How do I take really cool pictures (settings)?

Set up a shot and try it with different settings - take several pics of the same set-up.
Overexpose, underexpose and see what you like. Use your camera's +/- exposure override.

I like xo's idea - try it in the dark, use the beanbag technique. Also try just before and just after sunrise / sunset.

Post some pics - we'll take a look and give you some beta.

 

its supposed to be cloudy tomorrow afternoon and that's when i'll have some time. i was looking at my settings and can change the iso to auto, 50, 100, 200 i think. i saw where i could change the aperture and one other thing (the one at 5.6). and it has aperture priority, shutter priority, manual, etc. i can change the flash to tungsten, flourescent, daylight, cloudy, and some other stuff. but i don't know how to under/over-expose.
i'll start messing around with it and i'm sure i'll get the hang of how things change the pics. thanks alot, and i'll post pics tomorrow.

 

The tungsten, flourescent, daylight, cloudy settings are actually white balance, and will change the color of the pictures. Try messing with them and see how it adjusts the colors. For sunsets it can have a pretty wild effect! Just a word to the wise about cloudy conditions. Clouds provide very "flat" light and don't produce many shadows because the light is so omnidirectional. So if you have pictures that are low contrast, that's probably the culprit. Looking forward to seeing the results!

 

See page 54: [clik here]

Also, overcast days are some of the best.
Try some using your flash, even if you think you don't need it - it fills in shadows.

 

i took a bunch of pics, now i am trying to find a website to upload them to that won't resize them.

 

I use flickr.com. If they're under a certain size they'll let you post a "large" image. I can't remember what size that is though. 1600x1200 I think. I have a paid account, and they allow full res with that, $25 / yr.

 

i'm using snapfish, we'll see how this goes

 

here is the link to the album on photobucket:
http://s240.photobucket.com/albums/ff210/28003/Test Camera Settings 12-01-09/
i'll fill in the details later when i have time

 

Dude! That is exactly how you do it!
Take a bunch of pics, mess with different settings - trial 'n' error is what it's all about.

See how when the cross is exposed correctly, the sky starts to blow out? One way to deal with this is to use some fill flash to light up the foreground object (cross) when the sky is exposed correctly - did you try that at all? (Haven't had time to really look - I am at work right now.)

The other thing is just the time of day - waiting for the right light. Not always possible though... that's why we have Photoshop!

 

Some with my old point and shoot nikon on auto.




Not the best but not bad. I plan on getting a DSLR soon as well.

 

Those pics are currently on the banner too ^

 

Here is the info. Canon PowerShot A610, 10:53AM on 12/01/09. Cloudy with Sun occasionally poking through. In pics 1-60 camera is facing West, in pics 61-92 camera is facing North. Original pic size is 2592x1944

Pic 1: Auto, superfine
Pics 2-22: Shutter Priority, ISO-50, Daylight, Vivid, Shutter from 1/2500-1/30 in preset increments
Pics 23-32: Aperture Priority, Aperture from F2.8-8.0 in preset increments
Pic 33: Manual, ISO-50, 1/250, F5.6, Exposure +2/3, Daylight
Pic 34: Manual, ISO-50, 1/250, F5.6, Exposure +2/3, Cloudy
Pic 35: Manual, ISO-50, 1/250, F5.6, Exposure +2/3, Tungsten
Pics 36-48: Custom, ISO-50, Vivid, Exposures (in order) 0,-1/3,-2/3,-1,-1 1/3,-1 2/3,-2,+1/3,+2/3,+1,+1 1/3,+1 2/3,+2
Pics 49-60: Aperture Priority, F5.6, Exposures 0,-2,-1 1/3,-1,-2/3,-1/3,1/3,2/3,1,1 1/3,2
Pic 61: New location, Auto
Pics 62-66: Program, Exposures 0,-1 1/3,-2/3,2/3,1 1/3
Pics 67-71: Aperture Priority, F4.0, Exposures 1 1/3, 2/3,0,-2/3,-1 1/3
Pics 72-77: Aperture Priority, F5.0, Exposures -1 1/3,-2/3,0,2/3,1 1/3
Pics 78-82: Aperture Priority, F5.6, Exposures 1 1/3, 2/3,0,-2/3,-1 1/3
Pics 83-87: Aperture Priority, F6.3, Exposures -1 1/3,-2/3,0,2/3,1 1/3
Pics 88-92: Aperture Priority, F5.6, Exposures 1 1/3, 2/3,0,-2/3,-1 1/3, FLASH ON

