My graceful swan-dive into photography

First time out with the new 60D. Check out the Flikr for the rest. This is my first try so any C&C welcome, especially what I did wrong/could do better.

Nice photos.

For me, and I mean this with all due respect, most of the images seem to be crying out for a main point of interest...by that I mean I feel (my opinion so very subjective, hence take with a pinch of salt) that there is something missing from these. Sort of as if the main point of interest had suddenly upped and left just before you hit the shutter.

Not entirely sure if this makes sense, but its the feel I get. Not sure if this in any way assists.

Andrew Tingle wrote in post #14614283
Nice photos.

For me, and I mean this with all due respect, most of the images seem to be crying out for a main point of interest...by that I mean I feel (my opinion so very subjective, hence take with a pinch of salt) that there is something missing from these. Sort of as if the main point of interest had suddenly upped and left just before you hit the shutter.

Not entirely sure if this makes sense, but its the feel I get. Not sure if this in any way assists.

I think I understand what you are saying. A lot of the pics would be better if there was one key subject (a bird or frog on the lilies, a person on that brick sidewalk etc.)

These were all shot just walking around and I kept moving. I wish I could have had a brew and waited for a heron or something to land but I was running out of daylight and wanted to hit other things to get a variety.

Thank you for the advice. I do agree with you.

Also, another thing I would try, and I hope this is helpful in some way, is to hold off on that first shot and scout the scene more, look for differing perspectives, be prepared to crouch, or lay on the ground if you have to, as often there is something more that can be gleaned from a scene if you work it.

This may not make sense, but try to see yourself as part of the camera when looking through the viewfinder. Forget your own height, forget your own body, thus freeing you to assume differing standpoints. Imaging the camera and you, as part of it, are floating in space, sort of, and that you are freed from just standing, but can go lower, take a sideways perspective, you can hover around a scene to look for differing view points.

Or, more simply put, try to resist taking a perspective another would take, but look for interest outside of the initial framing.

Andrew Tingle wrote in post #14614334
Also, another thing I would try, and I hope this is helpful in some way, is to hold off on that first shot and scout the scene more, look for differing perspectives, be prepared to crouch, or lay on the ground if you have to, as often there is something more that can be gleaned from a scene if you work it.

This may not make sense, but try to see yourself as part of the camera when looking through the viewfinder. Forget your own height, forget your own body, thus freeing you to assume differing standpoints. Imaging the camera and you, as part of it, are floating in space, sort of, and that you are freed from just standing, but can go lower, take a sideways perspective, you can hover around a scene to look for differing view points.

Or, more simply put, try to resist taking a perspective another would take, but look for interest outside of the initial framing.

Great advice and I agree 100%. Hopefully this will come out more the more I do it. I did a few shots like that but wasn't too happy with them. Here are 2:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/bennymod/741783​6870/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/bennymod/741784​9378/

Yup, now looking at this last shot, the deadwood on the right of the frame looks like it may have potential as the key subject. Move in, look at in from all angles possible, there's an interesting series of shapes there AND they are reflected AND the water is still (so nice reflections). Move in there, look at the complexity of that shape, don't be afraid to isolate points of interest - and then predominantly exposé for them, bring out the detail, work with the light.

Just editing to add this, as may also help. Consider yourself as having the role to document key points of interest. Take that deadwood again as an example. Perhaps, in it's current state, you will be the only person to capture this moment in time. Ask yourself, how do I do this justice? How do I record this, not just for me, but for everyone (this forces a sense of responsibility to go the extra mile, if you see what I mean).

A few more from a half hour outing tonight:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/bennymod/743728​2466/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/bennymod/743728​8468/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/bennymod/743727​6362/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/bennymod/743727​0500/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/bennymod/743729​3348/

Composition-wise, much more interesting! Nice improvements for your weekend.

A few comments on this set:
1: a bit busy...i think the lamp-post detracts from the stairs and railings that would otherwise make a nice path for the eyes to follow around the picture. Good patterns and variations that capture the viewer's interest.
2: Strong subject, good use of DOF.
3: eh...maybe the weakest of this set. Railing in front doesn't work.
4: Lots of potential. Only problem is that the tree and the stone wheel are competing to be the subject. I like the buildings/windows in the background. The blue windowframes add interest. I'd crop out the tree and keep the wheel and tell everyone that you're the inventor of the wheel. The left side of this shot is my favorite in this set.
5: This is a better version of #3. The leading lines of the railing lead to the stone bridge, but the bridge isn't real interesting there. The lighting is excellent. You picked the golden hour to shoot and that is a bonus...you captured super lighting. I'm not sure where your focus landed, either.

Were these taken by the Univ of Minnesota along the Mississippi?

cpam.pix wrote in post #14627111
Composition-wise, much more interesting! Nice improvements for your weekend.

