this is my first set of shots trying to learn the new camera. very hard to get anyone in the family to let me take shots. the dog even ran away.

The composition doesn't work. The feet are cut off and the brickwork is running through their bodies and the blond girls head. Really need to see faces. Maybe if you stood and shot down at them. ?

First shot == learning, so not a bad shot considering. I agree with Frog that it has a lot of technical problems that I won't bother to mention yet, but I do see a great angle here that I will, maybe moving to the right, zooming in, and getting only their heads and the fire behind them. Perhaps for Xmas Eve.

G

thanks for the replies. i can't get anyone in the family to take time out of there day to look at the camera. like i said even the dog won't look. i am trying to figure te camera out. i just started to hang xmas lights will finish this week. here i tried to get them clear but could not do it. tried different settings but this is the clearest i got them.

ehm.. not to sharp, i dont like the composition of those girl.

What was your aperture and shutter speed on the shot of the lights?
Probably too slow.
With your 70-200 vr or your 50 mm 1.4 you should be able to get those hand held I think but could be wrong. If not you'll need to use the tripod.
Tell us what settings you were using.
Have you seen the digitutor for the d300?

my cleanest shot was with f/16 1.3. tried a lot of combo's shot about 60 shots. f2.2 1/100 was getting worse. i don't know what a digitutor is but i am going to look it up now. but i went outside and from the street the lights don't look clear even to the naked eye. i wonder maybe it is misty or not that clear out.

thanks

misty could be... I doubt anyone could get a sharp shot at f/16 and 1.3 seconds handheld so don't know why it is your cleanest shot.
Look in the Nikon forums and the link to the digitutors is a sticky there.
I used it for my d80 a lot at first and still do on ocassion.

sorry about that, camera was on a tripod with remote cable. wish i was steady like a surgeon.

thanks

ok......if on a tripod it was probably the mist in the air.

well i guess i can only hope it is the mist. thanks again for the help