New Camera + Variable Sun day = pictures...

[Azurite180]

Just bought my t3i two days ago. It's been awful waiting for the rain to stop. Even though it was alternately bright sun and clouds (with wind) today, I just had to get outside and play with the new camera. Playing with the Monochrome B/W setting and kit lens, I took these. Critiques welcomed.

I really like the way the sun came through some of the flaking bark in this shot. Same shot, two versions (full size and cropped) [55mm f/8 1/400 ISO800]



Benches uncropped [49mm f/9 1/200 ISO100]



Lattice uncropped. There's no real focal point here, but I liked the way the sunlight hit the clover in the foreground and shadow under the lattice. [55mm f/5.6 1/250 ISO 800]



Birdbath uncropped. [55mm f/8 1/20 ISO 100]



Goatsbeard flower [41mm f/5 1/1250 ISO 800] Background is a little busy. I would have liked more blur (bokeh?)



Rolling in the clover. Just playing with DOF and backgrounds here. [55mm f/10 1/20 ISO 100]



Globe onion seedheads. Taken against a white fence. [41mm f/5 1/1250 ISO 800]



Ford 800 Trying to get DOF here (needs more blur) and really liked the way the light hit the chroming. Wish I could have stepped it down even more. Really want to get a macro lens. [43mm f/5 1/250 ISO 800]



Honeysuckle. Playing with DOF and contrast. [55mm f/22 1/13 ISO 800]

 

[paulzeee]

Keep it up. Your composition and subject need to be more thought out. Nothing of interest really stands out in any of them - but you are on the right track.

 

[Azurite180]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Could you clarify a little bit on 'subject need to be more thought out'? Do you mean make the focal point more dynamic/clear or choose different objects altogether?

I like closeup/macro work on flowers (and bees/butterflies), architectural details with interesting lines and food, though I understand others might find them boring beyond bearing. Should I aim for more abstract/artsy when using B/W?