First weekend of some real shooting, first ever RAW processing, feedback please?

I've been wanting to take up photography for a while, and between having more time this winter and having a health scare about my cat (who's getting up there in years) I'm finally getting around to it. A friend loaned me his 7D and nifty fifty and here are my favorites from this weekend. And, like the subject says, I've never done RAW processing before. Please take a look and let me know how I can improve them!

Very nice. Good compositions. Maybe a few possibly blown highlights in the white areas of the cats fur. Maybe you can check your RAW files again and pull back the detail by reducing the highlights. What are you using for processing? Lightroom?

Thanks! I was using DPP and checked the highlight (and shadow) warnings on all, so I don't THINK they're actually blown. I can try to drag down the highlights next time and see if more detail is available.

I'm not sure what kind of advice you're wanting. All of these look like snapshots, meaning they really weren't shots that we intentionally composed, but instead shots that were just taken when you walked up to something that you wanted to photograph. There's nothing wrong with that at all, I'm just trying to find out if that's what you are going for or are you wanting to learn how to produce really great and well-composed shots? If the answer is the latter, then you need to start learning about all aspects of photography and your camera's functions (this is if you don't already know about shutter speed, aperture, manual mode, ISO, etc.) and reading about composition and exposure. Also, part of being a good photographer is choosing what and when to take a picture. The third and fifth shots (the one of the car and the one of the Native American) are just not interesting subjects-so they're harder to photograph and produce an interesting picture. The graffiti wall is VERY cool but all of the other stuff in the scene is distracting. A lot of times the key to great composition is creating a picture in a way that the subject is seen differently then how most people would typically see it. For instance, rather than taking a picture while standing upright, squat down and get a lower perspective. Also, instead of photographing something head-on, photograph it up close and from the side. Getting up close to your subject is another great way to create a more unique perspective.

Kudos to you for being brave enough to post pictures so early in your forum experience...that takes a lot of guts.

I have lurked, on and off, for a while. As for the technical aspects, I do know - to some degree - ISO, aperture, etc (all of these were shot in Av). These were, in fact, from just walking around (and I disagree about the car not being interesting!). A couple of weeks ago there was an old Lamborghini Countach husk nearby. Sadly, it's gone.

The perspective and aspect parts... bleh. I've never had an artistic eye, and no idea how to train it. I'm normally a triathlete, but I'm supposed to be resting this winter. So, new hobby, and here I am.

LonelyBoy wrote in post #17248605
I've never had an artistic eye...

My problem, too. You can slowly develop one by looking at photos by photographers you admire and figuring out their style. You don't need to copy it, just learn what makes it special. After a while you'll start incorporating some of those things in your own style. As the writers always say, "First you read, then you write."

At least that's my theory, and I'm sticking to it.

LonelyBoy wrote in post #17248605
These were, in fact, from just walking around (and I disagree about the car not being interesting!). A couple of weeks ago there was an old Lamborghini Countach husk nearby. Sadly, it's gone.

The perspective and aspect parts... bleh. I've never had an artistic eye, and no idea how to train it. I'm normally a triathlete, but I'm supposed to be resting this winter. So, new hobby, and here I am.

Well, you can take a boring shot and make it interesting just by shooting from an interesting perspective as I mentioned before. I spent 27 months in an incredibly ugly region with nothing of interest to shoot...this made me the queen of "boring subjects shot from interesting angles".

The only way to train your artistic eye is to practice, practice, practice! I've also recommended many times for people to view the work of another photographer whose work you enjoy...figure out what it is about their work that you like so much and how they made their pictures such a success in your opinion. I remember going out to a trail that had several pieces of RR equipment off the trail. I walked around it for 30 minutes trying to figure out how to photograph it to make it look photo-worthy. It was interesting to me in nature, but that only translates well in a picture if you can compose the shot in a unique way. I just kept asking myself, "How would (insert my mentor's name here) photograph this to make it look amazing?". Honestly, attempting to imagine how he would have taken the shots helped me immensely. Good luck and just keep practicing!

I'm not much for offer critique, but I would love to see a few shots of the dragon mural as the focus point. I find that very fascinating. Take lots of pictures of your cat, you will be very thankful that you did!

Color temperature looks all over the place.

Agree with SJC above. The dragon mural is freaking awesome. I would be taking shots up close and personal as well as with UWA to get different perspectives.
I hate to say it, but I also agree about shooting your cats as often as you can. My Monte is a little over 14 years old and he is starting to deteriorate in his health. I am taking a many shots now as he will let me take. I will miss the old turd and I hope the photos will serve as memories when he does finally leave us.

I hadn't had the nerve to venture back here for a week.

Yes, absolutely I'm taking as many shots of my furry boy as possible. I had a dog from when I was 8-24, and that was mostly before the era of cheap, good digital photography. I have very few pictures of him young and healthy. Many of him old and frail, but I wish I had more of him looking good. Toby will get lots of shots. I even still have a few from my old D40, which I hated using, but gave me some decent pics of him.

As for the dragon mural, I'll take another go at it. I think I'm going to try to pick up a used 40 STM locally. I was INTENDING the mural to be in focus, but the nifty isn't known for pegging focus, apparently. Lots of murals here in Austin. There is (or used to be) a Space Invaders one somewhere around.

Color temperature, I realized, is all over the place because of the horrific TN panel on the laptop I'm using. The pic below of my cat is done twice, once to look good on the laptop, then when I saw it on my Surface it looked like a demon cat in hell, so I redid it very pale (according to the laptop). Any suggestions on improvement, or do I just need to suck it up and do editing upstairs on my work monitor?

I'm also hoping this one is better, artistically. I know the framing is off, but I was rushing just to get the shot at ALL with him feeling it was bedtime. He splashes water on his nose when he drinks, and one drop stayed there all the way upstairs and onto the bed, and I got it in focus with what looks to me like a fairly narrow DOF. He doesn't like looking at me when I'm holding the camera up, unfortunately.

First up is the demon-looking one, then the more neutral one.

not familiar with the 7d but if it has a fold out articulating screen,use it and use live view and get on the ground facing up,the car shot is to much shadow and harsh light,go back early or late in the day so minimize the shadows and harsh light,get on the ground and face up by the rear tire up,get some more interesting angles,shooting straight on with a not so interesting subject leads to a not to insetting photo,the car may be cool but straigth on rear shot with harsh shadows and light makes it not interesting,also get on the ground for the dragon shots facing sideways and up using live view and the screen folded out so u can see it,

now that i have a camera with folding screen i couldn't live with out it,i use it all the time especially with the fisheye,i get on the ground often with that lens facing up,i hold the camera right on the ground and look at the screen folded up towards me so i can frame my subject.

No articulating screen on the 7D, but I may see if I can make those work anyway.

I love the drop on his nose...it's very cute. I think I might try this particular shot in B&W though because I find that whatever the salmon colored object is from his right side (the left side from our view) distracting.