A few comments on this set:
1: a bit busy...i think the lamp-post detracts from the stairs and railings that would otherwise make a nice path for the eyes to follow around the picture. Good patterns and variations that capture the viewer's interest.
2: Strong subject, good use of DOF.
3: eh...maybe the weakest of this set. Railing in front doesn't work.
4: Lots of potential. Only problem is that the tree and the stone wheel are competing to be the subject. I like the buildings/windows in the background. The blue windowframes add interest. I'd crop out the tree and keep the wheel and tell everyone that you're the inventor of the wheel. The left side of this shot is my favorite in this set.
5: This is a better version of #3. The leading lines of the railing lead to the stone bridge, but the bridge isn't real interesting there. The lighting is excellent. You picked the golden hour to shoot and that is a bonus...you captured super lighting. I'm not sure where your focus landed, either.

Were these taken by the Univ of Minnesota along the Mississippi?

I appreciate the advice. I think I went a half an hour too late for the best lighting. That one of the bridge was one of the first taken. I would have loved to have that light on the wheel shot but that was taken near the end.

I appreciate the advice. They were taken on the west side of the Mississippi yes. I live about 6 blocks from where these were taken. Good eye/memory/knowledge haha.

benji25 wrote in post #14614245

Now this one here is really interesting. Check out the depth in that window, contrasted against the flat wall.

Five new shots:

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/bennymod/747030​7880/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/bennymod/747032​4900/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/bennymod/747031​8086/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/bennymod/747032​0470/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/bennymod/747031​0506/

Overall, I think your first set is much more interesting than the second set.

79 - Interesting perspective...herons are not usually shot from above. When I scare them up, they are in the shallows of lakes near the shores and I get a shallow climbout on their flight.
27 - There's a lack of unifying subject here. The clump of foliage in the center is not very interesting. The concept of taking the high vs. low road is captured here, and might be much more effective without the trees separating them. [Is this one close to Minnehaha Falls? I used to walk along the creek, past the caves toward the Mississippi when I was in that area visiting my grandfather.]
65 - There's a lot going on here with patterns, color, leading lines, and depth. The water is OOF and some of the rail in in focus. I'm not sure what I would have selected to be in focus. The dirt and grime does not help this photo--the dust on the rail on the right, the spots on the steps, discolorations/corrosi​on on the concrete. The yellow seems a bit dull, too. Brightening that might be interesting, but I don't know if it's worth the effort on this capture.

Thanks for continuing to share your photowalks along the mighty Mississippi. I hope to get back there sometime this summer, but I don't know if I'll have the photowalk opportunity.

cpam.pix wrote in post #14652354
Overall, I think your first set is much more interesting than the second set.

79 - Interesting perspective...herons are not usually shot from above. When I scare them up, they are in the shallows of lakes near the shores and I get a shallow climbout on their flight.
27 - There's a lack of unifying subject here. The clump of foliage in the center is not very interesting. The concept of taking the high vs. low road is captured here, and might be much more effective without the trees separating them. [Is this one close to Minnehaha Falls? I used to walk along the creek, past the caves toward the Mississippi when I was in that area visiting my grandfather.]
65 - There's a lot going on here with patterns, color, leading lines, and depth. The water is OOF and some of the rail in in focus. I'm not sure what I would have selected to be in focus. The dirt and grime does not help this photo--the dust on the rail on the right, the spots on the steps, discolorations/corrosi​on on the concrete. The yellow seems a bit dull, too. Brightening that might be interesting, but I don't know if it's worth the effort on this capture.

Thanks for continuing to share your photowalks along the mighty Mississippi. I hope to get back there sometime this summer, but I don't know if I'll have the photowalk opportunity.

With regards to 065...the capture might not be worth the effort, but the concept is intriguing as hell. It was shot in such a way as to make it feel like the building is IN the sea. It's like...going down a stairway, and the bottom is nothing but a mass of angry waves. It's like, literally sort of travelling a pathway with the ultimate destination being chaos and destruction and primal fury. I agree that this capture has too many problems with it. But I'm seeing a concept here, and I think it's potentially worth revisiting.

Clean Gene wrote in post #14655221
With regards to 065...the capture might not be worth the effort, but the concept is intriguing as hell. It was shot in such a way as to make it feel like the building is IN the sea. It's like...going down a stairway, and the bottom is nothing but a mass of angry waves. It's like, literally sort of travelling a pathway with the ultimate destination being chaos and destruction and primal fury. I agree that this capture has too many problems with it. But I'm seeing a concept here, and I think it's potentially worth revisiting.

I agree 100%. This is exactly what I thought about when I saw the image. That is a flight of stairs that I certainly don't want to go down but I'm compelled to find out what is at the bottom. I would really like to see what the OP comes up with should this area be revisited.

Clean Gene wrote in post #14655221
With regards to 065...the capture might not be worth the effort, but the concept is intriguing as hell. It was shot in such a way as to make it feel like the building is IN the sea. It's like...going down a stairway, and the bottom is nothing but a mass of angry waves. It's like, literally sort of travelling a pathway with the ultimate destination being chaos and destruction and primal fury. I agree that this capture has too many problems with it. But I'm seeing a concept here, and I think it's potentially worth revisiting.

Thanks for the perspective...I couldn't see that forest for the trees. Time for me to spend more time pondering the shot.