can you critique my photos shot Fujifilm xt series

[fujiguy]

I wonder what makes a good photo. Maybe its composition, perspective, rule of thirds, sharpness, story telling but all that can be done with any camera and any lens for that matter.
I went out for the first time with my fujifim to take some candid photos of just everyday life. Different location and different shots.

Most arent particularly interesting, and could probably be capture the same way on my iphone.

What exactly can I do better? like is it equipment, settings? How can I make it aesthetic? Is it all photoshop? Can it come out looking good straight out of camera? Why invest in a good body and lens?

If i'm being honest, a lot of the phone were just taken without any consideration- just on the fly.
please let me know how I can improve. I'm trying to develop my skill to be able to take consistent great photos handheld and with tripod

 

[kayumanggisnapshot]

I wonder what makes a good photo. Maybe its composition, perspective, rule of thirds, sharpness, story telling but all that can be done with any camera and any lens for that matter.
I went out for the first time with my fujifim to take some candid photos of just everyday life. Different location and different shots.

Most arent particularly interesting, and could probably be capture the same way on my iphone.

What exactly can I do better? like is it equipment, settings? How can I make it aesthetic? Is it all photoshop? Can it come out looking good straight out of camera? Why invest in a good body and lens?

If i'm being honest, a lot of the phone were just taken without any consideration- just on the fly.
please let me know how I can improve. I'm trying to develop my skill to be able to take consistent great photos handheld and with tripod

One thing that helped me was taking a photo, then spending another minute trying 3–4 different compositions of the same scene. Over time, you start seeing what works and what doesn't. Consistency comes from developing that eye, not from buying better equipment.

As for Photoshop, editing definitely helps, but it's often overrated by beginners. Good editing can enhance a strong photo, but it won't magically turn an ordinary image into a great one. Aim to get the photo as good as possible in-camera first, then use editing to refine it.

Your Fuji is already capable of producing great images straight out of camera. The challenge is training yourself to recognize good light, strong compositions, and interesting subjects more consistently. That's mostly practice, repetition, and being intentional every time you press the shutter.

 

[fujiguy]

Hey I appreciate your response. Is there anything in the photo you can point out that is "good" and "could use more work". I like that you mentioned to take multiple shots of the same photos- I will try that next time)

Also, Do I just stick with the same setting or do I tweak it everytime? People say manual is what sets me apart from auto but I just don't really see the difference?? Also how can I train my eyes to recognize good light, strong composition for eg?

Anything else? what makes a photo taken from my fujfilm vs another smaller compact camera? and lens as well?

 

[kayumanggisnapshot]

Hey I appreciate your response. Is there anything in the photo you can point out that is "good" and "could use more work". I like that you mentioned to take multiple shots of the same photos- I will try that next time)

Also, Do I just stick with the same setting or do I tweak it everytime? People say manual is what sets me apart from auto but I just don't really see the difference?? Also how can I train my eyes to recognize good light, strong composition for eg?

Anything else? what makes a photo taken from my fujfilm vs another smaller compact camera? and lens as well?

Looking at the photo, I like the simplicity. The crosswalk lines and shadows give it a nice graphic feel, and it shows you're noticing details most people would walk right past. If I had to suggest one thing, it'd be to make the subject a bit clearer. Right now the lines, texture, and shadows are all sharing attention. I'd try shooting the same scene from a few different angles or distances and see what stands out most.

As for Manual vs Auto, I wouldn't stress too much about it. Manual doesn't automatically make you a better photographer. To train your eye, spend time looking at light, shadows, shapes, and how they work together in a frame. The more you shoot and study photos you like, the easier it becomes to recognize good light and strong compositions.

And regarding Fujifilm vs a compact camera, I honestly don't compare cameras that way. I'm more interested in the final image than the gear used. Great photos can come from any camera. The photographer's eye, timing, light, and composition matter far more—the camera is just a tool.

 

[zombiesniper136 2]

What exactly can I do better? like is it equipment, settings? How can I make it aesthetic? Is it all photoshop? Can it come out looking good straight out of camera? Why invest in a good body and lens?

See this is where you're going to run into problems. You need to narrow down your questions to the type of image you want to take. Broad questions can lead to answers that won't help you.
Depending on what your subject is I could give you a different answer to every one of your questions. With the current questions I could easily give answers that lead you to honing your skills or spending $15000 worth of gear. You've given to much room for people to interpret their own needs into your photography.

