pop up flash in the camera? I've found that the flash, even outside, does wonders to improve exposure in overcast and shadowed conditions.

[hollywoodhr]

Do you have a Flash other than the pop up flash in the camera? I've found that the flash, even outside, does wonders to improve exposure in overcast and shadowed conditions.

No, I don't have a flash

[NS_Sailor]

Outside lenses a good flash is a good investment but remember if you buy a flash make sure it is made for the camera because the camera communicates and controls the flash to control the amount of extra light needed.
The pop up flash also works well but it's range is limited and the light is very sharp.
There is a lot of excellent advice in this thread but don't forget to have fun experimenting with the camera, you will be amazed at what you can achieve. I started playing with cameras many years ago and I'm still having fun experimenting and trying different things. The best advantage to digital is you don't have to wait to see the results