First pic! C&C please. Nature photography

NikonNewb · 07-02-2009, 11:14 PM

Got the photo bug and recently picked up a dslr. Haven't really gotten a chance to use it yet until today. Went outside in the yard to see if I could find anything interesting. Saw a spider web with dew drops on it and snapped a pic. Please critique. I thought it looked best in black and white. I'm sort of new to photoshop in that I don't use it very often but I did manage to turn down the green levels to make the leaves look a little darker so the dew drops would stand out more. I think my main problem at this point is learning how to aesthetically frame a picture. Tell me what you like and don't like about this pic. I was going for making your eye travel up the tunnel of webbing.
<image removed>

Barking Mad · 07-02-2009, 11:21 PM

I wouldn't have known that the water droplets were hanging from a spider web if you hadn't said anything.

I guess I'm having problems because, whilst interesting, the droplets just kinda look like they're hanging there between the branches, almost as if they are sitting on saran wrap between the branches.

Is the original shot in colour and can you see any of the web at all? I think if you'd composed the photo using the rule of thirds, perhaps the web may have shown up in the pic, or the droplets might not seem to show "be there" if that makes any sense.

More seasoned photographers will be able to make sense of what I've just said an hopefully offer better evaluation and suggestions.

Having said all that...not bad for right out of the box!

icassell · 07-02-2009, 11:22 PM

Your depth of field is so shallow, that it is hard to tell what we're looking at. Personally, the composition is not particularly interesting and I'm not sure that B/W is helping this one.

I think the real thing missing here is a subject ... what do you want the viewer to be looking at?

For a very good introduction to composition, let me strongly recommend "The Photographer's Eye" by Michael Freeman.

Keep shooting!

NikonNewb · 07-02-2009, 11:45 PM

you can't see the spider? here, I zoomed in for you:

just kidding, there was no spider.

my subject was supposed to be the dew. I will pick up that book at the library, thanks!

hankejp · 07-02-2009, 11:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by NikonNewb

you can't see the spider? here, I zoomed in for you:

just kidding, there was no spider.

my subject was supposed to be the dew. I will pick up that book at the library, thanks!

LOL.....I actually like the picture. Makes me look at it for a while to pick everything out.

Thomas Countz · 07-03-2009, 12:01 AM

I like this picture. I have to agree with what other's said, It's hard to see the web and with the depth of focus so tiny, only a few drops are recognizable. I think it's a great first shot and is obviously something interesting to see in person, but it didn't translate well to this medium. The biggest thing I notice is that there is no subject for the eye to focus on so the viewer is stuck searching everywhere to find...nothing.

Looking at it again, I noticed the converging lines created by the droplets. They lead the eye to the into the distance which is very settling. I very much wish that it was focused better to bring out the pattern. I think that's why I think there should be a clear subject to focus on because of the thin depth of focus that was used. I can also see the framing attempt, which is nice.

Baaaark · 07-03-2009, 12:11 AM

Even though I agree with what other people said about it, I like it. Its very intriguing in a more abstract sort of way.

max3k · 07-03-2009, 08:50 AM

its one of those 3d photos, cross your eyes and you can see a coupon for a free Canon 1Ds Mark III

dak1b · 07-03-2009, 04:58 PM

wud be better if you focused on the web a little more...although interestng pic!

Weaving Wax · 07-03-2009, 05:57 PM

I like it. I agree it's hard to focus on what we're looking at, but I like the dew drops.

07-02-2009, 11:14 PM	#1
NikonNewb TPF Noob! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: USA Posts: 14 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	First pic! C&C please. Nature photography Got the photo bug and recently picked up a dslr. Haven't really gotten a chance to use it yet until today. Went outside in the yard to see if I could find anything interesting. Saw a spider web with dew drops on it and snapped a pic. Please critique. I thought it looked best in black and white. I'm sort of new to photoshop in that I don't use it very often but I did manage to turn down the green levels to make the leaves look a little darker so the dew drops would stand out more. I think my main problem at this point is learning how to aesthetically frame a picture. Tell me what you like and don't like about this pic. I was going for making your eye travel up the tunnel of webbing. <image removed> Last edited by NikonNewb; 07-22-2009 at 01:37 PM.

