i'm trying to get the hang of capturing those gorgeous blue skies like the one we had Wed. afternoon!! it was 80 degrees and sun was verrry bright. here was my first shot of the day. i got real excited when i saw the fire truck but this image is trash. :( f/ 5.6 exp 1/250 sec ISO 64

i'm off too to enjoy the day... happy shooting sheila :]

i had more time to think on this next shot. hmmm...amazing how difference in exposure makes all the difference!!!! with this image, i was mostly experimenting, trying to see if i could get the sky right. i liked that long shadow of the tree and movement of those pines. it was a really windy day. i'd like feedback on this one. do you find it an uninteresting photo? i like it, but then again, i'm crazy about trees!!! i know i could do this shot better...just wish i knew how!!! i'd like some suggestions for improvement, etc. What is it that's weak about this shot? subject? weak compo? i'm not quite sure. i think i nailed the sky though. not sure about the movement of pines. think i could have done that a bit better. ideas??? f/ 5.6 exp. 1/500 ISO 64

enjoy your day cindy!!!! i wish i was out to enjoy it! i'm off to work soon! :(

Oh yes!! The colors of that second shot are awesome Sheila! I don't think u need any advice on this! It looks like u found the right settings for what u wanted to achieve here! The only thing I could suggest to make it a 'lil more "eye catching" would be to rotate it! Like this! Just an idea though! :)

Yep you got the sky beautiful in the second shot. Not sure what you are aiming for with movement on the pines. I wonder what it would have looked like with a long exposure. Does your camera have a neutral density filter built in so you can get exposure times longer for daylight shots ?

First ones perfect I think. The second is a bit unerexposed for me...but you should see some of my exposures...lol. Is it possible to get soemwhere between your two examples w/settings.? Yes...it is amazing how a slight exposure adjustment can so drastically effect the final photo. Very nice work. -Peace :-)

If you don't already have one...get a polarizing filter for bright days....reduces or eliminates light reflection off tree leaves, grass or water...any reflective surface, really... so the colour shows up better. I also think Tibet's suggestion to flip it horizontally points out a usefull composition practice as well...I find the eye naturally wants to follow from left to right so whenever possible I try and set up a shot with that in mind. In this case reversing the image creates that phenomenon. I've had shots that I've experimented with to create that effect when the natural landscape doesn't co-operate but despite them being perhaps more pleasing to the eye, I find I can't bring myself to present it reversed...not natural in my mind.....even though no one else would know the difference.

well I guess Doug would....... ;-)

Pascale, Peter...i can't tell that there's any improvement by rotating it. i don't see where it's more eye catching, but if ya'all think so...we'll guess it doesn't make any difference to me to have it like that! :) Richard, mostly i was just tryin' to get that sky right, but the wind was blowin' the pines a lot, so i wanted to just catch them right...show the movement. i think i did. yeah...curious what a longer exposure would have looked like. too bad i didn't do that. My cam doesn't have a neutral density filter built it, but i do have one. jeff, yeah, small adjustments...big differences!!!! thanks! peter, thanks, yeah, i do have a polarizing filter, and it sure can help. :) thanks so much guys for your help, suggestions & advice!

Wow, you did great Sheila!!!! I really like that second one, it looks great....and maybe its just you and me that are weird...but i dont see any difference flipping it over either...ive been scrolling up and down, up and down, up and down...and non of them stick out more than the other...oooh, why not stitch both of them together??? And for that first one, im glad youre wearing your seatbelt....blah blah blah..