Improving my photos

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jdk11

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Hi all

I currently have a Nikon D3100 with the standard 18-55mm lens. I only really shoot outdoors at these sort of focal lengths, feel i have fully mastered the camera but am frustrated with the quality of my pictures compared to others, although admittedly i am looking at pictures taken by cameras such as canon 5Ds etc which are way out of my price range.

To improve the quality of my images a bit, obviously not to the canon 5D level, would you recommend getting a prime 35mm lens such as the Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f1.8G Lens, whose focal length would be fine for me, or upgrading my camera? The thing about a prime lens is i don't shoot indoors at all and outdoors usually only in full sun, so the advantage of the prime being a bit quicker doesn't really help me. So it would be whether any improvement in image quality outdoors in full sun would be noticeable compared to the 18-55mm.

Thanks for any help
Jonathan
 
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Hi Jonathan, welcome to the forum.

Please understand that the quality of your shots is not dependent on your gear. Top shooters can and do produce stunning images on the most basic cameras and lenses.

Please post a few of your shots on the forum for critique. It really is the best way to learn.
 
Hi Jonathan

Welcome to TP :wave:

when you say quality in what way, all cameras take reasonable images, maybe the shots you are looking have a better composition, so appear better, have you got any examples of your work
 
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Yellowbelly said:
Hi Jonathan, welcome to the forum.

Please understand that the quality of your shots is not dependent on your gear. Top shooters can and do produce stunning images on the most basic cameras and lenses.

Please post a few of your shots on the forum for critique. It really is the best way to learn.
Click to expand...

Ha ha great minds, Snap :lol:
 
From a very brief look at your Flickr content, you are doing nothing drastically wrong from the admittedly limited style of shot you make. It would be better to post directly to the forum as a) you will get a better response, and b) Flickr makes subtle adjusments to your shots.

What do you feel you need to improve upon for loco shots?
 
There's nothing wrong with your photos that I can see that would be sorted by a HW upgrade.

Have you got some examples of photos which you feel are 'better'?

Cos from where I'm looking the main difference is probably all in the PP.
 
must admit i just looked at some of your pics and they all look ok, well focused, good exposure, for me though all a similar composition and very similar angles. The subjects are obvious and large so distance is as you would expect to get the whole train in. My thoughts are get closer and use a zoom to just get parts in and make more interesting portraits.
 
jdk11 said:
I mainly shoot landscapes but also am quite into railways/motorsports

Below is a link to my flickr site for my railway related pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathankirkham
Click to expand...

Just had a look at your flickr all your shots seem samish composition,and OK record shots, ie on a bridge and all seem to be very close to the edge of the frames so no room for them to move into, I liked the steam train shot but suffers the same it has hardly any room in front of it, try some lower angles, and maybe a get bit of movement, Im not really a train tog, but try get more dramatic shots by different angles
 
Mr Bump said:
must admit i just looked at some of your pics and they all look ok, well focused, good exposure, for me though all a similar composition and very similar angles. The subjects are obvious and large so distance is as you would expect to get the whole train in. My thoughts are get closer and use a zoom to just get parts in and make more interesting portraits.
Click to expand...
Snap again LOL
 
Just Dave said:
Ah Ta, so yeah higher spec

For me its just down to composition to improve
Click to expand...

This is getting weird. I am now agreeing with Dave:)

I see no reason for the OP to upgrade his kit if he is happy taking the shots he alludes to. Attention to composition and PP would do wonders at litle or no expense.
 
I've taken some very good shots with the same kit as you but it depends what type of photography you are attempting

All my landscape stuff that has been taken with that lens has benefitted massively from the use of ND, CPL and ND Grad filters to get longer exposures

As most have said the main factor is technique rather than very expensive equipment
 
I know rails are hard to get near (for good reason) but if you could get right next to the ballast at the edge and get really low on the inside of a curve then that might be a really cool photo as it gives a composition not many have seen before and also gives perspective of the trains size - at the moment those trains could be a model or anything.

Disclaimer : don't go playing or running across tracks in front of moving trains to get photo's - they are bloody dangerous things.

This might help: http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/10-top-photography-composition-rules

Be careful mind
 
Having viewed your flickr stream, I can confidently say that better gear won't improve your photography. Trying different locations, different angles and different compositions will, unless you want record shots of trains at the same locations. I'm a member of this Flickr group, have a look in here for some inspiration http://www.flickr.com/groups/railphoto/
 
As others have said, try different locations. Try and research different places to get different angles etc.

What sort of post processing do you do? Might be worth having an experiment with contrast, B&W, HDR etc. That way you can have a play around with your previous pics.

Have fun!
 
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