C&C PLEASE!

0ptics · Jan 17, 2012

Hello! 
 
I just finished up editting a few shots and I wanted some C&C of them; any advice/comment/critique would be helpful. Just some background information, I'm a beginner to photography, these are my first shoots that I actually produced; I'm also using a Nikon D3100 with the 18-55mm kit lens.
Flickr: charleswang55's Photostream

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

The comments would be VERY MUCH appreciated! 

Thanks!!
0ptics

pashabelman · Jan 17, 2012

Very nicely done.... When it slows down with our wedding during the winter is this what I love doing.. just taking some awesome night shots.. Yours look awesome.

EchoingWhisper · Jan 17, 2012

I like 3, 4 and 7 but please don't center the horizon. Don't place your subject in the center in 7. The leading lines is good but it seems to be leading me away from your subject.

KenC · Jan 17, 2012

Too many for detailed comments, but in general there is a lot of empty sky and/or water in some of them that doesn't add anything to the image. Number 7 is the most interesting to me. The composition is pretty good, with the hall receding at an angle and that light in the upper left anchoring the whole thing. I would be tempted to de-center the figure (centered vertically and horizontally) and the end of the hallway (centered vertically) by cropping the right and bottom.

MReid · Jan 17, 2012

They don't feel centered to me. The composition on 6 is the only one that doesn't really work, to much dead space on top.
Overall these are nice shots, especially for some one just starting out.
Keep shooting.
Learn to do levels adjustments, get your black and white points set and they will have more pop, but nice as is.

EchoingWhisper · Jan 17, 2012

You also need to prevent the horizon from being tilted.

GnipGnop · Jan 17, 2012

1. boring. The interesting factory is out of focus. Railings are boring to look at, and there isn't much else in the photo to catch the eye.

2. tones are nice, but I don't get the composition. the interesting bit is off to the right, and every other line in the photo leads my eye down the middle and off the picture.

3. dodge the crap out of the building, or layer another with it properly exposed. looks too dark as is.

4. feels crooked to me, but not sure. dodge the crap out of the building or shoot another with it exposed properly. feels a bit too dark. nice colours on the horizon though.

5. crooked horizon, and missing some contrast to give it depth. cool colours, a bit surreal if that's what you're going for.

6. boring

7. like this a lot, but crop some more off the right. it just distracts.

and what above said, get your blacks black, and get your highlights to pop. gives your photo a bit more depth.

0ptics · Jan 18, 2012

pashabelman said:
Very nicely done.... When it slows down with our wedding during the winter is this what I love doing.. just taking some awesome night shots.. Yours look awesome.

Ahhh congrats mate! Ya definitely when traveling around town with the good ole tripod and camera is what makes photography amazing! Thanks for the feedback!

EchoingWhisper said:
I like 3, 4 and 7 but please don't center the horizon. Don't place your subject in the center in 7. The leading lines is good but it seems to be leading me away from your subject.

Ohhh ok, ya I guess that never occurred to me ya I'll definitely crop so its less symmetrical! Thanks!

KenC said:
Too many for detailed comments, but in general there is a lot of empty sky and/or water in some of them that doesn't add anything to the image. Number 7 is the most interesting to me. The composition is pretty good, with the hall receding at an angle and that light in the upper left anchoring the whole thing. I would be tempted to de-center the figure (centered vertically and horizontally) and the end of the hallway (centered vertically) by cropping the right and bottom.

Ya I was skeptical about a lot of the empty sky/water as well on some of them, but decided just leave it for suggestions. I'll also try cropping number 7 and see how that turns out, thanks!

MReid said:
They don't feel centered to me. The composition on 6 is the only one that doesn't really work, to much dead space on top.
Overall these are nice shots, especially for someone just starting out.
Keep shooting.
Learn to do levels adjustments, get your black and white points set and they will have more pop, but nice as is.

Thanks MReid! Ya I really need to lighten up number 6 and I'll try some cropping as well! Also what would you recommend as getting my images to pop, like more vibrance? Or contrast?

EchoingWhisper said:
You also need to prevent the horizon from being tilted.

Ya I kinda noticed that after a finer look at them, I'll definitely reorient them.

GnipGnop said:
1. boring. The interesting factory is out of focus. Railings are boring to look at, and there isn't much else in the photo to catch the eye.
2. tones are nice, but I don't get the composition. the interesting bit is off to the right, and every other line in the photo leads my eye down the middle and off the picture.
3. dodge the crap out of the building, or layer another with it properly exposed. looks too dark as is.

4. feels crooked to me, but not sure. dodge the crap out of the building or shoot another with it exposed properly. feels a bit too dark. nice colours on the horizon though.
5. crooked horizon, and missing some contrast to give it depth. cool colours, a bit surreal if that's what you're going for.
6. boring
7. like this a lot, but crop some more off the right. it just distracts.
and what above said, get your blacks black, and get your highlights to pop. gives your photo a bit more depth.

Thanks for the in-depth C&C GnipGnop, again I'll definitely do some cropping and maybe retake/reedit some of them!

Thanks again y'all for the C&C, definitely make me the flaws of some of my shots and helped on some realizations!
0ptics

EchoingWhisper · Jan 18, 2012

Actually the blacks are already black and whites are already white.

GnipGnop · Jan 18, 2012

EchoingWhisper said:
Actually the blacks are already black and whites are already white.

Completely right. Thanks for jumping in there. I meant to comment on depth of blacks in the shadows, and to be careful not to turn them into featureless silhouettes that flatten the scene.

Which after reviewing, I never really say. Cheers.

cannpope · Jan 18, 2012

I like #3 the best, but I don't like the tree branch (or whatever it is) on the bottom.

MrsLittle · Jan 18, 2012

I like #3 best especially with the lines in the water. Is that Elliot bay?

0ptics · Jan 18, 2012

GnipGnop said:
EchoingWhisper said:

Actually the blacks are already black and whites are already white.

Click to expand...

Completely right. Thanks for jumping in there. I meant to comment on depth of blacks in the shadows, and to be careful not to turn them into featureless silhouettes that flatten the scene.

Which after reviewing, I never really say. Cheers.

Ohhh ok I see, ya I agree mostly for number 3 the bottom part of the building is basically all black/no depth, I'll also try dodging on PS (thanks for the reminding me I completely forgot about dodging!)