I'm new here- please tell me what you think

[thereyougo!14 2]

Feel free, as that would help my understand. Honestly, I'm not trying to be defensive, I think that people on these forums are just inheritantly overly-critical... and I don't learn anything from that, but if someone were to say "Okay, with #whatever, if you had known how to use your camera- that shot could have been really good, and here's how...." Now THAT I would understand.

Nobody is over critical. You asked about composition and you received a lot of feedback. Trust me - people can be really critical and rude - you didn't get any of that.

There isn't really anything we could tell you to do with your camera to better compose your photos besides move around and look at all angles. It's something you kind of have to learn by practice. I posted my first assignment in photography class down below. It's all about composition.

I'll agree with qualification. In this thread I don't believe anyone has been over critical. That doesn't mean that this forum isn't sometimes over critical. If I'm honest, as a fairly new member while I haven't been on the receiving end of it, some of the criticism can verge on bullying. The amount of sarcasm and oneupmanship on here is sometimes almost farcical. It spoils what is otherwise a good forum. We should vary the old saying : "if you can't say anything nice don't say anything at all" to "if you can't say anything helpful, don't bother posting."


ETA: I wasn't directing that at you. I find your responses to people to be helpful and objective. Not everyone is though and I have seen quite glib and unhelpful posts given.

 

[tlamour]

I just ordered Amazon.com: The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos (9780240809342): Michael Freeman: Books

Are there some other book suggestions? I'm currently reading "Understanding Exposure", and I have one of David Busch's on order- about the camera I'm getting.

I like reading an actual book, I tire very easily from reading online so I like to have an actual book to hold in my hands. Amazon is my go to place, so any links from there would be much appreciated.

Find a photographer that you like and study him/her. Find out what makes their pictures so good. Thats really helping me.

D7000, iPhone 3GS

 

[LightSpeed]

If I may add this:

I've noticed in my time here that the " rule of thirds " is often over compensated for. You hear it over and over again. " You should learn about rule of thirds."
Here's a little news flash. The rule of thirds does not always apply nor can it always be had. Nor will subjects always magically align to thirds just because you're hanging around with a camera.
I've seen many a phenomenal image that if someone were beating you with a stick to find the rule of thirds within the image, you'd be black and blue and still being beaten.

The other thing I see often, is misuse of the rule of thirds wherein the subject is placed to the left or right of an image, in many instances because the shooter always has to hear about rule of thirds or has been led to believe that this is the way it HAS TO BE, neglecting " power points" altogether, just because someone said , " hey, thats not shot rule of thirds."

As an example, I'll offer this as proper use ( in my humble opinion), that was challenged by someone who knew no better roughly a year ago, who " parroted" .
The other member suggested that I read up on the rule of thirds and learn to use it.

Of course this isn't the finalized image, which looks much better than this one, but the composure is the same.
I sold this image to the engineering firm who engineered this bridge. Somehow they found out who I am, made contact, and immediately made me an offer for a 24 by 36 which now hangs in their conference room.
In this image you can note exactly how I used " rule of thirds " and I can certainly tell you, that I don't always use it. When applicable , yes.
Not to ruffle any feathers and as a gentleman, I offer this.