[M_Six]

Backlit shots are tough. Best bet is to use a fill flash (which may not be so good for your dogs' eyes) or take two quick bracketed shots, one with settings for the dogs and one for the background, then merge. You can try to rescue the image in PS, but too much messing around introduces a lot of noise and posterization.

[The1]

you beat me too it.... I was working on a copy right now

[M_Six]

Too much noise and posterization in mine.

Hreed, you also need to think about depth of field when you set your aperture. That shot has a thin DOF and your second dog is out of focus. A smaller aperture (like f8 or f11) would have kept both dogs in sharp focus and help to reduce blowing out the sunset detail. Your shot is at ISO 250. You could have pushed that to 400 or 800 and still have had the speed needed to shoot at f8.

Instead of shooting in auto mode, try AV mode and set your aperture to get the DOF you want. It's all a matter of practice. I try to shoot every day (although it doesn't always happen) so I can try new things and see how they work. You'd be surprised how fast you can learn better technique.

[The1]

Very good advice from M_six

Just played with one of your other photos for fun since he beat me to the other one

I probably could have gone a little brighter. But don't be afraid to crop photos to get objects out of the way and to focus more on your subjects.

Also, rule of thirds, for some reason people find looking at the view finder as if it's portioned off into 1/3 sections and useing those to line up their subjects makes for more interesting/dynamic shots.

[TL]

Originally Posted by Hreed

Im working my way around photography, just got a camera for Christmas so I know these arnt the best shots

love my dobies

+1 i love my doberman too. I wished i cut his ears too but the Vet scared me away from doing it (infections, etc)

[Hreed]

THANKS guys for the advice,

I really am trying to learn more about manual adjustments to my shots. I recently have been shooting all in RAW and editing my photos on Cannon's (somewhat bad) editing software. I picked up a very nice tripod that will last me many many years, so i can do some night shots now.

As for the thirds rule that has been on my thumb for awhile. I just loved how the dogs chased each other in that pic, I wish it was more in focus.

Im looking into taking a short photography class or talking to some friends. But I will defiantly share some more on here in the future!

[The1]

Originally Posted by Hreed

THANKS guys for the advice,

I really am trying to learn more about manual adjustments to my shots. I recently have been shooting all in RAW and editing my photos on Cannon's (somewhat bad) editing software. I picked up a very nice tripod that will last me many many years, so i can do some night shots now.

As for the thirds rule that has been on my thumb for awhile. I just loved how the dogs chased each other in that pic, I wish it was more in focus.

Im looking into taking a short photography class or talking to some friends. But I will defiantly share some more on here in the future!

Just try not to overwhelm yourself by going manual all the time, you'll find yourself thinking more then shooting. After some time, it will all become more natural and manual will be like an extension of your hand.

As M_six mentioned, try shooting in aperature mode for a while but leave your ISO set to auto. Then after some time shooting that way, start to control your ISO setting, and eventually you will get comfortable having control over it as well. Always review images and look at the corresponding shutter speed compared with the ISO and aperture.

Depending on your camera, try out some of the scene modes, but you will find there are scene modes built into aperture mode, program mode, shutter priority, and even manual. They empahsize different groups of colours and alter the sharpness and contrast for each scenerio.

There's a lot to learn, so definitely take your time, just just keep shooting. And as you mentioned, I'm willing to bet you would enjoy a class. You seem very excited.

And no matter how confident you feel in yourself, keep posting up pictures and asking for hints and tips, there's lots of us in here who love to assist.

Definitely find yourself a nice editing program such as Lightroom or DxO optics pro, I would recommend Lightroom however. The amount of flexibility you get from a RAW file is barely exploited by the Canon software to the point where I haven't even installed any of it.

Good luck, and enjoy the shooting. Having dogs around makes for lots of available muse time

[dcstep]

Hreed, you're off to a great start. Taking a class is a great idea, as is shooting in RAW and the advice to shoot in Av mode.

Shooting in snow is really tricky. If you were shooting in Av mode, then you could use +1EV to offset the sensor's desire to make everything white look grey. It's too early in your photography life to fully explain, but ask in your class. Also ask about "Expose to the Right" or ETTR, which is unique to digital photography.

Welcome to the group and I look forward to more of your work.

Canon's Digital Photo Professional is actually very good, but very clunky to use. I use DxO's Optics Pro, but most here use Lightroom and/or Photoshop. Photoshop has a steep learning curve. Study software for a few weeks before making a decision and diving into that.

Dave

[The1]

Originally Posted by Hreed

THANKS guys for the advice,

I really am trying to learn more about manual adjustments to my shots. I recently have been shooting all in RAW and editing my photos on Cannon's (somewhat bad) editing software. I picked up a very nice tripod that will last me many many years, so i can do some night shots now.

As for the thirds rule that has been on my thumb for awhile. I just loved how the dogs chased each other in that pic, I wish it was more in focus.

Im looking into taking a short photography class or talking to some friends. But I will defiantly share some more on here in the future!

I'm also going to have lots of trouble when people talk to you because my name is Reed, I'm going to be more confused then usual. Could get entertaining.

[keriindhauz]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

She's a little bigger now but these are from the spring. My Staffordshire Bull Terrier:

very cute pets...

[Jack Black]

[Chewy734]

haha, that first photo is priceless! Very cute dog!

[The1]

Originally Posted by Chewy734

haha, that first photo is priceless! Very cute dog!

Little dogs running are hilarious. So much work, so little speed.

[M_Six]

The Flying Dog image is awesome!

[Hreed]

Eh I just felt like posting one, not the best

[MaximusJ]

Not mine, but I was walking at the winter carnival here in town and I saw this handsome dog bored while his master was watching a soccer game that was played in the snow.

As soon as I asked for his attention, he stood up and pointed his ears (Thus the name I gave to that pic; At guard). That made a killer shot.

And his fur's colors are just amazing.

Comments are appreciated since I'm still green when it comes to photography.

[Hreed]

Finally had some sun in Seattle,
caught Anya soaking it up..
Its amazingly funny how whenever I point the Camera at her she sits down and poses for me, such a great smart dog.

[rdub315]

my lab...



my beagle mystery mix...

[PR3CI5N]

My new 8 week old male Boxer/Saint Bernard mix puppy Best puppy I've ever owned, so far lol
His dad is 180lbs and his mom is 70lbs. The owners didn't think the Saint Bernard would do work on their female boxer but they were wrong. She had to have a C section because she had 7 one pound pups in her. I love the mix though!

[PR3CI5N]

I like your dog! Very cute. What kind is it?

Originally Posted by Jack Black

[Jack Black]

Pekingese

[E90Mario]

teaser shot lol