Thanksgiving in Wisconsin

[thedcorvette101]

Hi everybody, my name's Dusty, i'm just starting to figure out my Canon XT, was hoping to get some critiques and suggestions on some of my recent photos over Thanksgiving Break...

1.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr256/thedcorvette/Wisconsin/wisconsin108.jpg
2.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr256/thedcorvette/Wisconsin/wisconsin187.jpg
3.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr256/thedcorvette/Wisconsin/wisconsin189.jpg
4.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr256/thedcorvette/Wisconsin/wisconsin143.jpg
5.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr256/thedcorvette/Wisconsin/wisconsin110.jpg
6
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr256/thedcorvette/Wisconsin/wisconsin081.jpg
7.
http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr256/thedcorvette/Wisconsin/wisconsin101.jpg


album here: http://s489.photobucket.com/albums/rr256/thedcorvette/Wisconsin/?action=view&current=wisconsin189.jpg

[lundgrenj]

Last couple aren't straight., all need more contrast.

[lundgrenj]

Also too many photos linked.

[thedcorvette101]

Also too many photos linked.

sorry, my bad on that, fixed.

[shannyD]

i like the first one.. its would look neat as a contrasty black and white image..

[obnoxiousmom]

Yeah I think rules are dont post more than 8. I got caught on that too when I first started posting. Also, its helps to number them for critique

1. could be a little brighter. Also there isnt really a focal point in the picture. Nothing really stands out

2. out of focus

3. I like this picture but it needs to be brightened up. I did a 100% sharpen with a .5 radius just to draw out the details a little more. Took exposure up .75, gamma to 1.15 and offset to -.0039. Contrast +20
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/lifeuntome/wisconsin063.jpg

The rest are just really out of focus or lacking in composition. Learning takes time. Just ask questions, post and keep trying. Im a newbie myself. Havent had my camera a year yet and my pictures looked like these when I first started shooting. Now 10 months later, I look back on some of my pictures from the beginning and I cringe at my beginning work lol. And even now, Im still learning and can make myself cringe

[thedcorvette101]

Yeah I think rules are dont post more than 8. I got caught on that too when I first started posting. Also, its helps to number them for critique

1. could be a little brighter. Also there isnt really a focal point in the picture. Nothing really stands out

2. out of focus

3. I like this picture but it needs to be brightened up. I did a 100% sharpen with a .5 radius just to draw out the details a little more. Took exposure up .75, gamma to 1.15 and offset to -.0039. Contrast +20
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f392/lifeuntome/wisconsin063.jpg

The rest are just really out of focus or lacking in composition. Learning takes time. Just ask questions, post and keep trying. Im a newbie myself. Havent had my camera a year yet and my pictures looked like these when I first started shooting. Now 10 months later, I look back on some of my pictures from the beginning and I cringe at my beginning work lol. And even now, Im still learning

thanks.. i'll put 8 in and number them then... I'm not used to shooting anything to do with lakes or tracks and whatnot.. usually stick to cars, and i'm probably not much better with those though i have gotten lucky after a thousand shots or so. It was very overcast most of the week and i didn't really know what to do with the contrast or comp.

[obnoxiousmom]

I HATE overcast days. Everything I photograph just looks blah. Im trying to learn to use my histogram when shooting to ensure im getting better lighting straight off camera. It just takes time, reading lots of books and a ton of practice.

[heyimnick]

I cant really seem to figure out what you were focused on in the last one...

[thedcorvette101]

I HATE overcast days. Everything I photograph just looks blah. Im trying to learn to use my histogram when shooting to ensure im getting better lighting straight off camera. It just takes time, reading lots of books and a ton of practice.

what about something like this? I'm somewhat partial the photo, yet it doesn't really have any exceptional colors or anything.

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr256/thedcorvette/tailgate/tailgate2086.jpg

[thedcorvette101]

I cant really seem to figure out what you were focused on in the last one...

not really sure myself.. ground shots are still hit and miss with me :lol:

[Photon Phil]

Hi Dusty and hello from WI. Looking at your top set I see that what you could try is working with perspective and vantage point. In #1,#5 & #7 you are getting novel perspective. The way I learned this was to first take a shot where my initial impulse is, typically a standing shot of what interests me. Then I force myself to move, lower, higher, left right. An Ultra Wide Angle like the 10-22mm will force yo to do this to get something to be even visible in the shot. That lens taught me to "get into" a shot and to compose a shot.

Don't be afraid of ISO 1600 or use a tripod I see some slow shutter speeds there.

Where were you? Curious.

[thedcorvette101]

Hi Dusty and hello from WI. Looking at your top set I see that what you could try is working with perspective and vantage point. In #1,#5 & #7 you are getting novel perspective. The way I learned this was to first take a shot where my initial impulse is, typically a standing shot of what interests me. Then I force myself to move, lower, higher, left right. An Ultra Wide Angle like the 10-22mm will force yo to do this to get something to be even visible in the shot. That lens taught me to "get into" a shot and to compose a shot.

