Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
04-10-2012, 08:47 PM   #1
Pentaxian
Sage97's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2012
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,237
Absolute Beginner - consider yourself warned!
Lens: Pentax 18-55 kit lens Camera: K5 Photo Location: Texas Aperture: F5.6 

Absolutely no idea what I am doing (as you can immediately see) but thought I'd start taking pictures and work with the trial version of Lightroom 4. I know they're worthless compared to all the pics posted on here but its the best pics I've ever taken so that's a huge improvement for me. All C&C welcome.

Let's see if this works.






Last edited by Sage97; 04-10-2012 at 08:57 PM.
04-10-2012, 08:51 PM   #2
Pentaxian
SpecialK's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: So California
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 16,479
Not a bad start :-) It's easy to fall into the habit of centering your subject. For #1, I'd crop off the left side with the bright area, and some of the top or bottom for balance. It's a bit soft to start with, and cropping won't help that, but it will give a better composition.

For #2, the centered subject works well, especially because the petals lead in from the corners.

Last edited by SpecialK; 04-10-2012 at 09:51 PM.
04-10-2012, 09:01 PM   #3
Pentaxian
Sage97's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2012
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,237
Original Poster
SpecialK,

Fantastic advice. Thanks very much.

Any thoughts on "unsoftening" (hehe) my next pics? Do I need to keep working on camera settings or PP?
04-10-2012, 09:21 PM   #4
MSL
Pentaxian
MSL's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Greater Toronto Area
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 4,718
The second picture is far from worthless. Hard to know whether you need to play more with PP or not, since I don't have a sense of how much you have tinkered with the image. But even as is, it is a good shot.

The first one, when cropped as SpecialK suggested will look a lot better. On the assumption that you can go back to the tree and shoot again, you might want to try a bunch of angles, everything from face on to the leaves, to completely side on. That will give you a sense of how composition affects an image, before you worry about PP aspects, and it should be easy enough to take these shots. Also, depending on the time of day, you may have to worry about shadows, which is another variable that comes into play when setting up a shot.

04-10-2012, 09:56 PM   #5
Pentaxian
SpecialK's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: So California
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 16,479
QuoteOriginally posted by Sage97 Quote
Any thoughts on "unsoftening" (hehe) my next pics? Do I need to keep working on camera settings or PP?
I think you will find a better lens will help immensely on that point. You don't have to run out and get one right now, but you could snoop around the marketplace here on the forum for a Sigma or Tamron 17-50 f2.8 or a Sigma 17-70 (various versions). They are all pretty sharp. They run maybe $350.
04-10-2012, 10:04 PM   #6
MSL
Pentaxian
MSL's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Greater Toronto Area
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 4,718
QuoteOriginally posted by Sage97 Quote
Any thoughts on "unsoftening" (hehe) my next pics? Do I need to keep working on camera settings or PP?

Well in addition to my previous suggestion, you can also put the camera into either Av or P mode, and then shoot the same scene using a range of aperture settings. That will guide you as to whether this lens can be made sharp enough, or if you need to go shopping. I find the kit lens a useful tool for its focal length range, but it isn't my go to lens when I want to shoot specific scenes. Having said all that, though, I'm quite impressed that you got image #2 out of the kit lens, and I think you are already off to a flying start.
04-11-2012, 08:10 AM   #7
Pentaxian
Sage97's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2012
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,237
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by SpecialK Quote
I think you will find a better lens will help immensely on that point. You don't have to run out and get one right now, but you could snoop around the marketplace here on the forum for a Sigma or Tamron 17-50 f2.8 or a Sigma 17-70 (various versions). They are all pretty sharp. They run maybe $350.
Awesome. Window shopping is fun. Really appreciate the suggestions.

04-11-2012, 08:16 AM   #8
Pentaxian
Sage97's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2012
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,237
Original Poster
QuoteOriginally posted by MSL Quote
Well in addition to my previous suggestion, you can also put the camera into either Av or P mode, and then shoot the same scene using a range of aperture settings. That will guide you as to whether this lens can be made sharp enough, or if you need to go shopping. I find the kit lens a useful tool for its focal length range, but it isn't my go to lens when I want to shoot specific scenes. Having said all that, though, I'm quite impressed that you got image #2 out of the kit lens, and I think you are already off to a flying start.
I'll try to reshoot after work today and experiment with these modes. Newbie comment - I'll study more on "focal length range" to understand your statement a bit more. I am actually auditioning and comparing the Nikon D7000 and the K5. They are both really good and I could either way. I will have to make a decision soon.

Really appreciate the encouragement. I never thought I'd enjoy taking pictures as much as I am enjoying it now. I haven't played guitar (my number passion) a couple weeks now. When I get a little better, my beloved guitars will be my next subjects!
04-11-2012, 08:29 AM   #9
MSL
Pentaxian
MSL's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Greater Toronto Area
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 4,718
QuoteOriginally posted by Sage97 Quote
I'll try to reshoot after work today and experiment with these modes. Newbie comment - I'll study more on "focal length range" to understand your statement a bit more. I am actually auditioning and comparing the Nikon D7000 and the K5. They are both really good and I could either way. I will have to make a decision soon.

Really appreciate the encouragement. I never thought I'd enjoy taking pictures as much as I am enjoying it now. I haven't played guitar (my number passion) a couple weeks now. When I get a little better, my beloved guitars will be my next subjects!

If you look at film cameras or full frame digital cameras a 50mm lens was the standard focal length - it is good for shooting in many situations from taking portraits if you are up close, to landscapes and architecture if you have enough room to step back. Shorter than that are you start to get into wide angle lenses, and bigger than that (85-100 mm and up) you get into short telelphoto to longer telephoto.

On an APS-C sensor there is a crop factor, so that a 50mm lens is like shooting a 75mm lens on a full frame camera. So the 18-55 kit lens (which most people will tell you is a lot better than the kit lenses other companies bundle with their cameras) works out to a focal range of 27- 82.5. This lets you cover most urban situations, and so gives you a lot of flexibility in your compositions. When I tried to take pictures of my kids at a playground using a 50 or 55 mm lens, I found I had to step back too much to capture them.

Hope this clarifies things.
04-11-2012, 06:56 PM   #10
Pentaxian
Sage97's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2012
Photos: Albums
Posts: 3,237
Original Poster
Yes it does make sense. Thanks very much for taking the time to explain.

A friend at work asked me if the K5 was FF and I said yes even though I was clueless. I'll tell him tomorrow its not.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
critique, photography, pics
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Absolute #1 lens for a newb? Irish Pride Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 81 01-08-2012 05:39 AM
Absolute Beginner Needs Help With Necessities. I am about to buy a Kx. :) Thanks. marea Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 37 08-10-2011 02:27 AM
Absolute first thoughts: DA35/2.8 limited John Araki Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 4 05-08-2011 11:39 AM
The absolute moron's guide... Nesster General Talk 16 04-11-2011 07:45 AM
you have been warned.. ;) jeffkrol General Talk 28 09-14-2010 10:02 AM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 04:19 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top