First time posting in here, let me have it

Hi All,

I tend to post photos on the "share your photos from X Y Z gear" threads. First time posting on the critiques board.

Took the 7D and 17-55 out for a snowy walk with the pup and the lady. Thoughts?

Fine as snapshots but not more than that. What are you trying to accomplish here? Seems you have a variety of things going on.

I like 1 and 4 Pretty place in the snow.

Well, I'm not really one to critique others given my VERY limited experience, but here are a couple ideas.

First pic - Try getting closer to your subject and using a larger aperature. You should be able to go to f/2.8 with that lens, right? That might help to blur the background drawing focus to your wife and pup, and maybe even lighten up the shot a bit.

Second pic - Can you put the Sun behind that branch? Some back lighting may create some interesting effects on and around the leaves.

Third pic - Nice dag. Loose the leash/collar.

Fifth pic - Maybe pick another time of day when the Sun is below the treeline.

Looks like it was a nice walk.

You need to learn to highlight the subject of the photo. First shot its obviously the lady and the dog, but you have far too much DOF so it looks like nothing but a snapshot. Get in a bit closer and use a wide aperture to blur the background.

2nd the subject seems to be the colour of the plant, but you aren't close enough and it just looks like a weed that got in the way of a nice river shot. A macro shot would have worked far better, as would a shot of the river without the plant.

The dog, ok. You tried the rule of 3rds here, which is good. But next time take the leash off and either get his paws in the shot, or take the shot in landscape to include more of the body.

4th shot I like most. But you are too far to the right. Get in the middle of the path next time and perhaps shoot from a lower angle.

Last shot, again snapshotty. Seems a bit tilted too.

Also, all of your shots seem underexposed. Except perhaps the one with the dog, but even that one could use a bit of brightening.