Suggestions on how to improve? (1 of 2)

[technology_guy]

Here are four hand shots - two at a butterfly show, the othes at a dog waterpark. Any suggestions?

P.S. I couldn't afford the IS version of the lens. Does it make a big difference in the potential quality of the pix?

I've got a ton of questions, but guess I should post em in one of the forums...

[technology_guy]

Here are two pix from the waterpark. The first is an action shot of the dogs running in the surf. It happened so fast, I hardly had a chance to get the pic.

In the second, the dog looked so pathetic getting showered off that I had to take a pic. Unfortunately, what I saw didn't come across in the picture as it currently is. Is there anything I can do to draw out the dog more?

[timjeburton]

I like the third pic, very dynamic with the water spraying up, and I like the fact that one dog is white and the other one black (or rather, dark brown).

[MattyB]

the first one, i like the colours, but i can't distinguish which part of the butterfly i'm looking at, am i looking at 2 wings or 1?

the second, the colours don't knock me off my feet, what would it look like as a light B&W?

third, i love dogs, so my critque will only be positive, haha!

fourth, i'm nore sure what i'm meant to be looking at, the dog's head/eyes don't really seem to be the main part ofthe photo, although i think they were intended to be? looks like he's in trouble!

well done.

[technology_guy]

So, it sounds like I should have tried for different angles on the butterfly pix (and probably used a tripod to get a better focus) I'm going to try to recrop the last photo to get the dog more as the center of focus.

[technology_guy]

In general, how do people feel about using PS to spice-up colors and content? Is that sacreiigious?
Obviously, it's better to get everything right the start...

[Becca]

In general, how do people feel about using PS to spice-up colors and content? Is that sacreiigious?
Obviously, it's better to get everything right the start...

Hi Alan,

I asked that exact question in a photography class I took when they started talking about post processing. It seemed like cheating to me. My teacher gave me an answer that made me feel very differently about it. He said that if you were an artist and accidentally put a smear of yellow paint across the center of your painting, you'd take it out. The same can be done with photographs. The only thing he cautioned us on is "substantially changing the content of the picture" (i.e. National Enquirer). Sometimes all a picture needs is a little tweak to make it pop.

Of course I would love to be a good enough photographer to make all my pictures come out perfect straight off the camera, but until then I give thanks for PS every day!

Keep up the good work. The pictures are great!

[Cobra351]

As to the post processing, this is at least the way I see it. I don't have (and can't imagine ever having) a camera that reproduces every scene as exactly as I can remember it being at the time the shot was taken. To that effect I adjust the pictures by slightly tweaking the: saturation, sharpness and contrast (using all or some of those, depending on the individual picture). Again though, I never strive for the 'perfect' picture, I only modify mine to reflect how the scene was the best that I can remember. All the settings within my camera are set at neutral, or '0'.

Some like adding/removing items or changing colors within a picture, I don't. Just what I prefer here, that's all. They are YOUR pictures though, and every person has their own ideas of what they want from them. The most important part I think is to remember to ENJOY taking the pictures!

Regarding the IS on lenses, all it does is allow you to take pictures using lower shutter speeds. I used to try using my 28-135 IS to catch butterflies too, but gave up after about a minute! They're way too chaotic and quick to allow the IS to get into action, at least in my experience. I used the IS in darker situations where the object being photographed is stationary. Does IS help give better quality pictures? In my opinion no. It does offer the advantage of shooting in darker situations, but that's about it to me. I rarely use this lens (28-135 IS) anymore though, and mostly stopped using the IS. I'd rather bump up the ISO (or use my tripod or monopod) and shoot that way, but that's just me. Give me any lens, no matter how good or expensive it is, and I'll be able to take some horrible shots, no doubt! Hopefully some good ones too though!

Welcome to the forums, I hope I was able to make at least SOME sense here!

[lostdoggy]

Photograph is the art of capturing what you and only you can see. Its an expression of your mindand you didn't see in the capture you can always make it to be what you want it to be. no one should tell what is right or wrong because its your world and you can do whatever you want. So, if you want to PS then PS away. Its your canvas to do what you want. Here is the exception, if you are being paid to photograph then you do what they want you to do or can do!!!

[Robert_Lay]

Picture #3, the two dogs running in the water. There is something in the upper right corner that attracts one's eye. That corner either must be burned in or cropped out along with the rightmost one inch of the image. Otherwise, I like it because of the action (the Decisive Moment!).

[technology_guy]

Thanks for all the feedback! This is starting to make a lot more sense...

These were 4 of the bottom pix from a recent shoot. I've got one from the better group - which looks great on the screen, but isn't printing right. I'll post it.