New to photography! Some C&C would be nice (pics) :)

[Pillbug]

First post! I'm new to photography and to this forum as well. I picked up my Nikon several weeks ago and here are some recent shots from my California vacation! Some criticism/comments would be greatly appreciated

1.
DSC_0468

2.
DSC_0444

3.
DSC_0482

4.
DSC_0243-2

 

[PJL]

I really like your composition ideas. The cactus picture is the weakest of them for me, and the last picture needs to be leveled.

 

[manaheim]

It's funny that 3 of your 4 pictures are the same general subject that everyone does when they are new.

That said, your compositions are generally WAY better than anyone does when they are new.

Too much to comment on (try to post 1 at a time), but in general you appear to have a decent eye, so keep at it and you'll likely do really well with it.

 

[KmH]

They turned out OK, save some details. Please update your profile by choosing one of the 2 photo edit options. Notice in PJL's and my profiles it says: My Photos Are OK to Edit

I hate it when photos are hosted on Flickr.

If anyone wants to look at the EXIF data they can't just right click on the photo here at TPF and see the data. They have to leave TPF and go to Flickr to see the EXIF information.

For someone new to photography, you're either using some advanced techniques or an automatic shooting mode. I wanted to look at the EXIF to see what shooting modes and metering modes were used, but I won't go back and forth from here to Flickr to do so.

#1 needs to be cropped so there is less sky and give the scene more of a panoramic feel.

#2 would have worked better if the camera had been in the vertical orientation. The horizontal shot has to much, not adding anything to the photo, negative space on the right.

#3 would also benefit from cropping some off the top, and I recommend cloning out the bright, distracting, speed limit sign.

#4 has that bright highlight on the right edge of the photo. You might crop the right side just enough to lose it.

 

[Pillbug]

Ok, I updated the photo edit options on my profile now. Since you don't recommend hosting photos on Flickr, where should I host them?

I shot all my photos in manual mode.

Thanks for all the comments on my photos! I really enjoyed reading them and it helped me see various flaws in my photos that I didn't see before. I'm trying the cropping advice and I can see how it's benefiting my photos! I don't know how to clone out the sign, however. I've got a lot to learn!