So, second post on the forum, and I wanted to share some of the pictures I've already taken with my new (to me) Pentax K200D. I have zero idea what I'm really doing when it comes to photography (as in settings for shutter speed, aperture, ISO etc), because everything before this was point and shoot on an iphone... usually of random stuff to throw up on instagram. Anyways, I spent yesterday at the magical kingdom of Disneyland, and had a blast taking pictures. I was playing around with the aperture settings, as that's the first thing I've really noticed has an effect on the pictures. So, here is a small sample of the pictures I took... feel free to brutally critique and hopefully give me some tips and insight on what would've made a much better picture. I really want to improve as much as possible over the next month before I head off to my 6 month long Japanese adventure.
Okay, you've already gotten some fairly specific C&C on these pictures (although, I'd like to add that I sincerely HOPE that you have oversaturated the blues in the one of the musicians--god, those are some PAINFULLY blue pants there!).
Side note: Please number your photos, makes it much easier to refer to them.
Anyway: With an eye towards your trip to Japan, and your desire to improve as much as possible in the next month:
1. See those first two statements I've bolded? You need to GET some idea about how shutter speed, aperture and ISO work together. Read some books, and do some experimenting. The experimenting is often best, and most easily, done at home with an ordinary object. That way, you can control some of the variables and experiment with others. Also,
here's a fun online camera-settings simulator you can use to test yourself, even when you don't have your camera with you. Play around with the variables of shutter speed, aperture, ISO, focal length and distance to subject until you start to really understand how they work together.
2. Read your manual! Read it and TRY the different settings. It'll also help you get a feel for what to use, and when.
3. Think about what sort of photos you want to end up with. This is WAY more important than many people realize. But here's the thing: the photo you've posted, basically, are just snapshots. They are just snaps of a moment at a tourist attraction, for the most part. They show Disneyland, but that's about it. They don't really tell a story, or invoke an emotion (except possibly for YOU, since they remind you of your trip)--they are not really compelling in any way. The one near-exception to that, for me, is the shot of the artist drawing the sketch of the Indian woman--but even here, there's no real "impact" because I can't really see the artist himself. I wish I could see his face as he studies his work, or see his hands as he selects the next color.
Here's a little experiment you can do: Using either Google image search, or something like flickr, search for photos of Disneyland. Or photos of Japan--or maybe even more specifically, places you plan to go in Japan. Now, start looking through those photos and ask yourself which photos really grab your attention, pull you in, make you want a large print for your wall? Think about what THOSE photos have that the others don't, and you'll be on the road to improving your own. Perspective, composition, LIGHTING, subject matter, color, patterns and so much more all matter, and it's just a matter of what you want to achieve.
If all you want are decent snapshots that remind you of a trip--there is NOTHING wrong with that. But that can be achieved with a phone camera, or with a point-and-shoot on auto. But photos with more of a "wow" factor take a little more thought and effort.
4. Another experiment, once you've looked at some images and started getting a feeling for what you want to achieve with your photos:
Take a little photo trip. Doesn't have to be anywhere special, or big, like Disneyland. Maybe go to a local park. Look around and find something to take a picture of. Set the photo up in camera and then take the picture. THEN--look at the subject again. Now this time, really THINK--what would make this more compelling? A different angle? Zoom in closer? Maybe only take a photo of PART of the original subject? How about timing--maybe wait until something interesting is taking place--example, a colorful slide. You snap a picture of it, but it's just a photo of a colorful slide. Now, what if you get in front of it, and get down really low to the ground and shoot it again? The perspective perhaps makes it a bit more interesting. But--what if you get down low, and then WAIT until a small child comes flying down that slide with a look of pure joy on their face and their arms raised and feet up for landing? Now, you've got a more compelling shot!