My first photografic adventure.Closeups

[undo83]

Hello to everybody !!! I've read almost all recent threads and learned alot from your techniques. As you can guess, i'm new to photography. I purchased a digital SLR ... yesterday... and today i took about 250 photos... Please give me some advices on the photos i've uploaded. I have an EOS 350D with 18-55... i heard that 17-40L is more adequate for closeups. Can you raughly explain me what 18-55 means and what 17-40L . Please tell me what do you think about my first photos.

[mtbbrian]

Welcome to PR.com.
I can't explain to you the differeneces between the two lens, I shoot film still.
As far as your photos go I think the last one is the better of the three.
Placing the chain the way you did and focusing on it, make it a better photograph.
Make sure you check at all of the forums at least once, there is a lot of knowledge here.
Brian

[almo]

As far as your lenses go the 18-55mm is equv to 28.8-88mm, and the 17-40L is equv. to 27.2-64mm. This means that they both have wide to medium angles of view.

The L on the 17-40 is the Canon mark for pro lenses. It retails for around $850-$1000.



Hope this helps.

[mjs1973]

Welcome to the forum! Very nice first posts also. I like the concept of the first photo, but the composition isn't doing much for me. Not sure what I would do to make it better tho. I like the third image the best. I like how the chain is in sharp focus, and fades away...

As for the lenses... As Almo said, the L series of lenses by Canon or considered pro lenses, and can get pretty expensive. They are built a lot better than the consumer grade kit lenses like the EF-S 18-55mm that you got with your new camera. The L series lenses are generally sharper, and just much better built than the kit lenses. That being said, do I think you need to get a new lens, not at all. The EF-S 18-55mm is one of my biggest work horses. I find that it gets the job done quite well most of the time and I think it will do what you want it to do. As for the numbers on the less, 18-55mm, that is the distance from (if I remember correctly) the center point of the front element of the lens to the film plane inside the camera. Since you are shooting digital, it is the distance to your cameras digital imaging sensor. The smaller the number, the wider the lens. The larger the number the greater the "zoom". Not sure if that's the right word to use...

As far as what Almo said: " As far as your lenses go the 18-55mm is equv to 28.8-88mm, and the 17-40L is equv. to 27.2-64mm." This is a result of the sensor in your camea being smaller than a 35mm film negative. Since your sensor is a bit smaller than the film, what you see in your view finder is a bit smaller than what you would see if you put the same from your camera on a film camera.

I hope this makes sense.

[chuckmoser]

Hey. Nice shots. I love rusty old industrial things.
Personally, I like the second one... however, it seems a little overexposed in the background. The chain is just about right. I'm thinking you may really benefit from a polarizing filter. (about $25) It would probably turn that sky blue back there. I'm thinking if there was something more to the background it would give it a little more depth.

Nice job!
-Chuck

[jar_e]

Nice first shots, and welcome to the boards.

All of them, the DOF is interesting, though very shallow, I think it works. The chain one is very nice.

Nice shooting,

Jared

[undo83]

Thanks for all your comments!!! I will think about the polarizing filter (and i will read more about what it does . Anyway, in the background there was the lake, and the sky. I'll go now to continue my photographic adventure on the lakes of northern italy

[chuckmoser]

I think you'll love it. It basically removes sunglare and some UV rays... really brings out blue sky, takes the glare off of plant leaves and can remove reflections from glass and water. The best effect is if the sun is at 3 or 9 o'clock. (directly to the left or right of you) I like the circular polarizers that screw onto the end of your lens so you don't have to carry around adapters and stuff. It darkens the shot a couple of stops, but you can turn the polarizer to get the full effect, a little or none.

Good luck,
Chuck

[undo83]

are there different models? is there a particular link of a model that will fit well on my EOS 350D? thanks.

[chuckmoser]

You know, I picked mine up at a local camera store for my 300D. They're pretty common. I believe you'll want the 58mm one to fit your lens. Look at the front of the lens and it will tell you what the "screw-in" filter size is.
I just use the Quantaray filter. It's a generic brand, but works just fine. If I ever decide to spend $800 on a brand new lens, I'll think about upgrading to the brand-name version.

-Chuck

[mdmc]

undo183,
I would like to reccomend to you a book that is very good and also cheap.
Michael Langford basic 35mm photography. it's less than $30 and covers all of the basics.
It is easy to read and understand.
Mark.