C & C: First non-auto shots with a 450D

Freddie59

OK folks, first time doing this. Killarney last weekend. C & C gratefully accepted. I relaise the composition is a little bit off (:o) but I'm trying to get to grips with shutter speed, aperture, etc first.

All taken with IS kit lens 18-55mm.

Cheers,

Freddie.

AnimalRights

Not c and c as not experienced enough to pass judgement on Landscape but am well impressed with the 18-55 IS that came with the 450D.
Where were the pictures taken?
#4 is interesting.

Thirdfox

In the first shot is that natural vignetting from the lens? It seems really excessive (did you have anything in front of the lens?

Others seem fine - the composition in 2 and 4 could be worked on (the trees in the foreground of 2 didn't do much for me, it just seemed to clash with the background of the mountains.)

4 it would have been nice to have cut out the lamppost and zoom out to get the whole church in the frame, or even just shifting upwards a smidgen to cut out the tops of the railings.

Hope you're enjoying photography

decsramble

Thirdfox wrote: »

In the first shot is that natural vignetting from the lens? It seems really excessive (did you have anything in front of the lens?

Yeah the vignetting looks odd? Is there a lens hood? If thats the result with the kit lens then there will be complaints.

Freddie59

Thanks for the feedback everyone. In response to your queries:

1. Pictures were taken in Killarney. First one is view from Moll's Gap towards Killarney. Number 2 is taken from the Muckross Road Bridge in Killarney, looking West. Third one is the Methodist Church in Main Street, Killarney. Number four is the Dominican Friary in Killarney.

2. Yes that appears to be natural vignetting of the lens. Surprised me a bit TBH.

3. No lens hood used. If you look closely you'll see some in picture 1 also.

Thirdfox - I am indeed enjoying it. To be honest I felt like packing it in after a week, as all this aperture/ISO/shutter speed is head wrecking.:D But I'm slowly getting my head around it.

Bought the Bryan Peterson book 'Understanding Exposure'. My own experience was that I found it a little hard going to begin with, but, after the visit to Killarney, I re-read the opening few chapters and it's now starting to make sense.

I bought the 450D, along with a 50mm 1.4 lens; a Sigma 55-200 lens, and a Tokina 12-24 WAL, plus a Speedlite 430EX Flash. Busy times ahead.:)

Cabaal

a 50mm 1.4 lens?, that cost you a few pennys

Freddie59

Cabaal wrote: »

a 50mm 1.4 lens?, that cost you a few pennys

€253 (delivered) from Flash Camera (eBay)

Located in Scotland. Retail here was around €495. Delivered in three days.:)

The 50mm 1.8 retails here for around €130. Delivered for €75 approx.

Check out the price of the 10-22 lens vs here. It's nearly half-price.:eek:

Trojan911

Freddie59 wrote: »

a Speedlite 430EX Flash.

I'm looking to buy one of these for my 400D. May I ask how much you paid for it?

The cheapest I have seen it in Cork is €300. If I source it from the States it works out to around the dollar equivelent to €156 + tax.

Freddie59

Trojan911 wrote: »

I'm looking to buy one of these for my 400D. May I ask how much you paid for it?

The cheapest I have seen it in Cork is €300. If I source it from the States it works out to around the dollar equivelent to €156 + tax.

You can get it delivered from here for €208. Based in Scotland so no tax. Sweet.:)

sheesh

like the first 2


the Church Spire seems a bit soft in the focus department.

very nice

Trojan911

Freddie59 wrote: »

You can get it delivered from here for €208. Based in Scotland so no tax. Sweet.:)

Cheers for that... I like #1 of your images best of the lot. Kerry & West Cork is a great place for scenery if you are down this side of the country....

ttcomet

I love the colours in the first 2 photos, however they both have the horizon at the centre of the picture, it is usually considered better composition wise to have it either down in the bottem third or up in the top third.
I really liked Bryan Peterson's book and I also got his other main one "learning to see creatively" I would recomend them both to anyone interested in learning.

BTW I think the vignetting goes away at 18mm if you stop it down to F5.6 or beyond I think it only happens when it is wide open.

Freddie59

ttcomet wrote: »

I love the colours in the first 2 photos, however they both have the horizon at the centre of the picture, it is usually considered better composition wise to have it either down in the bottem third or up in the top third.
I really liked Bryan Peterson's book and I also got his other main one "learning to see creatively" I would recomend them both to anyone interested in learning.

BTW I think the vignetting goes away at 18mm if you stop it down to F5.6 or beyond I think it only happens when it is wide open.

I see what you mean about the horizon. Thanks for the tip.:)