First upload attempt - daffodils!!

[Leeloo]

Well, I just got a new Samsung WB700 compact camera, so I have been playing with it. Other than discovering that I definitely need a tripod, my photos so far are average-OK (I think).

I am mainly fiddling with different settings to see what happens when I try different things - I quite like the "macro" setting although it's a bit of a misnomer here and "close up" is more appropriate for my camera!

I suspect this is a boring photo in terms of composition but as a first attempt at playing with a new toy, I was quite pleased. The focus could be sharper, but I don't think it's achievable without a tripod (or a mega-lens LOL). Please be kind as it's my first upload to this site!! :o

Um - sorry the picture is a bit large, I've resized it but it still seems huge??!

[Iguanasan]

This is a great start. Very nice looking daffodils... I just love to see the bright yellow this time of year when everything is either white or grey.

I checked your EXIF data (little bits of info about the photograph stored in the image file) and found out the following information.

Exposure Time: 1/30
F Number: 4.4
ISO Speed Ratings: 100
Focal Length: 14.3

What this tells me when I look at it is that the shutter speed, at 1/30th of a second, is quite slow for a hand-held shot. You have to be very, very still. It also tells me that your ISO was set to 100. Had the ISO been set to 200 then you could have probably gotten away with a shutter speed of about 1/60th of a second. Which would make it lot easier to hold that steady.

[Mad Aussie]

Nothing wrong with the composition. A little brightening in post edit would help this greatly I think.

Iggy's advice on the shutter speed and ISO is spot on.

[Richard]

A nice start, I can't really add to what's already been said.

[Hillbillygirl]

Nothing wrong with that at all Leeloo. Just get out and shoot, play with your new "toy" and get comfortable with using all the different settings. Then, when looking at your pics later, find what you like/dislike about them and think about this as you get ready to compose your next shot.

Oh yeah, and a big welcome to the best forum on the net. Great bunch here, just like family, (only better, in a lot of ways) ;)

[Leeloo]

Thanks for the comments and the welcome, it's much appreciated! :)

Wow Iguanasan, you could find out that much about the settings when the picture was taken? That's amazing!!

I have no knowledge about how things like aperture, shutter speed and ISO work together - this is something I'm hoping I can pick up from sites like this and various tutorial sites. But as my camera has the potential for me to manually change these things rather than always using the "smart" and "scene" settings, I'm determined to learn as much as I can. Or at least get a steer in the right direction :)

Haha, I've gone from barely picking up a camera at all in the last 5 years to constantly having one in my pocket/bag/bike pannier!!! :D

[susan]

Sounds like you will need to soon join the organization of PA (Hello, my name is susan and i am a photography addict.) LOL.... Nice start! Enjoy your new camera! Can't wait to watch you grow!