Ready for some C + C

[shari626]

I have been lurking here for quite some time. I am not a professional photographer, nor do I aspire to be. I just want to learn to take better pics. When I wanted to learn how to use a DSLR I bought a used Nikon d70 and took a few photography classes. I love using a dslr and always shoot in manual mode. I have read Understanding Exposure, and various other photography books. It's very hard to remember all those things and get the shot at the time. I do rely on photo shop too much to fix my shooting mistakes. I volunteer to take photos for my kids swim teams, and post them on websites for the kids and parents to view and purchase. While they love the photos, I know that I am nothing compared to real photographers. I guess that's why I only volunteer! I have purchased a used Nikon d5000 with a 55-200mm lens 1.4 - 5.6. I haven't purchased any other lenses for my "new" camera - my old ones aren't compatible with this camera. I wanted to get some C+C on some photos I took over the summer. They are nothing special ~ and I feel a tad dark. What did I do wrong?

Here goes....

1

2

3

 

[Malone]

Good exposure on these photos, but may be a flat tonal range and a tad over saturated on 2 & 3. The background blur on the 2nd and 3rd is nice. First photo I like the different textures in the water.

3rd photo, I would like better if it the flower in focus wasn't directly in front of the OOF flowers. Also, the bottom right side, you could clone out the odd piece of cut off flower.

 

[shari626]

Good exposure on these photos, but may be a flat tonal range and a tad over saturated on 2 & 3. The background blur on the 2nd and 3rd is nice. First photo I like the different textures in the water.

3rd photo, I would like better if it the flower in focus wasn't directly in front of the OOF flowers. Also, the bottom right side, you could clone out the odd piece of cut off flower.

Thank you! How do I avoid flat tonal range? I also didn't even notice the piece of cut off flower. Thank you for instructing me.

 

[Malone]

Here is a great post to read over -

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/photography-beginners-forum-photo-gallery/250806-c-c-por-favor.html

Quick edit I did adjusting the contrast and saturation a bit -

 

[Ron Evers]

I would have shot #2 in portrait or cropped it that way.

 

[Kbarredo]

I would have shot #2 in portrait or cropped it that way.

what and have derrel jump on his ass.

 

[shari626]

Thank you! I have learned so much by reading your C+C on others photos. I just picked a few of mine that I liked, but didn't seem right to me. Just trying to improve.

Thanks again.

 

[Gaerek]

what and have derrel jump on his ass.

And this shows you really haven't been listening. I won't speak for Derrel, but I do know he's been talking a lot about shooting vertical subjects in portrait and horizontal subjects in landscape. Pay attention before you try to make an ad hominem attack on someone!

 

[The_Traveler]

but may be a flat tonal range and a tad over saturated on 2 & 3.

3rd photo, I would like better if it the flower in focus wasn't directly in front of the OOF flowers. Also, the bottom right side, you could clone out the odd piece of cut off flower.

two good responses that the OP should take to heart. The flat tonal range was covered extensively in the link Malone gave you in his next post.
If the two oof flowers were off to teh left, they would have lent some balance to the in-focus flower and justified the horizontal picture. As it is, there's a lot of empty space on the left.


But, surprisingly good start.

I always suggest that people trying to learn composition stay away from flowers or children, things that are attractive in themselves or for which you have a personal feeling. For your 'learning' shots concentrate on finding interesting compositions in the world around you and practice capturing them.

Lew

 

[Kbarredo]

what and have derrel jump on his ass.

And this shows you really haven't been listening. I won't speak for Derrel, but I do know he's been talking a lot about shooting vertical subjects in portrait and horizontal subjects in landscape. Pay attention before you try to make an ad hominem attack on someone!

oh look one of his goons.

 

[Gaerek]

oh look one of his goons.

I disagree with Derrel as much as I agree with him. You however, completely misrepresented and attacked him and brought him up in a thread (trying to derail it) he hadn't ever posted in. Who's the goon again?

 

[thompssc]

They all seem a bit dark to me. For the flower shots you could use a slower shutter speed, since I doubt you can open up your aperture much more. Or increase ISO. For the swimmer you probably don't want to use too slow of a shutter speed so you can capture the action, so I'd bump up the ISO or maybe open up a tad. Also for the swimmer, I'd try to time it so that you catch them when they come up for air with their head above the water and are looking straight ahead. You always want faces. This one is a little awkward because their face is under the water and all you can see are their goggles and cap, really.

 

[shari626]

They all seem a bit dark to me. For the flower shots you could use a slower shutter speed, since I doubt you can open up your aperture much more. Or increase ISO. For the swimmer you probably don't want to use too slow of a shutter speed so you can capture the action, so I'd bump up the ISO or maybe open up a tad. Also for the swimmer, I'd try to time it so that you catch them when they come up for air with their head above the water and are looking straight ahead. You always want faces. This one is a little awkward because their face is under the water and all you can see are their goggles and cap, really.

I knew they were dark. Thank you for the advice on how to avoid that in the future. As for my swimmer picture - I have thousands of pictures of all of the kids swimming. All with faces. I liked this one because it was underwater, and I just liked it. Can't really say why. I have so many with the faces showing such emotion and dripping wet - I liked when I saw something different. Just my feeling on that one.

Thanks everyone for advice to improve, I really appreciate it.