OK...this is hard... :)

[SleeperGT]

Went out today and took the new camera...pretty darn sure I over complicated every shot. I have been reading tons and tons of posts and reading definitions over and over again...now getting them all done at the same time and coming together and making a worth while picture...Not so much...I still had fun though. :D Holy **** do I need a tripod...and skill :lol:

Two of these are my car... (yes it is dirty)
http://www.tennesspeed.net/forums/../gallery/data/500/thumbs/car50.jpg (http://www.tennesspeed.net/forums/../gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7763)http://www.tennesspeed.net/forums/../gallery/data/500/thumbs/car250.jpg (http://www.tennesspeed.net/forums/../gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7762)

Two are from an old Cotton plant and dam in Prattville...

http://www.tennesspeed.net/forums/../gallery/data/500/thumbs/dam250.jpg (http://www.tennesspeed.net/forums/../gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7764)
http://www.tennesspeed.net/forums/../gallery/data/500/thumbs/dam50.jpg (http://www.tennesspeed.net/forums/../gallery/showphoto.php?photo=7765)

[abailey362]

good start ron. I would start with the priority modes and work on one adjustment at a time and let the camera do the rest for you. once you are comfortable with em all by themselves, then try manual, but do it on some non-important pictures. Don't take it to the hospital for the first pics of the new baby and try manual...laura would be pissed

[SleeperGT]

:lol: yes she would...no that day...little green square and portrait mode will be priority...

Thank you though.

[josh99ta]

Start off in aperture priority for car shots since you'll be adjusting to proper exposure anyway. Lower numerical f-stop for more background blur, higher (f8-f16) for sharper images front to back. Then switch over to manual mode once you're comfortable with aperture adjustments. Tweak your shutter speed to get the exposure you want at that point. Definitely give yourself some time to learn the camera. I knew photography decently to begin with and it took me a good few hours spread across three or four different sessions and a LOT of pictures to get the D80 down pat and to really start getting some good shots.

[SleeperGT]

Good advice Josh...It is appreciated. I knew there would be a decent learning curve to this and even when I get proficient...there will still be more to learn everyday...That is one thing that is attracting me to this hobby...it isn't something you can master quickly.

[northtnguy]

One of the best things you can do is read the owner's manual. After you do that, take the manual with camera in hand and read it again. You'll be surprised what all you can comprehend by doing that. It will (eventually) all fall in to place. A lot of it will be trial and error, but you'll have the concept of what you can do to make the picture better.

[SleeperGT]

I've read the manual twice...one before I bought the camera...and once after...

Thanks,
Ron