A Day at the Park (a NooBs 2nd day with the new Canon)

Looking for CC on this set of photos from this weekend. I was messing around with the Canon 100-400mm f4.5/5.6 lens that I rented from lensrentals.com so they're all shot with that lens. I'm thinking of buying this lens to complete my kit. Then I will stop buying and start learning as so many have already pointed out to me.

Anyway... since I'm fairly new to photography, I'm looking for feedback on this group. There's no story here. Haven't progressed to the story telling phase yet so I'm just looking for feedback on the technical aspect of the photos and what I can do to improve. Thanks in advance for looking.

1.

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#1 is a nice composition. It might be more interesting if it were tighter in on his head, but then you'd lose the balance.
#2 is a cool motion shot, I like everything except the log poking up from behind his head. The exposure looks a bit under to me, but not much.
For #2 and 3 it might be nice to see the whole body, but it's not a big deal either.
4 isn't very interesting, imo

In #1 you have taken the shot with the sun in front of the lens (and in front of the subject). Note that this causes some lens flare or forward scatter, which reduces contrast. If you added flash in this scene, that probably helped open up the shadows in his face.

If you were aware of all of this when you took the shot, then you did quite well, because the result was excellent. However, if any of this went un-noticed at the time, you were just very lucky. As a general rule it is inadvisable to shoot into the sun unless you have no choice.

Your other shots were OK but not in the same league as #1.

mpistone wrote in post #10109655
#2 is a cool motion shot, I like everything except the log poking up from behind his head.

I didn't even notice that log until you pointed it out but you're right, now that I see it, it is distracting. It's things like this that I want to become more aware of through the CC of others.

mpistone wrote in post #10109655
For #2 and 3 it might be nice to see the whole body, but it's not a big deal either.

Funny... I thought the same thing when I got these back to the computer. I agree as well. Thanks for your input.

Robert_Lay wrote in post #10109703
If you were aware of all of this when you took the shot, then you did quite well, because the result was excellent. However, if any of this went un-noticed at the time, you were just very lucky. As a general rule it is inadvisable to shoot into the sun unless you have no choice.

Thanks for your input. Much appreciated. I was aware of the location of the sun at the time. I have read your paper on the quality of lighting along with many other posts in this forum on lighting. I understand that it is one of the most important, if not THE most important factor in photography. So yes... I spent that entire day walking around looking at the lighting, shadows, and trying to determine how it would affect the final outcome.

Robert_Lay wrote in post #10109703
As a general rule it is inadvisable to shoot into the sun unless you have no choice.

On this particular shot, I had no other choice for my vantage point. This gentleman was at the end of a narrow pier and I had to stand behind him. I metered for the sky, and then metered him and made a wild guess at the exposure. BTW... the blue sky at the top of the frame is not there in the orig. It is more washed-out white. What you see is a gradient fill from light room.

Thanks again guys for your input.

2 random thoughts:

# 4 would be more interesting if there was a sharper focus point.

Gradient sky fooled me!

shot one is perfect for me . how eveer i would like to see a longitudinal version of it . showing the whole rod , love the flair

2-3 are good

4th are unfortunatly oof

I like the first which is an excellennt capture. I also like the motion blur in the second except that I would have liked the shot wider to get all the rod in.