Don't be afraid of ISO 1600 or use a tripod I see some slow shutter speeds there.

Where were you? Curious.

thanks, i'll be sure to play with the iso and angle more then.. i was near clintonville and i think shawno as well

[obnoxiousmom]

That photo is still way too dark. Its also lacking in composition. But if you like it, then its still your photo :)

Previous poster is explaining the following but I posted before I saw his response so this is just reiterating with a diagram

The very first rule that was taught to me when I got my camera was how to set up composition of a photo. How to make things pop. I was told to learn the rule of thirds. There are times to break that rule but you need to learn the rules before you can break them.

Example
http://strongphotography.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/rule_of_thirds_bee.jpg

You want your focus point to be on one of the four intersecting lines like in this picture. Notice how the Bees eye is on an intersection? Your eye is automatically drawn to the bees eye. It makes the photo pop

With your plane photo, it just looks like a dark outline of a plane on a very dark photo. So nothing really pops.

You seem to be underexposing a lot of photos as well. I struggle with that sooo bad and have to do a lot of post processing corrections myself. Thats why Im trying to learn how to read my histogram as I shoot.

What mode are you shooting in off hand?

[Photon Phil]

Thats why Im trying to learn how to read my histogram as I shoot.


Chimping is super important. Seriously.

[obnoxiousmom]

Chimping?

ok I googled it. I always feel amatuer and stupid when doing it but I dont know how else to know that my stuff is right on camera. Id hate to spend any decent amount of time shooting only to get home and find out all my stuff is blown

[thedcorvette101]

That photo is still way too dark. Its also lacking in composition. But if you like it, then its still your photo :)

Previous poster is explaining the following but I posted before I saw his response so this is just reiterating with a diagram

The very first rule that was taught to me when I got my camera was how to set up composition of a photo. How to make things pop. I was told to learn the rule of thirds. There are times to break that rule but you need to learn the rules before you can break them.

Example
http://strongphotography.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/rule_of_thirds_bee.jpg

You want your focus point to be on one of the four intersecting lines like in this picture. Notice how the Bees eye is on an intersection? Your eye is automatically drawn to the bees eye. It makes the photo pop

With your plane photo, it just looks like a dark outline of a plane on a very dark photo. So nothing really pops.

You seem to be underexposing a lot of photos as well. I struggle with that sooo bad and have to do a lot of post processing corrections myself. Thats why Im trying to learn how to read my histogram as I shoot.

What mode are you shooting in off hand?

I was taught by the rule of thirds as well.. but i've found sometimes if you do something completely off the wall, it looks good. Generally doesn't work though :D. i think i lean towards dark colors out of habit.. (dunno why, i'm a hick, not a goth), my buddy hits me for underexposure every time..

I shoot in Av for the most part, will hit manual sometimes, but only for bulb exposures.. which don't usually turn out well because i haven't got a tripod yet. Using a Canon Dig Reb XT.. and canon 28 to 135mm lens..

[obnoxiousmom]

So you just gotta get the "chimping" down so that you know your pictures are coming out exposed right even if it doesnt feel right at first. I did the underexposure thing for a while but Id like to think Im getting better at it now :)

[thedcorvette101]

i gave photoshop a whirl on pic 1.. any better? I'm pretty terrible with photoshop, no idea what i did other than play with buttons.

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr256/thedcorvette/tracksedit1.jpg

[navydoc]

Dusty,

As far as using Photoshop, here's a quick example of your first image after I just did an 'auto levels' and a 'linear curves' adjustment. I also increased the saturation slightly.

Try using the 'levels' adjustment by using the eyedroppers. Especially the far right one which sets your whites in the image.

These adjustments can help with hazy, flat images.

[annietex]

Chimping?

ok I googled it. I always feel amatuer and stupid when doing it but I dont know how else to know that my stuff is right on camera. Id hate to spend any decent amount of time shooting only to get home and find out all my stuff is blown

Don't feel like an amateur, I see pros doing it ALL the time :-)

BTW, and completely OT, I watched Space Chimps with my kids last night, and there was a very intentional pause on a group of photogs who were "chimping" :D:D:D

[thedcorvette101]

Dusty,

As far as using Photoshop, here's a quick example of your first image after I just did an 'auto levels' and a 'linear curves' adjustment. I also increased the saturation slightly.

Try using the 'levels' adjustment by using the eyedroppers. Especially the far right one which sets your whites in the image.

These adjustments can help with hazy, flat images.

wow, that looks great! i'll have try that

[navydoc]

Here's your photoshopped version tweaked to be a lot more dramatic. Overly done to be very natural but it shows what's possible.

Glad you liked the edit on your first image.

[Flo]

Yikes.what is going on on the sides of this photo?

I think trying to edit this photo posted won't work, the original would be needed. Too many broken pixels/enlarged here:(

[Thumbsup]

I always enjoy learning something new from these threads. I now know the meaning of and will avoid "chimping". Sometimes it's just too tempting to check because we want everything to be perfect. By checking that everything is perfect, we chance missing a better image (being in the moment). I guess it comes with confidence.

