Newbie on the loose with a 400D

Hi Folks,

I've just arrived both at this forum and in the world of digital photography. There seems to be a few Aussies floating around here which is cool I'm from Perth (actually... can anyone recommend good photography shops and clubs etc in Perth?)

I thought I would put up a few of the shots I feel are my better ones for feedback. Don't hold back, it's the fastest way to improve me

The portrait is my brother. The other one is taken about 30m from a friends house, I actually got a few I liked from there.

Cheers,
Andrew

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Well let a brit be the first to say hello, but don't mention the word cricket

Ready for an unqualified opinion?
First shot is too dark on your brother, background too light. Could move brother, use fill flash, meter on background or photoshop the hell out of it.

Second shot could do with stopping down the aperture to get everything in focus, (or it could just need some sharpening) but I do like this one.

A pro may be along soon to help you more, for now I'm all you got

*edit hope this is ok, I quickfixed with the first

Levels in the first are a little off. but if you convert to B&W and slap a border around it , it makes an interesting shot.

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Thanks for the feedback!
I hand't even noticed the levels, but once pointed out it was quite obvious.

I have done a quick play with it in photoshop myself. Can the 400D do fill-in flash? Would I have to tell it to do that? I took that shot in Av mode I think (to try and get a blurry background) and so far I haven't noticed the flash coming on by itself in that mode.

I did a colour adjustment and am much happier with the results now. Also, putting it in b&w I had not thought of, but it does change things a bit doesn't it?

I have attached my photoshopped version.

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I'm very bothered by the tilted horizon in the shot of your brother. Also, I'd like to see the back of his head (but it's nice that you left all that room in front of his face).

In the shot near the friend's house, I find the wires distracting. Maybe they were part of the point of your picture, though, in which case it would be pretty foolish to get rid of them!

thanks gk. I don't even know why that background is not in line, my brother must have been leaning or something and I just lined up the shot with him.

It's funny you should mention the back of his head. The original shot included that, however due to some short planning (this photo was literally within the first 10 my camera ever shot) there were unsightly security window things so I decided to crop it out.

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hello from another perth forumite
good camera shops in perth are
Camera Electronics - in northbridge www.cameraelectronic.c​om.au
PRA in northbridge www.praimaging.com.au
Plaza Imaging in Northbridge www.plazacameras.com.a​u
and Camera solutions in the murray st mall, east end just down from david jones

welcome to the forum and hold onto your wallet

looking at the original I see that the vertical is also leaning, I think that straightening things up would improve it. This is my attempt

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thanks echo, went to camera electronics and picked up a camera case today. I see what you mean about $$$, good encouragement to make the most of what I already have