Four Pictures for C&C please

[ElizabethRose]

I am still new and messing around with my camera, but I figured it was time to get some feedback. These are quite random, and I wont be hurt if you dont like them at all.

I was looking out my window and I just really liked the color of the sky behind the dark trees in this one. Not much of a composition, but here it is.

This one is a dripping icicle. Not much to say here, haha

I was messing with the shutter speed on this one. Idk, just an experiment.

Here are some bubbles. Enjoy

 

[tirediron]

C&C per req:
1. So, my question to you becomes, "Why not go outside and getter a better composition?" That's a serious question, not sarcasm. The number one thing that separates the good from the mediocre photographer is effort. If you make the effort, you'll get the shot!

2. It looks like you may have missed the focus here slightly. Small subjects can be tricky. Try using a single focus point; as well consider either cropping more tightly to elimiante the empty space on the sides or using a vertical orientation next time.

3. One of those interesting accident/experiments. I like this image, but again, would try cropping at least a third off of the RH side.

4. Interesting colours/tones here. It may be my monitor, but some areas seem a little soft. Ensure you used an aperture which provides sufficient DoF and a shutter speed which will elminate camera/subject blur.

Overall, a good start. I would suggest doing some reading, perhaps start by searching the terms "Rule of thirds" and "Golden mean" to gain a better understanding of composition guidelines.

Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.

~John

 

[ElizabethRose]

Thanks for the feedback, I really appreciate it I recently bought the book Understanding Exposure so I plan on reading through that.
And to answer your first question, I realized i should have gone outside to take the picture, but the sun had already set haha. I guess i have to wait until tomorrow

 

[RockstarPhotography]

Looks like a good start. Composition is going to be what makes or breaks a shot. You have to have subject for your eye to focus on and make sure the shot is composed to best draw they eye to that subject. read and practice. then repeat. over and over and over and over.....

good luck!!!

 

[Marc-Etienne]

#1 : If the color of the sky was your subject, it would have been nice to saturate the red a little more in order to make us understand your intention. One thing that is important to know when you shoot is to make sure that the picture's subject is obvious by its composition. It seems lost in this one.

#2 : Is a little soft. What lens did you use and at which aperture? When you are taking something that is hard to nail the focus, try to reduce your aperture to increase your DoF and your chances to get a sharp subject. I would also suggest to crop it hard to a portrait orientation maybe.

#3 : Like Tirediron said, I would crop a good chunk of the right hand side of the picture. Other than that, nice experiment, I like!

#4 : Not much to say outside that it's a pretty nice picture. Could make a nice background or a nice print on the wall.

Hope I'm helping a bit. Keep them coming, it's a pretty nice start in my humble noob opinion!

 

[rambler]

I agree with marc's comment on #1 what is the subject tree or sky? ( I am someone who is "messing around" with my camera, too, and have recently become fond of bare tree-tops and skies.)
When it is the sky that is dramatic, add more sky, have less of the tree, have the tree at the bottom.

Sometimes, however, it might be the shape of the tree limbs that is more intriguing than the sky. A late grey sky, fog or mist in the background can help make the tree stand out more.

In your photo I think you liked both the tree and the sky, and the tree dominates. The sky becomes secondary for me. Except for your title I might not have even noticed it much.

Just yesterday at sunset I added trees at the bottom which helped the camera focus. And, the best shot of the tree was when I zoomed in but unfortunately missed some of the limbs, so the composition is lop-sided. I was not watching the edges! So, I will go back again.

I also have a similar photo of an icicle and found that close-ups (3 feet away) can be effectively shot with a telephoto lens.
Emphasis on sky:
http://flic.kr/p/9iVTb7
Emphasis on tree, same time of day, same tree, apologies for out of balance composition!
http://flic.kr/p/9iSKji
Same tree, same time, added noise with higher ISO
http://flic.kr/p/9iWka9
Can't resist. When I turned 45 degrees this is what I was looking at instead of the trees! (two hours earlier I was skiing down a mountain...ahh New England!
http://flic.kr/p/9iTp8B

 

[Bridget Greenwood]

the bubbles would make a great scrapbook paper

 

[kacielynch]

The first and second seem a little out of focus.

 

[VannaTheStrange]

I really loved your first one. I have become intrigued with skies and trees myself The icicle one was pretty cool! What was the 2nd picture of? I pretty much agree with the comments above. I think the icicle would have been great as a portrait instead of a landscape! Good work! :thumbup: