Pics from my new SX20IS

[Technocrat]

My SX20 arrived yesterday & here are a few shots(from the 100 odd that I went clicking away :D ) that I took :)

[KrishnenduKes]

Will take a closer look in a while, but in a quick glance, the Moon looks overexposed. I hope you do not mind my critique since this is not the critique section.

Approved

[shutterbug]

Techno, Thats quite nice stuff from the first day of shooting itself. I liked the 6th pic.

[raunak]

Congratulations on the cool purchase, Technocrat!

The second object has some real potential if clicked beautifully - I could never shoot these things well as they need a hell lot of skill!

The moon photo is definitely over-exposed by a small margin. With such a high zoom lens, you can get brilliant moon shots by manually reducing the exposure by 1/3 or 2/3 ev, using low ISO and mounting the camera on a tripod if you have one... Also try shooting in RAW if the camera supports it. What bothers me here is the low sharpness and rather heavy fringing of the lens at this zoom level which is also apparent in the bird shots - try doing some basic PP for helping your photographs there.

The bird shots are good, no doubt about that but you could try to find the vantage point for shooting those birds which gives a more pleasant angle to the viewer.

[Technocrat]

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys, all types of feedback are welcome.

Its been just a week that I have got the camera, most of the shots are gut based i.e. without using any praticular technicque or settings but rather experimenting with random settings to see how it works.

The moon shot was taken on Day 1 of the camera :D

So keep the suggestions & critique coming.

The camera doesnt support RAW.

I tried my hand at some Macro & long exposure shots.

I could get only one right shot for long exposure that too using a friend's tripod

I believe if it was RAW we could have toned down the highlights but I somehow like this pic very much :)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4243396396_e9c2796b4e_b.jpg

This weekend tried my hand at flower macros

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/4240220494_19c3e3476d.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4240219756_23312c51d6.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4240218988_e4a1718fd6.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/4239435463_6bf63b5cbf.jpg

C&C please.

I will take some time before I start posting in other sections which demands more mature attempts :)

[Nakul]

^^
I liked the first pic a lot..
With regards to your macros liked the first one as wel..

[raunak]

That's a sudden surge of great pics! Love every single one of them! I do notice one thing though - the camera is churning out a bit over-saturated images... Try correcting that in the settings.

Also, post the basic EXIF of the photographs to get better suggestions...

[suvo]

Nice attempts on Macro...Keep up the good work...:)

[Technocrat]

Thanks Nakul & Suvo

@Raunak- Thanks Dude, I like a little brightness, plus the pics have been PPed (flower 2 & 3 were very dull originally) but yes will try lowering the EV, except a few all were shot in Auto mode

Here is exif for the pics

Night shot

Exposure: 15
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 11.9 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

Flower 1

Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 5 mm
ISO Speed: 80
Exposure Bias: +1 EV

Flower 2

Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 5 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

Flower 3

Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 5 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

Flower 4

Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5 mm
ISO Speed: 80
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

some nice closeups of the flowers!

Anvancy

[Technocrat]

Thanks Dude, please pour in some advice /suggestions etc :)

Here is another one

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/4239475975_6a7884e0d3.jpg

For Complete set & full size image check my Flickr set

http://www.flickr.com/photos/coolkedar79/sets/72157623002244797/

[Ruffryder]

Thanks Dude, please pour in some advice /suggestions etc :)

Here is another one

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/4239475975_6a7884e0d3.jpg

For Complete set & full size image check my Flickr set

http://www.flickr.com/photos/coolkedar79/sets/72157623002244797/

classic shot there @Technocrat...love the ribbons on the flower.. :)

[Technocrat]

Thanks Dude

here is the full res pic of the above pic :)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/4239475975_6a7884e0d3_b.jpg

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

Thanks Dude, please pour in some advice /suggestions etc :)

Here is another one

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2515/4239475975_6a7884e0d3.jpg

For Complete set & full size image check my Flickr set

http://www.flickr.com/photos/coolkedar79/sets/72157623002244797/

advice will be to click at different angles,washing flowers and then shooting them will also add some magic.

i was thinking that there are some 2-3 people from pune in this forum.we can try for an offline meet.ill be looking at some empty slots from my side.lets see how it goes.

Anvancy

[Technocrat]

Thanks Dude,

This was from a Bouque & was difficult to both hold the flower straight & shoot.

Btw what do you mean by Washing Flowers?

As for meet, Sounds good to me :)

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

Thanks Dude,

This was from a Bouque & was difficult to both hold the flower straight & shoot.

Btw what do you mean by Washing Flowers?

As for meet, Sounds good to me :)

washing means two things.either bathing them by pouring water.this overall cleanses the flower and removes unnecessary dirt.the other is spray bath.small drops makes it interesting.

i m going thru some possible dates.what do u have in mind for a shoot?lavasa?

