Brain freeze- Snaphappy playing & learning

[snaphappy]

Sorry for being off topic but is this a good idea? I was going to set mine to on when I bought the camera, but didn't because I thought it might cause wear and probably wouldn't do much good anyway. Am I wrong?

Go right ahead and take things off topic! This isn't a 365 just me learning and I do that by asking questions and by others asking I'm not sure Rexer John. The camera had the options to clean at start up and shut down, start up, shutdown or just manually. I thought maybe just shut down would be fine but maybe I should do it manually??? What opinions do you we have on this??? If Marcel hadn't pointed out the spot I wouldn't have learned about it til I got to the very end of my manual which would have been a long time!

Marcel I did the sensor cleaning twice then went back and checked lenses as well. I then did the test by taking pic and then I pulled up on computer and I cropped and looked at each area of my pics with each lens on. I found no more specks but I will do this regularly now and keep an eye out. I really do appreciate your pointing this out and go right ahead if you catch it again. I'm on day 22 with my new camera and trying to use manual settings now so I still have lots to learn!!!

Piperbarb I will have to work on that then. I've never had rainbows show up so I quickly blamed the UV filter. Next time I will switch lenses (35mm with UV and 18-55mm set at 35mm without UV) and check out my settings as an experiment and see what happens. Seems like a good learning experiment to me it's on my to do list

Please no one feel they can't critique it's how I learn and I won't be hurt by any comments meant to help me! Also go ahead and go off topic I love it

 

[piperbarb]

Go right ahead and take things off topic! This isn't a 365 just me learning and I do that by asking questions and by others asking I'm not sure Rexer John. The camera had the options to clean at start up and shut down, start up, shutdown or just manually. I thought maybe just shut down would be fine but maybe I should do it manually??? What opinions do you we have on this??? If Marcel hadn't pointed out the spot I wouldn't have learned about it til I got to the very end of my manual which would have been a long time!

<snip>

I have my camera sensor cleaning set to start up and shutdown. I'm sure it causes a small amount of wear (as does everything - we cannot defy physics ). I figure every bit of cleaning cannot hurt.

 

[piperbarb]

Piperbarb I will have to work on that then. I've never had rainbows show up so I quickly blamed the UV filter. Next time I will switch lenses (35mm with UV and 18-55mm set at 35mm without UV) and check out my settings as an experiment and see what happens. Seems like a good learning experiment to me it's on my to do list

<snip>

I have had hit-and-miss luck with rainbows, so you are not alone. I feel lucky when I get a good shot. One day, my spousal unit saw a rainbow, ran back inside, took my camera, and got a few very good shots. The camera was set for autofocus and aperture priority. My husband knows diddly-squat about photography other than the camera produces a picture.... somehow.

As I said, rainbows for me are hit-and-miss.

 

[Rexer John]

Please no one feel they can't critique it's how I learn and I won't be hurt by any comments meant to help me!

OK this might not be helpful but after looking at all the pics you've posted. I love all of them!
Even the ones with rainbows. OK so they are not a true representation of what you saw off camera and you wouldn't put them in an art exhibition but they are keepers.
We strive to get the best image possible but some people become perfectionists and nothing short of that is worth keeping in their opinion.
My opinion is, for personal photography, the picture of the moment is number one and the image quality comes second.
Of course we all want to get better, that's why we join forums like this.
You inspire me and I hope to get photos as good as yours.

 

[snaphappy]

Thank you Rexer John that was very nice to read and you are absolutely right! I also love looking at everyone's photos from all over the world and seeing things through others eyes. I think it's fantastic when my kids take my old Sony H9 and take pics because they come back with fantastic photos of things I would never think to take

I've only been using an slr in anything other than auto or scene modes for just over a week so I should relax but get over myself LOL I've been frustrated lately because I just can't seem to get the snow photos right. I've read and watched videos so kindly offered but I'm still frustrated by dull or over bright glowing snow in the background. Unfortunately nothing is learned overnight or by osmosis

I've been focusing on changing exposure but tomorrow I'll head back to the manual and learn about aperture. As I've been fiddling I've learned that Aperture and exposure need to work together so ready for my next step. This weekend has been a busy one so no time for reading

