First post, looking for some C&C!

powasky · Aug 5, 2011

Hey everyone.

I'm an amateur photographer based in Northern Virginia. I shoot with a 30D and random assortment of lenses; luckily for me, I received all of my kit for free about a year ago. I'm looking forward to being able to improve my technical and compositional skills through time, practice, and with the help of you guys. Any feedback that you can provide would be awesome. Here are some of my images:

one:

two:

three:

At this point, I don't shoot anything in particular. I just enjoy carrying my camera around with me and taking pictures, really. My next purchases are going to be a 430exii and the 16-35 F/2.8L. Thanks for taking the time to look at my images.

KmH · Aug 5, 2011

Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition.

Digital Photography Tutorials

AgentDrex · Aug 5, 2011

Welcome to TPF powasky. I hope you find the assistance you need here to grow in your hobby. I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay here.

Three is very interesting, thank you for sharing this one.

The other two aren't as interesting. Keep shooting!

LaFoto · Aug 5, 2011

The first two photos show me that you know how to work with apertures. I see them as test photos of yours that came out ok.
The third is nice, I like the simplicity and your work with lines.

powasky · Aug 5, 2011

Thank you both for your input. I'm taking two photo classes this upcoming semester and am currently reading some basic books on composition, so hopefully my "eye" will improve with a little bit of time.

AgentDrex - Do you mind sharing what you dislike about the first two? Is it solely boring subject matter, or could I have done something different to improve the shots?

AgentDrex · Aug 5, 2011

Sorry 'bout that, boss walked in and had to switch to other desktop quickly.

The first one is interesting compositionally (IMHO) but seems to me to be underexposed...

The second one has no context and is therefore (to me) boring. The OOF shapes are a tad distracting. I'd like to see it on the chair it sits on. And perhaps there is a story there as well.

powasky · Aug 5, 2011

AgentDrex said:
Sorry 'bout that, boss walked in and had to switch to other desktop quickly.

The first one is interesting compositionally (IMHO) but seems to me to be underexposed...

The second one has no context and is therefore (to me) boring. The OOF shapes are a tad distracting. I'd like to see it on the chair it sits on. And perhaps there is a story there as well.

I know how it goes. I'm going to play with the first image in LR a bit to see what I can pull out of it. The second one was shot at a thrift store local to me. I just liked the expression on the doll's face.

Thank you for your input, everything helps!

EDIT:

Here's a reworked #1, and a few other images. I don't need C&C on every image, just want to give you guys an idea of where my skills lie.

AgentDrex · Aug 5, 2011

I like the plants in the box photo...sweet...

And the second to last one of the series you just posted is quite taking....thank for taking these and sharing them with us...

powasky · Aug 5, 2011

AgentDrex said:
I like the plants in the box photo...sweet...

And the second to last one of the series you just posted is quite taking....thank for taking these and sharing them with us...

Thanks for the comments.

What is the best way to remove filter vignetting as shown in the log/street shot? I've got another image that I really like, but is killed by the non-slim-mount UV filters I have.

EDIT- Answer to my own question: a wee bitty crop will remove the vignetting, and kill some of the softness that the Sigma 15-30 has at the corners.

AgentDrex · Aug 5, 2011

Take it into photoshop and clone it out....or really go overboard (as I usually do):

Cloned out edges, tilted photo so no crooked horizon....had to crop because of that...added saturation to all channels...

powasky · Aug 5, 2011

Looks really good! I didn't even realise the horizon was crooked until you fixed it

AgentDrex · Aug 5, 2011

Hard to tell when there is no visible horizon line...and while trees don't necessarily grow straight vertically, I still noticed a slight tilt...

Edit: Looks like a pretty wide lens was used for that shot, do you remember what it is?

Compaq · Aug 5, 2011

Sorry, but is the log the subject? I always (and I've come back to this thread a few times now) follow the yellow lines. I just keep thinking how that log's in the way

KenC · Aug 5, 2011

The log, the yellow lines, and the strip of grass on the right form an interesting composition and contrast in texture and color, so if you removed some of the trees on top and a little of the road on the left these elements would stand out more.

Dwayne · Aug 5, 2011

The log shot is ver cool interesting form and the texture and leaves around the log are interesting...just an idea.. what if you cropped some of the top of the photo where your your eye does not go to the light ..I actually think it would me more unique with just the log in the photo and lines and crop the top in some...just an idea..thanks