Nature Photos - I need some C & C please

rusty9 · Apr 18, 2009

Today I took a drive to a few locations on the Natchez Trace for those who are familiar with it. I would really like some pointers. The last thread I posted didn't get any responses...anyway

These are just some different photos of a bridge that went over a swamp

A cool looking root i found

Reflection of a puddle on the bridge

The Ross Barnett Reservoir

Arched root in the water

Row of trees

Swamp

Swamp trees

Tree by the water (with bird)

sorry there are so many

thanks for looking

tinafaecarroll · Apr 18, 2009

if you post fewer, generally you get more responses.

tinafaecarroll · Apr 18, 2009

i like the reflection

rusty9 · Apr 18, 2009

tinafaecarroll said:
if you post fewer, generally you get more responses.

yeah i know, i just took so many, and it was harder to narrow it down if you know what i mean.

schumionbike · Apr 18, 2009

I like the first one and the second to last one. The first one have a little blown highlight and perhaps could've look a bith sharper. I like the second to last one alot, very nicely done. Wonderful composition. It would help if you numbered the pictures too, it'll be easier to refer to to

.

ottor · Apr 18, 2009

I like the first one.... What kind of camera are you using?

r

rusty9 · Apr 18, 2009

thanks...i was using a Canon A2000 IS

Invictus · Apr 18, 2009

Swamp Trees = Too bright.
Ross Barnett Resevoir = too dark.
Number one was my favorite.

Number two seems just barely a little bright, and a tiny bit over saturated.

fewer pics +1

CraniumDesigns · Apr 19, 2009

i dont like the composition on most of them, though "swamp trees" is probably the best.

needs some post-processing work done though to get more of a dramatic feel.

LaFoto · Apr 19, 2009

Heya rusty, we haven't met on here before, have we? You are new and joined while I was away on vacation. Welcome to ThePhotoForum!

Anyhow, this was an inspiring area for you to go to and test your new camera.
Now I take it you're presenting us the photos just as they came out of your camera?
You did not work on them any further by means of any software that can still change the immediate results you get? Some software on CD must have been in the camera box when you just got it, and that should at least offer you SOME means to still work on your photos.

Some look quite promising but don't grab the viewer's eye because they are so "flat", so "milky", so "hazy". Seems like (assuming you're still using your camera on AUTO?) it was mislead to overexposing the swamp pics some, while the amount of sky in your compositions of the reservoir "talked your camera into" underexposing the rest, as the camera will always look for the middle exposure, unless you, as it's user (and hopefully soon also "controller"), decide otherwise and put your settings like that.

Anyhow, about the swamp pics (I'm fascinated by swamps, so I like these, despite their little flaws), with some software that allows you to work on the contrasts, these will soon look a ton better.

The first is the best exposed of all the swamp pics by itself, only is the bridge too much in the very middle of the photo for my liking.

The second is promising, up the contrasts and it'll be better, and I like how the bridge leads in a CURVE from front to back, only nitpick about composition is that it does not lead anywhere, or rather: the WHERE it leads to is being blocked off our view by the tree.

The root IS cool, though I'm not sure the photo is all sharp. It looks a little shakey.

The reflections in the water on the wooden bridge do need more contrasts! Other than that: well spotted

.

I'll skip over the reservoir pics (composition is too much so that your horizon is very in the middle of your photos...), and thus arrive at the three trees in line (I think), which is a photo I like for its compositional concept (you spotted this scene well, too). For some odd reason, this photo sports a lot of magenta colours and I can't really tell why this is so. I wonder how much stronger this cast would become if you worked on the contrasts some?

More trees in swamp now: of those two (that follow the three-trees-in-line), I prefer the second to the first, as it offers a really lovely depth to the viewer's eye. That frame was spotted well, too, although the photo as such needs post processing work in brightness and/or contrasts, too, of course, as you yourself now see, too. But I'm almost inclined to say I like that one best of all.

Next time you post, try to post fewer pics, and should it once again be as many, then number them. Helps commenting a lot, as we, the commentors, need not scroll up and down and count and re-count all the time while trying to think of something useful to say to you. OK?

Explore into post processing software and keep up the work! You seem to have got some lovely areas around you!

rusty9 · Apr 19, 2009

thanks for the comments.
and yes, these were straight from the camera. i do have photoshop but i wasn't in the mood and didn't bother. i will work with a few of them and post them again. i was using the P (program) mode on my camera, not auto. i just do not like auto.

Samanax · Apr 20, 2009

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LarryD · Apr 21, 2009

I think that your second bridge shot and your "swamp trees" shots are your best, although the trees are over exposed..

Most of your shots lack a subject, or at least lack an identifiable subject that allows the viewer to see what you want them to see.. Doesn't seem like you've spent much time at all trying to compose and make an interesting photo with most of them..