Camera and Software Advice?

[Sundance1972]

Seeing a lot of pictures on this site has made me realize how pathetic my photography skills and knowledge are. Not looking to become a pro, but sure could use some advice.
The camera I have is a Kodak Z981, 14MP with the 26x optical zoom and have installed a Lexar 8 GB "multi-use" card. Not a fancy or expensive setup by any means, but it's what my savings account let me buy. Also have a tripod for still shots.
First thing I'm thinking is to change out the card for a higher quality one. Is there an appreciable difference between a standard card and digital photo card?
What is a good photo editing software to buy, or maybe a free one online?

Looks like I'm going to be stuck on aft shift for awhile, so I would like to start going out during the day to learn how to use the camera and all the options properly.

[Glenny]

Nothing wrong with that camera. Auto settings should do fine. I just got a new camcorder and know I will have to spend time with the manual.. Lots of good adwise on youtube as well.

[huntwriter]

The Kodak Z981 is a decent camera for the hobby photographer. The Lexar 8 GB "multi-use" card is alright to get started. Later when you get better you always can upgrade to a larger card. Learn to use the manual exposure functions on the camera. With the manual exposure functions you can "create" the image you want. The programed settings always use average exposure which does often not give you an exact reproduction of what you see.

My wife, a professional photographer, and I use Corel software. Corel is a Canadian product, cheaper then Photoshop but just as good. There are many other software programs that are cheaper and offer more then a beginning photographer needs. A decent free downloadable photo imaging program is called Irfan View. I use that program quit often and ones you understand all the features it is amazing what you can do with it.

[warnniklz]

You can put the most exspensive rifle set-up in a beginners hands and they still won't be accurate right?

Cameras are the same.

Composition and lighting are the biggest thing.

[brian]

You can download Photoshop CS2 for free. It is an older version, but more than up to the task. Photoshop is industry standard, but it may be above your head if you are not all that tech savy. If you are serious about it there is a large user base out there and good forums to help you out.

http://download.cnet.com/Adobe-Photoshop/3000-2192_4-10255309.html

I don't know much about different memory cards, but I would imagine that a "digital photo card" maybe more marketing that function.
Taking good photos is more about the photographer and less about the gear. If you want to get better, read up on some simple rules of composition (you'll find all sorts of theories out there on the net), and then go take pictures in your backyard in all sorts of lighting conditions. This is so you can really get to know your camera, learn how light works, and learn how to compose shots. Its really more about you and less about the gear.
And like Huntwriter says, Learn how to use the manual settings and for gods sake turn off the flash unless you really really need it (or want to have awful lighting on every picture you take).

[Sundance1972]

Thanks for the info so far, will look into the links and programs you have suggested. Definitely need more time reading the manual and "playing" with the different functions, trial and error I guess. I've managed to take some really nice photos with it so far, but they seem to be few and far between. One looks like something out of National Geographic, the next looks like crap (due to user error, I'm sure).
Pretty sure Warnniklz hit the nail on the head, good equipment is useless if you don't know how to use it, which is why I'm here and appreciate the help.

[Tuffcity]

In addition to the above....

learn the rule of thirds, don't always stand there and take pictures- kneel down, sit, climb on stuff, back up and use the zoom to get the same framing. Really look at the picture you're composing through the view finder or the display. Are there shadows across peoples faces, where's the sun? Flash isn't a bad thing if you use it properly- ie: bright day and people wearing hats putting the faces in a strong shadow. Back up, use the zoom and the flash for fill light. Too close and picture gets washed out.

Get a better card- at least a class 6, it will write the photo to the card so much faster.

Take a zillion pictures of the same thing but at different angles, lighting, distances, settings, etc. The family went to Maui over Christmas and while I mainly did SFA except lie in the sun I still took nearly 900 pictures.

Dig out the manual and learn to use all the features of the camera.

