Nature/Other photos

[Jacki]

Again, what can I do better?

 

[Jacki]

I'm looking for input, such as what do I need to work on? What (if anything) do you like about the pictures, and just generally what should I be doing differently? I really want to get better, so pointing out what you don't like, as well as what you do like would be helpful. Thanks!

 

[enzodm]

Though I'm not an expert, what I can tell is what I would try to obtain as a beginner (with no guarantee to be able to ).
First two have nice focused insect, but too confusing background (second in particular). Look here to have an idea: http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/nature-wildlife/220901-bees.html (one thread at random).
I suspect most of the problem is the camera, being a compact one, however some more careful point of view might have avoided part of the problem.
In the third I somewhat like the idea with one group of flowers on focus, other slightly defocused, but I would have tried to take all the central group in focus (and compose with some more symmetry, but I do not know exactly how). Consider that macro photographers sometimes move things to obtain what they want.
Regarding the last, I simply do not like it (although you obtained what is called Rembrandt light on face - and I know only because I recently attended a short portrait course ).

 

[Abby Rose]

1. the background is a little busy, and it seems just a tad over-saturated (on my monitor). The flower is kind of icky, it takes my attention away from the pretty dragonfly. The one petal on the left could be cropped out, also. Or maybe you could just crop the whole thing, for more of a focus on the bug?

2. The same issues as with the first one, mostly. The dragonfly is more noticeable here, it seems, but the angle of its body isnt as pleasing.

3. I think you should crop this one a little, too. The light corner where the sunshine is makes the rest of it look dark, even though I dont think it's technically underexposed. An illusion.

4. This one would be better if the background was not in focus, though I understand it can be difficult with cameras such as ours. I tried photoshop, and I was fairly unsuccessful.... So I mostly avoid this type of shot.

Her head is right at the top of the frame, too.

 

[bazooka]

The greatest detractor of these shots for me is the background on all of them, but particularly #1 and #4. I'd give #4 some more headroom (space above the head). #3 is too cool from the daylight white balance being used in the shade and underexposed.

#2 is an interesting shot, but you've got a little somethin'-somethin' in the lower left corner and the pink flower in back is drawing attention away from the subject a bit too much for me. The background also has some brighter and warmer splotches in it which isn't attractive to my eyes... but perhaps others may dig it.

 

[Jacki]

Thanks! I've just started shooting with a shallower dof recently, actually. I did notice that the backgrounds seemed distracting in some of my photos, especially the dragonfly ones, I will definitely check my angles and dof more often. I look over my photos so carefully, I don't know how I missed the random spot in one of the corners.

It wouldn't have been hard to make the background out of focus more on these, especially 4; my camera is not nearly as good as a dslr, but does have a lot of control. I do believe that I was shooting with the highest number possible, regarding my depth of field, which is silly!

 

[KmH]

Study some of the guidelines for visual image composition:

• Simplicity
• The Rule of Thirds
• Lines
• Balance
• Framing
• Avoiding Mergers