50 plus shots and only one decent!!!

[andrew__]

Very nice shots! love the colours on that vanda too.

I think it's a good idea to learn to shoot without a tripod for crowded orchid show situations where you either don't have room or time to get it set up properly.

Ross - great tips on exposure. I tend to underexpose and correct in PS because it's safer than blowing out highlights, but maybe I'll try some of your tips and see how that works.

[Swamper]

Thanks for the lessons Ross. I'm trying to learn to set my camera to the correct metering mode using the grey card. BTW thanks for the New Campus link. I'm liking it a lot so far.

Ron, yeah I've been watching your pics on flickr for a while, I love that cattleya macro you posted today. Actually you have a bunch of fantastic pics on flickr.

Andrew glad you liked the vanda too. It's my favorite vanda but I still haven't really gotten the colors right.
One day I'll bring it down, set it up with the right background, and see if I can get that purple tint just as it is.

A while back I played around with the shutter speed and aperture, and on a few slightly underexposed pics I was able to get the color to show better. I find I like the look of a slightly underexposed pic sometimes.

[OrchidSue]

A trick I learned in my photography class is to use your hand as a gray card. Meter to your hand and then add 1 click more light, either shutter speed ofr f-stop. This is handy outside and gets you generally to the right exposure. Sometimes I have to fine tune to get what I want. The only problem is, people will thing you are strange trying to photograph your hand Also if you are outside, green grass can work as a gray card if needed.

Susan