New to photography

Hi Sue

I am pleased that you like the pictures of the birds in flight. Those pictures were taken with the camera in 'Portrait' setting. I thought that this would give a softer focus and thus give more of an impression of the birds being in flight.

If I had used the 'Sports' setting, I believe that the pictures of the birds would have been a lot sharper, giving extra details of the subject. But, I think, in that case, the pictures would appear more 'frozen', and therefore less effective from an artistic point of view.

This is all a matter of personal preference and you can use the settings that you think will best suit your subject. There are plenty of books that will provide you with a lot of advice, but at the end of the day, you are taking the pictures for your own pleasure. So my advice would be to listen to the advice and then make your own mind up as what you think is best.

I enjoy playing about with different settings just to see how the results turn out. I make a lot of mistakes that way, but sometimes the results can be pleasing.

When you get your new camera, enjoy it, make as many mistakes as you like, it is the best way to learn.

Others might not agree with my views and who am I to disagree with them. I take photos for my own pleasure, if others don't like the results, so what.

Regard Roy.

I totaly agree with you Roy. I once joined a photographic club, all they seemed interested in was taking photo's for competitions. They had a speaker come one day, and he had taken photo's of Lanzarote. I have been there and thought I would learn something. He showed us photo's of a tiny cat on a white wall extending from a white house, we only new it was a house because he told us it was. Afterwards, he asked what we thought of the pics. Everyone said ,"wonderfull", Me, I said they were boring. I never went back, they probably wouldnt let me anyway. lol.

Take what you like, if you like them, thats all that matters Sue.

That's again, for all your advice.

now I have to decide whether to purchase the camera on line or wait until the next time I go to the big city (we have a Wal~Mart in our town but that's it for shops). As it's a two and a half hour journey, we don't go up very much.

I know when I bought my expensive binoculars, I wanted to test them, feel them in my hand, is it the same with a camera? What do you suggest?

We, too, have the ubiquitous Wal-Mart supercenter just down the road, and actually they had a somewhat beat-up demo model of the camera I bought (Rebel XT / 350D), abeit with a dead battery. I had read everything I could find online (www.dpreview.com, www.dpnow.com, www.bobatkins.com, www.fredmiranda.com, www.luminous-landscape.com, etc.) and just looked it over at Wal-Mart. In the end, I bought it from Adorama, since they had the best price, in stock, etc. B&H had a marginally better price, but they were out of stock.

I also bought the battery grip with the camera since I have reasonably large hands, plus the extra "portrait" orientation shutter button and exposure controls are handy when I'm shooting in portrait. With two batteries in the grip, I can shoot /forever/ without changing them. The grip also comes with an adapter for AA cells, which although generally aren't recommended for daily use, are handy for emergencies. I have it full of AA lithium cells in case my 'real' batteries run down and a shot or two presents itself.

I also decided not to go with the 18-55 (?) kit lens, but bought a Sigma 17-70 zoom instead, since it's a better (albeit slightly more expensive) lens.

Thanks Len.

I know I need a lens, though it is something I have never worked with, and that is why I am thinking about going to a camera shop to make my purchase, so they can advise me. I have read that people use different makes of lens and that is doesn't have to be a Cannon. I need to do some research on lens, as I've no idea at all about them, 18-55 and 17-70 is all jebberish to me.

I was looking at Amazon.com to purchase if I do decide to go on-line.

It's definitely a good idea to get personal input if you can. www.bobatkins.com also has a lot of good info. Well worth reading. If there's a local photography club, you might benefit from it as well.

Have fun. 

We have five whore houses, 25 bars, a huge jail, but no photography club.

That's what it's like living in the wild, wild, west.

Nevada?

I love southwest Texas and environs thereabouts, but I suspect Nevada might be a stretch for me (sociopolitically, not in terms of natural beauty, which I suspect it has aplenty). I would like to visit someday, though.

Yes, Nevada, with it's legalized prostitution (Hope I'm allowed to say that on a family friendly board), Gotta Love It!

I have been blessed to go home to England once a year (three times last year, but that wasn't all fun) to get my green fix.

Yes Len, visit but don't stay, that's my advice.