New guy here, welcome thread with example shots

[Joshua20D]

Hello all, I haven't introduced myself to the forum yet, but I have been on a while and do alot of my research through the use of this place. I have learned a ton and use the forums here for any needs I could come across.

My name is Josh and I am a 21 year old amateur photographer with the passion of the camera. Ive been taking photos for a while but really here recently tried to take it to the next level where I come here for advice/criticism.

My equipment is as follows: Canon 20D, 17-85mm base lense, Canon 1.8 50mm, and Tokina 12-24mm.

Ive taken quit a few shots in various environments and a variety of subjects. It started off with vehicles and spread out to just about everything. My questions I suppose though, is what is IT that causes most fantastic, more or less, a professional photo get that "pop" that flair I just cant seem to capture with my images. Is it my post-editing techniques or my lacking of expensive equipment?
Heres a few examples in a variety of places/subjects.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3319/3615648298_d716fc1b68.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2421/3614830853_014cb6f648.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2618/3770934542_c9627197ae.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2665/3770135597_1fe55ec66a.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3593/3770134297_ab290c8266.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4342409890_9deeed0a26.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2557/4342417276_f93599cfb3.jpg


Okay, those are just a few, I just need input as a whole I suppose, what is it that any upcoming, photographer should really keep to mind in a photoshoot. Im open to all, thank you so much in advance,

Joshua.

[mpistone]

Welcome Joshua!
Cool shots, I dig the car (but I'd rather see it without the cluttered background)
I like the expressions in the last shot, too :)
The thing I'm always reminding myself to do is look at my whole composition for a shot, saves loads of time cloning out power lines and things that just poked into the corner.
Another little thing is to put an extra line between pictures in your thread so the ones with similar borders don't run together.

[Joshua20D]

Thank you! Yes, I understand about the car shot, it wasn't a shoot I just, just a local car meet and using the composure as an example. The clutter really hurts the picture indeed. I will keep that in mind though for other upcoming shoots. The models were my first to ever shoot, I wasn't sure how/where to pose them so it was purely by eye of me and the girls.
Right on for the picture line, edited, thanks!

[FELINEDEBOURGES]

I'm wondering in shots 3 and 4 from the top, what is the focus, the people or the birds? I'm really not sure.

[PhotosGuy]

just a local car meet and using the composure as an example. The clutter really hurts the picture indeed. I will keep that in mind though for other upcoming shoots. There's not a lot you can do at car meets. Best results I've had come from waiting 'till late in the show when (hopefully) the lighting is better & some cars have left giving you more room to shoot. When you are able to have more control over the situation, read the links in my Sig. The models were my first to ever shoot, I wasn't sure how/where to pose them so it was purely by eye of me and the girls. Angeline outdoors (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=483975)

VERY simple "outdoor studio" (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=122297) It doesn't get any easier than this.

[Joshua20D]

I'm wondering in shots 3 and 4 from the top, what is the focus, the people or the birds? I'm really not sure.


There wasn't much of a focal point in the image, just a broad picture of the scene occurring at the moment.

[Cameramonger]

Joshua,

I like the last two shots. You are certainly getting the knack of portraits! On the earlier ones, my suggestion would be look at the whole fame, including what lines up behind something else. Car meets are almost impossible, without a lot of post-editing, but if you think of that in advance, consider what might be easier to remove from a picture to keep a clear subject. In the others keep a clear focal point that draws the eye to the right place and tells a story -- having full trees, people, and birds without a connecting theme creates a visually confusing picture. The one of the kids in the fountain has great potential, but I would have stepped over just a bit so the trashcan and other random half-people could be either out or cropped out of the shot, leaving the story clearer and without distraction.

You are asking the right questions, taking nice people pictures, and will be a very good photographer!

...Sam

[ferretkingdom]

Your portraits are good! I want to get into portraits, but I don't seem to have that knack for it. :(

The cars - as everyone mentioned meets are a challenge. I think the car shots are good save for the extraneous background people milling around. Not much you can do at the meets and shows though.

The ones the the people and birds, the overall scenes just seem more like snapshots to me.

[Joshua20D]

Joshua,

I like the last two shots. You are certainly getting the knack of portraits! On the earlier ones, my suggestion would be look at the whole fame, including what lines up behind something else. Car meets are almost impossible, without a lot of post-editing, but if you think of that in advance, consider what might be easier to remove from a picture to keep a clear subject. In the others keep a clear focal point that draws the eye to the right place and tells a story -- having full trees, people, and birds without a connecting theme creates a visually confusing picture. The one of the kids in the fountain has great potential, but I would have stepped over just a bit so the trashcan and other random half-people could be either out or cropped out of the shot, leaving the story clearer and without distraction.

You are asking the right questions, taking nice people pictures, and will be a very good photographer!

...Sam

Thank you very much, I will keep all frame angles in mind when setting up something later for a local meet, I just recently got ahold of some post-editing software that actually works for cropping in such so I'll use those to frame my photos more precise, thank you for the input as well as the compliment.

Let me see if I have some other photos of mics. cars that I have taken for a reference.

[Joshua20D]

Your portraits are good! I want to get into portraits, but I don't seem to have that knack for it. :(

The cars - as everyone mentioned meets are a challenge. I think the car shots are good save for the extraneous background people milling around. Not much you can do at the meets and shows though.

The ones the the people and birds, the overall scenes just seem more like snapshots to me.

Thank you as well! Yeah, I do admit the ones at the park are more snapshot orientated, I didn't determine a core subject before I snapped, just a general image of what was in front of me. I need to work on that for my nature shots.

[Joshua20D]

Heres a few of mics. car photos I have taken over my photography duration.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4227434816_ab451944f4.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4226664299_849630aec8.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2457/4096226755_81c3e981ec.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2466/3614834231_71e1dd3802.jpg

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v462/BoostedGTI/subie/?action=view&current=4251_101398996258_684936258_3003965.jpg

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v462/BoostedGTI/?action=view&current=IMG_3127small-1.jpg

[mpistone]

Of the new ones, the second shot's background takes a lot away for me. The other 3 are great! Especially the reflections and composition in the last one. That said, I don't know a thing about car photography. :)

[thebeatnut]

Hi Josh, and welcome. Can i recommend looking at websites such as http://www.chrismyhill.com/ for inspiration?

Photgraphers like Chris Myhill use studio flash techniques to get their stunning car images. I read an article once about automotive photography and the lighting setups were amazing. For an amateur, a couple of speedlites and a pc sync cable (or radio trigger if you're flush with green) can create some great lighting!

[Cameramonger]

I agree with the others who mention that all but the second shot look very nice, especially the last one. When I have been a car shows, unless a particular car has historical or personal significance for me, I don't try to capture anything except the ones that will make good pictures. Another trick for those with unavoidable background clutter is to get a dramatic shot of part of the car -- tail fins against the sky for an antique, or an engine compartment shot with diffused fill flash for a performance car, logos, etc. can add to any car photo collection.

Keep up the good work...