RC

[huntwriter]

Great advice has been given here. Taking many pictures at different camera settings of the same subject will quickly provide you insight in how cameras and lenses work. When I learned photography my wife made me write notes of the camera settings, what lens was used and what focal length I used for each frame. These notes have proven invaluable as a learning tool to figure what worked and what not. On the newsstands there are many good magazines available with excellent advice from professionals on just about any topic of taking pictures.

[dana]

I shoot a megazoom point and shoot as well. The one trick I'll add is post editing is your friend. A simple crop and tweek of brightness and sharpness and take an ok photo and turn it into something special. Ansel Adams spent more time in the darkroom than he did actually taking the picture. In the modern day the dark room is your computer. Lots of programs out there to play with. I currently use the one that came with my camera and I get decent results. One day I'll actually spend some money and buy a Pro program and play with my photos even more.

The benefit of the modern age is we can see our photos right away and it isn't costly to take a lot of pictures like the old film days. When I do a photo shoot with some critters, it isn't uncommon for me to take several hundred pics in less than an hour. Out of those, I normally have a dozen or so keepers. If you find yourself wanting to do wildlife photography, turn the noises on your camera off. This is the advantage of the megazoom point and shoots. A lot of the expensive DSLRs are rather noisy and actually scare the critters when you are shooting. 1 or 2 pics and the animal bails. With a quiet camera you can take dozens without spooking the animal. And even though a 26x optical zoom has a good reach out and touch capability, the closer you can get the better the pictures are. Don't be afraid to stalk an animal and get up really close. Good practice for hunting season too. ;)

[goatdancer]

Also, the more you zoom, the steadier you have to hold.

[Sundance1972]

Couple pics that I think have turned out ok. Duck is at Chemainus Lake, the others are of Maze Lake up by 100 Mile. Nothing really exciting, but I like the mirror image on the lake pics. A good part of the reason I am wanting to improve my abilities is because of my daughter. For the last couple years we have talked about finding the "perfect scenery" spot and going back once a month for a year and making a calendar together on the computer (part school project, but mostly daddy/daughter time).

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/feb_03_485.JPGhttp://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/feb_03_429.JPG
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/feb_03_427.JPG

[Sundance1972]

Another from Forest Grove that I think turned out nice.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/feb_03_414.JPG

[The Dude]

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj313/Heliox18/feb_03_429.jpg

After a simple crop with PAINT (Windows

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj313/Heliox18/feb_03_429Crop.jpg

[The Dude]

1) Use the highest resolution your cam will take, if you really want great shots you can blow up later.

2) Carry Several cards (They're cheap, and they fill up fast on Hi-Rez)

3) Disable DIGITAL ZOOM, or learn how NOT to use it. Optical is key.

4) For long shots, get a tripod or rest. Use a remote if you have one for long shots. Takes the FUDD factor out.

5) carry a lens cloth and spare batts.

6) Take LOTS of shots. hange your angle, height etc. Youu can always delete the crap later, but you can't create the good ones out of thin air.

For free software, I use GIMP (Gimp.org) A little complicated at first, but free, intuitive and VERY versatile.

[The Dude]

And don't be afraid to experiment


Sometimes you get something cool

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj313/Heliox18/Scopepic.jpg

[dana]

X2 on the Dude's advice, especially shooting on the highest quality setting your camera has. Really easy to see the difference between low, med and high, especially when you crop.

[Krico]

Since we're on the topic, how are you guys getting full size high resolution photos posted to the site? My point and shoot is 14 megapixels and I shoot on the highest resolution setting. No matter what I try (compressing file, resizing through photobucket etc.) I get told the file size is too big unless I resize down to like avatar or one size up from that.

[dana]

Since we're on the topic, how are you guys getting full size high resolution photos posted to the site? My point and shoot is 14 megapixels and I shoot on the highest resolution setting. No matter what I try (compressing file, resizing through photobucket etc.) I get told the file size is too big unless I resize down to like avatar or one size up from that.

I use photobucket. IIRC the max size they allow is 800X600. When I edit my pics and choose to post them online, I resize them to 800x600 before uploading to photobucket. I believe if you left them supersized, photobucket will automatically resize them to smaller than 800x600.

