My first few shots using DSLR

[cwtan12]

THese are my first few shots of fishes using Nikon D40 with 105mm f2.8 VR. I have forgotten which photo was taken with what setting but most of them are with 1/80, F18 and either ISO 400 or 800







These photos are not edited at all because I am still figuring out how to edit. I need comments for improvements.

[Corleone]

very clear bro..

[grey_fox]

The head shot looks really clear! Very nice.

[hwchoy]

since you flashed, there is no reason to use ISO as high as 400 and 800. Your first pix was shot with 1/500 at ISO 800 which is way more than ample. Your x-sync is most likely 1/200 or 1/250, just use that and ISO 100/200 and let the flash handle the exposure.

Your last pix at 1/80 is slightly below ideal shutter speed. remember the 1/ƒ rule of thumb and that your focal length is 105mm.

[valice]

Just to clarify in case you might be confused. When Uncle Choy mentioned that it is "slightly below ideal shutter speed", he is referring to the ability to prevent hand shake and therefore unsharp pictures.

And the rule of thumb says that to prevent hand-shake blur, it is preferable to use a shutter speed of at least the focal length of your lens. So in this case, you should use a shutter speed of more than 1/105.

This rule can be broken if you have stable hands. And with your flash, you can afford to use ISO 100 as mentioned by Uncle Choy.

But, your last picture is good. Focus is good.

Interesting that at f16, your DOF is still shallow.

[hwchoy]

oh yah haha thanx Vincent for clarifying.

BTW you should be aware of diffraction softness, this means for a lens of about 100mm focal length, the aperture opening becomes so small at ƒ/11 and beyond, that sharpness is actually reduced. Most lens will perform best at around ƒ/8.

So you have to remember what you are trying to capture, if you want super details at a particular point, then sacrifice DOF and use ƒ/8 to ƒ/11. But if you want over focus of the object then tolerate some softness and go for ƒ/16 to ƒ/32 even.

Of course all these are invisible when posting at the web sizes.

[cwtan12]

Vincent and Choy,

Thanks for the tips. I will try again with your advices and post the photos for comments. By the way, what is DOF?

[benny]

If these are your first forray into Aquatic Photography, then they are much better than most I've seen. I'm sure with a few sessions with some of the guys here, your techniques will improve rapidly.

You might also like to check out www.aquatic-photography.com

Cheers,

[mervin]

lovely Wild Bettas u have there mate !

[hwchoy]

kuku-man, the aunties over there looking for you again leh.

[hwchoy]

Vincent and Choy,

Thanks for the tips. I will try again with your advices and post the photos for comments. By the way, what is DOF?

DOF = Depth of Field, refers to the area in front and behind the focusing point, in which objects still "appear" to be in focus.

Very important to realise that DOF is not an absolutre distance, it depends on (amongst other things) the size at which the pix is displayed.

[valice]

Vincent and Choy,

Thanks for the tips. I will try again with your advices and post the photos for comments. By the way, what is DOF?

Let us also know what is your current setup. Meaning how you and where you place your flash. The location will improve your shots as well.

Noticed the difference between shots with and without flash?

[hwchoy]

also shoot STRAIGHT into the glass else the distortion is very significant when viewing details.

[StanChung]

In that case use off camera flash or you'll get nasty flash reflection.

Glass astigatism is very nasty when shooting at angle to glass for small subjects like CRS.

[mervin]

kuku-man, the aunties over there looking for you again leh.

better bring Benny over there lah, all Aunties love tall, fair fair good looking boys !!!!