 

[snaphappy]

Frozen over ice hole

kids climbing fallen tree

snow covered tree

hubby and eldest son still fishin while other 2 kids sled

dinner, dessert and lots of stories made in the backyard

 

[snaphappy]

Today I only got a pic of sleepy kitty

 

[snaphappy]

I got some new toys so spent the last couple days taking pics of boring stuff just clickin and checking to see what I get. I finally realized that there just is no way for me take a pic of the clear curved cover of my sons incubator without reflections. Tonight I got a chance to try low key when my son candled his eggs

little egg starting to grow

little tiny eggs

 

[nikonpup]

what are the eggs from?

 

[snaphappy]

Oh the eggs are Cortunix quail and will be my eldest sons first animal project for 4-H. This is his third year hatching but our first experience with Quail so in 12-13days I'll be posting Quail pics. And later in spring he'll have chicks and I'll have ducklings and hopefully goslings

If you look at the egg picture you can see the dark reddish spot with blood veins extending out. This egg went into the incubator Saturday night so this is about 72hrs growth. Hmmm I wonder if I played with the egg picture if I could attempt to lighten the shadows. The eggs are so tiny and have those dark spots so much harder to take pics of than my duck eggs.

 

[snaphappy]

Wow gotta remember to use the tools more often what a difference I can make with that shadow slider!
edited for shadows same pic as above

and heres a pic of the one and only egg that isn't growing

I was just so thrilled at the results of using my tripod and the low key on my camera that I never thought to adjust

 

[AC016]

Do you hunt or sell the Quail once they ar full grown?

 

[snaphappy]

First time with Quail we just picked up the fertile eggs. Once they hatch my son (9yrs) will be responsible for all care of them until he shows them at the Fair this Aug. At the end of the Fair they will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go towards buying next years project. 4-H motto is learn to do by doing We're not hunters but he only needs 6 Quails for his project and he has 28 eggs growing so we may be having Quail dinner in a few weeks LOL

 

[snaphappy]

Well after my last post I realized I should have a look at some of my old photos and see what I could find to play with.
here's an unedited photo that I took Jan 20th and it was ok

This was nothing but a crop and look what I found!!!

Gotta look closer at my photos I guess

 

[snaphappy]

Last night I did get my camera out to take a pic or 2 My daughter and one of my drakes

 

[snaphappy]

Today the sun came out and had my camera out but spent more time visiting than taking pics. It's hard to take steady pics with goats climbing on me, investigating my pockets and zipping and unzipping my coat haha
My horse Smokey

Tigger

Wow Turkeys are UGLY! Such pretty feathers but ugly ugly heads

 

[Rexer John]

Snaphappy, just a question about the pic of your daughter. It has a blue snow background.
Judging by the flashes shadow it was getting dark and maybe you had auto white balance set.

If you set for cloudy or shade to get the snow white, would both the snow and face have good white balance?

Maybe the blue just shows up more against the forums white background.

 

[snaphappy]

yes I changed my WB to Auto for this but it was quite dark (5:30-6pm) so even to our eyes the snow was blue. I may have to play with some evening shots and see if WB change would have whitened it a bit. I have other photos a bit earlier in the evening as we moved the smaller runner and khaki ducks and they were a bit easier for her to hang onto but this guy is big and quite strong so I had to be quick with the shot and be ready to help her in case he got his wings loose.

I'm amazed that my new camera was able to capture his beautiful green sheen I tried for a year and a half with my sony in all kinds of lighting and was never able to catch it to my satisfaction. I will have to get out and try a better picture of him and his ladies soon I've learned capturing black animals is nearly impossible for me!

 

[snaphappy]

This was taken about a half hour earlier than the above picture as my 5yr son old had his khaki hen escape and it took awhile to catch her again LOL
My daughter with a much smaller runner drake

 

[snaphappy]

I am a little hesitant about posting pics of my kids and so have debated whether or not to post this. I like the pic but I think I need to do some editing however I'm not sure where to start and not ruin it.