 

Ultimately it comes down to lighting. I never bought the book, but there's a lady who did a full deal on using disposable cameras and expensive studio lights to get impressive photos. She could whup my DSLR with Canon L-grade glass any day.

 

One thing that's worth mentioning as well that nobody has brought up is composition. The pictures from jdkeller have very strong diagonals that draw your eye across the frame when you view it. Parallel and perpendicular are static, diagonal is dynamic. Also, major compositional elements that are off center vertically and horizontally are more dynamic than centered ones. Dead center vertically and horizontally is about as static as they come. Try some of that out too. It's definitely the abstract skill in photography that's tough to pin down, but the technical aspects of the ones posted here look pretty good!


Here's one taken with my panasonic point and shoot indoors no flash. Camera was sitting on the arm of a recliner set on self timer to prevent motion blur.

 

The ISO won't affect colors but rather the ambient light and the white balance setting. ISO is only the "film's" sensitivity to light. The higher the ISO, the less exposure time but increased noise.

 

I agree you need a DSLR if you want clear pictures, I have a canon 40D and it's beautiful! but keep your iso settings low, and shutter speeds high. if your iso is too high it get's what we call "noise" which is the weird colored dots on the picture, and if the shutter speed is low the pics will be blurry. get a canon rebel and never look back

 

I wonder if the funky colors he is talking about come from light that isn't too obvious to the eye, and shows up in the image on long exposures. Example - off-spectrum light from sodium vapor lights, fluorescents etc. that your eye adjusts for and does not perceive as abnormal color.

With film - very long exposures give weird colors because the base color elements expose at slightly different rates. This only shows up in long exposures because normal exposures are too short for it to have an effect.

 

If we're getting into composition here, I see where you're getting at and it's a good start. Good composition includes not amputating the model. Her knees and elbows are cut off. Also, the girl is the subject. Yet that diagonal string keeps pulling my eye away from the girl. That string then leads my eye to what I presume is a lamp. That section of lamp is an extra distraction that takes away from the overall image. A suggestion of a better crop is attached.

More light needs to be added to her face as dark areas tend to be less important in pictures. She is the subject and I want to see hey eyes. I want to see her expression.

You also need to be aware of what is behind your subject. There's a crumpled piece of napkin behind her butt. It looks like its growing out of her butt and the tree looks like its growing out of her head. Use a low aperture to have the subject in focus and blur the background.

Remember, this isn't a bashing. It's meant to be a helpful critique to help you take better pictures later on.

 

You know you can have the most expensive DSLR you can afford but just because you have a DSLR it doesn't mean you will get the shots you are looking for. Bottom line is any person who's been doing this for a while, they will tell you it's a lot of work it's a lot of learning! And it's a lot of going out and shooting your ass off! It's not unheard of for me to shoot 800+ shots in one our Off-Road Runs. And out of all those shot's I will use maybe 10%

I took some of the best shot's ever with my P&S don't diss them...I know people who can outshoot pro level equipment with a $200 P&S The best thing to do is to go and practice, practice, practice!! That is the best advice I can give anyone!! I've seen to many people get disappointed and lose interest because their shots are not what they thought it they would be because they went out and bought a $500 DSLR and expected pro level quality shots off the bat!...

I've said my $.02 if any of you have questions just shoot me a PM or an email and I will gladly talk and answer any questions

By the way Deuce that is a good shot...the string in the forefront is a little distracting and like someone mentioned work on not cutting off her body parts unless the shot calls for it.