I've always enjoyed a good photograph so a few years ago, I started dabbling in it with my sister's camera. She had taken lessons in Santa Fe, had an old 35mm camera, and wanted something new and modern. She bought a D40X. At first, she preferred her old camera, so that meant I had time to play with the new toy. My first photos were ok at best-it was obvious that I needed more time to play with the camera, and, more importantly, the image I was capturing. Here's a few examples of my lucky shots from my first rally, the Dustball Rally.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763787964/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763787964/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763781954/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763781954/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763775194/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763775194/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11764147276/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11764147276/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763656793/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763656793/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763645713/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763645713/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

After this trip, I was hooked and had to get my own camera. In my usual fashion, I decided to jump in head first and bought a D7000. At the same time, I also bought Light Room and started watching Youtube videos to learn all about it. My goal was to take as many photos as I could to raise my chances of getting a good shot. After a bit of editing, here's a sampling of my latest shots from a couple amazing experiences at the end of this year:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763004625/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763004625/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763737476/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763737476/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11762970365/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11762970365/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11762950485/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11762950485/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763170924/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763170924/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763001213/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763001213/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11762757015/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11762757015/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763507546/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763507546/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11762972533/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11762972533/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11762721945/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11762721945/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11762949193/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11762949193/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763050133/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763050133/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763226204/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11763226204/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

And my absolute favorite so far:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11762801635/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11762801635/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

That's my very quick and short journey into the wide world of photography. I've just bought a reflector thingy to play with and have started to mess with the camera in full manual mode (that's how the Aquarium shots were taken). At this point I'm yearning for more and would love comments, critiques, etc. What do y'all think?!

 

Dude...long time. You're on the right path, keep at it.

 

Digging the composition in the airgun shot.

 

Nice pictures! I really like the anemone shot.

 

Welcome to the madness. Time to start clearing space in your house for an expanding lens collection.

 

Madness is correct. I've been looking at some of my friend's lenses and am kicking myself for getting into yet another expensive hobby.

While I appreciate the praise, any comments or guidance? I've got my big-boy britches on so I can handle criticism

 

damn those F1 pics...

 

nice start. Soak in all criticism in here good and bad.

 

Loving the car pics. Not sure if it is as-shot or as-PP'd, but the first and third Aston shots seem a bit underexposed.

EDIT, it could be my monitor, not sure.

 

Keep clicking away, and man is it $$$$.

The last one with the reflection, would like to see your comp about two feet lower to show more of the reflection.

 

^I agree. I do think you've already got a good, natural sense of composition and filling the frame, though. Composition can be taught, technically, but it's so much better when there's an innate knack. You'll be more likely to break the rules when it's appropriate.

Do you have good processing software (did I miss you say that)? Definitely play with the camera's manual controls as much as possible to be sure you understand and control the creative aspects of capturing images. Play, play, play! Don't be afraid to screw up. The beauty of digital is that you won't waste film, chemicals, and paper. If you don't love it, delete it. If you do, figure out why and do that more.

 

All your pictures have good composition and are cropped very well. If I can offer any critique it would be to let more light in the lens.


Cameras and lens are big bucks. Used Canons or Nikons can be found reasonably priced on Ebay, Adorama and B&H. IMO buy a decent camera "body only" and a great walk around lens for ex. 17-50 or somewhere in that range.


Take a look at Sony a-series lot of people knock this camera and there lens but they integrate better than the Nikon and Canons.


Best of luck!

 

Good looking shots, G.


Keep going and enjoy!

 

Awesome pics!

 

Yeah, I've read through the other threads. I don't have a stick up my ass so we should be good. I'm here to learn after all.

Ok, you're going to have to school me on that. What do you mean by underexposed? What makes you think that? Remember I'm a :newb: when it comes to this.

I changed the cropping on the photo. What do y'all think now?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11876178983/http://www.flickr.com/photos/113478725@N04/11876178983/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/113478725@N04/, on Flickr

I have Lightroom 4. Not sure how professional that is, but it's what I got I'm learning more and more about it as I go.

Thanks y'all.

 

Underexposed generally means that not enough light reached the film/sensor and thus was not "exposed" to enough light (overexposure would be the opposite). It's totally subjective most of the time. Some people like darker images, some lighter. Sometimes, though, the exposure level causes either loss of detail in the darks or loss if detail in the lights and then, unless you really wanted that in your image for artistic purposes, it would probably be considered a flaw.

You have not lost any detail in the darks that I can see, I just personally think the colors in the ones I mentioned would pop a bit more if the exposure was a little more. You can adjust this in Light Room to see for yourself by using the Develop module and moving the slider for Exposure a little bit to the left (reduce exposure) and right (increase exposure). There is no right answer, just what you as the photographer want to see in your image.

 

A few new shots from my trip to Detroit and the NAIAS:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425437655/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425437655/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/pinklightbulb/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425419095/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425419095/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/pinklightbulb/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12426329914/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12426329914/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/pinklightbulb/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425956093/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425956093/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/pinklightbulb/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12426229354/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12426229354/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/pinklightbulb/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425633303/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425633303/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/pinklightbulb/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425750273/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425750273/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/pinklightbulb/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425558343/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425558343/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/pinklightbulb/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425833554/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425833554/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/pinklightbulb/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425480223/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425480223/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/pinklightbulb/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425288265/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12425288265/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/pinklightbulb/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12426099834/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinklightbulb/12426099834/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/pinklightbulb/, on Flickr

 

those abandoned buildings! i'd love to go exploring in there.

 

I know those exact areas in Detroit...I was exploring them with a friend looking for places to photograph when someone bumped our rear end in an attempt to get out us out of the car to rob us...I just kept driving.

 

I'm no true judge of photography but I love the Aston Martin pictures. Nice!

 

I love the Corvette pictures!

 

maybe i dont want to go exploring there then

 

I don't care, I'd go to the Packard plant in a heartbeat.

 

Most of my shots are from in a packard plant...but we were safe in the one

 

The Packard Plant was amazing just to be there. It was absolutely freezing though, so I'm going to have to go back.

Detroit blew my friend and me away. We booked our flights such that we were in and out with just enough time for the show. As soon as we started to poke around though, we both loved it and regretted our choice in flights. From racing a donked-out RT Charger outside of the Packard plant to having a three hour discussion about Detroit and it's future with our waiter at the London Chop House, it was just a spectacular trip. We're going to head back in the spring/summer.

Sarlacc-how was the inside of the plant?

Yummy-thanks. The Aston shots are my favorite as well.

 

Maybe I do want to go exploring there then....

 

I really like Detroit. I lived there for 6 months in 2010 while working on the TV show Detroit 1-8-7. The city and surrounding areas really grew on me.

I was inside a different Packard plant...which I gained early access with a friend because we were shooting a couple of days there for one of the episodes.

Here: https://acurazine.com/forums/cameras-photography-44/detroit-abandoned-796658/

And the REAL treasures...the owner of the building had this packed away and I found it the day we were filming in that area...

https://acurazine.com/forums/cameras-photography-44/detroit-discovered-abandoned-797161/

make sure you scroll ALL the way down to see the better stuff.