Just Getting Started.. Need Tips!!

Hello! I just got a new Panasonic DMC-FZ5 for my birthday. I LOVE it!! I have never really done the photography thing before but after today taking some quick macros for the first time I have fallen in love with it. I have spent the last 12 hours playing with the camera! What should I do to get started? Is there a standard editing software that everyone is using to put a little "edge" on their pics? I'm primarily interested in macros but I have tried some distant shots zoomed in and they are all blurred.. Can someone please help get me started?

Here is a link to what I have done today. Thanks!!

http://www.mikesscuba.com/camera/pictures.htm

Mike

KEEP SHOOTING!!!!!

Watch your frame edges, as you have a few images with parts of the flower cut off!

I know people will give me greif , but get the cheapest POS walmart tripod and your images of distant subjects will be sharper. the reason they are blurry is from you not being able to hold the camera steady

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ANYONE COULD TELL YOU IS........ READ your owners manual over and over until you know your camera well !!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by scuby

Hello! I just got a new Panasonic DMC-FZ5 for my birthday. I LOVE it!! I have never really done the photography thing before but after today taking some quick macros for the first time I have fallen in love with it. I have spent the last 12 hours playing with the camera! What should I do to get started? Is there a standard editing software that everyone is using to put a little "edge" on their pics? I'm primarily interested in macros but I have tried some distant shots zoomed in and they are all blurred.. Can someone please help get me started?

Here is a link to what I have done today. Thanks!!

http://www.mikesscuba.com/camera/pictures.htm

Mike

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Hi Mike. Welcome aboard. Your blurry shots at the far end of the zoom on your FZ-5 is normal. I have this camera and all my shots are soft at the far end of the zoom, and that's with image stabilization on. I love the size of this camera and the convenience of the zoom, but the image quality leaves much to be desired at the far end of the range.
Leon

Practice, practice, practice.

Try to make your shots interesting, not just by placing the subject in the centre all the time. Use different angles and views. Anyone can do a centred image!

Also, imaging software. There are so many to choose from. I use Photoshop CS but there are various others such as Photoshop Elements, Paint shop pro are a few that spring to mind. They are all good but take a lot of time learnign them!