What's wrong with these photos?

[Griffin]

I have taken some photos with trees and leaves. There is something wrong in them but I cannot tell what eactly. Here is the list. Please show me. Thanks for your kind attention.

http://www.pbase.com/image/884191.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/884192.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/884193.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/884194.jpg
http://www.pbase.com/image/884197.jpg


Griffin.

[gerry]

They are interesting and present some nice colors, but they don't show me anything I have not seen before.

I think time of day detracts as well, early morning or late evening with the sun sparkling on them would present a more interesting image.

And I see too many dead branches.

But hey, I could be wrong.

[Griffin]

Thanks. I really want to shoot the leaves in luminous color, but I guess I was late -- it was around 1100. The image is messy and chaotic and it is not symetric.

Your words have expressed the words in my gut feeling.

Any tips on how to improve in the future?


Griffin.

gerry wrote:
They are interesting and present some nice colors, but they don't show me anything I have not seen before.

[beach512]

Griffin -

Instead of asking what is "wrong", just put the photos here and let others comment on it. By saying there is something wrong with them biases many comments.

In the meantime, ask yourself some questions:
What is right, or good about these photos ?
Why did I shoot this particular scene ?

Really what only matters is what you really like. Your photographs are an expression of you.

Dave

[gerry]

best time for daylight pictures as far as color goes is early evening or early morning. I'd shoot then.

And maybe a landscape of many trees.

[pjgrossman]

Griffin, I love pics of trees and have tried to capture their essence every since I was a little kid and first picked up a camera. I agree with you that they could be improved. How is the hard question.

In addition to the comment posted I would add to focus on line and shape and compostition. In the first pic there is a nice strong line of the tree trunk, but its meaning in purpose in the image is lost and diminished by having too many other elements included. Focus on what it is that compelled you to take the photo in the first place. Then eleminate everthing that isn't part of that focus, anything that doesn't add to it. Personally I would want the trunks to dominate the image. Especially the green leaves and open blue sky in the upper right hand corner of the image distract me. Cropping the trunks(ideally with the lens, esp. when using digital) in a couple or even many different ways (the benefit of using digital) would be helpful. Then you could review and judge the one that was closest to what drew you to the subject in the first place. Or maybe see something new that you didn't orginally see.

That's one of my joys from photo. When I'm lucky enough to find something and to have captured something that I didn't even see in the first place. We are so lucky to be able to use digital, take advantage of it and burn lots and lots of images. Good luck and thanks for helping me better look at my own photography.

Jim