Just a few pictures taken recently

[rancid badger]

I've been using my Olympus 550UZ quite a bit lately, I just thought I'd share a few of my favourite recent pictures;
This was in the snow the other day, I tried faffing with settings but ended up on auto for most of them:

This one looks like it's been shopped but in fact the misty effect was caused when I tried to blow snow off the lens

This is just the road in to Chopwell Wood

then some experimental night pictures:

I tried taking a few of the moon and managed one or two half decent ones:

this was a cropped one;

and one I tried but failed;

The 550UZ was always a compromise, I could have had a Canon 400d (I think that's the one?) but decided against it, as I need light weight and simple. The prospect of lugging extra lenses and stuff around wasn't really appealing for what I needed to photograph.

The 550 has a lot of features that I'm only now starting to learn about, including RAW etc. but I think the next step for me, is a beanbag and tripod
comments/advice always welcome
all the best
Steve

 

[Mungo]

Very nice pictures! Oh the snow...

Mungo

 

[Lasse]

Nice pictures! Especially like the night picture with the house!

Snow!!! Don't expect any proper winter around here...

Cheers,
Lasse

 

[Wayland]

Nice shots.

For the snow shots, I don't know what software you have available, but a quick curves adjustment would brighten the brightest tones a touch and really make them pop.

I've taken the liberty of doing a quick example for you here.

I'll take it down if you want because it is your picture after all.

 

[Gailainne]

Very cool pics mate, I especially like the cropped moon shot and the snow curved path shot, Wayland what programme did you use to tweak it ? the difference is small but very profound.

I must admit I thought I could take a photo, (composition) before joining this place...now I know better.

Every days a learning day.

Regards

Stephen

 

[Wayland]

Done in Photoshop but anything with a curves adjustment would do the same.

I adjusted the white point to raise the highlights to just under full white and then raised the curve in the sub highlight area and depressed the curve in the shadow areas which increased the contrast though the mid tones.

It's usually referred to as an "S curve" and it imitates the way film usually records tonal information.

As you say, it's not drastic but it just gives a shot a bit more punch.

 

[rancid badger]

Take it down? Certainly not!
No, I'd much rather have examples of how things can look, that way everyone learns
Thanks for the advice and kind comments, I've only got photoshop elements (2 I think:bluThinki )
I'll have to have a bit of a play about and see what I can do

Thanks again
best wishes
Steve

 

[Wayland]

You should be able to do something like it with elements.

I can't remember if it has curves but you can do something similar with levels if it has that.

Drop me a line if you need help.

 

[Shewie]

Nice piccies Steve, shame that funny white stuff didn`t hang around long though.