First time post and photographer!! critique me please!

[Desi]

I hope you don't mind, I downloaded these and tried a few edits on my computer. Most of this you can do with simple editing software. I use light-room, but you could do this with iPhoto as well. Do you have any editing software?

The fuzziness may be from shooting in macro mode.

1. I agree, the flower does flow nicely. Overall, it seems a but dark and lifeless. I increased the exposure and added some contrast. I think you could have backed out a bit more to show the tips of the petals. Your horizon is a bit tilted (look at the chimney, it leans) but that's not much of an issue. The background is a bit distracting. I like the green and blue but not so much the brick. Think as if you were painting it and try to place objects in your background that you actually want there.


TPFeditforSunset3 by Javier Descalzi, on Flickr

I tried a close-up. I put the stamen in the upper-left third. Notice the way the stem point in that direction to give it added.emphasis.
TPFeditforSunset2 by Javier Descalzi, on Flickr

2. I like what you were going for. The background is a bit busy and of similar tone/color to the subject. Love the droplets. Here's my crop. Mostly just added contrast to brighten the subject and darken the background.


TPFeditforSunset4 by Javier Descalzi, on Flickr

3. An edit on your prior post. Just a crop.


TPFeditforSunset1 by Javier Descalzi, on Flickr

Your pictures #4 and 5. I prefer the second. In the first, you have a split scene where the path is almost as important as the plant. It leads your eye away but not to the subject. It is a "leading line" which can be used to point to your subject. In the second image, you showed more of the subject and the path became less a distraction.

And, since we are having a conversation, here's a recent shot of mine. As I said, I am just learning as well. I hardly ever get out to take pictures of flowers, so I've been enjoying playing with yours.


DSC_0305 by Javier Descalzi, on Flickr

 

[Sunset]

Oh wow Desi your picture does look very nice!

It's amazing how much a simple crop can change a picture. it even looks like the subject is closer. Maybe that's how everyone takes shots from far away and get a nice detailed close photo. I will have to post some before and after cropping pictures.

And to answer your question Desi I do have a image editing software on my computer; Gimp, otherwise known as the GNU Image Manipulation Program. And is what I used to edit the picture of the bee in the first take I uploaded.

I don't know how long this post is going to be. I guess I could go on forever posting sub par pictures. But I am an open ear to any advice!


Next take coming soon!

 

[Sunset]

Hey here a similar picture of the leaf I shot yesterday.

I just wanted to showcase the before and after color enhancements I did on Gimp. I know the picture is very messy but that's okay. I'm only focusing on the colors here.