So narrow down the following.
What type of photography do you want to shoot. Street is vastly different than astro or macro.
Give an example in an image. You've done a good job of that.
Take the time to examine your own image and determine what doesn't look/feel right about it.
Ask one for two specific questions related to the image. Don't ask general questions.

Now, onto my best answer based on what you've provided. This will work for all types of photography.
DON'T just take a picture "just because". That's going to almost always get you a mediocre image at best.
If something catches your eye and you want to take a shot. Think about it for a second. How do you want the image to look. Imagine it. Everyone whether they know it or not has a mental image of what "The shot" could be.
Now examine that thought for what key elements make that image.
What is the subject?
Where is the lighting coming from?
Do you have to change your angle or time of day to make that lighting happen?
What angle to the subject are you thinking?
Etc.

Thinking about how to get "The shot" before you take is always more productive than shooting without a goal.

 

[cgw141 166]

First things first. AF and exposure just aren't under control. If you have it, your manual can show you how to set these up. Learning what a histogram tells you is key to understanding contrast range. Mastering these basic parameters is necessary before you tackle composition or editing.

 

[HughGuessWho121 36]

One thing that took me a long time to learn and was briefly mentioned above, is before you touch the shutter button ask yourself one simple question "what is the subject?". Then work you composition to best capture your subject. Never leave the viewer wondering what they are suppose to be looking at. Fill the frame with your subject, which could be an entire street full of people or a single apple at a fruit market. That's for you to decide.
Keep on shooting and have fun.

 

[fujiguy]

Thanks so much! My assignment for this week is to start shooting manual mode. Basically familiarize myself with the 3 trifecta (iso, shutter, aperture). I now own the XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM.

So the first test is Stationary Subject
camera 5-10 ft from subject and then another 5-10ft from subject to background (bg need to have some details in it like tree, house etc) I'm thinking of just propping up some stuff on my desk (does that work?)
compose shot so I can see subject and the background and subject takes up 1/3 to half frame, but what if my subject is too small ?
why do I have to adjust shutter speed for the meter barometer? do I leave iso fix, only changed the aperture?
if i struggle to get the right exposure, why put it in aperture priority?
then the second being moving subject
I try to take pic of the rain drops but its moving up and down and not side to side like a car/bike
here's im adjusting the shutter so i assume ill need to adjust aperture to meet the barometer meter for a correct exposure while leaving iso on AUTO? but isnt manual adjusting all 3?
why do I have to pan and why do one I have to prop on tripod or keep it steady?
also, does it matter if i shoot daytime and nighttime?

if you were to create Create 3-5 really nice images using your new shutter/aperture skills. what subject/ technique would you use and why?

 

[cgw141 166]

With respect, you really should first work through the abundant online resources for these 101 level basics. Experiment, take notes, tackle problems and post what you've learned.

 

[fujiguy]

So I took this f/4
f/4


and same photo f/11
f11


what went wrong? manual mode with iso at auto and only changing aperture and the shutter speed to make sure the exposure meter is at 0.



camera is 5-10 feet away from subject (microphone / lens) and that is 5-10 feet from background being the stuff animal and tennis ball which is suppose to give me that bokeh effect.

subject takes 1/3- half the frame as suggested while background fills in the rest

 

[zombiesniper136 2]

I have to assume that the microphone is the subject.
If so you missed focus on the F/4 image. If the ball was the subject then you have the blurred background I would expect.

F/11 at that aperture most of your frame is going to be in focus.

@cgw nailed the issue here. You need to do a bit more learning.
Continue to take images but instead of asking us to hand feed you the answers, use the information you learned to examine your images and come up with what you think could be improved or what didn't go as planned.
Then and only then ask questions here.

 

[kayumanggisnapshot]

So I took this f/4
f/4


and same photo f/11
f11


what went wrong? manual mode with iso at auto and only changing aperture and the shutter speed to make sure the exposure meter is at 0.



camera is 5-10 feet away from subject (microphone / lens) and that is 5-10 feet from background being the stuff animal and tennis ball which is suppose to give me that bokeh effect.

subject takes 1/3- half the frame as suggested while background fills in the rest

I’ll be frank — you should prioritize composition before touching your camera settings. If the framing, balance, and subject placement aren’t solid, no amount of perfect exposure or sharpness will save the shot. Build the image with intention first, then fine‑tune the settings to match what you’re trying to express.