Beginner Looking for critique :)

NostalgicSoul · Nov 26, 2011

hello there, im a beginner photographer and i really want someone to critique this picture.

thanks, I would really appreciate it

Jlatigo · Nov 26, 2011

In my opinion first thing I notice is the lack of sharpness on the birds, composition needs a little help as well but that's a subjective kinda thing

cgipson1 · Nov 26, 2011

Background is very busy.. use a large aperture to soften the background (google depth of field in photography). The pigeons are out of focus... not very sharp. Composition wise, the subject(s) are dead center in the center of the photo (google the rule of thirds in Composition, also google photographic composition). Flash would have helped separate the pigeons from the background, if feasible.

cgipson1 · Nov 26, 2011

Jlatigo said:
In my opinion first thing I notice is the lack of sharpness on the birds, composition needs a little help as well but that's a subjective kinda thing

I disagree.. for a self-professed beginner, composition is not subjective. They need to learn the rules.. and follow them, until they know WHEN to break them... that is not really subjective!

Jlatigo · Nov 26, 2011

Anyone can follow rules...... Not everything works when done using a formula but...in artistic things a lot depends on what the artist is trying to convey and what the person seeing the art "sees"
Photographs are just extensions of the artist's vision and creativity ,interpretations of those results are ...very subjective!

Saying all that there are rules or guides to make pictures more appealing and it's a good idea to know them but using every rule won't make a snapshot into a picture!

Being a newbie on here dose not make someone a newbie in photography

Bitter Jeweler · Nov 26, 2011

Not knowing or using the theories of composition also will never turn a snapshot into anything more than a snapshot.

Everyone is an artist! Wheeeeeee!!!

cgipson1 · Nov 26, 2011

Jlatigo said:
Anyone can follow rules...... Not everything works when done using a formula but...in artistic things a lot depends on what the artist is trying to convey and what the person seeing the art "sees"
Photographs are just extensions of the artist's vision and creativity ,interpretations of those results are ...very subjective!

Saying all that there are rules or guides to make pictures more appealing and it's a good idea to know them but using every rule won't make a snapshot into a picture!

What you are saying is a cop-out.. to excuse poor composition in the name of "art"! We see it here all of the time.... "Oh I did that sh1tty composition intentionally, I am an Arteest!".. whatever

Jlatigo said:
Being a newbie on here dose not make someone a newbie in photography

QUOTE from the OP: "Beginner Looking for critique

hello there, im a beginner photographer and i really want someone to critique this picture."

I would say he is a beginner (self proclaimed, even!)!

And as I said.. once he knows the rules.. then he can decide when to break then for "artistic license". If you really want to help him, why don't you share your vast knowledge on how he can improve his photography?

Bitter Jeweler · Nov 26, 2011

cgipson1 said:
If you really want to help him, why don't you share your vast knowledge on how he can improve his photography?

That probably won't help much.

cgipson1 · Nov 26, 2011

You are really trying to hit that 2012 mark, aren't you? lol!

Bitter Jeweler · Nov 26, 2011

You bet your ass I am!

Jlatigo · Nov 27, 2011

Lmao you guys are too funny, it would take years to type out what I know! And even longer for what I've forgotten.... What I posted on here was ment to help not start a pissing contest with folks I don't know and prob never will. Saying all that I stand by my comments even if they upset some??

Sent from my iPad using PhotoForum

Bitter Jeweler · Nov 27, 2011

I stand by my comments as well. :sexywink:

cgipson1 · Nov 27, 2011

yep.. me too!

KenC · Nov 27, 2011

Now that you guys are done (I think), I would point out to the OP that the shot is tilted, and that cropping on the left would not only de-center the birds, almost always a good idea composition-wise, but would also take better advantage of the foliage as a frame for the subject.

cgipson1 · Nov 27, 2011

KenC.. good idea.. a crop like that is about the best thing that could happen to the existing photo.

I don't see the tilt issue you are talking about though, at least not a major one. If you mean what the birds are sitting on... the shot looks like the OP was just below the level of the birds (since you can see the underneath of the white birds chin), and at an angle to the rails or whatever they are.. so that is a perspective issue.. not a tilt.

If you mean the background.. look at the stair on the left.. the bottom set points up.. the center set is almost horizontal, and the top set points down...perspective again. There may be a tilt.. but if so, it is slight. With the building at an angle to the photographer and a yet a different angle to the rails the birds are on.. it is difficult to say.