Horse Shots???

[LisaCadwell]

OK - remember I am an amateur and this was the first time I went to a ranch to take pictures. My goal was to work on composition, But I feltlike I was just taking "snap Shots". ????

1.

2.

3.

4. This one I was taking to get a black silhouette of the horse in the barn and a clearer view of the horse in the background. They are almost in exact poses.



5. This was in a dark corner - super dirty, but kinda cool.



So overall - just snap shots or anything decent in there?

 

[RxForB3]

I think they would be much better without the vignetting. They appear to be quality shots, but the vignetting is much too much.

 

[LisaCadwell]

OK- I see that. I think I was trying to make them look better by adding the vignetting. They just seemed tooo ....Plain without it.

 

[JackandSally]

I personally, really don't like vingnetting, so to me I find it super distracting. But that's personal choice.

 

[Overread14 2]

Put the Vignette button down - somewhere next to the selective colour and HDR buttons
Like all forms of adjustment there is a time and place for it, and it takes time to really get a feel for when and when its going to work and when its just trying to hide over a poorer photo. Also note that many times its something that is best applied in slight amounts rather than stronger amounts.


As for the photos, I can see that you're trying to think more creatively with the approach you're using, but its just not quite getting there. I get a kind of "central" theme going on here with the composition in general.

The first photo I like the idea of, I can see where you're going. The problem is you're effectivly two key areas that are not interacting enough, you've the subject of the horse and rider, but they are both in the lower half and the horse is looking down (kinda) whilst the rider is looking across the frame. Then you've the out-of-focus background that, I actually do like, but its got nothing that leads or connects it really to the bottom of the photo. So it kind of feels like its of two halves.

Second shot what I will say is that I like the texture, horses are often seen as quite shiny and smooth in photos so I do like a shot that makes them look far more fuzzy and furry all over. That said its just not quite there, something is off in the shot.


I think what you need is some inspiration, not copying per-se, but some ideas as to how to approach these subjects. Part of that you can get working with the subject a lot more (horses in general as well as animals in genera - farms in general and also working specifically with a set group of individuals/areas).
Another you can get from looking at others work - have a peek at Raphael's work Flickr: Raphael Macek - Horse Photography's Photostream

 

[Tee]

The vignetting combined with the unnecessary watermark in #1 is placed in the area in which the viewers eyes are drawn towards. Do you want the focus to be on the horse and it's caregiver or your watermark? I think this image would've been improved by getting much closer and shooting in landscape orientation, an aperture of f/4, capturing the expression of the lady and the horse in a close-up manner and allowing the background to blur more. #2 is your strongest and the horses body gives nice leading lines BUT, once again, the unnecessary watermark is right in the leading lines. #3 could be a keeper as well with a little sharpening and losing the white vignette. Preset vignette's are evil. If you really want to direct the eye and are determined to vignette the edges, use the dodge and burn methods at about 2-3% exposure. It'll be subtle enough that it's not screaming Sears Portrait studio and will do the job of guiding the eye.

So, I know it's a little harsh but I at least wanted to provide some thoughts on how to fix. I also have the viewpoint that watermarks on a hobbyist's images are completely useless and do more to distract from an image than make the viewer scream, "Wow, I'm sure glad I know who took that!".

 

[LisaCadwell]

Put the Vignette button down - somewhere next to the selective colour and HDR buttons
Like all forms of adjustment there is a time and place for it, and it takes time to really get a feel for when and when its going to work and when its just trying to hide over a poorer photo. Also note that many times its something that is best applied in slight amounts rather than stronger amounts.

Yeah. I agree with that. I posted a picture and someone told me to it would look better with the vignette. I took it a set or two ot three too far though! LOL


As for the photos, I can see that you're trying to think more creatively with the approach you're using, but its just not quite getting there. I get a kind of "central" theme going on here with the composition in general.