07-02-2009, 11:21 PM	#2
Barking Mad No longer a newbie, moving up! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Coastal Maine Posts: 45 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts My Gallery: (0)	I wouldn't have known that the water droplets were hanging from a spider web if you hadn't said anything. I guess I'm having problems because, whilst interesting, the droplets just kinda look like they're hanging there between the branches, almost as if they are sitting on saran wrap between the branches. Is the original shot in colour and can you see any of the web at all? I think if you'd composed the photo using the rule of thirds, perhaps the web may have shown up in the pic, or the droplets might not seem to show "be there" if that makes any sense. More seasoned photographers will be able to make sense of what I've just said an hopefully offer better evaluation and suggestions. Having said all that...not bad for right out of the box! __________________ I really am, Barking Mad! My Flickr

07-02-2009, 11:22 PM	#3
icassell TPF Junkie! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 4,485 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 53 Times in 51 Posts My Gallery: (3)	Your depth of field is so shallow, that it is hard to tell what we're looking at. Personally, the composition is not particularly interesting and I'm not sure that B/W is helping this one. I think the real thing missing here is a subject ... what do you want the viewer to be looking at? For a very good introduction to composition, let me strongly recommend "The Photographer's Eye" by Michael Freeman. Keep shooting! __________________ Ian Digital: Canon EOS 7D, Canon EOS 30D, Sigma 10-20mm EX f/4.5-5.6, Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8, Canon 50mm f/1.8 Mark I, Sigma 50-150mm EX f/2.8, Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro, Sigma 100-300mm EX f/4, Sigma 1.4X & 2X EX TC, Canon 430EX, Bogen 3021 Tripod/Gitzo 1377M Ballhead, Misc. Other Gizmos and Gadgets 35mm: Minolta XD-11, Rokkor X 24mm f/2.8MD, Rokkor X 35mm f/1.8MD, Rokkor X 50mm f/1.4MD, Rokkor X 50mm Macro, Soligor 135mm MC, Rokkor X 300mm f/5.6MD, Vivitar 2X TC, Vivitar 283 MY PHOTOGRAPHS "If I have seen further , it is by standing on ye shoulders of giants." -- Sir Isaac Newton in a letter to Robert Hooke 15 February 1676 (... and a long telephoto doesn't hurt either ...)

07-02-2009, 11:45 PM	#4
NikonNewb TPF Noob! Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: USA Posts: 14 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	you can't see the spider? here, I zoomed in for you: just kidding, there was no spider. my subject was supposed to be the dew. I will pick up that book at the library, thanks! Last edited by NikonNewb; 07-22-2009 at 01:38 PM.

07-02-2009, 11:53 PM	#5
hankejp I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wausau, Wisconsin Posts: 550 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post My Gallery: (0)	Quote: Originally Posted by NikonNewb you can't see the spider? here, I zoomed in for you: just kidding, there was no spider. my subject was supposed to be the dew. I will pick up that book at the library, thanks! LOL.....I actually like the picture. Makes me look at it for a while to pick everything out. __________________ Joe Become a Facebook Fan Flickr Site http://www.flickr.com/photos/30063930@N04/ Google Picasa Site http://picasaweb.google.com/hankejp

07-03-2009, 12:01 AM	#6
Thomas Countz TPF Noob! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 4 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	I like this picture. I have to agree with what other's said, It's hard to see the web and with the depth of focus so tiny, only a few drops are recognizable. I think it's a great first shot and is obviously something interesting to see in person, but it didn't translate well to this medium. The biggest thing I notice is that there is no subject for the eye to focus on so the viewer is stuck searching everywhere to find...nothing. Looking at it again, I noticed the converging lines created by the droplets. They lead the eye to the into the distance which is very settling. I very much wish that it was focused better to bring out the pattern. I think that's why I think there should be a clear subject to focus on because of the thin depth of focus that was used. I can also see the framing attempt, which is nice. Last edited by Thomas Countz; 07-03-2009 at 12:26 AM. Reason: more thoughts

07-03-2009, 12:11 AM	#7
Baaaark I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: May 2009 Location: North or South Pole... it depends Posts: 392 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Even though I agree with what other people said about it, I like it. Its very intriguing in a more abstract sort of way.

07-03-2009, 08:50 AM	#8
max3k Been spending a lot of time on here! Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 201 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post My Gallery: (0)	its one of those 3d photos, cross your eyes and you can see a coupon for a free Canon 1Ds Mark III

07-03-2009, 04:58 PM	#9
dak1b I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: California Posts: 490 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts My Gallery: (0)	wud be better if you focused on the web a little more...although interestng pic!

07-03-2009, 05:57 PM	#10
Weaving Wax I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: U.S. Posts: 662 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts My Gallery: (0)	I like it. I agree it's hard to focus on what we're looking at, but I like the dew drops. __________________ Flick my pics

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