New camera, could use some photography advice

[Goodspeed]

I'm jealous...I want your camera... :evil:

I'm no professional, but I'll spill some of my secrets and some advice...

- Buy a polarizing filter. They really bring out the colors and they make your subjects look great. I can't get one for my camera but I try to simulate their effects in PS. The best car pics I've seen use them.



- Spend an assload of time positioning the frame of your shot. For me, when I take pictures of cars, they have to be perfect...not only where I want them to be (if its the whole car), but if I'm taking a closer picture of just part of the car, I make sure to not cut off half of an emblem, or a bit of a sidemarker, or part of the spoke of a wheel etc. I just think that makes it look rushed. Spend some time composing everything and it'll look much better. Example see how in #4, a little bit of the license plate area is showing? or in #5, how the very little top of the wheel arch/lip is cut off? Nothing major, stuff like that just irks me. #4 actually isn't bad at all; of course you can't avoid stuff like that all the time, it depends on the design of the car. But if you can avoid it, do.

- Sunlight...it can be your best ally or your worst enemy. Not at all hard to work around, just position yourself correctly.

- Pictures of cars on grass are stupid

- Most people think high noon is the best time to take photos. False. Dawn and dusk provide more interesting lighting conditions, but they can take more skill and knowledge of your camera's capabilities to fully exploit.

- Photoshop....I use a copy I ripped off of our home computer, and the entire "Help" program doesn't work. So I've messed with it a lot. And honestly, all I ever do is a little saturation and contrast levels here and there, I haven't yet had a need for more.

- Most of all....take pictures...lots and lots of pictures. Its free with digital, so take thousands and just erase what you don't like. More practice = more better.

I'm really impressed by the XTi (and Canon in general, I don't plan on buying anything else), you'll be taking better pictures than me in no time 8). Brows the "My Photos" link in my sig for ideas and let me know if you have any questions!