Newbie from up north

[Bernie]

Hiya everyone
Im a total novice to photography with a DSLR camera apart from the usual family photographs and holiday snaps. I love taking photo's of my little boy and people have commented how good they are.
Im really interested in outdoors and landscapes and also interested in nature, as being a very keen angler, i can take my camera with me.
One thing i'd like to take up and that interests me is nighttime photography, what with the nights now drawing in.
Ive never had the chance to mess about with photo programs like photoshop as i only store what photo's i take in Picasa 3, which is probably a basic program, i do have photoshop cs2 but wouldn't have a clue what or how to use it to my advantage, with what photo's i take.
Im hoping being part of this forum that i can obtain the help that i need and be encouraged to move forwards in what i hope to be a Photography Hobby.

Here are just a couple of snaps i took recently at Chester Zoo which i think are good, in fact the best ive took, but some more professional may say different.

 

[Deleted member 34016]

welcome to the forum David

No1- good composition, good subject - he/she is a little too central in the shot for me, also a telephoto lens would have made this a cracking shot, by gettting in a little closer

I have cropped the image to give you an idea of what I mean



No2- Im sorry this doesnt work for me - it looks to be slightly out of focus, but a good idea on composition, using the gate? as a border

Keep it up

Les

 

[Bernie]

welcome to the forum David

No1- good composition, good subject - he/she is a little too central in the shot for me, also a telephoto lens would have made this a cracking shot, by gettting in a little closer

I have cropped the image to give you an idea of what I mean



No2- Im sorry this doesnt work for me - it looks to be slightly out of focus, but a good idea on composition, using the gate? as a border

Keep it up

Les

Yeah cheers for that, I realise what you mean.
It's very much a learning curve for me and with me not studying photography at a college or anything, is there anywhere I can learn by what you have said.

 

[Pinkbikerbabe]

Hello and welcome to tp

 

[SarahLee]

David and welcome aboard.
Really good to have you here and there are plenty of helpers on hand.

I have to say that Les's crop has made a huge difference. Good image to start with and that really brings it to life.
Loads of places you can learn online, but IMO the best thing to do is to keep getting out there with the camera, put photos up here for critique and read other people's threads too. Ask yourself what it is that makes the photos work or not work for you.

 

[Deleted member 34016]

Yeah cheers for that, I realise what you mean.
It's very much a learning curve for me and with me not studying photography at a college or anything, is there anywhere I can learn by what you have said.

Yeah-right here in Talk Photography- feel free to PM me if you have any questions, If I can answer them I will, I learnt Photography myself, no courses or college

Les