Please Critique

Hi, I'm new to photography and was wondering if I could get some critiques of some images I took.

http://i276.photobucke​t.com …Dedication10-21-07133.jpg
http://i276.photobucke​t.com …Dedication10-21-07156.jpg
http://i276.photobucke​t.com …Dedication10-21-07108.jpg

thanks,
Daniel

good start but i would suggest that you read about the rule of thirds. also consider getting a CPL filter when shooting outdoors. welcome to POTN!

Welcome to POTN. Just an FYI, there is a Critique Corner forum for this.
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdis​play.php?f=12

Thanks for the info!

Daniel

Interesting shots!

For #2, watch the angle of straight objects, I do the same thing, it is very hard. For the 40D, you can actually buy the EF-D grid focus screen, and it gives you horizontal and vertical lines, as well as 1/3rds, it makes a huge difference for me in composition.

For pic #3, something I want to try is getting a neutral density filter, set the camera on a tripod and do a longer exposure in the sun on a waterfall for a cool shot, making the water flow more of an ethereal look. Something to consider in the future, if these areas are readily accessible and you can take them anytime you want.

Welcome to the forum Daniel. Photography is a great hobby and there's such a lot to learn. Start by learning what you can from books and mags etc., plus what you can pick up from here - everyone is helpful here. There's a good guide on the canon website (called enjoyslr or something similar) to cover the basics.

Your camera takes care of focusing and getting a reasonable exposure, so you can improve quickest by learning the thing your camera is no help with - composition. In the pics you've posted, you've seen something that caught your eye, pointed the camera straight at it and fired. That's ok, we've all got to start somehwere, but that's what all beginners do. Look at pictures you see in magazines or on here etc. that look good to you, and study how the picture has been composed. See how elements of the scene are brought together - a little foreground interest, isolation of the subject, use of lighting and exposure too. Those are the two parts of photography, the art of seeing (composition) and the science of capturing (lighting/exposure and post-processing). Keep at it and post other examples for specific critique, but in the right section of the forum. Good luck!

Madweasel wrote in post #5582929
Welcome to the forum Daniel. Photography is a great hobby and there's such a lot to learn. Start by learning what you can from books and mags etc., plus what you can pick up from here - everyone is helpful here. There's a good guide on the canon website (called enjoyslr or something similar) to cover the basics.

Your camera takes care of focusing and getting a reasonable exposure, so you can improve quickest by learning the thing your camera is no help with - composition. In the pics you've posted, you've seen something that caught your eye, pointed the camera straight at it and fired. That's ok, we've all got to start somehwere, but that's what all beginners do. Look at pictures you see in magazines or on here etc. that look good to you, and study how the picture has been composed. See how elements of the scene are brought together - a little foreground interest, isolation of the subject, use of lighting and exposure too. Those are the two parts of photography, the art of seeing (composition) and the science of capturing (lighting/exposure and post-processing). Keep at it and post other examples for specific critique, but in the right section of the forum. Good luck!

great advice, it may seem daunting to learn all about photographic terms, then your particular body, then lenses and what all the notations mean, but actually you may find in the long run that all of that is actually easy compared to creating photographic art by composition, content, and lighting. Some people, like me in particular, will never quite get it, others just have a knack for it.

on the your shot, it'd be nice if you used a tripod + a longer exposure to get a more angelic look of the water.

Good thoughts. Unfortunately I have not purchased a tripod yet. I have only had my camera for two days and am saving up to buy a good one. I'm thinking of buying a Bogotta/Monfrotto 055ProXB. Any suggestions?

40Driggs wrote in post #5583667
Good thoughts. Unfortunately I have not purchased a tripod yet. I have only had my camera for two days and am saving up to buy a good one. I'm thinking of buying a Bogotta/Monfrotto 055ProXB. Any suggestions?

Those are good name brand ones, but a less expensive one that gets great reviews are the Dynatrans that Amvona sells on ebay and on their online store. They have one that has the pistol ballhead. The tripod is heavy, but it seems to be a favorite.

40Driggs wrote in post #5583667
Good thoughts. Unfortunately I have not purchased a tripod yet. I have only had my camera for two days and am saving up to buy a good one. I'm thinking of buying a Bogotta/Monfrotto 055ProXB. Any suggestions?

I have the slightly smaller 190XProB and I love it. Very versatile, and sturdy for its weight. I also have a rock-solid Manfrotto 058, but that weighs over three times as much, so I don't take it far from the car!

I always say a tripod is the most underrated piece of photographic kit. It's much less sexy than a nice new lens, but the biggest source of disappointment to photographers (especially novices) is blurry photos caused by camera movement. A slight blur from minor movement is often wrongly blamed on the lens or focussing - leading to a desire for a 'better' lens, when all that's at fault is technique. A good tripod holds everything steady and slows you down so you take more time over your composition.

Once you're doing that, take time to scan around your subject, within the viewfinder, to look for distractions like a piece of litter or bright object that spoil the overall shot. Then you can either remove it or recompose so that it is excluded from the view. Attention to detail is another thing that goes towards a more considered photo.

I use the Slik PRO-580DX, and I've been nothing but happy with it. It's a very nice rig without going too expensive.

The circular polarizer mentioned earlier will help cut through the harsh glare you get in midday sun, but really try not to go too cheap on your filter. It's an essential tool if you're going to do a lot of your photography during that time of day. I would get as close as you can to fill the frame with subjects like your frog. I know it's not always possible to direct your subjects when they are wildlife, but try to get your pictures of the animals facing towards you rather than away from you.

I played around with your frog, and here's a side by side comparison after I cropped it:

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What exactly is the EF-D screen. Does it replace the normal viewfinder screen?

Here's a pic I got of the frog facing me.

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I checked out the tripod you suggested, but it seemed a little short for me. Is there a way to compensate for this? I'm 6', and I do not want to have to extend the middle column out very often because I figure it would cause less stability.