[jetcode]

one has to be careful here ... lots of advice in a very subjective world ... and so it goes ...

I chimp big time and I NEVER could with film ... of course I shoot things that don't move on a tripod and spent years in LF. For things that move I will verify exposure to make sure I am not blowing off frames of crap. Of course in some of my work the subject literally is crap, just ask someone who prefers sunsets.

[jetcode]

Some scenes are naturally muted, low contrast, with closely grouped tone sets, etc.

The rule of 1/3s as with rules in general come with implications. It is not always as simple as placing a point somewhere on the subject. Image balance is something to consider first and foremost, working with the subject that brings out the best relationships. I tend to compose blank canvas no rules and let things fall where they may, then I start to examine relationships, etc.

It's like music, the theory came after the performance.

[navydoc]

I realize the edit I did to the OP's edit was overdone. I've since changed it to a little more reasonable look. Any edit would be best done on the originals too of course. I was just trying to show what is possible...including an extreme.

[jetcode]

I realize the edit I did to the OP's edit was overdone. I've since changed it to a little more reasonable look. Any edit would be best done on the originals too of course. I was just trying to show what is possible...including an extreme.

no worries navydoc ... you could have left the last one as is because it is an important statement about treatment. I think in this forum it's safe to take things apart to expose them. No one is passing judgment as far as I can tell. We are (I am) learning how to see.

Your first rendering is accurate however it does change the feeling and mood of the piece. Had the title of the piece been "long way from home" a brighter feel may not have been warranted.

Personally I believe there is a time and place for shooting in fog and gloom and that is to capture a story in the dreariness of that moment. Industrial scenes in smoke, smog, and overcast can be some of the most evocative of images.

navydoc:
After reading the story about the ship you served on and the disaster you survived I can only say that preaching to the choir is my mainstay in life ... thanks for sharing your experience with us.

[thedcorvette101]

I think the picture really looks good when it's edited to be completely gloomy... here's my B&W edit from last night, would it be advisable to start shooting in RAW as well?..

http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr256/thedcorvette/tracksedit3.jpg

edit: changed last night's edit to one from just now... played with levels and curves some to see what happened.

[AWGD8]

Split-tone using LR and Corel PP...(Some secret PP) I had to crop to even out the trees on both sides and also cut the sky. Left the track a bit less centered for a bit eye play... :-)

http://i49.tinypic.com/2csdhj9.jpg

[thedcorvette101]

Split-tone using LR and Corel PP...(Some secret PP)

http://i49.tinypic.com/2csdhj9.jpg

tinypic is blocked on my network :(



As far as "Chimping" goes, i understand how to use the histogram, but is the point to get the peak somewhere or just make sure part of your colors aren't being cut off?

[navydoc]

thedcorvette101,

I really like your b&w version.

jetcode,

Thanks for taking the time to visit my website. Even though the fire was 43 years ago October, It will remain in my memory for life.

[AWGD8]

Thedcorvette101:

Let me know which site is not block from your side, and i'll post it again.

[thedcorvette101]

thedcorvette101,

I really like your b&w version.

jetcode,

Thanks for taking the time to visit my website. Even though the fire was 43 years ago October, It will remain in my memory for life.

thanks!
took a look at your site, thanks for your service by the way, wasn't McCain on that ship as well? I'm a military history major at the air force academy, about all they teach us about the navy is that bIlly mitchell sank the Ostfriedland


Also, in response to above, imageshack is blocked too, sorry

[navydoc]

Yes, in 1967. Mc Cain was on the USS Forestall and it was his aircraft that was struck by a rocket that started that major fire. He then volunteered with VA-163, the Saints aboard Oriskany. It was while he was flying from the Oriskany that he was shot down and captured.

[thedcorvette101]

Yes, in 1967. Mc Cain was on the USS Forestall and it was his aircraft that was struck by a rocket that started that major fire. He then volunteered with VA-163, the Saints aboard Oriskany. It was while he was flying from the Oriskany that he was shot down and captured.

ah, so there was another fire as well.. i remember him being on the Oriskany, but couldn't tell you if he'd been transferred to or away from that ship right before he was shot down.

[obnoxiousmom]

OP, I always shoot in raw

[jetcode]

interesting rendering AWGD8

In film days was it considered "chimping" to expose a few boxes of polaroids to get the lighting and exposure right before shooting a session?

[navydoc]

I had a poloroid backing for my 4"x5" Speedgraphic. It was pretty common to 'chimp' using a poloroid shot to check exposure prior to replacing the backing with the sheet film cassette. Errr...I doubt it was called 'chimping' back then. :D

[jetcode]

I had a poloroid backing for my 4"x5" Speedgraphic. It was pretty common to 'chimp' using a poloroid shot to check exposure prior to replacing the backing with the sheet film cassette. Errr...I doubt it was called 'chimping' back then. :D

I read that Annie Leibovitz would blast through boxes of polaroids before a shoot. I did film testing back in LF days and knew my meter pretty well. polaroids were expensive!