Mid-range landscape photos digital

[Zack418]

Hey, I'm new to this whole thing and found it looking up how to take pictures of fog. I just started using a digital SLR and I find it a lot harder than film. I'm fine with macro and close shots but all my mid-range and landscape shots just look like some middle school girl took them with her $20 camera from walmart. Any advice?

 

[antiquark]

Do you have any favorite landscape shots by other photographers? Maybe you could attempt to emulate them, it might be informative.

Also, can you describe what's wrong with your pics? Are they blurry, tilted, etc?

 

[petronius]

I agree with antiquark. Find pictures you like and try to copy them, just to train your eye and skills. Post some of the pictures you do not like and describe why you don´t like them. It´s hard to give advice without an example.
Welcome to this forum! (BTW sometimes a 20$ camera is enough gear;-)

 

[djon]

Are you comparing out-of-focus autofocus to good manual focus? If your DSLR is autofocus, try turning that off when you're in flat light...manual focus may make you happier.

 

[pvdhaar]

Shooting fog is somewhat tricky, so don't give up.

Not every fog is created equal.. You don't want it to be so dense that you can't make out a thing, and it should be thick enough to put a veil over more distant objects. The other thing you have to look for, is the light. When it's early in the morning the light has a warm colour that adds a delicate mood to the scene. Finally, for me to make a picture with fog work, I choose a scene with distinct fore- middle- and back grounds, and a not to wide focal length (e.g. 50mm)..

All in all, this means getting up before dawn, seeking out a location that has the appropriate subject material, and then hope for the proper weather conditions.

The image attached could have been taken with a $20 camera..

 

[Zack418]

Thanks

Thanks

Hey all this has been really helpful. I posted a bunch of new images on my website http://zblogz.aminus3.com/ on there I have some example of what I do like (landscape shots) and what I do like (macro shots). Oh and about what djon said. I always use manual focus and manual settings on my camera. Do you think that effects anything. Thanks

 

[antiquark]

Hey all this has been really helpful. I posted a bunch of new images on my website http://zblogz.aminus3.com/

Other than blown hilights (which isn't necessarily a flaw), your landscapes look fine to me.

Maybe you could upload a landscape image you don't like, using the "Go advanced: manage attachments" button. Then it will be easier to determine what the issues are.

 

[Zack418]

Here's one of the ones I don't like. The light and color weren't the way I wanted. I don't know how to make it a better shot.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

Were you trying for a silhouette? What film were you shooting?

 

[antiquark]

Here's one of the ones I don't like. The light and color weren't the way I wanted. I don't know how to make it a better shot.

I think the lighting is the problem, everything is backlit so it looks like a silhouette, like Pickett mentioned.

You could try some exposure compensation to brighten everything, but then the sky might end up being blown.

I don't know what the environment was like, but maybe if you walked around there might have been better illumination on the scene. E.g., if the sun was behind you, you wouldn't have a silhouette effect.