Another attempt

[pgriz]

When posting pictures from an assignment, it is a good idea to let us know what the assignment was, as it provides the reason(s) behind the image creation. Otherwise, the default assumption is that you saw something interesting and wanted to photograph it to share it with others - and we're then trying to figure out what it is that you were looking at or attracted to.

In general, if you're trying to improve in image-making, a few general guidelines help - Lew Lorton (aka The_Traveller) had made some astute remarks which I quote in my signature. There is a difference between making an image of something, and making an image of something that engages the viewer. The best images keep it simple - a clear and obvious subject, with minimal distraction. Good photographers know (or have learned) how to create a visual story, and as with most stories, there is a beginning, a middle and an ending. The beginning usually is the brightest or sharpest part of the image, the middle is the pattern around the main subject that encourages you to explore, and the ending is usually the overall "feeling" that you get after perusing the image. When shooting people, we humans tend to focus on the eyes first - and good photographers make it easy for you to start there.

The images you posted show a lot of promise in that they seem to create a link between separated parts - and that implied link allows us to construct a story. Whether it is the story you had in mind for us to see, will partly depend on your skill in arranging the visual clues for us to read.

 

[Playboy_Mommy]

Well, if this was your home work, then can you tell us which aperture you used for each photo, and what your intent was with the DOF for each photo? I may have missed it, but there is no EXIF info on the pictures, so were you in manual or auto, what kind of camera and lens????? Did you have requirements to shoot a shallow and a deep DOF, and did you make it??

Camera: Nikon D3200
Lens: 55-200mm
Mode: Manual
Aperture: 4.5 to 8
Intent: To have fun and not take myself too seriously. It's a non credit course at the local community college, dude.

Why so many question marks? One per sentence would suffice. Otherwise it comes off a bit intense.

Sent from my iPhone

 

[katastrophekaty]

I like #3 the best. #7, I wish you would have gotten all of the letters like you did in #3.

 

[Playboy_Mommy]

When posting pictures from an assignment, it is a good idea to let us know what the assignment was, as it provides the reason(s) behind the image creation. Otherwise, the default assumption is that you saw something interesting and wanted to photograph it to share it with others - and we're then trying to figure out what it is that you were looking at or attracted to. In general, if you're trying to improve in image-making, a few general guidelines help - Lew Lorton (aka The_Traveller) had made some astute remarks which I quote in my signature. There is a difference between making an image of something, and making an image of something that engages the viewer. The best images keep it simple - a clear and obvious subject, with minimal distraction. Good photographers know (or have learned) how to create a visual story, and as with most stories, there is a beginning, a middle and an ending. The beginning usually is the brightest or sharpest part of the image, the middle is the pattern around the main subject that encourages you to explore, and the ending is usually the overall "feeling" that you get after perusing the image. When shooting people, we humans tend to focus on the eyes first - and good photographers make it easy for you to start there. The images you posted show a lot of promise in that they seem to create a link between separated parts - and that implied link allows us to construct a story. Whether it is the story you had in mind for us to see, will partly depend on your skill in arranging the visual clues for us to read.

Thank you for the feedback. It's actually incredibly helpful and makes a lot of sense. I will definitely keep that in mind when shooting!

Sent from my iPhone

 

[Playboy_Mommy]

I like #3 the best. #7, I wish you would have gotten all of the letters like you did in #3.

Thanks! I agree about those letters - I was shooting from the top of a parking garage and kind of limited on what angle I could get, and I really wanted to include that other building - I liked the lines of the roof against the sky. But I did lose something by cutting off those letters.

I went back yesterday morning at sunrise and I think I got some better shots of the same building. The sun was coming up behind me and illuminating the wall of the building with the lettering in this absolutely gorgeous, intense orange light. The top half of the building was glowing orange and the bottom half was still in shadow. I've been trying to shoot the same locations at different times of the day so I can compare the quality of light and the shadows and the way it changes things. So hopefully I got some better shots yesterday. I really tried to think more about the composition and what I was trying to capture. Of course, it's a process, and the only way to learn is by doing.

Thanks again for taking the time to give me some feedback!

Sent from my iPhone