New-ish photographer with Lumix G3! C&C please? =]

[Napilopez]

Hey guys! So I bought a Lumix G3 in January as my first ever dedicated camera(AKA not my cellphone). I've learned a lot in these 5 months or so. Went from not having a clue how shutter speed affected a photograph to finding photography to be an amazing experience. I've been most hanging around dpreview and Micro Four-Thirds forums since, but I just realized that if I want actual C&C on my pics, I should go to a forum more dedicated to pictures than gear! Hence how I arrived here.

Anyway, here is a collection of unconnected photos I've taken in the past few months with my beloved G3. A lot of my early pics were done with adapted manual lenses, since they're such great values, so I'm not sure what aperture I shot them at. I'll guesstimate based on memory. All shot RAW, some processed in Lightroom. I would very much like C&C as I try to improve my photography! Comments on what's good and what isn't would be hugely appreciated! Also feel free to go through my flickr photos.

#1 35mm CCTV lens f1.7

Bench by napilopez, on Flickr

#2 FD 50mm f1.4@f2.8

Man on Bench by napilopez, on Flickr

#3 FD 50mm F1.4

Eyes. by napilopez, on Flickr

#4FD 50mm F1.4

Horsey by napilopez, on Flickr

#5 FD 50mm F1.4@F1.8

This city can be rough. by napilopez, on Flickr

#6 Canon FD 50mm F1.4@F2

Birdies on a sign by napilopez, on Flickr

#7 Canon FD 50mm F1.4@F2-2.8

Mock Wedding by napilopez, on Flickr

#8 Canon FD 50mm F1.4@ F2.8

Holi - Festival of Color by napilopez, on Flickr

#9 Lumix 20mm F1.7

8 Spruce Street (Beekman Tower) by napilopez, on Flickr

#10 Olympus 45mm F1.8

Semi-Candid in the Wind by napilopez, on Flickr

#11 Olympus 45mm F1.8

A Stroll through Campus by napilopez, on Flickr

#12 Olympus 45mm F1.8@F3.2

Wrench Sculpture by napilopez, on Flickr

#13 Olympus 45mm F1.8

Contemplative by napilopez, on Flickr

#14 Olympus 45mm F1.8. Iso 3200

Hookah 3 by napilopez, on Flickr

Thanks!

 

[Napilopez]

Bumping. I guess I posted too many pics? lol

 

[SoulfulRecover]

Bumping. I guess I posted too many pics? lol

no not at all. A lot of times people will only have a couple responses and sometimes none at all. Just have to be patient here

Youre off to a great start!

for #2 I dont think there is enough contrast for it to be a B&W photo. It all seems to be monotone (all dark colors) or maybe whats in the image is too busy.

#4 seems more like a snap shot of an officer on a horse. Not much to it and doesnt really stand out to me.

#6 the birds dont really seem to stand out (mostly the left side) because of the branches in the back ground. Maybe a different angle would have worked better.

#10 Id be careful with how blown out the top left corner is and the girls hair. Its not bad in this image but just something to keep on eye

#13 again just seems like a snap shot. Nothing really pops or jumps out at me.

#5 is my favorite out of all of these. The exposure is great, I love the body language, the DoF, the contrast. . . its a great photo

#7 I would love to see a tighter crop on the subject

 

[Napilopez]

Thank you!!! All your advice is actually really helpful and I can see how I can make improvement with all of them. #5 is probably my favorite one too, along with 11.

One thing I've noticed is that just as hard as selecting what to take pictures of is choosing what to present. When I posted these I felt these and uploaded the full set onto flickr were some of my better pictures, today I feel like half of them aren't, haha! I've also been realizing that sometimes I see something interesting in an image that isn't immediately communicable to the viewer, so that I need to remember that I want to communicate as much as capture.

The other thing is that I'm considering more investing in a high quality monitor. It's amazing how different my photos can look to me when viewed on different screens. Sometimes I liked a pic when viewing on one screen, disliked in another.

Your comment about the background in the bird pic really reminded me of the importance of choosing the right background. More to composition than just rule of thirds!

Btw for number 7 I do have a tighter crop one; it's a different photo so her hand is covering her face, but still.

Thanks again!


Close-up by napilopez, on Flickr