Winter's Tide

Hi guys! This is my first post on POTN. I'm new to photography but really interested in wildlife and nature photography as well as other forms. My main goal is to improve so let the criticism flow!

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IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …ekphotography/5​400070660/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …ekphotography/5​399463079/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …ekphotography/5​400059602/

I am new too so take this as such, meaning I have no idea what I am saying either. But number 1 does nothing for me. Not very interesting and might be a little overexposed. I like number 2 because it gives me something to look at and is composed pretty well. Number 3 has excellent composition and lighting but I have no idea what I am looking at. Grin.

Welcome to POTN Since you're also new to photography, I suggest you check out some of the excellent stickies on composition, exposure, and all the fun stuff that will help you learn and improve - although critique is a great way to start.

#1. I agree with djphatjive - not really an interesting shot, although a crop in closer to the rock would help. It is overexposed, and probably a bit too contrasty as well (highlights have no details, shadows blocked up a bit. I think you might want to check the white balance on this shot too because the snow is a little blue. Good catch on the lighting - that warm light makes for great photographs.

#2. The best image in the set - compositionally, it leads the eye through the image with the lines and the nice splash of color. It's also a little overexposed and contrasty - cut back a little on that and your colors will still pop, but you'll have more details. Because the sky in both corners is a bit distracting, a slight crop in to cut those out will make the composition stronger.

#3. Nice job on the focus - all those cattail feathers are sharp and in detail. Also overexposed - you should be able to see details in those highlights - you're almost there, but just a little hot. Because of the subject matter, this shot would probably work better in a vertical composition. The mountain lines behind the cattail subjects don't really add to the image, so a horizontal shot leaves a lot of empty space.

Given that all three images were overexposed, I suggest you check your moniter and see if it needs calibration. Keep shooting, and good luck!

Did you use auto modes or manual modes or Aperture mode or anything like that? Let us know how the pictures were taken and maybe we can help. Someone else I mean. I have no idea.

i can only agree with mpphotography.

The last one is probably the best of the three but would agree that a portrait view may have looked better.

mpphotography wrote in post #11756491
Welcome to POTN Since you're also new to photography, I suggest you check out some of the excellent stickies on composition, exposure, and all the fun stuff that will help you learn and improve - although critique is a great way to start.

#1. I agree with djphatjive - not really an interesting shot, although a crop in closer to the rock would help. It is overexposed, and probably a bit too contrasty as well (highlights have no details, shadows blocked up a bit. I think you might want to check the white balance on this shot too because the snow is a little blue. Good catch on the lighting - that warm light makes for great photographs.

#2. The best image in the set - compositionally, it leads the eye through the image with the lines and the nice splash of color. It's also a little overexposed and contrasty - cut back a little on that and your colors will still pop, but you'll have more details. Because the sky in both corners is a bit distracting, a slight crop in to cut those out will make the composition stronger.

#3. Nice job on the focus - all those cattail feathers are sharp and in detail. Also overexposed - you should be able to see details in those highlights - you're almost there, but just a little hot. Because of the subject matter, this shot would probably work better in a vertical composition. The mountain lines behind the cattail subjects don't really add to the image, so a horizontal shot leaves a lot of empty space.

Given that all three images were overexposed, I suggest you check your moniter and see if it needs calibration. Keep shooting, and good luck!

Thanks for the in depth breakdown! Is there a program or something you can run to calibrate your monitor or do you just mean check my settings? Once again thanks

djphatjive wrote in post #11756654
Did you use auto modes or manual modes or Aperture mode or anything like that? Let us know how the pictures were taken and maybe we can help. Someone else I mean. I have no idea.

Updated with some of the exif info.

corkneyfonz wrote in post #11756893
The last one is probably the best of the three but would agree that a portrait view may have looked better.

Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep that in mind from now on when I'm shooting.

ShaneKPhotography wrote in post #11757229
Thanks for the in depth breakdown! Is there a program or something you can run to calibrate your monitor or do you just mean check my settings? Once again thanks

Calibrating your monitor is usually done with a program like Spyder or something similar. There are some free ones out there (my husband calibrated mine a while back with a free program) and you can calibrate by the eyeball method - some pro print labs have sample images that you refer to while adjusting your monitor.

Each monitor is slightly different - brightness, gamma, color shifts - all vary between monitors. You want what you see on your screen to match what you see in person. Calibrating your monitor ensures a lot less headaches when you go to print your photographs. (if you don't believe me about the variations, go check out a computer store and see 20 different monitors showing the same image. It's hilarious.)