Critique my shots!

Hi! I posted this over in the wildlife area but I suppose this would be a more appropriate place for it...

I'm new here and this is my first post but I've been reading a lot and learning slowly... Heres a few shots I took this morning with my 450D and a 70-200mm F/4 L with a 1.4x Extender. Looking for some advice from the experts to improve

I'm not really happy with the pictures.... But I'm still learning. Thanks!

1/400 F/5.6 ISO 200 98mm

Welcome to POTN.

I'm not an expert, but you asked.........

#1 the sign is a real scene stealer; that's where my eye goes immediately. For a shot like that, shoot at dawn or dusk and you'll be happier with the light.

#2 looks fine to me, but the subject is small. Try cropping it tighter, see you if like that better.

#3,4 the subjects are small in the frame and the angle of view is routine; try (again) shooting at dawn or dusk and get an angle or action I don't normally see. For example, get very low to the ground, now shoot the bird, or catch that bird in flight......

FWIW

Welcome to the forums! You asked for C&C so here goes!!

#1 is a little boring - nothing very specific wrong with it, but just doesn't do anything for me. Closer up might have made for a graphic abstract composition.

#2 - nice idea to frame the subject with the foreground, but the foreground is so diffuse that it doesn't really work for me & covers some of the subject.

#3 - Nasty dark reflection running through the centre ruins the shot. Even without it the shot wouldn't really be anything other than a record of the moment.

#4 - Best of the bunch, but wants the other birds cropping out of the frame. I'd actually crop heavily putting the subject on the intersection of the bottom & right thirds of the frame.

It looks to me that you are at that stage of photography where you've moved from probably a more basic camera to a decent DLSR, but not yet got to grips with composition to make the photos stand out. I believe photographers need to go through a technique phase first to just learn how to get sharp properly exposed photos, but then you need to concentrate on interesting or dynamic compositions.

Look at 'rules' of composition like sticking subjects on the intersection of thirds and having lines leading into, or snaking through pictures. Practice trying these rules & also breaking them - you will learn a lot!

Hope this helps,

Phil

Thanks both posts help a lot! Phil that is the exact stage I'm at... came from a very basic P&S and bought a XSi. I am just beginning and hope I can improve significantly. Your tips are great, thanks! My favorite was also #4 but I wish the bird wasn't running from me.. hah

#1 sign and plants on right and left are distracting. I'd try backing and increasing your angle that you're shooting at.

#2 distracting oof foreground plants; don't like looking birds head on as there is not shape to the head, profiles are better; bird is in shade and right in the middle.

#3 what's the subject, duck one or duck two? one duck is too dard other is smack in the middle and there is a distracting reflection of tree crossing both ducks; I like the orange reflection of the leaves.

#4 subject is right in middle and a little too small; other birds should have been avoided or cut out; I like the color.

I critiqued them in the wildlife section...

oh thanks I will check it out Moved it here cause I thought it'd be a better spot.. didn't know how to remove the other one