I need some help figuring out what is "off" about these images.

[MJI]

I'm new here and this is my first post.

I need help finding things that I seem to be overlooking. In some ways I feel these are some of my stronger images, but then in other ways I feel there is something weak about them, but I can't figure it out.

Background info:
I use a Sony Cybershot DSC-H7.
It has some kind of malfunction going on that I don't know what, but I'll need to post that on a different topic. For now, shaking the camera seems to keep it from vibrating and ruining the focus.

Experience: I've taken photos with point and shoot cameras for roughly 5 or 6 years. My first useable digital camera was a cheap AIP-tek DV 3100, then a Kodak Easyshare DX 6440. (to get macros I used a magnifying lens.) The Sony camera is the one I use now.
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4.

 

[Dylan-Fishman]

You Centered your subject everytime. Work on composition. Try using the RoT's

 

[farmerj]

don't post so many pictures in a thread.

Some of the links I go and read every now and again.

Photography Composition Articles: Golden Ratio, Rule of Thirds, Golden Mean, Golden Section.

Digital Photography Tips and Tutorials

Photography - Composition

 

[MJI]

Thanks. I was sort of wondering about the 3rd's rule at least with the bug shots.

By the way, I'm sorry about the too many pictures. I made them all links now so they don't take so much loading time.

 

[farmerj]

2-4 pictures is about right.

More than that it's hard to give comments on.

Having links is just as troublesome as to many pictures.

 

[MJI]

Sorry about that. I knocked it down to 4 links.

 

[farmerj]

post 4 pictures...
It's easier to work with that way. you don't have to link them.

 

[MJI]

Okay. I made them into images. I'm interested to know about the plant ones.

 

[icassell]

If you would like an excellent read on composition, try "The Photographer's Eye" by Michael Freeman.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

You should post them side by side rather than up and down too.

I love the first one. I wonder if a vertical crop would be effective for that one.
It would place the the bee in the top 1/3, and you would have flowers and buds in the upper corners relateing back to the bottom.

On the Ginko leaves, I am rather attracted to the one catching the light and water drops. Could have been the focus, but maybe should be cropped out of this one.

I think the butterfly could work well as a square crop (gasp), bcause the wings provide a nice angle.

With the lillies, I personally am more interested in the texture of the wall behind them.

 

[MJI]

That's interesting, because I did end up with one of the versions cropping the butterfly into a near square:

It's a slightly different photo and different exposure. I liked the slightly over-exposed version over it because it made the maroon pop out. Here the flowers have more color, but the maroon is lost on the butterfly.

II'll try cropping the others and see how that looks.

 

[icassell]

That's interesting, because I did end up with one of the versions cropping the butterfly into a near square:

It's a slightly different photo and different exposure. I liked the slightly over-exposed version over it because it made the maroon pop out. Here the flowers have more color, but the maroon is lost on the butterfly.

II'll try cropping the others and see how that looks.

I'm not sure, but I think a little fill lighting might have helped this one a bit.

 

[kundalini]

I like the bee, but find the colors at top on the background take away from it. I did a 30 second hack job of cloning it out to give you an idea. I also used a square crop to position it higher and to the right. I think the saturation on the orange flowers is a bit intense, but didn't mess with it.

I think you have some interesting colors, textures, lines and shapes on the leaves. I would take several more tries at it to get the right combination.... whatever that is. Also, remember you don't have to wait for the next rainfall to get that effect, a spray bottle of water works just fine.​

The butterfly composition is okay, but think it could've used some more light from above to better the details.​

Undecided on the flowers.​

Keep shooting.​

 

[kundalini]

That last image of the butterfly removed any details that were there on it's body.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Oooh! I like the bee cropped square!