Tips wanted on retaking these photos.

[zoom]

Hi all, I took these shots while out bushwalking using the auto function on my G2 camera, I intend to retake them and enlarge them using some of the cameras manual features to try and get some better shots, any tips on settings etc. would be greatly appreciated.

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I was also thinking of taking the tall tree in the second shot in panoramic photo stitch mode ( two shots )to try and fill the frame up more with tree instead of sky while still retaining its overall length, what do you think?

[Radtech1]

Mid-day sun is usually the worst for photography. Now we know why.

Best would be to reshoot these in the first hour after sunrise, or the last hour before sunset. Also recommended might be turning your flash on.

Others will inevitably post other thoughts, but I think you will be very pleased if you shoot at a different time of day.

Rad

[robertwgross]

On the first one, if I had to re-shoot it, I would have a reflector with me, and I would set that up to get a little more light into the dark shadows... just enough that you can see the texture in there. Or, just a little fill flash might do it.

The blue sky is nice, but if you can get more of a dramatic sky, it might be great. So, consider the sun angles very early in the morning or very late in the afternoon.

Just to cover all of your bases, maybe shoot one with it in silhouette against a sunset. I doubt that it will be super, but it is always worth a try.

One of my favorites in California is a Joshua Tree in silhouette against a pre-sunrise. But that is just me.

---Bob Gross---

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Yes the shadows were another thing I have to take into consideration.

[maderito]

Perhaps these shots fall into the category of nature or landscape photography. If you agree, then you might think about a composition as opposed to pics of individual objects. It's an interesting tree-like plant - but I bet the surroundings are even more interesting. And I would bet that the moods expressed in the scene vary across the day from early am to late pm. If reshooting, I would try to capture the scene - which may give you some inspiration on how to approach shooting individual objects in the scene. Just a thought.

As for the tree, if that's what you want to capture for sure, you need something to work off -- a long shadow, the sun/moon, a moody sky, water/dew, a visiting creature, etc.

[Hellashot]

#1 take the shot with the top of your bush/whatever more near the top 1/3 of your frame - so there's more grass at the bottom.