Criticism needed!!

[TheRealBugEater]

This is my first time giving photography a go, and I feel like it's okay, but I wanted to know if there's anything I can do better because I'm not the most happy with it, any advice?

 

[snowbear118 49]

Welcome aboard.

It's an interesting subject and point of view. However, the focus is on the grass in the foreground, rather than the tree , which I am guessing is the subject. I also find the light flare distracting as it keeps pulling my view to the top-right corner.

I'm guessing you used a phone camera, so I'm not sure if you can control these two things.

 

[wfooshee1]

Quite honestly, without being mean, and with the realization that you asked for the criticism, this is pretty much one of the worst images I've seen anybody post here.

Reasons:
The only items in focus are at the bottom of the frame, near the camera.
Too much dynamic range, meaning bright areas and dark areas have too much difference in their light level and can't be imaged at the same time without losing dark detail or blowing out bright areas.
The tree contributes nothing to the image, and wouldn't even if it were in focus. It's a mess.
If the frogs were intended to be your subject, then raise the camera out of the grass and look down on them. Not from human eye height, but from above that grass in the foreground.

As for ensuring your subject is in focus instead of the phone picking what it wants to focus on, you may be able to touch the screen to select the focus interest; I know I can on -my Galaxy.

Also keep in mind that no camera, digital or film, is capable of rendering shadow like the base of the tree, and bright areas like the frog on the right or the area of sky right above that, in the same image. You get dark black with no detail or blown out exposure with no detail. You have to have an awareness of that, because it's different from how you look at a scene with your eye. You can look at the frog and your pupils will contract, your eye will focus there, and your brain disregards the rest of the scene. Then you look at the dark area of the tree and your pupils expand, your eye focuses on that, and your brain again disregards the rest of the scene. While you're looking around the scene whatever your directly looking at is all that matters to your eyes and brain. You interpret that as being able to see the entire scene. The camera, on the other hand, must record the entire scene to the best of its ability, and if the difference between light and dark is too much, that simply isn't possible. You have to keep an awareness of this information in mind as you examine a scene and compose your image.

 

[terri36 7]

This is my first time giving photography a go, and I feel like it's okay, but I wanted to know if there's anything I can do better because I'm not the most happy with it, any advice?View attachment 297696

Hi - welcome to TPF!

Not trying to overwhelm you with too much here, since you're just now thinking about photography.

But you're not really happy with this shot. So let's try to think it through.

What made you stop and take a picture of this scene?

Was it this really beautiful looking tree? I see parts of an old, gnarly tree with large branches showing. Trees can be fantastic subjects! But here, only part of it shows.

Was it the cute little setup of the frogs around the base of the trunk? That could be fine, too - except again, we can't really see them.

So, your shot shows a little bit of a tree, a little bit of the frogs - some other other stuff around, stuff that might make sense when you’re standing in front of it and can see it all - but here, within your frame, we (the viewers) are only getting suggestions of it all. So we don't really know what we're supposed to be looking at. Does that make sense?

In photography, it's important to choose a main subject of interest, and let that be what you focus on.

Please don't get discouraged or give up because you're hearing some negative feedback (you did ask for advice). Stick around the forum, and start looking at other people's photos here. Read their thought processes and the technical decisions they made. Figure out what you like for your subject matter - and that's just for starters.

Be patient - no one here was born knowing how to take pictures - I can promise you that.

 

[DanOstergren28 4]

this is pretty much one of the worst images I've seen anybody post here.

This is unnecessarily harsh.

 

[RScottie116 30]

You have the desire, you just need a little guidance on composition.

Google composition and perhaps rule of thirds to get started.

Those topics guide you on how to make the subject of your photo stand out and the rest of the photo to complement the subject.

Happy shooting!

 

[CherylL1]

I am not sure what the main subject is in the photo. Decide on a subject of the frame. Check all 4 corners for any distractions. In your photo above, I would crop to give the yard creatures in the grass as the focal point.

Welcome to TPF!

 

[kayumanggisnapshot12 11]

this is pretty much one of the worst images I've seen anybody post here.

Unnecessary comment.

 

[cgw119 144]

Hi - welcome to TPF!

Not trying to overwhelm you with too much here, since you're just now thinking about photography.

But you're not really happy with this shot. So let's try to think it through.

What made you stop and take a picture of this scene?

Was it this really beautiful looking tree? I see parts of an old, gnarly tree with large branches showing. Trees can be fantastic subjects! But here, only part of it shows.

Was it the cute little setup of the frogs around the base of the trunk? That could be fine, too - except again, we can't really see them.

So, your shot shows a little bit of a tree, a little bit of the frogs - some other other stuff around, stuff that might make sense when you’re standing in front of it and can see it all - but here, within your frame, we (the viewers) are only getting suggestions of it all. So we don't really know what we're supposed to be looking at. Does that make sense?

In photography, it's important to choose a main subject of interest, and let that be what you focus on.

Please don't get discouraged or give up because you're hearing some negative feedback (you did ask for advice). Stick around the forum, and start looking at other people's photos here. Read their thought processes and the technical decisions they made. Figure out what you like for your subject matter - and that's just for starters.

Be patient - no one here was born knowing how to take pictures - I can promise you that.

Better placed in the C&C Gallery?

 

[snowbear118 49]

New member and beginner. This location is fine. The OP can always post to C&C after a little experience.

 

[cgw119 144]

New member and beginner. This location is fine. The OP can always post to C&C after a little experience.

Interested to see if they return.

 

[kayumanggisnapshot12 11]

This is my first time giving photography a go, and I feel like it's okay, but I wanted to know if there's anything I can do better because I'm not the most happy with it, any advice?View attachment 297696

Work on your composition.

 

[denum118 144]

If only we had a tutorials section to refer him to, hmmm. If we did have one, I wonder if they would participate. Maybe the OP will chime in on this.

 

[zombiesniper115 14]

Welcome to TPF.

This is a challenging image for a first go. Well done for giving it a go.

You have a lot of good information above. It will help you grow in the future.

Where I would start right now is to shoot simple. Simple is not a bad thing. I take (and sometimes fail) simple images. What I mean by simple is that there is a clear subject, not to many distractions and the lighting is favourable.
This sounds easy but it can also be difficult to see. Seeing like your camera before you take the shot is 90% of the solution.
Below is an example of a simple image.

Grackle by Trevor Baldwin, on Flickr

A simple image will allow you to practice seeing what the camera sees. How lighting affects the colour and vibrance. How a small shift in focus can ruin an otherwise great image. Where to place the subject in frame for a more pleasing viewing experience.

It will help you get better with the basics of photography.

Just because I used a bird, don't think you have to. See what you like to shoot. Flowers, your cat or dog, children. Any subject you like. Just don't complicate the image anymore than you have to.

Don't stress if an image isn't working out. That's part of the learning process. The other part is trying to figure out what didn't work and how you can do better. That's also where TPF can help.

Analyze your image for what you think isn't working. Try and figure out a solution or even just part of a solution and present it in a thread.

Similar to how @terri was asking questions.
Post the image and try to answer some basic questions in the post.
What gear was used and settings?
Why did you take the shot? Were you trying to get a specific subject, try a new setting etc.
What about the image do you want help with.
If you could what would you do differently.

You will see over time that you will become more critical in what shots you take and it'll even become almost automatic that you'll naturally see what kind of lighting you have and how to use it to your advantage, where to put the subject, what settings to get a good exposure, etc.

I hope you keep shooting and would love to see your progress.

Lastly, most importantly, have fun.

 

[24megapixseal65 5]

PRIMO advice, zombiesniper! ...don't think I've read such good advice for new photographers....well done!