Can the photography dudes help me please ?

[Faldo]

Basically, I've just started planning next years Euro tour. In preperation for this I've been reading a few old tour threads in the Touring & Exploration section.

Whilst reading said threads, I've come to realise that the photos that I take are, well, ..... shite really. Some of the countries I will be passing through are supposed to be really beautiful, so I want my pics to do them justice.

So are there any guides to basic photography that anybody can point me towards? I'm not looking to become the next David Bailey, so I'm not into forking loads of cash out for a camera which will be used once a year, but I'd just like to be able to take half decent pics.

If it helps to know, I have a Nikon Coolpix S6 and a Vivitar DVR7300X. Do I need a better camera?

You can look at my pics from last year by clicking here. Constructive critisism / instruction welcome (Apart from telling me that I left the date stamp on ).
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Current: ZZR1400
Previous: ZXR 400 L9, ZX-7R P5, ZZR 400, ZX-7R P6, Bandit 600, GSXR 750 Slingshot, DRZ400, DR650, ZX10R C1H, ZXR 750 L1, ZXR 750 L3, '99 ZX7R P4, KTM 300 EXC, ZX-9R E1, TDM850

[rotax81]

im no david bailey myself but a few tips after looking at a couple of your pics.

the pic of the pint with your bike behind it - focus the camera on the bike first then move over for the shot while holding the focus down.

some of the other pics - try and get the bike in the middle of the shot, although some shots may look better with a different subject as the focal point.

just my 1p worth (credit crunch amount possible)
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[Faldo]

[Silver]

Here you go, there's plenty of reading here:
https://www.shortcourses.com/use/

[Faldo]

[LankyPaddy]

Easiest thing you can do to improve is read up on composition, This: https://www.morguefile.com/archive/classroom.php has got a couple of good lessons.

Main points are to get the crap out the pictures (random 1/2 truck cabs, rear ends of cars, crash barriers, random panniers) and give your photos a subject - something to focus the eye on or a line to lead your eye into the pic.

Have a read up on things and keep experimenting

Edit: Bit of feedback - just my 2c of course...
https://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff267/yellaninja/2008%20Trip/?action=view¤t=DSCN0349.jpg
To improve that I'd have crossed the road - eliminating the bin and the telegraph pole with it's wires. It would also have allowed you to get the whole building in.

https://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff267/yellaninja/2008%20Trip/?action=view¤t=DSCN0347.jpg

This one is better, more sense of scale, your eyes get drawn towards the top - until the tip gets cut off...

And one final thing, your camera is fine. The majority of photography is just dumb luck. Just get to know how your camera works so you know what to do when that lucky moment arises
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[Mr Hammers]

Everything LankyPaddy says (although i'd disagree about it being dumb luck...there's an element of that but good photographers make their own luck), but looking at your pics one thing that strikes me is that it seems like you're trying to put too much in into each photo.

Try to find a point of interest and concentrate on making that look as best it can with the surrounding scenery/environment, rather than giving everything equal status (if that makes sense). At the same time try and make the usual look unusual, whenver possible.

One other thing, almost all of your pics are taking from the 'man with a camera' angle. Try lying or kneeling down, experiment with various angles of view. Now and again you'll get a great shot just because it doesn't come from the expected, traditional viewpoint.

One last other thing...once you've framed and ready to take the shot, ask yourself is it interesting or nice to look at? If the answers no, mix things around until it is.

HTH
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[Faldo]

Cheers guys, some good input there.

Last year I did just pretty much point and click, hence the bin/truck/wires etc spoiling them.

I can see what you mean about trying to fit too much in to one photo Hammers.

I'm not leaving until August of next year, so plenty of time to experiment. The proof is in the pudding I suppose, so I'll probably go for a ride in the countryside, and perhaps post a couple of pics to see if there's improvement.

Another thing you may be able to help me with, weather. Are there any things I need to take into account when snapping in sunny weather, cloudy weather, piss wet rain? My route will be taking me through probably about 9 countries, with quite different climates.
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Current: ZZR1400
Previous: ZXR 400 L9, ZX-7R P5, ZZR 400, ZX-7R P6, Bandit 600, GSXR 750 Slingshot, DRZ400, DR650, ZX10R C1H, ZXR 750 L1, ZXR 750 L3, '99 ZX7R P4, KTM 300 EXC, ZX-9R E1, TDM850

[Wave2k]

I dont know alot about photography, but on my tours ive always wanted to get as many people pictures as possible.

Taking pictures of the bike in exotic landscapes seems cool, but in years to come you wont care as much, i always wish i take more people pictures.

