Some new photos that I took tonight while out and about. C&C Welcome. Thank You

[photo guy]

I have seen how suddenly everyone is now more polite about this. I will post some new photos after the holidays when I have a bunch more instead of just a few more.

 

[thereyougo!3]

I have seen how suddenly everyone is now more polite about this. I will post some new photos after the holidays when I have a bunch more instead of just a few more.

Good.

Before you take the photos, do some preparation.

If they are outside, scout your location in advance and plan your composition. Also look at it at the same time as you plan to shoot.

Shoot around dawn or sunset for the best colours in the sky and the best light overall. Shooting at this time will give you longer shadows which will give you better depth to your shots. You will end up with longer shooting speeds, so take your tripod and use it. I have decided against using a tripod and regretted it. I handheld a shot at 1/13 and although it was pretty sharp, it wasn't pin sharp and I had to use higher ISO than I would have had to use had I been using a tripod.

Learn your best camera inside out. Find out what controls you can use manually and learn how to use them in the most creative way.

When shooting, think about your subject. What is your subject and would what you see in your viewfinder/LCD screen be obvious to anyone as being the subject. If not, recompose and start again. You can always crop in post, but it's ALWAYS better to get it right in camera. I sometimes crop in post but I have 40mp to play with, although it's not just image size you have to consider but focus accuracy and sharpness and also perspective.

There is so much to think of before you press the shutter. Get it right and it will be very satisfying. But you will get it wrong many times before you get it right. But that is fine, that's how we all learn. And that is why when you post here, you need to have an open mind and be prepared to take it on the chin. Forums are a great resource and you do come across the odd rude person. Look beyond the rudeness to see what it is they are actually saying, sometimes there is gold beyond the screen. Take criticism personally and you will get hurt, throw up a wall and get defensive and learn nothing. Be objective with your work (which was what Bitter Jeweler was really asking you to do) and ask yourself honestly what you think of the shot if you saw it in a gallery for sale. Would you buy it? If not why not. There will nearly always be a reason why you wouldn't. Those are what you need to work on.

 

[thereyougo!3]

Oh, and don't be frightened of asking questions on here. yes you will get the odd sarcastic comment but it's better to ask when you don't know rather than act like you do when you don't have a clue. There are lots of helpful people here who will help as long as you show some signs of taking notice. One or two of them have posted in this thread. Megan in particular is incredibly helpful, and I don't know how she finds the time.

The one thing that does annoy me in this forum is when people don't ask for help, they ask for someone to do it for them rather than learn how to do it themselves. I'm always tempted to tell them to sling their hook...

 

[vtf]

Really guys, I am gone for a day or two and here we are again? Cool! I love a good knock down, dirt kicked in face, dragged down the street critigue! Carry on. :lmao: ibtl

 

[GreatPhotoRace]

Take is a step further and set up a tripod. There's no way you can keep your hands steady enough to get an image of quality. Once you can get the lights motionless, then you can worry about creativity.

 

[alejandrophoto]

I'm sure the images would nicer, if you try again on a tripod. choose a focus. Use the rule of thirds. Take a photo at something like 16" of a second. Don't let criticism discourage you just get up and keep adjusting your camera settings and trying different things. Good luck!!

 

[photo guy]

Thank you for the positive remarks alejandrophoto. I will be doing a lot of photographing this weekend. I have a family gathering today that kicks off my photos this weekend.

 

[photo guy]

Thank you GreatPhotoRace. Sometimes I do not or can not use a tripod when doing my photos depending on what I am photograping. I will try using the tripod this weekend. I know I will also try out my monopod more this weekend as it helped tons when I photographed an event in October.

 

[Crollo]

To jake337

I have a tripod and chose not to use it this time with this camera to see how it these would turn out as I don't use this camera much at night

When you are shooting at long shutter speeds there is no choice.

I went to the firing range and chose not to load my firearm with ammunition.

 

[cgipson1]

To jake337

I have a tripod and chose not to use it this time with this camera to see how it these would turn out as I don't use this camera much at night

When you are shooting at long shutter speeds there is no choice.

I went to the firing range and chose not to load my firearm with ammunition.

Bet you didn't hit any targets, either! For sure, no Bulleyes! lol!

 

[tlamour]

I will start with the next ones that I post, which won't happen until people cool off....

...but I won't post them since people don't like my fire shots.

...but won't post them since I will just get grilled about posting those types of photos.

This is just a pity party man. Do you want to improve your photography or do you want people to feel sorry for you? Your choice. You know good and well the SUBJECT MATTER of your photos is NOT why people are critical of them.

You gave photo guy a link in a previous thread. If he read it, he would know what to do to improve shooting Christmas lights. If he didn't read it, repost it for him. it was pretty informative.

 

[cgipson1]

I will start with the next ones that I post, which won't happen until people cool off....

...but I won't post them since people don't like my fire shots.

...but won't post them since I will just get grilled about posting those types of photos.

This is just a pity party man. Do you want to improve your photography or do you want people to feel sorry for you? Your choice. You know good and well the SUBJECT MATTER of your photos is NOT why people are critical of them.

You gave photo guy a link in a previous thread. If he read it, he would know what to do to improve shooting Christmas lights. If he didn't read it, repost it for him. it was pretty informative.

I couldn't find the one Bazooka posted..but I think it was the first one of these:

Strobist: How to Photograph Christmas Lights

16 Digital Photography Tips for Christmas

How to Photograph Christmas Lights and Other Holiday Events

Christmas Photography: How to Photograph Christmas Lights

How to Photograph Christmas Lights and Decorations | Beginners Photography Blog

 

[rexbobcat]

I think it's just the fact that everyone has gone out of their way to give advice, but the OP isn't keen on taking the advice. From my impression, y'all can give all of the constructive criticism y'all want, but it probably won't help. That's just my observation.

Now....

The first two are very blurry. If you used a tripod, I would highly recommend a remote shutter release to reduce shake. Also...you say that these two photos are of the same house, and you took two to show the whole house? Why not make them into a panorama? Put the photos together to create a wide photo that shows the house entirely. Photoshop has a GREAT tool for this, and there are dedicated programs for it as well.

You can also solve the "too much black space" problem with this....

You are using a lens that is too wide when you want to show the whole house. I mean, yes, you get the whole house in the picture, but it's so small that you don't really show much detail. If you make a panorama using a longer lens, then you can get the whole house in the frame while minimizing empty space.

 

[photo guy]

my cameras do not have the option for a remote shutter. Yes, it is the same house. No, I do not own Photoshop due to cost and my finances due to a slow down with work right now. I do not own large cameras. Again, I own and use a Fuji FinePix S1500 10mp w/ 12 optical and a Kodak EasyShare M530 12mp w/ 3 optical. These are not capable of remote use with them, the self timer feature is the closest with these).

 

[MTVision]

my cameras do not have the option for a remote shutter. Yes, it is the same house. No, I do not own Photoshop due to cost and my finances due to a slow down with work right now. I do not own large cameras. Again, I own and use a Fuji FinePix S1500 10mp w/ 12 optical and a Kodak EasyShare M530 12mp w/ 3 optical. These are not capable of remote use with them, the self timer feature is the closest with these).

Self timer does basically the same thing. GIMP is free and is just like photoshop. There is also PICASA (?), photoscape which are both free.