looking for critique on these new shots

[blonde]

Hey guys,

just looking for some critique on these new shots i took.

http://blonde.smugmug.com/photos/52164000-M.jpg
http://blonde.smugmug.com/photos/52159463-M.jpg

http://blonde.smugmug.com/photos/52162994-M.jpg

on the third one, i know that i have too much highlights on the right side of the face and i will try to correct it with some PS.

thanks

Snir

[johneric8]

too much weight given to the top of the frame with the birds.. Also, the makup shot with the girl works and the composition is fine.. Not that interesting but works. The old lady is blown out on the side of her face in my opionon, this is a disaster to be sure. Fix the the blown highlight and the picture works. Also, crop some of the top off the picture, too many ugly dead tree tops.

[Robert_Lay]

The first picture makes for an interesting shot because it has the appearance of a candid shot. It has interesting lines and composition. The exposure is very good.

The two birds are reasonably interesting, however the composition suffers from too much empty space above them. Also, very good exposure.

The last shot has reasonably good exposure. However, that shot has serious problems with camera attitude. The shot is oriented to make the bench look more horizontal, which is not consistent with the actual perspective. The buildings behind are thrown into a serious toppling over to the right as a result. That can all be cleared up in Photoshop through perspective correction. The dog's paw has disappeared out of the frame, and I suspect that is gone forever.

[ajbalazic]

My comments would be the same as Bob and Johneric8. I find the 1st shot most interesting- good subject and composition. Although the last one isn't technically perfect, you've caught a great expression on the woman- what is thinking? It looks as if she's in very deep thought (or totally zoned out).

[Robert_Lay]

My comments would be the same as Bob and Johneric8. I find the 1st shot most interesting- good subject and composition. Although the last one isn't technically perfect, you've caught a great expression on the woman- what is thinking? It looks as if she's in very deep thought (or totally zoned out).

She is thinking about how much she loves her wonderful pet. But she's also doing a slow burn, wondering where the heck Arthur has gotten off to!

[ajbalazic]

...But she's also doing a slow burn, wondering where the heck Arthur has gotten off to!

:lol:

[blonde]

wow, great comments guys, thanks alot.

Bob- i agree about the second one and i will fix the top of the pic right now. as far as the 3rd pic goes, the reason why it is slanted is because i shot it from the hip with the camera hanging on my neck :) i am trying to get better at this technique for candid shot so i can take candid shots without people noticing. i will try to fix it in PS but i doubt it will work because i am PS noob :(

[Robert_Lay]

wow, great comments guys, thanks alot.

Bob- i agree about the second one and i will fix the top of the pic right now. as far as the 3rd pic goes, the reason why it is slanted is because i shot it from the hip with the camera hanging on my neck :) i am trying to get better at this technique for candid shot so i can take candid shots without people noticing. i will try to fix it in PS but i doubt it will work because i am PS noob :(

Everyone is a noob in one area or another - don't worry about that.
Here's a tip for shooting candids.
Get your camera up in a normal shooting position but point in a direction that is not going to alert anyone. Just moving your head and eyes, glance to your potential target to see how far away they are. While pointing off-target, get your lens focused on some object at the same distance (it only has to be approximate). Keep glancing at your target until you are all set up and ready. Then swing around, nail the shot, and go back to looking off into nowhere. Nine times out of ten, no one figures out what you're doing.

Some of my best shots were made that way.

[blonde]

cool thing, i will try it out next time i am walking around the city :) my next goal is to take a nice PS course and going to the national geographic seminar in Boston, i can't wait :)