Help me become a better photographer

[bs6851]

I am a newbie so my hope is that by posting these that I can learn what I am not seeing, and through your critiques see how the trained eye (you here at POTN) see it and better my abilities and and knowledge and hopefully become a better photographer. So here is the first of hopefully many.:

1. Unedited/compressed RAW to Jpeg resized for forum
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/IMG_0197.jpg


2. Edited / compressed Raw to Jpeg resized for fourm
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/MyahMtDew.jpg
Please comment on either or both also please be constructive and not only tell me that something is wrong but share how I could fix or avoid doing the same thing in the future. Thank you.
~Ben

[Sisyphus]

The horizon and vertical posts are tilted quite a bit. I suppose it doesn't bother much with such a strong subject, but still. Personally, I'd like just a little more contrast on the edited version -- at least on my monitor -- but it's not bad. Nice capture though.

[Kingsofronin]

I feel kind of crowded when I look at the picture. Way too much of the frame is filled up with the subject. It's like looking at a portrait and someone's face takes up the entire frame. I dont know if you cropped it and it can be fixed, but take the advice how you will.

Cute Kid.

[bs6851]

Thanks guys for the comments, no it wasn't cropped so I cant make subject take any less of frame but I understand what your saying and will keep that in mind while I continue to try to build my skills. I did another edit with more contrast see if that looks better:
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/MyahMtDew-1.jpg

[Sisyphus]

Oh yeah, much better. Gotta love it, she is so into that Mountain Dew.

[bs6851]

Oh yeah, much better. Gotta love it, she is so into that Mountain Dew.

Yeah thats what daddy drinks all the time so its a big treat for her to get some. :D

[Nathan]

I find the sharpening to be too strong. The skin on her hand looks rough and her cheek doesn't look as soft as in the original photo. Good color, though.

[bs6851]

Ok tried to soften it up a little:
http://i718.photobucket.com/albums/ww182/bs6851/MyahMtDewver2.jpg

[scrapin_frame]

The child needs to learn something about product placement.. The label should always be to the camera and unobscured ;)

[bs6851]

The child needs to learn something about product placement.. The label should always be to the camera and unobscured ;)

LOL I try to work with her on that hows the image other then that?

[scrapin_frame]

LOL I try to work with her on that hows the image other then that?


I personally would like to see a little more saturation, but I too am an amateur, so I wouldn't take my critique too seriously.

What programs are you using to pp?

[bs6851]

I personally would like to see a little more saturation, but I too am an amateur, so I wouldn't take my critique too seriously.

What programs are you using to pp?

PS CS4

[MattMoore]

Yous a brave man giving a child a Mountain Dew.

May I recommend a lot of practice and a good book (http://www.amazon.com/Learning-See-Creatively-Composition-Photography/dp/0817441816/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239060719&sr=8-2).

[bs6851]

Yous a brave man giving a child a Mountain Dew.

May I recommend a lot of practice and a good book (http://www.amazon.com/Learning-See-Creatively-Composition-Photography/dp/0817441816/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239060719&sr=8-2).

I know I need practice and I will check that book out thank you for your input.

[Nathan]

One thing that just struck me... you asked for help to become a better photographer, but the responses and your responses to the responses are geared more towards post processing.

Some broader thoughts: I find the photo uninteresting. I am not sure what it is that you are trying to achieve with the photo. It's a nice snapshot - fills the frame with the subject, good separation from the background, and nice color. You used natural lighting, but there are some distracting shadows on her face. The angle of the shot falls flat to me. It does not convey movement or emotion.

It's merely a snapshot of a little girl finishing off a mountain dew. In a pile of photos, I wouldn't look at this twice.

There's not much you can do to this photo to improve it. You seem to like it... it's a start, but only that.

[bs6851]

One thing that just struck me... you asked for help to become a better photographer, but the responses and your responses to the responses are geared more towards post processing.

Some broader thoughts: I find the photo uninteresting. I am not sure what it is that you are trying to achieve with the photo. It's a nice snapshot - fills the frame with the subject, good separation from the background, and nice color. You used natural lighting, but there are some distracting shadows on her face. The angle of the shot falls flat to me. It does not convey movement or emotion.

It's merely a snapshot of a little girl finishing off a mountain dew. In a pile of photos, I wouldn't look at this twice.

Thank you I want input like this. I was trying to capture her enjoyment of the mt dew and prob unsuccessfuly so the question is how could I have made it better or have been more successful in doing so? Fix shadows? Change angle?

[Nathan]

How about a photo of her smiling from her caffeine kick after she finished drinking... can in hand and laughing?

In outdoor shots, you always risk shadows unattractively appearing on the face when the angle of the sun is too high. Just watch for that and perhaps use fill flash if needed.

[bs6851]

Ok will keep this in mind. Once again thank you. You saw the point of this thread. I wanted to know what makes the difference between a "snapshot" and "photograph" and how can I move towards the latter. Is there any resources that you would say that I could pick up to help me? I know Matt Moore suggested one which I will be picking up. Any others?

[Nathan]

Understanding Exposure, also by Bryan Peterson, is a good complement to Seeing Creatively. I found the latter to be a someone limited in terms of artistic advice and only lends to his particular style of photography. You should look at people's galleries, pick up magazines, and study your own shots to see what you like and don't like.

[buurin]

In outdoor shots, you always risk shadows unattractively appearing on the face when the angle of the sun is too high. Just watch for that and perhaps use fill flash if needed.

When possible I prefer a reflector instead of fill flash.

Nitpicking, I'd say the dent in the can is distracting.

[Nathan]

When possible I prefer a reflector instead of fill flash.

Nitpicking, I'd say the dent in the can is distracting.

I was going to suggest a reflecter, but I was unsure whether the OP would want to carry one around with him as he's shooting what's more of a candid shot... I don't think he was looking to "set up" the shot.

Indeed... I noticed the dent, too.

[Lightworks Imaging]

^+1. The composition of an image and the CREATIVITY are the parts of photography that continue to escape me also. I feel that practice and repetition, lots of looking at other photographers work is a big help. This IS a snapshot. I take hundreds of them. Then I get an IMAGE! Occasionally, a good IMAGE. Ansel Adams said, and I'm probably paraphrasing, great photographs aren't taken, they're MADE.

What could be truer?

[bs6851]

Thanks guys so all the comments. I will take a look at all the resource I can find I hope that I can improve the quality of the image as I move forward. You'll probaly see more snapshots from me as I stuggle to find my way into photography. Thank you all for the feedback.