New to photography. C&C please.

[jrt]

Hi, these are pretty much my first ever photo's taken with something other than a compact camera or my setting on AUTO.
I have just taken up photography and am learning lots.
Please give me your feedback and input as I have much to learn.
many thanks

 

[powasky]

First of all, watermarks are annoying. Why do you feel the need to put a watermark on your images? Most everyone will give you crap for this.

1- I don't like all of the empty space up top, and I feel like your model's head is posed awkwardly. What am I supposed to get out of this, his woe over his receding hairline? I do like the lighting.

2- This is meme material. I have no idea what's going on but it's kind of interesting. I would feather the vignette out a little more.

3- Poorly exposed. The lighting in this situation makes the dog's face really dark, and blows out other areas such as the tip of the dog's head and the tip of his tail.

4- I'd say this is underexposed / not focused 100% sharply. I feel like I'm losing a lot of detail in the caterpillar's body. I would have included more of his surroundings and less of the empty space at the bottom.

 

[RebeccaAPhotography]

I can't help but love #2 ONLY because it has a cattle dog in it!!! I am also an newbie so take what I say as a grain of salt ROFL!! But awesome dogs they are!!

 

[adrianakyan]

I like #1 some times is called emotions. so i do get it... but missing some negative space under his chin.. and yes Watermark..pp has stolen my pics..bad or good... pics soooo...

 

[Mesoam]

#2 is great, except for the dog ruining the shot!

 

[doubleoh7]

i like the idea of #1 but would like to see a change in position of the subject (bring him a little more to center). #2 is cool from the standpoint that the dog is obviously the subject and is doing some cool tricks, but the shadow compensation is blown out and sacrifices detail - vignette in this type of photo doesn't work for me. #3 have to agree with the comment that the face is dark, but I like the composition. #4 was a great effort. that type of picture can be tuff. were you manual focusing, if not try that next time. Keep shooting -

 

[KmH]

#1 looks like a self-portrait, and you're holding the camera up with your left hand.
Or....... Simon is holding a light in his left hand.

No wait. You're Simon?

 

[SabrinaO]

I like the lighting in #1. I played around with the cropping... heres what i would do:

Great capture in #2. I looks like hes dancing!

3&4 are just... meh. Get a macro lens if you want to do macro. The focus is really off..

 

[KmH]

Lets get rid of the parts that aren't really needed, by cropping them away, add some separation from the background, and then pump up the drama/intensity a bit:

 

[mishele]

Looks like ou are off to a good start. You have an eye for lines!!
#2 like someone said.....the dog ruins the shot. The way he is standing in the air makes it looks like he is balancing a rock on his nose....=) The background is a good find. Try to watch the blownout spots.
#3 Cute pup. The pups face is underexposed. You could level the ground....it's a bit off. I actually like the steps in the background. They give me the idea of just how small the little guy is...=)
#4 Again, I like the lines you found. You have blur infront and behind the subject which is interesting. My nit is i wish you would of got his head somewhere in focus!!
Keep shooting and keep posting!!

 

[jrt]

Thanks for all your feedback, positive and negative.
Some very valid points there which i will certainly take on board.
I don't however like the way #1 was edited. I personally liked the space obove the top of the head and the face position low in the frame. I did it deliberately, as to me it portrais a lost and dreamy look with lots of 'head space' and the feeling of insignificance. That's the best way i can describe what i was trying to get accross in emotions in this shot. Also I don't like the colour and the grains once the shot has been cropped. But that's just my own opinion. I certainly understand the theory behind doing it though and appreciate the input.
#3 was an incredibly difficult shot for a beginner to take as I had the sunlight behind my dog and with her black face it was very very difficult. I agree her face is too dark but i was very proud to even get the shot at all. This is something I will hopefully learn in time and exactly what i am here for....to learn.....nonetheless I am incredibly proud of this shot as I am on #2, I have some shots of #2 without the dog, but again, for a beginner to get the action of the dog jumping like that and still have a clear background of the pier was a huge effort for me. I should clarify that i got my first ever camera 4 weeks ago. And yes....CATTLE DOGS ARE THE BEST. She's my soul mate.
#4 was also my first ever macro shot and it WAS taken with a macro lense on manual focus. I agree 100% that it would have been nice to get the critters head in focus. Practice, practice, practice. The leaf it was sitting on was ever so gently blowing in the breeze and throught the lense it was moving about 10 feet. I'm not making excusus, simply explaining what i think happened.
Again, I really appreciate all your feedback and certainly will take it on board as my aim is to improve, but also keep my own style at the same time.
And NO.....I am not SIMON. Not sure what makes you think this is a self portrait or why it's funny to you. But your feedback is very valid.