First all manual shoot with new camera or I need to understand shutter speed

On shutter speed: the numbers reflects fractions of a second. So 1 = 1 second; 1/2 = 1/2 second; 1/400 = 1/400th of a second. That's how long the shutter stays open.

Basically you adjust aperture and shutter speed to get the effect you want most. One stop up on aperture, go one stop down on speed, or vice versa. Work with that theory, and see how it goes.

That's how I learned: just take the photos, see what turns out. The advantage of digital is you can look at the photos straight away, and then if you are anything like me, get the piece of paper out of your pocket with the information ancora impara just gave you out of your pocket and look at it to work out what to do next.

Another useful thing I learned is to put my camera in automatic, and focus on what I want to take a photo of by pressing the shutter button half way down. The camera will flash up the numbers it chooses for the exposure on the screen. Then I turn the camera into manual and put those numbers in as my starting point. Like ancora said, then you can adjust the f-number (aperture) and shutter speed up and down as you like.

Did I ever send you my sheets on using a camera in manual? I don't remember.

Just remember, this is a perfectly normal learning curve. Getting thirty shots out of about two hundred is great! I was going out and getting about 200 shots nearly every day for a few months before I started getting really comfortable with it. Yeah it's disappointing to miss a really good shot, but remember you can always switch back into automatic, or just whip your old camera out of your pocket for that can't-be-missed shot! And then get the camera in manual and try it that way too.

I have your email address, don't I? If not, send me a message. I will dig that out for you tonight.

I mainly do live shows but use the same priciple for most of my photography. It can be quite grey in this town so I normally have my iso maxed out then depending on the shot I want I set the apeture (smaller the number the less in focus and higher the more in focus) and then I just set my shutter speed accordingly.

The best thing to remember is that photography is all about light and getting a good balance of light. You need to ask yourself if you want something under/over exposed, if you want any motion blur, how much detail you want to be in focus. The more you work with your camera the easier it gets. I still do a lot of guess work, it's all about trail and error.

-Russ
xo

Lol - when I started using manual settings I used to make whoever I was taking the photo of hold a sign with the aperture and shutter speed I was using on it so I could see easily later. It's all just a lot of trial and error - thank god for digital.

You're doing fine. The wheels will turn to the correct exposure. Keep your eye on the viewfinder you'll see the scale move toward zero That's It!:-)

Someone already mentioned bracketing, digital cameras make that so easy.

Also, do you show in RAW and have the software that would allow you to edit RAW images?

If so I'd highly recommend doing so. In Photoshop you generally go into a RAW editor first where you can adjust exposure, white balance, contrast, etc. If you "miss" in exposure by a bit it's very easy to fix.

Does you Nikon give you a preview of the shot when you half press the shutter? My Lumix does, so I know in manual if my shot is underexposed.

Shooting in RAW might not be what you need at this point. No doubt its addiciting, many shortcuts have that in common. However, using RAW files is a corrective action, not neccessarily something that should come before you try to get it right the first time. Continue to concentrate on getting the correct exposure the first time. Lavender, you're doing fine. Ten thousand photographers have gone down the same road you're on. You'll get the hang of it. And its worth it...:-)

Yay!!! Isn't it a wonderful thing, to be in charge of your camera?
Someone once told me that doing the manual settings is like log-rolling -- your feet have to move the correct way, and so does your body -- it's a balancing act, that you control, to get the effects you want. But with picutres you don't need to fall into cold water. To avoid that, all you need to do is bracket. It'll be easier, when you're quicker at a it. Really. like anything else, it's use that makes it work......you'll be soooooooooooo good!

Hey I know nothing about anything but to me those dark pictures are stunning! Especially the first 2 - they are haunting and beautiful. And they look like they are meant to be that way. I guess the point is being able to choose when you do that though, right? I can't help you there. But I liked them anyway.

Not a photography expert but I love the face close up in your 'good' shots. It is really beautiful.