another newbie

[anaaerdach]

Hi-hoping to find out lots on here. I take lots of pics-some turn out , some don't....mostly I just point & shoot as I really don't know what to do....f stops & DOF & all that jazz.....so confusing.
I use 2 cameras- a little pentax optio S4 which I carry around with me all the time as I use it for work & it does take really great macro shots, and, a newer,still learning how to use sony DSC-H2.
Have lurked on some photo forums & have seen pics & the photographer torn to shreds- makes one a little nervous about putting up a pic!:eek:
Live in Sydney & mostly enjoy macro photography.

[Charmed]

http://people.aapt.net.au/cooke01/custom/apf.gif

Promise we wont rip you to shreds, http://people.aapt.net.au/cooke01/custom/show_us_ya_pics.gif



Simone's Expressions (http://yarnoverhook.com/gallery/)

[anaaerdach]

I've been looking at all the great shots in the albums & looking at the links posted....boy to be able to take pics like that....and even to sound intellegent enough to know what you did to get it that way! I'm an absolute novice at this,but I do want to learn.....guess thats why I'm here.
Here is one I took last weekend-I just found out how I can find out what I did (I'm not brilliant on the pc either).
Now I'm not sure if I should post it attached to this or somewhere else,but I'm guessing someone will soon tell me.:) or move it.
What I did find out was that I took it using my Sony DSC-H2
with a 16mm lens? 4/4 1/8 ISO-100 ,no flash, or tripod & it was 23:26 when I took it-this is what I need to understand-I've never done a camera class or even had a camera that wasn't truly point & shoot & its only since swapping to digital that I've become more interested in what I'm actually doing.
So tell me how I can improve,what is right (if anything) what is wrong & how to do it a little better the next time. Although this plant won't flower for another year now.

[Rob Smith]

Hi & Welcome to the forum. I would look forward to seeing your work & trust that noone will rip you to shreds. Most of us would never admit to being perfect & realise that we all see things differently. Hopefully you will learn from your involvement & interaction with other members. Love your first post above. Think you have done a superb job. Probably should have gone into plantlife but I am not sure how to shift.Once again, welcome & "Keep being involved"

[anaaerdach]

seems to me that everyone in camera clubs & forums have the big SLR or DSLR's & you are not taken seriously if you dont have one of these. My husband has just upgraded to the new sony alpha (I think he changes his camera every year, but we won't go there)-so I have access to the DSLR if I want to, but considering I really dont know what I'm doing most of the time, other than pointing the camera, I'm better off with what I've got - the old KISS principle! what I do want to do, is improve my technique with what I do have.

[Mike]

So tell me how I can improve,what is right (if anything) what is wrong & how to do it a little better the next time. Although this plant won't flower for another year now.Welcome! Intersting shot, is it a cactus?
It loooked great aas a thumbnail but when viewed bigger think this is where some extra DOF would have come in handy. there is one or 2 videos on DOF in the video section.

[anaaerdach]

DOF-I'll have to look that up- have no idea what it means. It is a cactus-we were lucky to get about 10 blooms this year.

[kahkityoong]

DOF = depth of field.
Welcome to the forum, despite some of the recent heated discussions which you have noticed this is a friendly bunch here. Nice first shot you have posted.

[anaaerdach]

I had a pic for the humorous section but I'm unable to add attachments any more- not sure what happened.
Thanks for the translation- I googled it & it came up- so it must be well used!LOL