My First Ever Pics - really need help and tips

[quiapz]

Ello.

I just got my first camera (Powershot A85) and shot my first pics. Basically I'm starting from scratch... I was just going around the house looking at what I can capture and ended up with a few shots. Any comments on these pics below?

I was going for freaky/scary here, but these seem like they lack a whole lot:

First:
http://photos22.flickr.com/24876862_587c365ddf.jpg?v=0

Second: (now that I look at both, maybe if I had that light from below the door creeping on the floor on the first pic, maybe it would have helped...)
http://photos23.flickr.com/24876901_5cffaad443.jpg?v=0

I dunno... this one seems to look good, but I dunno if it achieves anything:
http://photos21.flickr.com/24876840_f99dfb4944.jpg?v=0

Comments - whether violent or not :D ...are welcome :)

[MCB]

Congratulations on getting your first camera. And congratulations again on working up the nerve to post your first-ever pictures! :)

I think you're right, they do lack something. If you are going for spooky/scary on the first ones, maybe a little less light (or a bit underexposed) would work better. If you had a friend standing out side with a knife, a well-placed shadow would help. Maybe a muddy/bloody footprint? I think the door alone isn't all that scary. Or maybe someone standing in the partially open door, with a knife or something, and a lot of overexposed backlight might work. Shoot from a low angle so they look bigger and more menacing? Maybe add some dust to the air (flour?) to get that smokey, textured rays of light look? At least with digital you can take hundreds of pictures and toss out all the losers without losing much. :)

Good luck.

[PhotosGuy]

What MCB said.
It can be tough getting started. Read a lot (the "Sticky"s are a good place to start) Shoot a lot. Have fun!