DLS Exercise 1

My first exercise consists of 3 tasks.  The first task was to put 5 items 3-4" apart and adjust my aperture to get used to the different depths of field.  All photo's were shot using my Nikon D300 equipped with a Nikon VR 18-200mm F/3.5-5.6G lens.

I quite liked this exercise, it really highlights the differences in aperture settings.  Once I got to around F/11 or so, I started to notice camera blur if I wasn't careful.  I didn't want to have to adjust my ISO setting, so I used the table top and the back of my hand to steady the camera.  The pictures to the left are taken at F/3.5, F/11, and F/22.  I'll upload them in that order, but there's no telling how they'll display.

Task 2 involved selecting a straight edge item (fence, etc) and taking 3 pictures with distinctly different focal points.  I tried this using a wall with 3 different doors in it.  And....my pictures suck.  I don't see any differences between them.  I need to keep working on this task.

Task 3 was to gather items and make a "still life" pictures.  We were to adjust camera settings for proper exposure.  Unfortunately, the resulting pictures were less than stellar.  Another one to keep working on...

Sometimes I find myself trying to be to creative with what I'm taking pictures of.  This causes unneeded stress and then I panic and end up killing the picture bunnies by petting them to hard (George? Can I pet da bunnies George?).  What I've come to realize is that (for now at least) creativity doesn't really matter.  What I need to do is just keep clicking away.  If I pay attention to the technical side, my photo's will get better and that will eventually free up my creative juices and then watch out baby! cause I'll have creative juices all over my photo's!