Anvancy

[Technocrat]

Thanks, will try it out :)

I am out on all the weekends this month, so may be sometime next month :)

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

Thanks, will try it out :)

I am out on all the weekends this month, so may be sometime next month :)

No Problemo.

Anvancy

[Technocrat]

Hi Friends,

Here are few pics for your critique from my recent trip :)

914

915

916

[hitanshu]

Its well composed but simply washed out highlights. no details and the image's very soft.

so I saw in #1 and 3.

[Technocrat]

The first one is slightly PPed but 2nd & 3rd are as they came out from camera only resized. These were taken in sunset mode in camera.

[vaishak]

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys, all types of feedback are welcome.

Its been just a week that I have got the camera, most of the shots are gut based i.e. without using any praticular technicque or settings but rather experimenting with random settings to see how it works.

The moon shot was taken on Day 1 of the camera :D

So keep the suggestions & critique coming.

The camera doesnt support RAW.

I tried my hand at some Macro & long exposure shots.

I could get only one right shot for long exposure that too using a friend's tripod

I believe if it was RAW we could have toned down the highlights but I somehow like this pic very much :)

)

superb shots there friend ..i really loved the 1st one night shot and even flowers are also too good :)

[Technocrat]

Thanks a lot Vaishak :)

[vaishak]

Hi Friends,

Here are few pics for your critique from my recent trip :)

914

915

916

i really loved your beach photographs :)

[Ruffryder]

Hi Friends,

Here are few pics for your critique from my recent trip :)




Classic shots there Techno! Loved the last click, postcard material for sure..:)

[Technocrat]

Thanks, I am glad you liked it :)

[Technocrat]

pics of Squirrels taken at Sanchi

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4337623056_59b20d129c_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4337620648_05ea72d0a8_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4337623332_3df46ca821_b.jpg

[anvancy-(macro analyst)]

the first one is one of those alvin and the chipmunks type:)

Anvancy

[MG_1806]

The first one is captured just at the right moment:).

[Technocrat]

Thanks guys.

He was posing during the first pic, later on he started acting pricey :p

[Technocrat]

Had been to mahablaeshwar on one of these weekend, here are a few shots which I am not sure where to put :p

Nothing special about the shots, just that I am keen to know how can I highlight the faded mountains in the background, is it again a lens shortfall(DSLR vs P&S)?

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4611653340_38befce23d.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3332/4611058121_42a7af908b_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4611667200_f9f42715b8.jpg

This temple pic may seem a normal pic but its taken at full zoom, check the next photo to see how it looked from where I was standing :)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4611652256_827b578570_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1411/4611667380_9576f5bfcd_o.jpg

[Cyclops]

Nothing special about the shots, just that I am keen to know how can I highlight the faded mountains in the background, is it again a lens shortfall(DSLR vs P&S)?

Some nice pics from your new camera, Technocrat. Good shots, specially the macros.

Not sure about your wish to "highlight the faded mountains". My interpretation is that you wish to have the mountains in the background sharper and in focus. This is not due to lens shortfall (DSLR vs P&S), your's is a prosumer or bridge camera (off sorts). To get the background and foreground sharp, you need to use Hyperfocal distance to get everything in focus.

Def: Hyperfocal distance is a distance beyond which all objects can be brought into an "acceptable" focus. Or - The hyperfocal distance is the distance beyond which all objects are acceptably sharp, for a lens focused at infinity. Or - The hyperfocal distance is the closest distance at which a lens can be focused while keeping objects at infinity acceptably sharp; that is, the focus distance with the maximum depth of field. When the lens is focused at this distance, all objects at distances from half of the hyperfocal distance out to infinity will be acceptably sharp.

So what is hyperfocal distance?

Whenever you focus your lens there will be an area that is in focus and areas that are out of focus. The in focus area is referred to as the "focal plane". The important thing here is that 1/3rd of the focal plane is ahead of the thing you're focused on and 2/3rds of the focal plane falls behind what you're focused on.

Focus your lens at infinity and the leading edge of the area that is in focus is the hyperfocal point for that lens. Focus on that point instead of infinity and you'll have the greatest range of focus from infinity back toward your location.

You can find more information and cheat card from the internet to help you get the best landscape images. I hope this helps you. :)

P.S.: If this ain't your question or solution to your problem, but come hunting for me, coz I'm gone. ;)

[KrishnenduKes]

Had been to mahablaeshwar on one of these weekend, here are a few shots which I am not sure where to put :p

Nothing special about the shots, just that I am keen to know how can I highlight the faded mountains in the background, is it again a lens shortfall(DSLR vs P&S)?


There is another way of doing it...

Do a selection of the place that you want to highlight with the selection tool. Treat it accordingly, a little more contrast, a little bit of sharpening and voilà... But if you overdo it, it will show!

[Technocrat]

Thanks Cyclops & Ken :)

Thats a very informative post but Ken's solution is easier for now :p

Btw where did you see a macro?

@Ken - I use picasa for PP so need to check how it can be done in Picasa.