New Photographer! Help!

[Derrel]

You could benefit from some books about photography,and how to approach different types of subjects,and different types of lighting. I looked through your blog shots, and there are a number of architecture shots that are not very good because you were "there", and simply snapped a picture, but the light was not very good at the time the picture was taken. The same is true of your traveling photos; to you, the images have a personal significance, some type of meaning...to me, the majority of them are dull,and lack a clear subject, and do not visually communicate much. Like the interior of the church with the large chandelier lighting fixture....yeah...so what...it's just a snapshot...

Urban landscape, travel photography, street photography...each has its own language. You do not seem to be "trained" in visual communication. Learning how to create a primary subject would be a good skill to begin with. Ask yourself WHAT, and what EXACTLY, you wish to communicate when making a photo. And then work toward realizing that goal, and your pictures will get better.

 

[Vagabond Photos]

You could benefit from some books about photography,and how to approach different types of subjects,and different types of lighting. I looked through your blog shots, and there are a number of architecture shots that are not very good because you were "there", and simply snapped a picture, but the light was not very good at the time the picture was taken. The same is true of your traveling photos; to you, the images have a personal significance, some type of meaning...to me, the majority of them are dull,and lack a clear subject, and do not visually communicate much. Like the interior of the church with the large chandelier lighting fixture....yeah...so what...it's just a snapshot...

Urban landscape, travel photography, street photography...each has its own language. You do not seem to be "trained" in visual communication. Learning how to create a primary subject would be a good skill to begin with. Ask yourself WHAT, and what EXACTLY, you wish to communicate when making a photo. And then work toward realizing that goal, and your pictures will get better.

It's difficult for me to take this critique seriously considering subject matter is so very subjective. For instance, when looking at some of the photos in your gallery, I don't find water fountains or backlit trees to be particularly interesting what are 'they' communicating? On the other had I have a particular interest in different looking architecture and foreign culture. I mean it would seem to me that in the chandelier photo you mentioned the clear subject is... the chandelier, and perhaps the old woman beneath it, if you wanna get specific. I don't mean to critique your critique but its just that it didn't make any sense. I highly doubt that you did look at my blog.

 

[jsteen84]

I like the photos, but am too new to provide any relevant feedback. My only question is, what method are you using to make money from these? It's easier to critique a more direct action like, couple comes for engangement pictures, here they are... Everyone knows the girl wants to be good loooking and the guy wants the girl to be good looking so she's happy haha. I'm going to stick with my first note, I'm too new to photograph to help out I think.

 

[o hey tyler]

There are some decent shots in your blog, but the majority need work. A lot of them lack a clear subject, or are out of focus, and some face exposure issues. You also need to watch for straight horizons, as that seems to be a recurring problem too. They don't really speak to me or tell a story.

I'd also consider re-wording your headline as well.

Derrel may be an uber douche sometimes, but when it comes to C&C he knows what he's talking about. You asked for help, so stop being defensive and whiny.

You couldn't yourself come up with a clear subject for your chandelier photo, because it's a snapshot. It's grossly underexposed, and it doesn't have a whole lot to look at.

 

[vtf]

You could benefit from some books about photography,and how to approach different types of subjects,and different types of lighting. I looked through your blog shots, and there are a number of architecture shots that are not very good because you were "there", and simply snapped a picture, but the light was not very good at the time the picture was taken. The same is true of your traveling photos; to you, the images have a personal significance, some type of meaning...to me, the majority of them are dull,and lack a clear subject, and do not visually communicate much. Like the interior of the church with the large chandelier lighting fixture....yeah...so what...it's just a snapshot...

Urban landscape, travel photography, street photography...each has its own language. You do not seem to be "trained" in visual communication. Learning how to create a primary subject would be a good skill to begin with. Ask yourself WHAT, and what EXACTLY, you wish to communicate when making a photo. And then work toward realizing that goal, and your pictures will get better.

It's difficult for me to take this critique seriously considering subject matter is so very subjective. For instance, when looking at some of the photos in your gallery, I don't find water fountains or backlit trees to be particularly interesting what are 'they' communicating? On the other had I have a particular interest in different looking architecture and foreign culture. I mean it would seem to me that in the chandelier photo you mentioned the clear subject is... the chandelier, and perhaps the old woman beneath it, if you wanna get specific. I don't mean to critique your critique but its just that it didn't make any sense. I highly doubt that you did look at my blog.

Derrel is right on, listen to him as he'll guide you straight. Remember you wanted C&C, sometimes in life it can be a bit harsh. This is mild for him.
Tell us what you wanted the pictures to convey, what was your motivation. I see a start at something but not complete compositions i.e. the one with the three women I see them looking at the same direction but I don't get the same feeling as the shot is framed too tight on the side they are looking. Or could it be a cultural shot, religious, I don't know? There is not a strong central subject. It takes practice and practice and especially don't ask for C&C then when you get it
reject it. BTW both Derrel and I are dads so we will tell you straight like yours does.
Keep at it and hope to watch you improve over the next few months.:thumbup:

 

[Bram]

I would have to comepletely agree with Derrel man sorry. He has some valid points, I scrolled halfway down your photo blog and stopped because you post some images (like derrel said) thatonly have meaning to you therefore they are good pictures, (to you) not to us. You have to convinve us that what you took a photo of is truely as amazing as you think it is without us ever having personally experienced that place. Take the church with the chandelier for example (again like derrel said) cool it's a church with a chandelier. Not a big deal at all too plain too simple. HDR that photo and yeah maybe it'd be cool. I also saw multiple photos that were either OOF or had motion blurr. Take them out. unless you pan, or do something else where it actually looks good, ask people here to see if it is or not. Then repost or delete.
Also, the photos of the fruit and plants. Cool but there has to be soemthing so much more amazing and awesome in Greece, or in Bulgaria then just an apple tree.

