My Trip to the Zoo(Chester, England)

[andyfreeman]

Hi All

I am new to this site to pleae be gentle with me
I have recently purchased a 300D from a friend and am having lots of fun taking shots, but wanted yoi guys to have a look to see what you think of my shots.
Please note i am a complete newbie to photography so if you can offer any advice to me it will be taken on board and help me to start off in the right direction
#1
http://www.freemanz.co.uk/images/zoo/IMG_3915.jpg
#2
http://www.freemanz.co.uk/images/zoo/IMG_3940.jpg
#3
http://www.freemanz.co.uk/images/zoo/IMG_3935.jpg
#4
http://www.freemanz.co.uk/images/zoo/IMG_3934.jpg


Hope you enjoy

Andy

[Alan B]

You are off to a great start :D

Love the shot of the little guy(lower left).Just watch your compasition.The shot would look better if he was on the left side of the shot, so there is more open space infront of him.Giving the viewer the feel of him moving that way.

I also like the top right and lower right.But they need to be croped in more, to make the main subject bigger(lower right would look greta with a vertical crop).

Well done :D

[andyfreeman]

Thanks for your advice, i have done a bit of cropping.

How do these look now?
#2 - Crop
http://www.freemanz.co.uk/images/zoo/IMG_3940_crop.jpg

#3 - Crop
http://www.freemanz.co.uk/images/zoo/IMG_3935_crop.jpg

#4 - Crop
http://www.freemanz.co.uk/images/zoo/IMG_3934_crop.jpg

[Alan B]

Spot on :cool:

I love that #3 - crop :D

[andyfreeman]

Thanks very much

[shazz501]

great start,i love the original baby orang shot,looks like he is walking off in a huff..lol..cute :D

[toonlets]

I like the original #3 without the cropping. It could use a word balloon, though. ;)

[andyfreeman]

I see a Caption Competion coming along :) lol

[dewmuw]

Nice shots Andy. #1 is a bit dark, but the rest are crackers. I like the baby orang a lot - also prefer the original because he is looking back and walking away. It wouldn't look right if he was looking back and walking into a space.

welcome to the forum btw.

[andyfreeman]

Nice shots Andy. #1 is a bit dark, but the rest are crackers. I like the baby orang a lot - also prefer the original because he is looking back and walking away. It wouldn't look right if he was looking back and walking into a space.

welcome to the forum btw.

Thanks.

#1 was taken thru glass from outside of an enclosure so i was pretty happy with how it turned out.

Especially as it was my first outing with the camera.

[dewmuw]

Take any other at the zoo?

[ghocking]

Nice shots, I love going to Chester zoo, and it looks like you got a bit of sun light too. The crops are much better.

[andyfreeman]

yer i have about 20 shots in all, i will put a few more up tonight for everyone to have a look at.

[madchadder]

These are some great shots for a "complete newbie." I actually prefer the original of the little orang as well. Normally I'd agree he needs to be in the left of the frame, but I think him looking back makes the space he's coming from work in the photo.

The #4 crop is perfect, but I think the #2 crop had too much taken out of it. I'd go back to the original and only take out enough to remove the distractions above the wall, and I'd leave the orangs towards the right of the frame, rather than centered.

My only other suggestion would be to play with the levels, and add some contrast. They're just a little washed out.

Great job, overall.

EDIT: I just changed my mind. I like the original #4 better than the cropped version. With him looking down and to the right, I find myself wondering if there's something just out of frame that he's looking at in the cropped version, but the original shows that he's just thinking (or whatever) and adds a sense of place. If you're good with photoshop, you might try removing the wires or rope behind him.

[nitsch]

Great work Andy! Keep it up!

Absolutely love the baby OrangUtan! He definately looks like he is in a sulk! :)