First week with first DSLR - Be Honest

[thefooz]

Alrighty guys, I just got my first slr and would like everyone's opinion on my photography. These are my first serious attempts and I'd like to improve, so any suggestions/comments/criticisms are more than welcome.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2775262922_83351cc55e_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2774409739_c40d5cbeaf_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2774409589_0acb3eeffb_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3026/2774409551_1179eb957d_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3051/2775263148_cdce560624_o.jpg

[mattograph]

Hey, welcome to the forums.

Not bad! I like your spirit of adventure. You seem to be managing your DOF and exposures well, I like your composition.

These actually impress me as the photos of someone who has done at least a little study.

Look forward to seeing more!

[Flo]

I agree with the above..the second shot is really soft and OOF? But the rest are wonderful...you could probably benefit with a tighter crop on the first shot of your beagle.
Watch your level on the horizons, I always have to make myself double check mine
;)

Welcome to POTN, if you are need of any information, you can use the Search here and you will find Thousands of topics.

[polarbare]

Overall you're off to a good start.
1) good job making sure the eye was in focus, that's the important part. The blown highlights in the upper corner don't bother me at all.
2) meh
3) Be careful about thin DOFs, with 1 eye so OOF it really detracts from the picture.
4) The gull isn't big enough to really be a main subject for me which makes all that sky wasted IMO. I'd have rather seen a vast ocean.
5) This one doesn't work for me. When people (generally) look at pictures of people/animals they look at the eyes because they're so expressive. If they're OOF it needs to be an awesome shot to not detract, and in this one his nose is in focus but doesn't seem to be the main subject (to me the whole head appears to be the subject given the framing).

Another photographer off to a good start I'd say.

[thefooz]

Thanks Matt. I'm glad you like them. At least I'm on the right track. I only have a basic understanding of proper exposure, so I think I have a ways to go in that department. Again, I'd appreciate any suggestions on how to improve.

Edit: Oh, and thanks for the honestly Polarbare. You know, I really thought about not including that last shot for that very reason, but for some reason, it still appealled to me. Also, mentioned wanting me to cut the sky and include more water on the fourth photo. Does this one work better? (I realize the ratio's a bit off)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/2774572375_e4ca273b83_o.jpg

[mattograph]

Just keep shooting. You have a ways to go until you develop lots of bad habits that we can beat you up on! :)

With regards to Polarbare, he makes some good points, especially with the DOF. As long as you realize where you are breaking the rules though, keep swinging away.

[polarbare]

YES! Is mucho better! I'm not sold on the sharpness around the lighthouse but overall framing is greatly improved IMO.

[mattograph]

Wow. I liked the gull.

But I like the Pano too!!! :)

[thefooz]

Thanks Matt and Polar. Polar, that picture is actually a pretty heavy crop of a much larger one, but the lighthouse is actually relatively sharp in the 100% crop. I think it got a bit blurred during the resize.