2010 Air show, San Diego

I'm new to this forum and to photography in general. These were taken with my Rebel XSi and the kit zoom lens, and they're straight from the camera. I have my own critiques for these and I want to see if they match up.

#1 - http://www.flickr.com …157625098050138​/lightbox/

#2 - http://www.flickr.com …157625098050138​/lightbox/

Feel free to check out the rest of the set, but these were my favorites. Thanks!

Just a tip, you will get many more comments and view if you post the image and not the link. Some people don't want to take the time to click the link.

The second one is my favorite of the two!

The second is my favorite as well. Though it looks like the jet is a tad underexposed. I'm guessing this is because your shooting up into the sky, and the camera is taking the light reading from the brightness of the sky.

The bottom of the jet is also the dark side where the sun is positioned.

I really like the composition of #1 (a Harrier, I think?). It is just a bit dark but easily corrected. If you correct levels and bring up the shadows a bit the underwing details show better and the aircraft really stands out against the background. Nice work.

I think there's too much wasted space above in #1 image. Other wise the left side placement is ok.
I know these are really difficult to shoot and think about composition while you shoot. It would be nice if the #2 jet was heading through the frame rather than just a portion.

I like #1 best out of the two. I like the isolation of the single jet and the light towers filling the space beneath it as it lifted.

#2's a nice shot of one of the Angels, but the sky tricked your meter and underexposed the plane. With some PP you might be able to bring that up some and recover some of the detail underneath, but you'll have to be careful of introducing much noise in the shadows that way. Honestly, you have several, much better Angels shots in that gallery.

All in all, though, it's an excellent testament to what can be done with something as simple as the 55-250.

I like #1, it's clean and tidy. Really industrial (for lack of a better word) feeling to me.
#2 is a bit dark and the jet could use some extra light.

Hey thanks everyone! Your comments pretty much matched up with what I was thinking already. Practice & constructive criticism are the only way to get better!