My first shots

[Tenshoa]

Just got a new camera with a macro lens yesterday. I'm very amateur and don't have a lot of experience with DSLR's. Any tips or critiquing is welcome. Here are some of my first shots in my tank.

Shot with Nikon D40, Tamron 90mm Macro Lens

 

[Tenshoa]

Couple more...

 

[Tenshoa]

Last few for now

 

[Jason G]

Great pics.

 

[reefwiser]

Good classic shots.

 

[woodnaquanut]

Nice shots.

I believe the shrimp/fish shots could be improved by controlling the background better. In the shrimp shot there is a bright object lower left. I find this distracts from the focus point (shrimp). Similarly the two clowns have that very bright candy cane behind them. Photo editing software could be your friend here.

The black clown is a tough subject on a black background. It's head blends into the background. Getting more light to the background would help. Also a bit more exposure might bring out it's eyes. Kind of spooky w/ no eyes!

The focus seems a little soft on some. Perhaps my glasses just need to be cleaned!

Hope these comments don't seem to harsh. Overall very nice.

 

[Tenshoa]

Thanks everyone! I can see this becoming an addiction in itself.

Nice shots.

I believe the shrimp/fish shots could be improved by controlling the background better. In the shrimp shot there is a bright object lower left. I find this distracts from the focus point (shrimp). Similarly the two clowns have that very bright candy cane behind them. Photo editing software could be your friend here.

The black clown is a tough subject on a black background. It's head blends into the background. Getting more light to the background would help. Also a bit more exposure might bring out it's eyes. Kind of spooky w/ no eyes!

The focus seems a little soft on some. Perhaps my glasses just need to be cleaned!

Hope these comments don't seem to harsh. Overall very nice.

No harshness taken at all. This type of criticism is exactly what I'm looking for. After all, how else will I get better?

That said, I definitely agree with you and mentally noted some of the things you mentioned. I do have photoshop and am fairly familiar with using it, so I could clone some of those objects out. The black clown was not my favorite for the reasons you mentioned. It will take a bit of experimenting before I know exactly where to have my settings. Also, one that you didn't mention that was in the same boat was the Hawkins Echinata coral, which has another coral "growing" out of the back of it.

Taking a picture of the fish and shrimp was quite the challenge. Having to move the camera, while focusing, and hoping to catch the right depth of field at the right moment gave me a whole other level of respect for photographers. Each of the fish/shrimp pics took me about 20-30 shots each before I got one that was remotely acceptable.

I did order a remote for the shutter release, so maybe this can help me as well. All but the fish and shrimp were taken on a tripod.

Definitely keep the criticism coming though.

And thank you for the compliments.

 

[woodnaquanut]

No harshness taken at all.

Oh good!

You did a fine job. It's just there is always something to improve on.

It takes the patience of a hunter/fisherman to get good shots of fish. Now if only we could train them to 'freeze'.

I remember reading about NatGeo photographers taking thousands of frames just to get the 5-10 that are published. If they can do that with film we certainly can be allowed many attempts with DSLRs.

 

[Tenshoa]

Oh good!

You did a fine job. It's just there is always something to improve on.

It takes the patience of a hunter/fisherman to get good shots of fish. Now if only we could train them to 'freeze'.

I remember reading about NatGeo photographers taking thousands of frames just to get the 5-10 that are published. If they can do that with film we certainly can be allowed many attempts with DSLRs.

Ha. It's funny. My father (photographer in his spare time) and I were just talking about that natgeo article earlier today. I think it was a husband/wife duo?

I told him I'm half tempted to fly him down for a little one on one class. Lol

 

[SkySoldier173]

Doesn't look amateur to me. Nice pics

 

[Tenshoa]

Doesn't look amateur to me. Nice pics

Thanks! I never had a DSLR before. I knew SOME basics just from watching my dad when I was younger but never really shot anything other than point and shoot or at least auto mode.

 

[G_Sanab922]

Sweet shots!

With a camera like that all you need to do is , point and shoot! haha
open up the aperature and make the shutterspeed fast. That will help with the fishes swimming everywhere. Even though you have some great shots already. Just a little bit of basics if you didn't know.

 

[Tenshoa]

Love this pic! How can I make it better?! The background is bugging me! lol

 

[reepher315]

Real nice pics. You forget how horrible Iphone pics are untill you see some good res like that.

 

[Tenshoa]

Real nice pics. You forget how horrible Iphone pics are untill you see some good res like that.

Tell me about it. I was taking them with both a Galaxy and an iPhone. And every time I'd tell myself I had to get a good camera. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. lol

 

[G_Sanab922]

Lol you are kidding right. That background is sick! Haha. Yep big difference once you go DSLR

 

[Tenshoa]

Lol you are kidding right. That background is sick! Haha. Yep big difference once you go DSLR

You don't think it's too distracting?

 

[G_Sanab922]

My first shots

No man. It's a great shot. Shows depth in the picture. And you got good colors on the background and the fish. Do you use a photo editor?

 

[Tenshoa]

No man. It's a great shot. Shows depth in the picture. And you got good colors on the background and the fish. Do you use a photo editor?

Yes. I used PS to take a little of the blue out and adjust the levels.

 

[G_Sanab922]

Yes. I used PS to take a little of the blue out and adjust the levels.

I love PS ! It's so good. Which version?