First two photos: B&W and Colour

[NeoDSLR]

Hi, my first post here. Trying to move on from point-and-shoot photography... have now recently got access to a Canon EOS 450D and been out with it about three times. Here are two photos from this weekend... critique greatly appreciated:

1) ISO 100, 18mm @ f/22, 1/8 sec + Lightroom (trial version) + Photoshop CS2

2) ISO 100, 18mm @ f/22, 1.0 sec + Lightroom (trial version) + Photoshop CS2

http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/017/0/5/Field_of_Grass_by_neoweb.jpg

http://fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/017/a/5/Tree_and_Roots_by_neoweb.jpg

Thanks.

[joedlh]

#1 interesting study. Good call on back-lighting it.

#2 nice contrast in colors. My advice is to crop out the chopped off three trunk.

[vk2gwk]

I like them both - especially the second one and I would leave the tree trunk in! The image gives you a creepy feeling like some ugly poisonous (the green) monsters creeping off the tree and coming towards you.... :)

[AlphaChicken]

I like them both - especially the second one and I would leave the tree trunk in! The image gives you a creepy feeling like some ugly poisonous (the green) monsters creeping off the tree and coming towards you.... :)

I agree with both of you. In several ways. I agree that the back lighting of the first shot works to show off the lumpy texture of the field and create good clarity of the elements.

I agree that the tree trunk in the second shot throws the balance off in some way. Either put more of the trunk in and less of the roots at the bottom or try to balance it by taking out some of the roots and leaving the trunk in (4x5 aspect as opposed to 2x3 aspect?).

I agree that no matter how you try to balance it, the trunk is an important element in the photo and should be left in.

I also personally think that the black strip at the top of the first image is no good and I think it might look better cropped out. It looks confusing with the black strip, and THEN the black border. Maybe without the border it would serve to indicate a horizon and look much better.

[NeoDSLR]

Thanks, guys, for the very helpful feedback. It is appreciated.

[chomish]

Good shots, i like them both. I too would leave the tree trunk in since it shows where to roots belong to. Otherwise you would have a hard time knowing what those bumps are.

[NeoDSLR]

Thanks, chomish. Appreciate the feedback.