I was trying. I watched a 2 hour seminar all about composition. Keeping in mind the 9 rules that it went over, I was trying to incorporate that into my shots. Overwhelmed... YES! It's not so easy! I was invited by a gal that works with my husband to go on the trip. I thought it would be cool to finally work directly woth another photographer. Little did I know that while I brought out my canon, She brought out a small point and shoot. ARG... I was the teacher. HOW SAD WAS THAT!!!!!

The first photo I like the idea of, I can see where you're going. The problem is you're effectivly two key areas that are not interacting enough, you've the subject of the horse and rider, but they are both in the lower half and the horse is looking down (kinda) whilst the rider is looking across the frame. Then you've the out-of-focus background that, I actually do like, but its got nothing that leads or connects it really to the bottom of the photo. So it kind of feels like its of two halves.

I see that. The background was all kinda trashy without even a cool barn to get into the mix. I figured a bokeh effect was the way to go but like I said - following the rules of having three levels of interest. Didn't quite get it smoothly.

Second shot what I will say is that I like the texture, horses are often seen as quite shiny and smooth in photos so I do like a shot that makes them look far more fuzzy and furry all over. That said its just not quite there, something is off in the shot.

I was trying to get her to turn her head for me so I could capture her eye... NO luck. Stubborn HORSE.

I think what you need is some inspiration, not copying per-se, but some ideas as to how to approach these subjects. Part of that you can get working with the subject a lot more (horses in general as well as animals in genera - farms in general and also working specifically with a set group of individuals/areas).
Another you can get from looking at others work - have a peek at Raphael's work Flickr: Raphael Macek - Horse Photography's Photostream

I fully agree. This was my first trip to do horses and I thought I was going with someone with experience. LOL.... Leason learned. I think I do better on a golf course!!! At least that is what I tell myself. Of course I tell myself I can golf too!!!!! LMAO

Thanks for the feedback. I really want to get better at this!

 

[LisaCadwell]

The vignetting combined with the unnecessary watermark in #1 is placed in the area in which the viewers eyes are drawn towards. Do you want the focus to be on the horse and it's caregiver or your watermark? I think this image would've been improved by getting much closer and shooting in landscape orientation, an aperture of f/4, capturing the expression of the lady and the horse in a close-up manner and allowing the background to blur more.

I like the thought of how that would have came out. I was going for the layers and I agree that it would have been better up close.

#2 is your strongest and the horses body gives nice leading lines BUT, once again, the unnecessary watermark is right in the leading lines.

LOL - the only reason I started to put a watermark on was because I was told by several people to do so. I'll take them off. I really didn't care one way or the other. Who's going to steal one of my photos - AND if they did well congrats! One was worth stealing! LOL

#3 could be a keeper as well with a little sharpening and losing the white vignette. Preset vignette's are evil. If you really want to direct the eye and are determined to vignette the edges, use the dodge and burn methods at about 2-3% exposure. It'll be subtle enough that it's not screaming Sears Portrait studio and will do the job of guiding the eye.

Sears Portraits.... I'm still laughing!!!!!!! But I do have to admit that I don't have a clue about what you just said about the Dode and Burn Methods. I'll be looking that up tonight at work!

So, I know it's a little harsh but I at least wanted to provide some thoughts on how to fix. I also have the viewpoint that watermarks on a hobbyist's images are completely useless and do more to distract from an image than make the viewer scream, "Wow, I'm sure glad I know who took that!".

Harsh - NAW... Honest and I appreciate that. I'm trying to do better. Watching videos and seminars and looking for local people to work directly with. I'll never be a pro - BUT I do want to be good at the hobby. AND MAYBE - JUST maybe, someone some day will look at a photo of mine and say "Wow - that is a great photo - Who took it??"

 

[Overread14 2]

I really want to get better at this! [/COLOR]

Just got to keep shooting
The more you shoot and the more you practice the more those theories will slip from the front to the back of your mind. Like setting the exposure they'll become more instinctive things that you can draw from rather than having all them right at the front all trying to push forward and getting all muddled up.