Can you help?

TheBiscuitMafia

TheBiscuitMafia

Suspended / Banned
Messages
41
Name
Simon
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi,
I am a new photographer and was wondering if i could have some advice. I have a few questions to ask, i've watched count-less videos on youtube but am still a little confused. What is RAW? and is it better then JPEG? What does ISO actually do and will effect my photos? and finally if i shoot in raw is it the same as JPEG when i import it onto my laptop?

If you have time, it would be great if you chould check out my photos and give me some feed back. I've only started taking them yesterday so they aren't all that great

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebiscuitmafia/

Thank You
Simon
 
Last point first - if you want critique its best to post some photos - not links in the critique section of the forum

on your other points

RAW - captures the raw data that your camera sees, this is mre versatile and allows you to make more changes to it inpost process

JPEG - is a file type where the camera applies some processing in camera and then saves it - files are generally smaller than raws but are less flexible

Its not a case of one being better than the other as they are good for different things

If you shoot raw you will need a raw converter like lightroom, capture1 etc to convert the RAW file to a tiff or jpeg to view it on your laptop

If you are shooting JPEG you will also have a choice of small, medium, or large which is the file size and fine, medium or course which is the compression - I suggest selecting Jpeg Large/fine

ISO controls the sensitivity of the sensor - the higher the number the more sensitive and thus the higher shutter speed/narrow apperture you an acheive in low light. However the higher the iso the more noise (radomn coloured pixels) you'll get in your images so its usually good to keep the iso as low as possible.
 
Hi :wave:

Welcome to TP :thumbs:

Look forwardd to seeing some of your work :thumbs:

big soft moose said:
If you shoot raw you will need a raw converter like lightroom, capture1 etc to convert the RAW file to a tiff or jpeg to view it on your laptop
Click to expand...

Or the software that came with your camera,

BTW what camera are you using?
 
Just Dave said:
Or the software that came with your camera,

BTW what camera are you using?
Click to expand...

well yeah there is that , probably capture NX in the OPs case - his profile says he's using a D3100
 
Its just my opinion by I'd tend to suggest sticking to Jpeg until you've learnt to use your camera , as if you jump imediately into raw the learning curve is steeper
 
Thank you so much thats really helpful. And yes im using a nikon d3100. I have two more quick questions if that is ok. I've heard about something called macro photography, my dad said i would need a dedicated macro lens to get good detailed photos. Im not to sure, i found this thing on Amazon, called macro tubes. And these see to fit to the back of the lens. I was wondering would they be something i should consider buying if i want to do macro photography? They would have to be the cheapest ones, i think around £20.00 as i dont have any more money :( secondly how do i post pictures?
 
Hi Simon

Macro is for close up photography like the image below, extension tubes are useful, and would be usful on a 50mm lens, a dedicated macro lens such as the Sigma 105mm (which is what I use)

How to post pictures

you can upload them to your gallery and then post them in posts from there, there are file size limits 1024px width for landscape, and 800 high for portrait, also they must be less than 200kb file size limit.

or alternatively have them hosted on Flickr or photobucket, and post them from there


Bubble Tank Fun by Just Daves Photos, on Flickr


Green Hairstreak Butterfly White Coppice Chorley Lancashire by Just Daves Photos, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
TheBiscuitMafia said:
secondly how do i post pictures?
Click to expand...

having hosted the image on your flickr account you put the image url (which should end in the file extension e.g .jpg inside


like this (hit quote if you want to see exactly what i did)

7250994712_e00f3f0ee3_m.jpg


edit: Dave thats just showing off :lol: you could have used one of the OPs images like I did ;)
 
Last edited:
Hi Simon

Best way to add images from flickr go to your flickr click the image you want to share

Above the image

Click Share
Grab the HTML/BBCode
Check the radio button for BBCode
Choose a size
Copy the code from the box
paste it into your post on here

Hope That Helps :thumbs:

Dave

7115179313_e8c40a4ea6_b.jpg
 
For macro a decent dedicated lens will be at least a couple of hundred notes second hand, or about twice that new.

It depends where your interest lies , but I'd tend to suggest you just get to grips with general photography first, then maybe look at a set of extension tubes (the kenko set are okay for about 50 quid) if you still want to get into macro.

I'd also suggest seeing if you can borrow a copy of paul harcourt davies book "small things big" from your local library - he covers a lot of cheap ways of getting into macro without a dedicated lens
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top