I guess what CC you could take away from this would be to work on your composure of the shot, think about the different angles you could get. Then retake and see which is better work some PP in there and it could be a sweet photo. Keep shooting.

 

[hawk232]

i am fairly new here too and let me suggest that when you post pictures, also post what you were trying to accomplish with the picture. I realized this one day when I was told that i had seemingly two subjects and one was considerably out of focus... well that was my point and the reason i took the picture! the main focus was supposed to be the snake and the mallard was supposed to be secondary to the snake, but still clear enough to see his proximity to the snake. after that incident i realized that it is much more helpful to the other readers if you convey your message with text too. i do understand that a GOOD photograph should not need explaining, but lets face it, unfortunatly most do.

 

[SensePhoto]

omg in the first shot i can almost hear them gossiping baout someone they see lol

 

[Derrel]

SNIP>>>>>> I highly doubt that you did look at my blog.

Well, you're wrong. How the eff do you think I happened to SEE the chandelier photos? I went to your blog and looked at each and every photo you have there.

You need a book like this one:
Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: The Book of Photography

Buy it.

 

[thatfornoobs]

I ******* hate these people that are going to talk about shots not being perfectly vertical, or under/over exposed. CLEARLY the second shot was shot that way on purpose. That is the art off photography, I enjoyed it as a piece of art. Don't change it PLEASE, It looks GOOD over exposed! The only loss in the over exposure, is not being able to say it's perfectly exposed. Is that important? no.

 

[Vagabond Photos]

SNIP>>>>>> I highly doubt that you did look at my blog.

Well, you're wrong. How the eff do you think I happened to SEE the chandelier photos? I went to your blog and looked at each and every photo you have there.

You need a book like this one:
Amazon.com: Customer Reviews: The Book of Photography

Buy it.

I have over 420 photos up on my blog, you looked at each and every one? Hahahaah sorry for yanking your chain, you really do give good advice I'm just a smart aleck sometimes.

Best Wishes!

 

[Derrel]

Griffith Jones Photography

Try it. It'll pull up 50 pics at a time. You need to get a wide-angle lens and learn to shoot wide-angle. You also need a wide-aperture "isolation" lens. Almost everything you show has pan focus. Do you know what pan focus means? You need to learn when to turn the camera to its vertical orientation,and when to leave it horizontal. Your pics are boring because you're working within a very uneducated framework, using boring lenses. At boring f/stops. You've carried a camera to many beautiful places, but your knowledge of photography is all coming from your own narrow experiences,and is hampered by a lack of advanced technique and a lack of advanced lenses and knowledge.

Carrying a decent camera with one average zoom, or two average zoom lenses is not enough. If you want to do this kind of work, you need to have some better examples to shoot for. Just transporting the camera and snapping is only one small part of the game.

 

[o hey tyler]

I ******* hate these people that are going to talk about shots not being perfectly vertical, or under/over exposed. CLEARLY the second shot was shot that way on purpose. That is the art off photography, I enjoyed it as a piece of art. Don't change it PLEASE, It looks GOOD over exposed! The only loss in the over exposure, is not being able to say it's perfectly exposed. Is that important? no.

Clearly you have the experience to back up what you're saying. Everyone might as well take a back seat and let you critique everything. Since you obviously know best.

 

[Vagabond Photos]

Griffith Jones Photography

Try it. It'll pull up 50 pics at a time. You need to get a wide-angle lens and learn to shoot wide-angle. You also need a wide-aperture "isolation" lens. Almost everything you show has pan focus. Do you know what pan focus means? You need to learn when to turn the camera to its vertical orientation,and when to leave it horizontal. Your pics are boring because you're working within a very uneducated framework, using boring lenses. At boring f/stops. You've carried a camera to many beautiful places, but your knowledge of photography is all coming from your own narrow experiences,and is hampered by a lack of advanced technique and a lack of advanced lenses and knowledge.

Carrying a decent camera with one average zoom, or two average zoom lenses is not enough. If you want to do this kind of work, you need to have some better examples to shoot for. Just transporting the camera and snapping is only one small part of the game.

This is one of the most useful critiques I've ever received! THANKS! I'm going to look into learning more about the F-stop (you're absolutely right I've ignored this function on my camera and it shows!) Do you know of any good tutorials or info on the internet about F-stop? I'm still backpacking so It would be difficult for me to buy / carry a book.
Also, I would love to get a lens as you describe! Do you have any recommendations for a wide-aperture "isolation" lens and perhaps another? I'm looking to diversify if you know what I mean. Right now I have a D80 Nikon Body and I'm using the stock lens for the D90 with VR... I want to take my photography to the next level and I think you're helping me do that with your honesty. I've taken about 200 - 400 photos a day for about 2 months now with ZERO previous experience. Already I'm paying more attention to horizon lines and vertical building lines and I'm getting closer to my actual subject as I shoot rather than picking one in post...

Thanks again, and I would be appreciative to anyone who can help me with a F stop tutorial and an idea for a new lens. I'm also thinking of getting a lens with a lot more zoom. I know a lot of street photographers are of the mind set that taking a photo of a subjet from too far away makes the photo seem distant but I think it would be useful sometimes, especially when I'm trying to catch something I see quickly and without anyone noticing me.

OK thats all, THANKS!

 

[KmH]

If you visit my blog I have a page about aperture (f-stop) and other settings:
How Do I Use My Digital SLR?