Please critique landscape/pet photos

[Urbanmullet]

Hey! This is my first post :) I have learned quite a bit just reading through here... Now, I was interested in a real world test to see how much I have really learned. If you don't mind, please critique my shots and let me know what you think. Thanks!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3491/4081847796_ab88fd9153_b_d.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2748/4081847540_824e862055_b_d.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2503/4081847442_0dba491384_b_d.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2752/4081088491_5ecf32b84d_b_d.jpg

[Flo]

Welcome to POTN.

First one, it seems soft and OOF in most areas, and is quite dark?

Second is different, I might be tempted to crop out more of the sky.
Third I like.Again, maybe a tighter crop ?

Last one feels busy to me, alot of intersecting lines maybe.

[Urbanmullet]

Flo, Thanks for the welcome and your comments!

1: was taken very early morning with a 50mm f/1.8. Due to the lighting and not wanting to use a flash, I thought the best thing to do was to go with the narrow depth of field and wide open aperture. (Had to hand-hold and I don't own a tripod yet) You are correct though. I was unhappy with how much of it wound up in focus. Perhaps some more sharpening or something?

2: I was trying to use the rule of thirds? I might play around wth trying to crop out some of the sky. Thanks!

3: I'm not really sure what I was thinking with composition on this one. :) I generally try to get it right the first time so I don't have to crop. That way, I don't lose a lot of stuff I want when I go to print. Could be me though. Any examples of how you would better crop this one?

4: Is very busy now that you mention it. Not sure if that is good or bad though... Any recommendations on how I could have framed something like this better?

Again, thanks for the comments!

[Flo]

If you want folks to have at it on your photos.lol.then go to your User Profile, and click on Enable Image Editing......this will allow folks to show you what they might do.

[Urbanmullet]

Changed. Thanks! Didn't know about that one :)

[jetcode]

I like the bridges and wanted to see if another rendition was possible. I think the image works as a panoramic and this version is slightly colored to create some sense of separation between elements. All of this is subjective of course and I am not completely convinced that this version is any better except for increasing local contrast in land and water elements.

[tuaz0090]

very artistic, I like!

[stsva]

Cute dog. I think it might work a little better like this. This takes the rule of thirds you were trying in the landscapes and applies it to the pet photo.

[Urbanmullet]

Fantastic suggestions! Thank you very much! How am I doing on stuff like exposure, white balance?

[stsva]

Fantastic suggestions! Thank you very much! How am I doing on stuff like exposure, white balance?

Looks pretty good to me in the ones you posted.

[Urbanmullet]

I made some changes to the bridge image... Let me know if this is along the lines of what you guys were thinking. I couldn't quite replicate the effect from the image posted earlier, but I think I am somewhat close. Also, please let me know what you think of the new one please. Thanks in advance!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2768/4092103155_c1a7465e42_o_d.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2498/4092103141_00827346a6_o_d.jpg

[stsva]

The bridge shot looks fine; I like the soft pastel colors. The second shot looks like a technical exercise in focus and narrow depth of field to me, since there's no obvious subject.

[jayjayfr]

Hi, I love these photos as a collection. For me, each one identifies with the others - you can really see your 'eye' and what attracted you to the image you took. The rhythm. Thanks!

[jetcode]

looks good urbanmullet ... i used emerald green or underwater for tinting the water, and separate curve and filter layers for the water, bridge, and sky. I also sharpened the bridge. It still looks a tad soft in your print to my eye.

[Urbanmullet]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions!