A newbie's first post

[Caz]

Joined last night - found the site when researching my new camera.

Have loved photography over the years, just upgraded to my second digital camera. Loved my old (Pentax) SLR but have got fed up carting the gear around, so eventually decided on a Canon A710 - a big change from my first instamatic! Just an 'enthusiastic amateur'.

So - went to Strasbourg at the beginning of last month, and think this was my favourite shot, and now I'll be prepared to be 'shot down'... Took me several attempts to get it, had to wait for the watery winter sun to come through the window.

[Ian]

Re: A newbie's first post

Joined last night - found the site when researching my new camera.

Have loved photography over the years, just upgraded to my second digital camera. Loved my old (Pentax) SLR but have got fed up carting the gear around, so eventually decided on a Canon A710 - a big change from my first instamatic! Just an 'enthusiastic amateur'.

So - went to Strasbourg at the beginning of last month, and think this was my favourite shot, and now I'll be prepared to be 'shot down'... Took me several attempts to get it, had to wait for the watery winter sun to come through the window.

Hi Caz, and welcome to DPNow!

There isn't that much wrong with your picture . It could do with some adjustment to the levels to ensure the areas that should be black are darker than they are. But the good thing is that the exposure hasn't been too light and bleached out the colour. I can show you what I mean if you don't mind me tweaking your picture?

By the way, we always encourage new forum members to use the gallery to upload pictures and then use the UBB code to paste into forum posts so you can display your pictue in full rather than as an attachment - try it!

Ian

[coupekid]

Re: A newbie's first post

Joined last night - found the site when researching my new camera.

Have loved photography over the years, just upgraded to my second digital camera. Loved my old (Pentax) SLR but have got fed up carting the gear around, so eventually decided on a Canon A710 - a big change from my first instamatic! Just an 'enthusiastic amateur'.

So - went to Strasbourg at the beginning of last month, and think this was my favourite shot, and now I'll be prepared to be 'shot down'... Took me several attempts to get it, had to wait for the watery winter sun to come through the window.

Great shot Caz!

Welcome to DPNow, you have stumbled accross a super forum, I started my digital days here and have found it to be both freindly, and helpful.

I definately echo what Ian has said, ubt it looks like you have got the exposure bang on.

What editing package do you use?

Cheers,
Ben

[Caz]

Re: A newbie's first post

Great shot Caz!

Welcome to DPNow, you have stumbled accross a super forum, I started my digital days here and have found it to be both freindly, and helpful.

I definately echo what Ian has said, ubt it looks like you have got the exposure bang on.

What editing package do you use?

Cheers,
Ben

Thanks for the comments Ian and Ben.

This one is actually fairly straight, just cropped slightly as it was taken from the middle of the cathedral, without flash and on 'auto' as I'd only had the camera a couple of days when I took this. I did 'brighten' it very slightly (by about 2 points) using the software that came with the camera (Zoom Browser EX) - but it doesn't have a lot of scope for serious editing.

Haven't got my act together yet on this computer (boyfriend only moved in 18 months ago )- have got old versions of Photoshop and Paintshop Pro on my ancient Windows98 computer, but hardly use that anymore unless I do want to seriously edit a photo, but will have to do something soon because it's such a faff writing photos to CD/booting up old computer etc!

Caz

[Tinka]

Re: A newbie's first post

Hi Caz,
Welcome to a super, very friendly and helpful forum, your image looks ok to me, not a simple subject to photograph, look forward to seeing more of your work.

[Archangel]

Re: A newbie's first post

Joined last night - found the site when researching my new camera.

Have loved photography over the years, just upgraded to my second digital camera. Loved my old (Pentax) SLR but have got fed up carting the gear around, so eventually decided on a Canon A710 - a big change from my first instamatic! Just an 'enthusiastic amateur'.

So - went to Strasbourg at the beginning of last month, and think this was my favourite shot, and now I'll be prepared to be 'shot down'... Took me several attempts to get it, had to wait for the watery winter sun to come through the window.

Hi Caz,

Welcome to the DPNow and looking forward to see more photos from you.
As far as your photo is concerned, some contrast adjustments is needed according to my opinion. I also think that you should have cropped the photo a little different, leaving some more space left, right and at bottom in order not to look squeezed in the frame.
I think you will find your way around with post processing software in order to achieve more pleasing results
The attempt to take the photo itself looks sucessfull though.


Regards


George

[coupekid]

Re: A newbie's first post

Thanks for the comments Ian and Ben.

This one is actually fairly straight, just cropped slightly as it was taken from the middle of the cathedral, without flash and on 'auto' as I'd only had the camera a couple of days when I took this. I did 'brighten' it very slightly (by about 2 points) using the software that came with the camera (Zoom Browser EX) - but it doesn't have a lot of scope for serious editing.

Haven't got my act together yet on this computer (boyfriend only moved in 18 months ago )- have got old versions of Photoshop and Paintshop Pro on my ancient Windows98 computer, but hardly use that anymore unless I do want to seriously edit a photo, but will have to do something soon because it's such a faff writing photos to CD/booting up old computer etc!

Caz

Well, if your boyfreind has moved in with you, get him to treat you to an upgrade for Christmas!

I look forward to seeing some more additions!

[Ian]

Re: A newbie's first post

Thanks for the comments Ian and Ben.

This one is actually fairly straight, just cropped slightly as it was taken from the middle of the cathedral, without flash and on 'auto' as I'd only had the camera a couple of days when I took this. I did 'brighten' it very slightly (by about 2 points) using the software that came with the camera (Zoom Browser EX) - but it doesn't have a lot of scope for serious editing.

Haven't got my act together yet on this computer (boyfriend only moved in 18 months ago )- have got old versions of Photoshop and Paintshop Pro on my ancient Windows98 computer, but hardly use that anymore unless I do want to seriously edit a photo, but will have to do something soon because it's such a faff writing photos to CD/booting up old computer etc!

Caz, would you mind if I posted a tweaked version of your picture?

Ian

[Caz]

Re: A newbie's first post

Caz, would you mind if I posted a tweaked version of your picture?

Ian

Of course not - that's why I've joined, to look and hopefully learn!

And in reply to George, I'm afraid that I did actually crop it, perhaps too much! However, in mitigation, I can only say that I took that photo on my knees in the middle of the cathedral with the camera balanced on the back of a chair because I didn't have a tripod with me! (My daughter thought I'd got religion )

I've also managed to upload some photos in a gallery. Enjoying looking round the site

Carol