Please tell me what you think of my images the good and the bad.

[lljones]

Cburke I was a bit naive to think that every comment would be good, it was a bit of a blow to my ego when the first few post were negative. I will definitely take everyone's advice and apply it to my next photo shoot. BJF thanks for the information on the three rules of a good picture from NYIP I will absolutely look into that. VTF I will also take a look at those streams. Thanks again!

 

[The_Traveler]

As in any art, a good photographer must have control over her/his tools, experience, skill, talent and some degree over objectivity over her/his own work.

If you are trying to be a good photographer, you need to realize that using your child as your main subject will handicap you because you can't be objective about the photos. You won't be able to judge whether your pictures are 'good' in some real sense or good because they carry such an overwhelming emotional overlay. Even more important is that you will take what people say about the pictures much too much to heart.

Some people here will be social engineers and will compliment you on how beautiful your child is, will point out all the positive things - most of which your camera did. On the other hand, many of us don't care about the subject and don't see it as our responsibility to treat you as anything other than a responsible adult - and will tell you the truth as we see it, without any trimmings.

If you want to be a better photographer, I will be happy to say what I can about your pictures. If you want to be treated as a mommy who adores her new baby and has tender feelings, just let me know and I'll leave comments on your pictures to those who are better at social engineering than I.

Lew

 

[lljones]

It's not my baby in the picture and I was not looking for compliments on the subject. I honestly thought that these pictures were good and was proud of my work so when I received negative feedback I was discouraged. I realized that I was taking comments way to personally instead of learning from them and I know that in order to improve I have to accept negative feedback and/or constructive criticism. So I do thank you for your feedback I and your honesty.

 

[The_Traveler]

One of the very basic physiologically-driven facts is that bright objects will draw the eye.
Another is that in-focus objects will draw the eye.

In several of these pictures there are large bright, in-focus objects that inevitably draw the eye and are yet are not meant to be the center of interest. This confuses the image and makes it incoherent.

Know what you want the viewers to look at and then plan your exposures so that unimportant things don't pull the eye away or interfere.

Look at #5 for example.
the headband, the butt, the pearls, the lines in the towel - all brighter and all different than the main focus of the picture. That, along with the awkward butt in the air, head this way and down at the margin, lines pointing every which way - all this is too much for the eye-brain combination to work out, the image is incoherent and thus, imo, unsatisfactory.

What should we be looking at?
Is it well-presented?
Do other things distract or confuse?

How do the other pictures look?

 

[lljones]

Now that's constructive criticism and is more helpful to me than your first post. I see your point. There is a lot going on in this image. I thought it was cute and copied the concept from another photographer on Flickr. Here are some other ones from the same two sessions.


by Lona Lani, on Flickr




IMG_2848_2 by Lona Lani, on Flickr


Untitled by Lona Lani, on Flickr

 

[The_Traveler]

Dear Lona,

The reason my first reply was so general is that you submitted multiple pictures and I generally don't bother when people do that.

Putting up several pictures without any more information about the pictures or your abilities means that any commenter may do a lot of work on several pictures without knowing whether you know enough about photography or have enough technical knowledge to get what they are saying.

​

Pick one picture, tell me what you think is good or bad - and why , give me some details about the exposure. etc. and then I'll respond.

In other words, you need to work at this.
I can feed you bits of information every day but things will go faster if you get your mind working at this.

I suggest you read these two threads.

Giving and getting c/c

How to structure your posts to get good c/c

 

[CBURKE]

I think #1 would have been great if her face was not out of focus. It’s a great shot but looks like you have your focus point on her shoulder and not her face.


How are you hosting your pictures from Flickr?

 

[MWC2]

In the last set you posted, I like #1. It does look like the focus fell either on her shoulder or on the flower in her hair. I noticed that you are shooting at f1.6, that's a really shallow depth of field, try bumping it up a stop or two. I found myself always shooting at the lowest possible aperture for my lens but had someone tell me to try bumping it up a stop or two and my focus is sooo much better now.

Do you do any skin correction/work? It doesn't look like it, your images would greatly improve with it (baby's skin is splotchy, evening it out gives it a more pleasing look).

 

[lljones]

I need to learn about post processing I don't know anything about it which is evident in my images lol. I've been reading and I now know it's not great to shoot wide open for portraits when you want better focus. I am hosting my images on Flickr. Can you offer me some suggestion on reading for post processing I am currently using Gimp until I can afford Photoshop. Traveler I will review those threads thanks.

 

[CBURKE]

Sorry, I mean how are you useing Flickr to post your photos on here? I always have to take mine off Flickr and upload them to my Photobucket.

Watch out with getting to comfy with all this post processing stuff. Try and get your shot the best you can without thinking of what you will need to do in post processing. Like I said, number 1 was great, just need to change your AP. Keep it up!

 

[The_Traveler]

My suggestion is that you wait a bit on the Post-Processing and get the basic vocabulary of photography and composition down.
Do searches on the web for composition and basic tutorials.
Get library books - they don't have to be new on these issues.
Look at lots of pictures to try and winkle out what makes pictures good.
Once you can identify your own deficiencies, then you can start learning PPing in a directed way to address where your pictures aren't working.

Take pictures of not-beautiful subjects to work on composition and the basic mechanics of your camera.
None of this needs to take a long time, you just need the basic knowledge/experience/skills a little built up.
Right now your camera is taking the picture; it needs to be you in more control than just holding onto it.

Post pictures one at a time.
Try and isolate for the viewer what is good about the color and composition. That will do two things.
It will attract the better commenters because they see you are trying to improve and it will scare aware those who know nothing.

I will be help to say anything I can.

Lew

 

[lljones]

Thanks Lew. I will work on that. CBurke when you are on Flickr viewing a single image look above the image and there is a share button you just click on the arrow done button and select grab html/bbcode and copy and paste.