Comments....?

[wwall]

I think after my last post of photos I swore I wouldn't do this again... HEHE I'm just a young gal with a sensitive heart... and you guys are pretty harsh! However, if this is what is going to make me better then I am prepared to take another beating. (Please keep in mind I have been shooting for less than 6 months!)

Here are a few pictures from my latest trip to the zoo... C & C Please. Please give details on why you do/don't like them; I am doing this to learn!

1.

DSC_0499 by wwall3, on Flickr

2.

DSC_0500 by wwall3, on Flickr

3.

DSC_0469 by wwall3, on Flickr

4.

DSC_0473 by wwall3, on Flickr

5.

DSC_0445 by wwall3, on Flickr

6.

DSC_0232 by wwall3, on Flickr

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

As far as Zoo shots go, the first one is rather lovely.

 

[wwall]

As far as Zoo shots go, the first one is rather lovely.

Yes I know they're just animals, but they're good to practice on. We HUMANS act a lot like them sometimes, and their standards of photo quality are a lot lower.

 

[The_Traveler]

You took a lot of crap because you were just clicking away and then trying to make them better by PPing.

Look at the first shot.
What would be the center of some design, actually look at the bird.
See how much better it is when the eye, the obvious center, is in a powerful spot at the thirds.

Now look at the second. That lovely neck, why is it cut off?
Look at what you are shooting, make pictures count.

 

[The_Traveler]

Learn to look at situations and see what is important, then work that into a good composition.
Just snapping away does not do anything but make your camera work.

If you don';t know anything about composition, do a search and read.

 

[BJF]

Like the first two shots a lot, the colors and texture. Well done!

 

[KmH]

What will make you better is understanding how the camera/lens/light makes an image, and studing the various aspects of the visual arts.

The idea of visual literacy--photographers needing both technical and conceptual skills, being informed about their subject matter through interdisciplinary research, and using all of the tools available to make work--that is a distinctive driving concern for all of us engaged in this education.--Dennie Eagleson Associate Professor of Photography, Antioch College

The Elements of Photography: Understanding and Creating Sophisticated Images

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

http://photoinf.com/General/KODAK/guidelines_for_better_photographic_composition.html

 

[wwall]

You took a lot of crap because you were just clicking away and then trying to make them better by PPing.

Look at the first shot.
What would be the center of some design, actually look at the bird.
See how much better it is when the eye, the obvious center, is in a powerful spot at the thirds.

Now look at the second. That lovely neck, why is it cut off?
Look at what you are shooting, make pictures count.

Wow, very insightful. Just a simple crop made a huge difference. Thanks for the help! Over the next few weeks I may find myself going back through all of my originals

 

[wwall]

What will make you better is understanding how the camera/lens/light makes an image, and studing the various aspects of the visual arts.

The Elements of Photography: Understanding and Creating Sophisticated Images

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

http://photoinf.com/General/KODAK/guidelines_for_better_photographic_composition.html

Yes I still have A LOT to learn.. And I am reading books and browsing Internet sites daily trying to pick up as much information as possible. Thank you for these resources!

 

[The_Traveler]

Wow, very insightful. Just a simple crop made a huge difference. Thanks for the help! Over the next few weeks I may find myself going back through all of my originals

I had to add to the top edge to get the eye down into the picture.
It was possible here but clearly it is not possible most of the time.

 

[johnh2005]

Heya Wwall, I see you have problem I do. I just find it VERY difficult to do proper compositions. I am trying to learn but I find it hard. I do not have an artistic bone in my body and that is where my problem lies. I can usually get great technical pics but I am sure that if anyone with even a modicum of artistic skill were there they would get a much better shot.

I really liked the first shot just fine. The crop The_Traveler did actually made me like the photo less. The other two crops I liked a lot more. The first one I did not. I too need to keep reading and learning. Right now I am terribly frustrated with photography. I usually go through this phase with new stuff if I am no good at it lol. Anyway, keep shooting and practicing.

 

[The_Traveler]

I really liked the first shot just fine. The crop The_Traveler did actually made me like the photo less. The other two crops I liked a lot more. The first one I did not.

'Liking' something doesn't mean anything and isn't useful. It is knowing what about it you like that is useful.
Why did you like the first one?
What about the eye being at the margin?
Where did your eye go?
Did you like what looks like rather awkward vignetting in the first?
Look at the parts of the picture, do they all fit, is there anything extra or actually hurtful?
This is just learning, it's not being 'artistic'.

 

[johnh2005]

I really liked the first shot just fine. The crop The_Traveler did actually made me like the photo less. The other two crops I liked a lot more. The first one I did not.

'Liking' something doesn't mean anything and isn't useful. It is knowing what about it you like that is useful.
Why did you like the first one?
What about the eye being at the margin?
Where did your eye go?
Did you like what looks like rather awkward vignetting in the first?
Look at the parts of the picture, do they all fit, is there anything extra or actually hurtful?
This is just learning, it's not being 'artistic'.

Why did you like the first one? I liked the color and composition. I liked the dark and light areas of the photo and it seemed I looked around at the photo more in the original than in the crop. It held my attention longer. I liked the flow of the neck from the eye. I liked that I could actually tell what the subject was.

What about the eye being at the margin? I did not really mind where the eye was.

Where did your eye go? All over the photo. It was nice to explore and look at it and see the different highs and lows and different textures.

Did you like what looks like rather awkward vignetting in the first? yes, I did.

Look at the parts of the picture, do they all fit, is there anything extra or actually hurtful? I don't think so. I liked the flow of the picture a lot.

Now, with that said, what I said had no animosity towards you at all. I think you are one of the more helpful people on this forum. If I had to rate my skill level as a photographer on a scale of 1 to 10 I would say I am probably a 3 or so. Artistic rating for me? A 1. Just in looking at the pic in your signature I would probably rate you an 8+. In my post I was simply giving my own personal opinion in what I liked and did not like.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Hey John,
Comparing and contrasting what you like and dislike between the two crops (original and Traveler's) will help you "see" how composition works.
Forcing yourself to say more than I like this one better, helps you and helps everyone else to. It opens beneficial dialogue. What do you think Travelers crop has done to the image?

I am struggling with the words myself, because I am torn between the two images. I think they both have their strengths and weeknesses. I just can't put my finger on it to say exactly what it is. Maybe I need another RedBull, and revisit this later in the the day.

 

[johnh2005]

Comparing and contrasting what you like and dislike between the two crops (original and Traveler's) will help you "see" how composition works. Absolutely. That is one of the main reasons I come here and look at the C&C on other people's photos. I look at a photo and I imagine if I were there would I have composed it that way? Why not? Why would I have missed by not doing so?

Forcing yourself to say more than I like this one better, helps you and helps everyone else too. Yes, it does. I am at work and sometimes only have a limited amount of time to respond. I do usually try to say more than that.

What do you think Travelers crop has done to the image? I think it just cut too much interest out for me. a LOT of times a much tighter crop can make a huge difference in cutting out "clutter." Much like the second two crops did. Also, in "Learning to See Creatively" there is a picture in a picture much like what The_Traveler did with the hand holding. I think that was a GREAT crop of that image.


Definitely agree about the open dialog. That was why I tried to make sure that The_Traveler knew I was not picking on them in any way shape form or fashion.