Problem with Camera for Lesson 3

[tmk]

I am so enjoying the course and am up to Lesson 3... but seem to have encountered a hurdle!

I have two cameras, a digital Casio Exilim XS500 which seems to be so automatic that I can't find how to successfully manually alter the Shutter Speed or make any other manual setting changes. I can use my old SLR Pentax MZ-50 which takes 35mm roll film. I can indeed change the settings on that and have had a ball on the weekend taking photos (till I forgot the advantages of digital .. and ran out of film half way through!!) but of course I cant instantly judge the difference in the results!

So I'm finding the homework for lesson 3 very difficult to complete. Added to the above camera problems, is the fact that I live in a remote town in outback Australia where traffic and people are very scarce! I am open to any suggestions in how I can complete the Homework for Lesson 3 successfully when there are no cars or people to photograph as they are racing along!

[CallMeNovice]

good morning TMK,

some suggestions are: kids on swings, kids running/playing, bicycling, - joggers, birds in flight (although I personally have a very hard time with this one).

I think if you look under the classroom section, there might be a lot more suggestions or examples of what other people have come up with.

Good luck
Melanie

[tmk]

Thanks Melanie, there arent many kids here in town but I do have joggers and the odd cyclist occasionally passing by my place, that I can see from my second floor balcony as it faces the road so that's something I hadn't thought of! I'll keep the camera ready and my eyes peeled for other less obvious things that pass by!!

[iwannac2]

tmk...

I was battling with the same issue for this lesson - specifically the last portion of it - making people (moving objects) disappear. I don't live in a remote area, but there aren't many dark areas (low light) near me with a lot of people in them. I ended up going to the shopping centre, plunking myself on a bench in the hallways, and waiting. Another option to consider is doing it yourself... in your living room, backyard, whatever... and you or your family members be the "subjects" and have them walk around while you are taking the pictures. You can be the subject yourself if needed.... you can do a lot of walking around in circles in a 10 second exposure.

Daryl