Pictures of the bike and you in an exotic landscape is something you can oogle at in 20 years when you are too old for that crap.
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[Faldo]

Thanks Wave.

The reason none of my pics contain me is that I have really low self esteem, and don't really wanna look at my fat mush! I'll try and do a couple next year with me in them.

Or, if anyone can translate the following: "Hey pretty lady, mind if i take pictures of you straddling my bike?" into French, German, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Croatian and Italian I'm sure I'll have some post worthy pics to show next August!
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Current: ZZR1400
Previous: ZXR 400 L9, ZX-7R P5, ZZR 400, ZX-7R P6, Bandit 600, GSXR 750 Slingshot, DRZ400, DR650, ZX10R C1H, ZXR 750 L1, ZXR 750 L3, '99 ZX7R P4, KTM 300 EXC, ZX-9R E1, TDM850

[Itchy]

Well I use a rule of anything that is enough to make me stop and take a photo usually speaks for itself and I use a K810i phone to take photos, its self timer and knowing what angles you can take photos from with you in it is useful..

Though the photos I show on BCF are only a small % of what I take, since the K800 is easy to take photos while riding (it varies from not very good to ok).
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[Wave2k]

Its pictures like this you cherish, not bike ones.

Very shite pictures (i were young(er) ), but its one that hold the most memorys, over say picture 2, which was during the same trip.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/dscf0025_116.jpg

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/dscf0027_105.jpg
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[stinkwheel]

A really important one for composition is the "rule of thirds" do not have anything, especially the horizon, halfway into the picture. You want either 1/3 ground and 2/3 sky or vice versa.

Have your point of interest 1/3 of the way into the picture. If you want it to really draw the eye, have it 1/3 of the way up and 1/3 of the way in. These are "sweetspots".

Don't have two of the same thing in frame. Three is ok.

Just to echo, people are MUCH more exciting than motorbikes. I have loads of pictures of motorbikes and they are dull as ditchwater.

Motorbike:
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rat%20and%20survival%2007/01430010.jpg

Same motorbike with rider:
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/rat%20and%20survival%2007/01430018.jpg
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[stinkwheel]

[Stevie GooGs]

Depth of field can be used to put your subject into prospective.

(i know about the panniers)
You can see from the pic below that the bike stands out very strongly against the background with the islands. The idea here is to get close to your subject but have the background scene to far away. If you google depth of field you will see what i mean.

https://w3.bikepics.com/pics/2008/08/12/bikepics-1383076-full.jpg

If you are going for landscape shots which most of the time it is what you will be look at, try and focus on somthing low or somthing for your eye to follow.

Example

https://www.transientlight.co.uk/panel/images/acoupleofcrackerstl.jpg
[/img]
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[KevTM]

Pretty much most of the things have been covered already in the post and the links given.

You're already doing some things right

The rule of thirds is really one of the main things you should be keeping to, things you could use for composition:

- Placing bike, sun, buildings, peoples faces/eyes etc in either of the 4 intersecting points.

- Keeping the sky, water, land, etc either occupying 1/3 or 2/3's of the image.

- Try to include some foreground interest if you're taking landscapes.. rocks, etc.

- Have lines leading into the main subject, a fence, a road, cloud pattern etc.

- Repetition works well, use repetition to create leading lines also.


That said, holiday photos and the likes will be more effective if you get a lot of culture in there, especially photographs of people.

For me, less is more, the less you have in your photo that distracts from your main subject(s) the better and more effective they'll be.

Don't be afraid to scrape your chin off the tarmac to get a low angle, or get up high or whatever.. unusual perspectives will make more intriguing/interesting photos.


One thing i could suggest for your Nikon is perhaps a Cokin filter system. I believe Cokin have a system that attaches to point&shoot style cameras. Basically it's just pieces of glass that attach to your camera in front of the lens. I'd highly recommend you get one with a polariser filter. The polariser filter can be used to bring out the clouds, make skies bluer, take reflections out of windows and water etc.. It'll give your images more 'pop' and contrast as well as help with exposure (sometimes skies can blow out very easily).

[Annabella]

The rule of thirds is great ... BUT


I generally use a 35mm camera, so have to really think about framing the photograph properly (getting it level too!!) there and then, however, one thing I've learnt from borrowing digital cameras* is that it's much better to snap away and take as many photos with all of your subject (plus a bit more) in so you can play with cropping and editing digitally when you get home. You also have the amazing option of being able to tilt the picture to level out the horizon etc.

*There is one digital SLR I borrowed that has an irritatingly off centre viewing window, I kept missing slices of important subject off the left hand side of my photos!!
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