Should I have used Flash during this sunset shot?

[cheriserandle]

I took this shot a few minutes ago, but the trees came out kind of dark. I wasn't sure if i should used flash for this shot, so i just took it without flash. I read taking photos during sunset and sunrise is the best time of day. Should i have used flash because of the shadows?


Commons Building 400 by Genius Central Ink, on Flickr




I also wasn't sure about this shot because it was outdoors, but there were still lights in this hallway. It looks kind of weird but i'm not sure why.


Help by Genius Central Ink, on Flickr


And i just want general constructive criticism on this one.

Power Lines by Genius Central Ink, on Flickr

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

I wasn't sure if i should used flash for this shot, so i just took it without flash.

You should try it both ways, and see what you get. Digital film is cheap.

 

[tirediron]

I suspect you may have mis-read something. The time during the "golden light" is generally considered the best for outdoor shots. This is when the sun is low in the sky, usually just after sunrise or just before sunset. Looking at the area and dynamic range of your first image, I'm not totally sure that a flash would have done much good, but as Bitter suggests, it's cheap to try.

Your second shot might well have benefitted from the use of flash; the strong light in the background grabs the eye and takes it away from the foreground. With respect to your last image, technically it's fine, but I don't find it terribly interesting from an artistic standpoint. What was your thought/intent here?

 

[cheriserandle]

There really wasn't much artistic thought with the last photo. I just like it and wanted to take a picture of it because it was still bright in the day. I also wanted to take a picture of anything for practice.

 

[tirediron]

Fair enough.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

You should always experiment. If you wonder which way you should take a picture, take it in every way! That's how you will learn. Take shots of your subjects in both horizontal and vertical aspects.

The second image would have benefitted from this. It's actually a slightly interesting image. You are drawn to the help phone because it's close and big, but you are led to the perfectly framed car. Now the mind tries to make a connection between the two.

When posting images for critique, do some self editing and leave out pictures like the last one, that you weren't really trying for something interesting. Boring subjects presented in boring ways, make boring images. It's understandable if you were trying to do something and are asking for specific help with "test" shots, but please state what you were attempting.

 

[dakkon76]

I think for flash practice... you should go shoot that help sign in the dark and try to light up as little of the hallway as possible - focus on the help sign. If you can do some off-camera flash, having some red coming down that hallway toward you would add to the mood. The bad part is that it's vinyl siding so it's going to reflect like crazy.

 

[cheriserandle]

I think for flash practice... you should go shoot that help sign in the dark and try to light up as little of the hallway as possible - focus on the help sign. If you can do some off-camera flash, having some red coming down that hallway toward you would add to the mood. The bad part is that it's vinyl siding so it's going to reflect like crazy.

I'm not sure what you mean. Do you mean that all the lights in the hallway with the help button should be turned off? and the only light should come from my camera flash? if that's the case i can't really do that since the lights are operated by my university.

 

[cheriserandle]

The second image would have benefitted from this. It's actually a slightly interesting image. You are drawn to the help phone because it's close and big, but you are led to the perfectly framed car. Now the mind tries to make a connection between the two.

When posting images for critique, do some self editing and leave out pictures like the last one, that you weren't really trying for something interesting. Boring subjects presented in boring ways, make boring images. It's understandable if you were trying to do something and are asking for specific help with "test" shots, but please state what you were attempting.

ha, I actually never thought the vehicle in the back would be a point of interest but you are right. I actually never meant for that to happen.

I know i wasn't really trying for anything interesting with the last one at first. It's just that for some reason i was drawn to it. Don't get me wrong, it was a "practice" shot (all my pictures are for practice right now). but for some reason i really do like that shot. is it really that boring?

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

If you are "drawn" to something in that image, you really need to reach deep and find the words to explain it. You should do that for every image you look at critically. Doing so will help you learn visual language. You then apply that to photo ops that present themselves.

You want to know WHY you are clicking that shutter button, and you want to know WHAT you are trying to communicate to potential viewers when you do.

So yeah, to me that image is boring.

Have you done any reading on the net about "rule of thirds", as was suggested?

What if I gave you a project, to present 3 images strictly following the rule of thirds, and using that tool to present an interesting subject, in a manner that we don't normally see it? And be able to put into words, why you like them, why they are interesting TO YOU.


Would you accept my challenge?

 

[cheriserandle]

If you are "drawn" to something in that image, you really need to reach deep and find the words to explain it. You should do that for every image you look at critically. Doing so will help you learn visual language. You then apply that to photo ops that present themselves.

You want to know WHY you are clicking that shutter button, and you want to know WHAT you are trying to communicate to potential viewers when you do.

So yeah, to me that image is boring.

Have you done any reading on the net about "rule of thirds", as was suggested?

What if I gave you a project, to present 3 images strictly following the rule of thirds, and using that tool to present an interesting subject, in a manner that we don't normally see it? And be able to put into words, why you like them, why they are interesting TO YOU.


Would you accept my challenge?

Oh yes, i read about the rule of thirds. It's when you put the most important subject in your photo (or the most important part of the subject) near the intersections of the horizontal and vertical lines. Luckily, my camera has those lines. I tried to use the rule of thirds in the "Help" photo.

Sure, i will take the challenge. I'm only limited to my university though (i literally cannot go anywhere else because of a lack of transportation, and a fear of my camera being stolen). So, i'll try to get good shots using the rule of thirds.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Cool! Yes you did apply the RoT to the help photo, the wire towers as well.

If you feel limited by your environment, you may need to expand your mind, or maybe narrow it.

There are colors, shapes, forms, patterns, and interesting compositions all around you!

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/...eresting-things-within-10-feet-challenge.html