Started about a month ago...

[nihongo1975]

Hi,

I've started photographing only a month ago and I'd like to improve my
composition skills. Can you advise how I can improve these with these pictures?

Thanks,

Dion

[Pyromaniac]

Welcome to the forum.

I think composition is a matter of personal preference. I like the first one though I'm not really sure what it is, it is interesting. The second one is slightly off center which in portraits really bugs me ( again it's a personal preference), and the background IMHO needs to be either more in focus to be an intergal part of the image or more out of focus to be less of a part of the image. The glass in the doors has some reflection or maybe it's off the thing inside, and you can sort of see stuff in the cabnet which is distacting.

Just remember what I first stated it's a matter of personal taste. I have seen a lot of photos and painting that where A+ on there technical aspects that I didn't like because I didn't like the contents of the image. I have also seen a lot that where the other way around technical aspects wheren't very good but the content was good and I liked it. Also remember that the only person that really has to like it is you. The most important tip is to just have fun with it.

[ssim]

I agree with Pyromaniac that just about every image is left open to interpretation and it is really up to you to decide on what pleases you.

The first photo here doesn't do anything for me. To me it is just an old insulator and doesn't convey any message to me. Again it's a personal thing. On the second shot I would have had her turn slightly to the side. I'm not a fan of straight on portraits with the shoulders paralell to the camera. I would have taken and blurred the background a little. It would make the background not quite so busy. It does not bother me that she is not centered. It is not much of an inbalance.

To reiterate what Pyro had to say, have fun and practise.

[tim]

One tip is to learn to manage your backgrounds - that's one thing that more experienced people do that most people don't. If it's horrible blur it out with a narrow DOF, but you can still see vauge shapes and colors so still be careful.

Not sure what the point of that first image is, the 2nd one's fine though nothing amazing. I can't really offer any advice on how to make it better sorry.