Looking for Feedback - Coral Pics w/ Canon T2i and Macro 100mm Lens

[sgrosenb]

Hey all,

I am new to photography, and am looking for feedback on some coral pictures I took. I took the pictures using a Canon T2i Digital SLR with a Macro 100mm Lens (Not SI) and a Tripod.

I took most of the pictures on auto without flash (except for one - see below). I don't really know much about photography, nor do I know what ISO, Aperture, Stops, etc. are, but I want to learn, so feel free to leave feedback that is more advanced - I'll learn how to adjust it!!!

Thanks!!!

Cali Tort:

Oregon Tort:

Icicle Tort:

IceFire Echinata:

DFS Strawberry Shortcake:

DFS Hypnotic Bottlebrush:

TriColor Prostrata (No Flash):

TriColor Prostrata (Flash):

ORA Bellina:

 

[firstsalt]

Nice keep taking pictures you'll get better with ever photo you take

 

[brent ward]

You might try to at least set it Landscape mode ( the mountian icon) to get more depth of field ( more in focus).

 

[sgrosenb]

Ok Great - thanks Brent. Also - as you can see, some of the photos are a bit dark, but I feel like the photos with the flash are too light. How do I get the proper amount of lighiting without washing out the photo with a flash?

 

[marke]

Good corals, good camera-----time for photoshop or a similar version. You need to adjust white balance and exposure in post processing.

 

[marke]

I tried to play with this one. The pic is not shot in raw format which is needed to get max adjustment, your camera has that option, so I could not, or dont know how to adjust white balance which it still needs. If you dont have photoshop try setting your camera white balance higher manually.

 

[Zero Cool]

I use that same cam/lense combo! Turn off pumps, use a tripod, set camera to Av mode and set f-stop to around 8 or 11 for increased depth of field, and try to play with the white balance so the pics aren't quite so blue. HTH

 

[jefathome]

Try shooting in the CA mode. It is like "auto" but with some basic adjustments you can make without having to know all the camera terms. Lighter/Darker Bigger depth of field (more front to back focus) or smaller (only a small part in focus at any one time)

Just set the dial to CA and then hit the "Q" button to enter the menu.

 

[brent ward]

When your shooting, you can also increase your exposure compensation dial to the plus to over expose a bit. Some cameras have a separate exposure compensation for the flash. You set that at -2 for some fill flash. Time to get out the camera manual and start studying!

 

[sgrosenb]

Awesome guys - thanks for your input!!! I'm gonig to try some of these things tonight. I'll post tonight and let you know what I come up with. I don't have photoshop, but I'd really like to get to the point where my pcitures are good on the first try, and not have to do any "post processing".

In the mean time of me fooling around with my camera, if anyone else has suggestions, I'm all ears! Thanks!

 

[swjim]

You've gotten some good advice already, the only things I would add:

You can adjust your white balance in Canon Digital Photo Professional, it should have come with your camera. Definitely invest some time in learning how to post process your photos, I agree that it's best to get things as good as possible in camera but PP can make good photos look great if done properly. You can also get completely different looks out of the same image.


As far as your shooting technique goes, try your best to shoot perpendicular to the glass. Keep in mind that the tank acts like an additional lens element and if you're shooting at an angle it will distort the quality.

 

[Kristall-99]

If you want brighter pictures, instead of the flash slow down your shutter speed. increasing your ISO adds digital brightness from your camera, and adds noise in the long run so keep that as low as you can.. Depending on your lense, (idk your fstop) One of the lens's i have is the regular kit lens 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 This is the standard aperture your lens will shoot in. but generally increasing your fstop to say 6.3-7-8fstop is when your lens is at your sharpest.

Any other questions toss them in and ill try my best to answer.

Also as far as coral shooting goes, (i havent tried this yet) is to take a multiple pictures each focusing on a different polyp or part of an acro, etc. and blend them together wither photoshop or the like. creates a better overall pictures with your intended coral being the main focal point

 

[twiggyb]

Just saw this and posted something similar lol, my bad for not looking. To the op, are you pretty happy with this camera overall?

 

[sgrosenb]

I am extremely happy with the camera. I'm pretty new to photography, so I really can't say how it stacks up against the competition, but I can definitly say that it has been fantastic for me. Great feel to it, intuitive and easy-to-use software, nice screen, lightweight, and of course, great pictures. Quite honestly it's probably more camera than I need, but I'd rather have it that way than the other way around.

I'll be posting some new pics in a bit - i fooled around with the camera and have got a couple photos to post.