• Photos

  • Level

  • Score

BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: New Answers

Photography Question 

David E. Swadish 		 

new Photographer


Hi Everyone!

I just set up a new account here, I am new to photography (very New)
And I really love taking pictures.

I was wondering if you all could look at my gallery and tell me what you think, please Be honest I would like to know if I am headed in the right direciton, and what I should do to improve my photo taking, am I decent horrible etc.
thanks for reading my post.
I did not edit any of the pictures here in Adobe yet.


To love this question, log in above
April 06, 2006

 

Andrew Laverghetta 		  Hi! I see some nice stuff starting there, you seem to be pretty good about anticipating action with the board shots. When you shoot, what mode do you normally have the camera in? Something that you might try doing with the ducks and animal shots is getting as close to the ground as you can, or I guess closer to their level. When you see the photos from just looking down at them like that, I feel like it's more of a snapshot than a photograph. Some other advice that might apply later is to try to get closer to a subject. One of my photo teachers told a story...he said he was showing some of his fine art/street photography work to some bigshot and he was sure they were going to be well recieved. The guy flipped through and handed the portfolio back and said something to the effect of "you're too far away." Like I said, it's not easy to do with the board shots and the dog seems to be running around a lot but for other shots, don't be afraid to get as close as you can and fill the frame when appropriate.

Looking more at the photos, I see a nice idea and good exposure with the "stream" shot, but try to include a little more information. While some nice abstrac images can be made, it's always nice to include at least one shot that is a little wider angle of view where you can use elements in front of you to "frame" your subject (the rocks, as it seems) and you'll probably be able to get some more of that vibrant sunlight glistening off more of the water.

The "grandpa" shot would be really nice if you put the subject a little off center. Something that I like to to with shots like this, since they're both facing the same way and are both paying attention to something to the left, is to put them somewhere in the right side of the frame. Imagine cutting off some of the shadow space on the right side and then adding a little more landscape to the left.

Something that I like to do is to watch movies in widescreen and note how the cinematographer is framing the scene. Lately I've really noticed a lot of stuff in movies like Memoirs of a Geisha and House of Flying Daggers. Check the composition next time you go to a movie.

Hope this helps!


To love this comment, log in above
April 06, 2006

 

Slim Brady 		  you're in for a treat


To love this comment, log in above
April 07, 2006

 

Samuel Smith 		  welcome david,
a lot of members here at bp like to trade comments.also you could look at some of the other members galleries and compare your work to theirs.
i kinda agree with andrew mostly.
sam


To love this comment, log in above
April 07, 2006

 

David E. Swadish 		  Thank you for the feedback so far, this was the first time I used this camera and it's hard to judge your own work, I have been doing digital touchups and enhancments for people for the last 4 years and now I get to do my own,
if anyone knows of a place that provides alot of tips online about focuse and suck please send me a link.


To love this comment, log in above
April 07, 2006

 

Bob Chance 		  Hi David and welcome to BP.

This is an awesome sight and you are sure to learn a lot here, not only on how to take better photographs, but how to make even good photographs even better through software manipulation. I have learned alot here myself in that area.

I scanned you gallery and I agree with Andrew too. When dealing with a single subject like the duck, try to fill as much of the frame as possible. And again, as Andrew said, try not to shoot your subjects from a normal viewing perspective. Everyone who had evey seen a duck has undoubtadly looked down at it. Always try attacking a common subject like that from a fresh viewpoint. Something people don't always see. Like a duck from gound level.
Also, learn more how to use the cameras contols so you can better expose tricky scenes like the grandfather. Your subject is in shade but the sunlit background fooled the cameras meter, thereby underexposing your subject. Learn the controls on your camera and how to read the scene so you'll better know when the cameras meter may be getting fooled. I don't know about your camera, but most of them have some form of exposure compensation.

Well, get ready to learn a lot and have a lot of fun doing it. Just hope you don't suffer from TMI (too much information) LOL

Bob
BC Photography


To love this comment, log in above
April 07, 2006

 

David E. Swadish 		 
 
 
I am already enjoying this site, lots of great tips.

Using your advise I went and took some more Photographs, the First 10 pictures are New from today (not edited)
I think I see ome improvments in my Photos.
Here is one of my fav


To love this comment, log in above
April 08, 2006

 

David E. Swadish 		  I am already enjoying this site, lots of great tips.

Using your advise I went and took some more Photographs, the First 10 pictures are New from today (not edited)
I think I see ome improvments in my Photos.
Here is one of my fav


To love this comment, log in above
April 08, 2006

 

Bob Chance 		  Nicely done David

Yeah, I see some improvement too.
Keep shooting, and above all have fun with it.
You'll find that most everyone give contructive criticism, if there is any criticism to be given at all. Most praises.
If you have any shots in particular that you would like critiqued, upload it on the critique thread.
Just make sure you are fully logged in the the site first, username & password, or it won't let you upload the picture.
On the menu bar on the left, just select 'Forum' and then select from the pop up list 'Critique'. When that page comes up select 'upload a photo' at the top and follow the directions.
If possible, make sure you resize your image according to the guidelines.
Their upload program will resize most images, however the results sometimes aren't so good, leaving you with a rather soft pic posted.

Catch ya' later

Bob


To love this comment, log in above
April 09, 2006

 
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here

Report this Thread