Newbie here:

[wjb]

Hello All,

My name is Wallace, and I've been lurking in the background for a few months now. I've been wanting to make my first post worthwhile to all, and this morning I had the chance to capture some images I'd like to share:

I have recently made the switch from a Panasonic Lumix FZ50 to my first DSLR; the Nikon D90. It has been a steep learning curve, but I'm starting to see some results in the photos that I couldn't have imagined in the Lumix. For example:

I was pretty impressed with this, as it was shot at ISO 3200!


Pre-dawn in Toronto:


Noisy, yes. But perfectly acceptable to me given the pre-dawn light and fact they were hand-held.

Daybreak:


The reason for my switch to the DSLR, was my fascination with nature and particularly birds. My Panasonic really struggled to keep up, and I have never caught images like these before...

All shot at with Shutter Priority, ISO 200 (or so) with an 18-200 VR lens. Cropped:













The following are un-cropped:







I was happy to finally capture some of these somewhat elusive subjects, and am eagerly anticipating the migration season as it gets into full swing... If any experienced photographers have any comments and constructive critcism they are welcome and would be much appreciated.

Thanks for looking,
Wallace

[Eric D]

Welcome to the forum first of all! Very nice photo series. i especially like the first 3 the best. Look forward to seeing more.......

[SARtech]

WELCOME Wallace!
I love the daybreak shot and those are the funniest looking ducks I have ever seen! What kind are they?

Kristine

[AgingEyes]

I think the eighth one from top - with two birds in flight - has potential to be good looking. You may want to do some post-processing, especially if you are not shooting jpeg.

Welcome aboard !

[wjb]

Thanks, Kristine

The ducks are "Old Squaw" (I believe) and they are funny indeed... But aren't all ducks!

Best,
Wallace

[wjb]

Thanks, AE.

I am shooting in JPEG (fine resolution) and trying to work on getting used to the camera / lens setup before I'll be tackling NEF format and post-processing. As it stands right now, I haven't even explored the possibilities of Photoshop, and am not sure I agree (in principle) with extensive digital manipulation of photographs. I'd prefer to work towards capturing the images as I see them and how they are presented to me rather than re-creating / enhancing a scene.

I was quite happy (thrilled) to finally capture some birds-in-flight for the first time, and am looking forward to leaning more about exposure etc... as I delve further into the hobby.

Best,
Wallace

[Martin Brazil]

Hi Wallace, your going to love your new camera and pretty soon wonder why you ever wasted your time with the point and shoot. I was in much the same position as you a year or so ago and this forum has helped me improve my shots no end. I liked your third duck shot with the single duck taking off or landing.
Did you get yourself any lenses to go with your camera. I bought my 70-300mm vibration reduction zoom lens when I got my camera and it is great for shooting birds and animals.

[wjb]

Thanks, for the welcome, Eric.

I was pretty happy with the first three, too. I can't believe that I can have something useful at ISO 3200!

Best,
Wallace

[SARtech]

I wanted to share something with you...
You said: "I'd prefer to work towards capturing the images as I see them and how they are presented to me rather than re-creating / enhancing a scene."

I am new to DSLR also. I've had mine for only about 2 months now. Before the excellent tips I received from the folks in here on metering, shooting in RAW and using manual, I shot the below photo of a hawk. The first is how it came out with no PP (post production) and definitely NOT how the raptor actually looked to my eyes as I shot him. The second shot looks how he actually looked to me. Problem is, the camera exposed for the sky behind him.

In the Robin shot, which I took yesterday, granted its a little messy from cropping, but his shadowed side of his face disappeared so I just selected that part and lightened it a bit so it again, looked how he actually looked to me through the lens. I also saturated the color a bit to match his color richness at the time.

I agree with you that I prefer it to look like it did when I shot it, but occasionally shots need help to get that way!

Kristine

[Jaedon]

Hi there and welcome to PR. Looks like you had a fun time visiting the Leslie Street Spit. (Tommy Thompson Park) It's nice to see more people form my local area on here finally.

You did a nice job on capturing what you saw out there. I know there are sometimes so many things to shoot you don't know which way to look.

I really like the colours in the first shot. Nice job sillhouetting the tree. The "duck" shots are much nicer than mine.. I am jealous. Keep shooting and have fun..... maybe one of these days we'll actually have a Toronto/Ontario PR meet and shoot together one day.

[wjb]

Thanks, for the encouraging words Martin.

I purchased the 18-200 VR lens as a starting point, with an eye towards some fast-glass telephotos as my interest increases and my skills improve.

Best,
Wallace

[wjb]

Kristine,

Thanks for taking the time to explain / demonstrate the effects of PP. I feel that my images (as posted) could benefit from proper metering and / or some PP to compensate thereafter. The images that you posted were very helpful to me, and also have helped to clarify some other questions I was having about metering and exposure. Thank you.

I look forward to reading your posts as you progress in the hobby, too!

Best,
Wallace

[wjb]

Hey, Jaedon!

Nice to meet another GTA-er!

Thanks for the greeting and comments. I'll be looking out for your posts with interest in future, and maybe we can share some local hot-spots for photo opportunities... The 'Spit is a favorite destination ;-)

Best,
Wallace

[AgingEyes]

I am shooting in JPEG (fine resolution) and trying to work on getting used to the camera / lens setup before I'll be tackling NEF format and post-processing. As it stands right now, I haven't even explored the possibilities of Photoshop, and am not sure I agree (in principle) with extensive digital manipulation of photographs. I'd prefer to work towards capturing the images as I see them and how they are presented to me rather than re-creating / enhancing a scene.

I'm not talking about re-creating the scene, extensive digital manipulation here. Unless you're converting a raw file to jpeg and nothing more done to the file, chances are your camera is doing the post-processing for you. Did you select from the camera menu some settings on noise reduction, color, sharpening, contrast, d-lighting, etc.? If so you are doing what some of us who shoot raw and then have the files processed in Photoshop do. Only that the camera is doing it for you and we do it ourselves out of the camera. Besides, even in the film days, people enhanced, adjust, control brightness/contrast, merged two photos together, etc. in the darkrooms. Have you ever wondered why even Ansel Adams could be spending the whole day in his darkroom just for one print, given that he had his Zone System helping him?

No doubt though, technologies make things easier today and even allow some photogs to do things not imaginable in the past.

[JasonOne]

Hi, I am Jason Hennessey from Atlanta, Georgia & I'm new to this site.
I am a new comer & have just put forward my first step in the vast & fast
world of Internet & Web. I don't have much knowledge but would like to
gain & share whatever i have. As everybody knows that nowadays forums
are the best source of Knowledge, and through forums we can learn a lot.
I'm positively looking forward to the forum and its members, hope all will
guide, share and help me to increase my knowledge.