Yup - I'm bummed.
I went out yesterday with my camera and snow shoes and I hit the unbroken trail through the wilderness to get some winter shots!
well, ok - it wasn't exactly the wilderness - but it sounds better that way (it was a golf course
)
So - I wanted to try a technique that I saw from a friend on FB, where you shoot directly into the sun, turn your F stop to 22 and you get a starburst effect on the sun.
I took a whole bunch of shots that way and on the camera screen they looked great - but when I came home and uploaded them to the big screen they were mostly crap! The sunburst effect turned out great - but the rest of the photo sucked. I understand all the lens flares, etc, but what I'm bothered by is the general quality of the photos. Even the ones that weren't shot into the sun were not sharp, the colours washed out, etc. Now, I don't usually shoot as high as 22 - usually between 10 and 3 - so I don't know if this is the problem or what. (it was a bright sunny afternoon) When I inspected my lens it was a bit foggy and dirty looking, which I guess became more pronounced in the cold so maybe that was my problem too.
So, I've cleaned my lens, and I'm going to try to head out today again, and try it all over again and see if I can get any improvement on these photos. It sucks though - I worked really hard for these photos - snow shoeing is very hard work and I was almost dead by the time I got back to my car. Ah well...... at least I got some damn good exercise!!
Thanks for letting me vent this out - if anyone has any good advice for me please share your tips.
Features:
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::Useful Links::
A List of Links for tutorials/info that I've found to be useful!
Basics of Pen Tool [link]
Making Photoshop Brushes [link]
Adding Borders in PS [link]
Depth of Field [link]
PS Borders [link]
The Pen Tool [link]
Watermarks [link]
Making Textures [link]
Layer Masks and Colour Gradients [link]
GavTrain Photo Training [link]
Manual HDR [link]
a
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`anmari has been spreading her infectious positivity throughout our community for over 6 years. Throughout this time Ana has been at the core of all things devious, passionately developing an eclectic gallery, helping organise devmeets, participating in chat events and also recently completed dedicating her time as a Community Volunteer. We are absolutely delighted to bestow the Deviousness Award for May 2013 to `anmari, congratulations! Read More
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Sweet 
And I KNOW what you mean about snowshoes. I remember walking in some for about a third of a mile. I was completely wiped out! Never again!!!!
That's when I stop for a break, take a look around and the winter wonderland all around me and I feel peace.
I was shooting the sun with trees, etc. I did find that when I angled so that the sun was sort of behind a branch the reflections were much less and the photo had much more clarity. I guess it all comes down to the sun just blasting everything out.
I have a ND filter - it's dark only on one half of it. I tried it a few times but I've never been satisfied with the results. Maybe it's too dark because when I use it, it just makes the sky look really dark. I haven't used it very often though, so maybe I just need to learn how to use it properly. Next summer I will try it again and see if I can get better at it.
I usually do shoot slightly under exposed. I just find that it tames down the bright spots and brings out colour and shadows more. Good advice - thank you!
I will be sure to keep checking my lens from now on too. You live and learn, I guess!!
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Good luck in your endeavours, and look forward to seeing what you come up with.
The bad thing about my camera is that it doesn't auto bracket - so most times if I am blending exposures I have to do it by making adjustments to the same shot - which works ok in some cases, but not so much in others.
Thank you - and I hope I don't disappoint you!