[Sundance1972]

Thanks for the advice so far, gonna head down to the Somenos marsh and try some of the manual settings. Hopefully the birds co-operate.

[Mr. Dean]

Many don't realize what can be done with what they got.

So,,, I'll say it again: Put the owners manual in the bathroom and reference what it teaches you.
The sky is the limit on how far you want to take the knowledge but learning (aka; commitment and desire) it is involved.


Learn how to work in manual mode! and forget the auto settings. 'Auto', more often than not, ='s disappointing results and will force you into getting in tune with understanding exposure, which is the basis of a quality pic.

[Sundance1972]

One from today that looks ok. Also picked up a couple new cards, Lexar Platinum II 16 GB SDHC 200x Class 10's (not sure WTF that means, but the girl at London Drugs says they're pretty good, and they were on sale). LD is also putting on photography classes soon that I will be signing up for with my daughter.http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/new3.jpg

[2chodi]

A prize winning pro once told me "most people are really good at getting what they want in their photos but are quite poor at avoiding stuff that they don't want in the photo." I always think about this when taking photos. Cropping can help (as shown by The Dude), but so can taking a step one way or another, or getting lower or higher.

[dana]

Definately true when you are taking photos outdoors. How many beautiful scenes are ruined by a simple branch you couldn't see? And try taking pictures of a batchelor group of bighorns. Always a butt or a horn or a nose where you don't want it. ;)

[dana]

One from today that looks ok. Also picked up a couple new cards, Lexar Platinum II 16 GB SDHC 200x Class 10's (not sure WTF that means, but the girl at London Drugs says they're pretty good, and they were on sale). LD is also putting on photography classes soon that I will be signing up for with my daughter.http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/new3.jpg


Is this a crop or the orginal view? If you haven't cropped it yet, go back to the orginal size and play around by croping it various different ways and see what looks best to the eye. When playing around always save edits with a different file name as to not loose the orginal. A lot of times I just throw an 'a' or 'b' behind the orginal file name.

[Stone Sheep Steve]

Also, the more you zoom, the steadier you have to hold.

Some of the new steady shots are absolutely are amazing! 30x optical zoom and no need for a tripod. Video is a slightly different matter at that zoom.

SSS

[Sundance1972]

Is this a crop or the orginal view? If you haven't cropped it yet, go back to the orginal size and play around by croping it various different ways and see what looks best to the eye. When playing around always save edits with a different file name as to not loose the orginal. A lot of times I just throw an 'a' or 'b' behind the orginal file name.

Original view with the old 8GB card (bought the new ones on the way home), still learning how to crop and magnify them to where I want. Downloaded a couple free programs to play with (Irfan View and Photopad Image Editor), not real computer literate so might take a bit to figure them out. Will try a few more later on.
Taking the kids up to Holyoak Lake tomorrow and will play with the different settings more. User manual sucks, so will see if I can print out the extended manual I found online.

[Sundance1972]

Just playing around with this one (tried the "local focus" and border features), need to learn how to sharpen the image better. Pics was take from about 150 yards on 26x zoom.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Bird12.jpg

[Johnny G1]

Get yourself a good tripod and use the self timer and the pic should be crystal clear, Just my thoughts, as my tripod weighs 13 lbs by itself but you don't need one that heavy or expensive, $500. 20 yrs ago, and now they are carbon fibre. Keep up the good pics.

[Sundance1972]

Some from today down on the beach in Crofton, played with the manual settings and figured out a couple. Wasn't allowed to leave without taking a flower pic for my daughter, so tried the macro setting. Learning how to crop/resize with Corel Paintshop.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Flower1.jpg
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Shell.jpghttp://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Drake_and_Hen.jpghttp://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Beach_duck_2.jpghttp://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/Beach_duck.jpg

[Sundance1972]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Butterfly_Shell.jpg

[warnniklz]

lookin sharp

[dana]

Very Nice! Just keep on playing and you will see your photos get better and better.