[jtm62]

So... I'm looking for some critiques, constructive criticism of sorts.

The camera used was a Nikon D40X.

For the following shots a Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6 was used.


Taken at Ohiopyle, in Fayette County Pennsylvania, I think this is the best shot... although a little too bright.




Same place, a picture of the falls:



Fire picture, back at camp:



Motion shot, utilizing the 3 frames per second feature:








These two images were taken with a Nikkor 60mm f/2.8D:





Not really a fan of the way the focus fell on those two images. How can I improve the focus and pull the whole serial into the focus area?


Thanks for looking.

Josh

[Halliday]

I like the fire picture.
On your question about the last two, what was your f-stop? You are using a tripod? Put your f-stop to at least f8 to get more detail in focus.

[SMSTRICK]

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t73/smstrick69/testnature.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

jtm62,

I doctored this up a little and changed up a little on the brightness and the contrast. Compare it to the original and tell me what you thing.

[jtm62]

Originally posted by SMSTRICK
<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t73/smstrick69/testnature.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

jtm62,

I doctored this up a little and changed up a little on the brightness and the contrast. Compare it to the original and tell me what you thing.

SMSTRICK,

This retouched image is very much more better! Did you use photoshop to do it?

[jtm62]

Originally posted by Halliday
I like the fire picture.
On your question about the last two, what was your f-stop? You are using a tripod? Put your f-stop to at least f8 to get more detail in focus.

The f-stop was set to 32, the only setting that will work with the camera, it seems. I can't figure it out?

And I did not use a tripod... as The end of the camera len must be a mere 6-8 inches from the object in focus to take a picture that clear.

[hwyhobo]

Originally posted by jtm62
So... I'm looking for some critiques, constructive criticism of sorts.

The first photo was taken at @150mm focal length, but the speed used was 1/125s (relatively slow for that focal length), which resulted in a slight movement blur.

[MrsKitty]

To get rid of that bright, washed out look in the first shot a circular polarizer is what you need (not LINEAR!). It is a special kind of dark glass filter and it will cost you a couple of f/stops but it eliminates the glare and puts the blue back in the sky.

On the fire, I would have liked to see the top of the flame and less of the dark along the bottom. That is just a preference and your way is fine!

[jtm62]

Originally posted by misskitty5077
To get rid of that bright, washed out look in the first shot a circular polarizer is what you need (not LINEAR!). It is a special kind of dark glass filter and it will cost you a couple of f/stops but it eliminates the glare and puts the blue back in the sky.

On the fire, I would have liked to see the top of the flame and less of the dark along the bottom. That is just a preference and your way is fine!

I do have to pick up some lens filters/polarizers... I did realize that as soon as I saw how bright it was.

And MissKitty... they aren't as good but...

[MrsKitty]

They are PLENTY good. Especially for a first attempt!

Anybody got any marshmallows?

[Aaron S]

Your 2 serial number pictures were taken at f/5 according to the embedded data. That should have been good enough I would think, except when taking pictures that close, there is very limited depth of field. If you would have shot the pictures exactly straight on or used a bigger f/number they would have been in focus across the entire frame.

On Nikons, the lens has to be set to f/32 because the apeture is adjusted electronically in the body. I don't know how to set the apeture on the D40x. Set the mode to A and check the manual to find how to change the apeture. You will need a tripod also because the shutter speed will drop.

Aaron

[SMSTRICK]

Originally posted by jtm62
SMSTRICK,

This retouched image is very much more better! Did you use photoshop to do it?

It is a Kodak program that came with my camera. I downloaded it and use it to enhance and alter pictures. I'm not sure exactly what the program is , because I did'nt even doanload it to my computer. It was a gift, and they set it up for me, But I do know that it is a Kodak / Photo program.

[sjfrellc]

Try using Picasa(free from Google) for simple color/contrast improvements like in the first picture. It works great and has a small learning curve. It also has a button to reveal simple exif data(the fstop, shutter speed, etc.) We can read your data with Opanda software (also free).
This is the kind of EXIF data Opanda reports on the last picture:

[Image]
Make = NIKON CORPORATION
Model = NIKON D40X

[Camera]
Exposure Time = 1/60"
F Number = F5
Exposure Program = Not defined
ISO Speed Ratings = 200
Exif Version = Version 2.21
Date Time Original = 2007-06-16 18:02:36
Date Time Digitized = 2007-06-16 18:02:36
Components Configuration = YCbcr
Compressed Bits Per Pixel = 4
Exposure Bias Value = ±0EV
Max Aperture Value = F4.92
Metering Mode = Pattern
Light Source = unknown
Flash = Flash fired, auto mode, return light detected
Focal Length = 60mm
Maker Note = 27248 Byte
User Comment =
Subsec Time = 0.50"
Subsec Time Original = 0.50"
Subsec Time Digitized = 0.50"
Flashpix Version = Version 1.0
Color Space = sRGB
Exif Image Width = 3872
Exif Image Height = 2592
Interoperability IFD Pointer = Offset: 28100
Sensing Method = One-chip color area sensor
File Source = DSC
Scene Type = A directly photographed image
CFA Pattern = [G,B],
[R,G]
Custom Rendered = Normal process
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Auto white balance
Digital Zoom Ratio = 1x
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 90mm
Scene Capture Type = Normal
Gain Control = None
Contrast = Normal
Saturation = Normal
Sharpness = Normal
Subject Distance Range = unknown

[MakerNote (Nikon)]
Makernote Version = 0210
ISO Speed Used = 200
Colour Mode = COLOR
Quality = FINE
White Balance = AUTO
Sharpening = AUTO
Focus Mode = MANUAL
Flash Setting = NORMAL
Auto Flash Mode = Built-in,TTL
White Balance Bias Value = 0
White Balance Red, Blue Coefficients = 453/256, 340/256, 256/256, 256/256
000D = 00, 01, 06, 00
Exposure Diff = 8F, 01, 0C, 00
ThumbOffset = 2694
Flash Compensation = 00, 01, 06, 00
ISO Speed Requested = 200
Tone Compensation (Contrast) = AUTO
Lens Type = 2
Lens Min/Max Focal Length, Max Aperture = 600/10, 600/10, 28/10, 28/10
Flash Used = Flash Fired
Auto Focus Area = 00, 00, 00, 00
Bracketing & Shooting Mode = 1
008A = 2
008B = 54, 01, 0C, 00
Colour Mode = MODE3a
Lighting Type = SPEEDLIGHT




The serial numbers are out of focus simply because they are tilted and not in the same plane. As mentioned above, the depth of field is very shallow at f5, but macro lenses also has a very narrow plane of focus.