bridge 2
I'm really not thrilled with this photo, but it's the first one of any merit at all that I've taken with my new camera.
I'm really not thrilled with the new camera, either. My Fuji S700 has focusing issues, just as bad or worse than my old Nikon Coolpix. But unlike my Nikon, it has the ability to manually focus (available after a few moments of pawing through menu options), and it's got better resolution.
Thompson Park, Lincroft.
(sort of cross-posted to Monmouth County Daily Photo)
12 comments:
first... hey!... new site!...
second... ah... so this is the new camera... i was wondering...
third... check your manual... sometimes there is a way of altering how the focus works... you might be able to select your points of focus... and/or you might be able to change how chooses the spots that it does...
another way to do it is to center the area that you want to be in focus... press part way down on the shutter... then, while still holding part way down, recompose the image and shoot... it should keep the focus where you want it...
Ah, so that focus-and-hold-as-you-move is a universal trick. I've been trying it, but it doesn't work with the macro setting. And if the subject isn't at close range, then the camera focuses on everything equally ANYWAY, and there isn't much of a need for specific focusing.
I've been reading the manual. I think I just need to start working with the camera more. It took me a while to figure out my Nikon, too.
::crosses fingers:: ...God, I hope that's it.
Oh- almost forgot-
"ah... so this is the new camera... i was wondering..."
You were wondering? Because I'd mentioned it a while ago and you were wondering when I was actually going to buy the thing, or because you can tell from the quality of the image?
well... the image is sharper... which made me wonder...
as for the other... i am, by nature, a bit of a procrastinator... i would have taken a lot longer between research, choosing and buying... i guess i normalize that... and, thus, it is a surprise when someone doesn't take as long...
wait... you shot this as a macro?... why?...
wait... another trick... if you want to maximize your depth of field, focus about 1/3 of the way into your image...
wait... that might be confusing...
first, compose your shot... and look at your image... find the object of interest that occurs first in your image... in this case, it would probably the boards at (or near) the bottom of the frame... next, you find the object of interest that is farthest from the camera... like the end of the bridge rail... now manually focus 1/3 along that length using the smallest possible fstop (which is, ironically, the highest number), probably f8 or f11 on your camera... that should put most, in not all, of that into focus... the areas before and behind that may be in focus as well... or just out...
Wow. I need to read my manual on how to do that, but I'm pretty damn sure the camera is capable of it. Which excites me.
Normally, I'm the hesitant, overanalytical consumer who needs to research things for a month before working up the nerve to buy anything (and knows that whatever I end up buying will most certainly be wrong), but I get spring fever. Guess what? It's spring. I've bought 3 fairly expensive items in the past 2 weeks; usually, I get maybe a new shirt or pair of jeans every 3 months (and keep the tags on the clothes for another 2 weeks JUST TO BE SURE that I really want 'em).
So, yeah, I'm in an impulsive mood right now.
Y'know, I was a little surprised when you said you wanted to wait "at least a week" because it seemed that you really wanted the new camera, and most commenters seemed to be egging you on. But now you've surprised me again by not waiting the week. ;)
I'm not sure I'd use the term "universal" for the focus-and-hold thing... it's something everyone of a certain "picture-taking age" learned to do with autofocus cameras, but modern cameras seem to be moving away from that and toward the multiple focus points mgilpin mentioned. I have such a camera, but I have mine set to always focus in the center, because old habits die hard.
Oh, as for the bridge picture itself, I like it a lot. The curve of the bridge is very pleasing, and you captured it well.
In some ways it reminds me of your Rt 18 exit ramp picture, despite the very different setting.
ok... one is the camera... what are the other two?...
oh... just for fun... when the maximum distance is the horizon/infinity, there is a fancy name for that kind of focusing ... it is called the 'hyper-focal' distance... and is the way all point-and-shoot disposables are set up... (thus the minimum distance of 4-8 feet you often see on the back of the camera)...
John- Well, it FELT like a week.
My old camera was autofocus, but it pretty much focused equally on everything, so I never really had a need for that trick.
Oh, and thanks. :)
m- A new pair of in-line skates (my old ones broke beyond reasonable repair this week) and a not-on-sale dress (I'm going to a wedding in a few weeks).
Oh- and no, I did not use the macro setting on this shot.
"Hyper-focal distance." Focusing to infinity. Okay. Now I can almost start pretending to talk intelligently about cameras. ;)
(chuckle)...
I like the photograph.
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