Help Critique Me

Hi,
I am new to the forums and still relatively new to shooting.
I would like to see whats do you guys think of some of my better pictures and how I could improve (composition, exposure, etc.) Any tips are appreciated.

Thanks!


These are shot with my Rebel XSi and the 50mm 1.8. Shot in raw, edited in PS

Hi sin, and welcome to POTN.
I would say that you're off to a great start! I especially like the second shot (nice composition, colors, and dof).

I like the first one. Good use of DOF. The last one seems a bit under exposed. Pictures like that would benefit from a more dramatic sky or shot at a different time of day.

The middle two stand out for me.

lindsaytblum wrote in post #10951449
Hi sin, and welcome to POTN.
I would say that you're off to a great start! I especially like the second shot (nice composition, colors, and dof).

I absolutely love the second shot as well. Probably my best picture that Ive ever taken.

Scottdog129 wrote in post #10951848
I like the first one. Good use of DOF. The last one seems a bit under exposed. Pictures like that would benefit from a more dramatic sky or shot at a different time of day.

I have a problem with underexposing many my shots. The last shot is actually 2 shots layered + other techniques that I literally just learned yesterday. I can post the original one I had before if you would like.

corkneyfonz wrote in post #10952518
The middle two stand out for me.

Thanks. Theres something wrong with the butterfly imo. I feel like his body is out of focus or something.

FYI I have been shooting for about a year now

Your photos are very nice indeed. Here is a suggestion for the last image...

There is no light on the building because it is backlit. What is interesting about this photo to you personally? The sky is OK and there is no light on the building. Here is an idea.

Make 2 layers in photoshop of the image. Top layer use the curves tool to add contrast and depth to the sky. Then bump up the saturation. Back layer use curves tool to brighten the building and deepen contrast. Then use the mask tool on the top layer and reveal the brightened building under the deepened sky. This technique can give photos taken under less than optimal lighting some more "punch." Here is a quick example....Devin

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the butterfly pic looks a bit noisy to me, but maybe it's just me.

1. Dof too shallow, did you try an overhead shot looking down as my eye wanders to the back of the frame. The texture and colour of the nails is very nice.

2. the background flowers are too distracting and take your eye off the main subject. I think for shots like this the main flower needs to be isolated.

3. nicely composed shot but the butterfly needs additional lighting to bring out its colours and texture, would liked to have seen that with a little fill flash.

4. for starters it doesnt look level as the roof appears to be sloping left to right, its underexposed and the main subject is a little uninteresting. I would wait and take it again when the sun is behind you.

Hope this helps.

Devinwk wrote in post #10953168
Your photos are very nice indeed. Here is a suggestion for the last image...

There is no light on the building because it is backlit. What is interesting about this photo to you personally? The sky is OK and there is no light on the building. Here is an idea.

The sky looked amazing and those two airplanes caught my eye. I redid the version...again. Next time I will just get TWO images, 1 for sky and 1 for the building because when I bumped up the brightness on the building, grainy-galore.

SnapShot Photos wrote in post #10953253
the butterfly pic looks a bit noisy to me, but maybe it's just me.

Its not you. I shot it at 2.5 as the exif showed. he was probably moving around on the flower, so I should have done iso 400/800ish instead of 100.

oweng wrote in post #10953970
1. Dof too shallow, did you try an overhead shot looking down as my eye wanders to the back of the frame. The texture and colour of the nails is very nice.

I agree. I wish I got all of the main pile in focus. It was just a quick walk through so I didnt set it up or anything.

Really? I feel that the background gives the picture MORE if anything and not take away.

I probably could saturate it more. I have no idea how to use fill flash, so that wasnt an option

I tried to rotate it so that it was level
And I realize that it is also underexposed, but I was more focused on how I was able to layer and gradient it. It looks alot better than the original version.
and Sunrise would have been 6am. Too early!

Overall, awesome critiques. Keep em coming and thanks alot!

I like the second picture a lot, and I agree with what you said, i like how there are those flowers in the back, it adds more color to the picture.
for your third photo, i always like adding a little of contrast and taking away a little brightness (usually +10 or +20 and -10 or -20 --> they should neutralize to 0)

First two are your strongest.
Lose the last one, it's tilted, underexposed and with a poor crop.

Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the CC so far.

Any thoughts on:

The nails pic is great and the one with the building, great editing by Devinwk, really brings out the building.