hopefully someones still up

[millz]

[millz]

[Elisha]

on the last pic, the details on the birds are overblown. i suggest spot metering on the birds white body and composing.
i tend to have the same issues with white objects so i tend to always underexpose a little to compensate cause i know i will forget to change to spot metering all the time.

[sparkie1263]

You need to watch your histogram. Any blown out areas will flicker then you can adjust your exposure+-. Try using aperture mode start at f/8.

Frank

[dr4gon]

You should also zoom in and single out your subject, that's what that long lens is for!

[Peekayoh]

Millz, this is all about exposure. Hold on! I'm repeating myself. Ah Well. In any case you've demonstrated the two extremes of "Under" and "Over" exposure.

Parrots
Being in the shade, the subject Parrot is in the darker part of the image. By including the sky in the image you have successfully encouraged the camera to underexpose your subject.
Spoonbill
There's a lot of "dark" in the image and the meter has chosen an exposure to suit which leaves the subject overexposed.

Elisha, Sparkie and Dragon have offered good tips and I talked about zooming in, locking exposure and zooming out to frame the shot, in another thread.
Faming the shot like this would have given a correct exposure and maybe a more "focussed" shot. In any case, you can lock focus at this point and then zoom out to the frame of your choice.

I hope I'm being clear and not muddying it further for you.

[millz]

no being perfectly clear ty for the advice if im understnding correctly zoom in on the subject hold button then zoom out and snap the shot. I need alot of help this is why im posting these shots, different ones in fact to get your opinions these shots are good not great i get it. i will work on what your saying today thanks again.Remember i was whining about working so much i havent been on here as much to read what alot of you are writing. So sorry if u guys are repeating i just havent had the time o dedicate to this like i would like.

[millz]

to my eye the shots look ok ,,,,,yes they could be better but that is why im posting to see how i can get them better.

[Elisha]

to my eye the shots look ok ,,,,,yes they could be better but that is why im posting to see how i can get them better.

i agree with you. in the days of a P&S, those shots are pretty good. but ever since i got a DSLR, i keep focusing on the smaller details and correct exposure, metering and so on.
i used to take tonnes of outdoor shots cause portraits never turned out too well on my FZ7 indoors.
nowadays i'm focusing on indoor portraits instead cause i have a more capable camera and lens.
but in spring i will start outdoor shots as well and i'm sure i'll be messing up as well and forgetting a few techniques :-)

[sparkie1263]

Do you know how to turn on the Histogram? You should look at that firstafter you take the shot . If that looks good then check for focus. Did you look at the link I posted it will help. Without a good exposed shot the focus don't mean anything. Hang in there you will get it.
Frank