Soooo confused

[lj4bes]

Thankyou Gary, I will focus on one lens for awhile, although I like to shoot landscapes mostly and I don't think my 50 mm will be good. So my question should I invest in a new lens, or stay with and learn more with my 55-250?? Yes in that photo I did mean to get shadows. I also took one without shadow. Do you think the shadow ruins it.?

 

[Designer]

Do you think the shadow ruins it.?

I would like to see the one without the shadows. They are distracting.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

That's a nice photo. Keep in mind that with photography, you're portraying your own angle of vision. Maybe in that photo you could have left out the fence and instead included more sky. Do you know about the "rule if thirds"?

 

[Gary A.]

I really appreciate that the shadows were on purpose. The shadows sorta make the image 'imperfect' ... but as it was intentional ... that adds a lot of meaning and storyline. I also like that your horizons are nicely squared off and not tilted.

I first learned photography back in the film-only days, when most of us we're materialistically poor and couldn't afford the luxury of starting out with a lot of hardware. Back then you started out with a 50mm and shot the hell out it until you completely harmonize with the lens. The camera/lens combo became an extension of your hands and eyes. At some point of your harmonization, after learning the strengths and weaknesses of a particular lens, you realize what your next lens should be, where the deficiency of your kit lays. Then you start the process all over again. This methodology takes time and not as much fun as buying a ton of hardware. Hardware is fun. Once you have harmonized with your lenses, you'll previsualized the exceptional image and know exactly what focal length to grab in order to capture that previsualized image.

 

[lj4bes]

OK and wow, the parts of the pic I liked and made sure they were there, shouldn't have been.. but I get it, and yes I get the rule of thirds. Thanks for your feedback. Another question, I bought a wide angle lens but returned it for the reason everything was so far away I like to zoom in for some reason, for instance that picture. Would a wide angle lens be a good choice for that? Uggh..

 

[thereyougo!2]

Don't get too hung up on other people's opinions. Bear them in mind, but you need to learn your own style in your own way. Since you deliberately included the shadows, there must have been a reason for doing so. Explore why that was. What story were you trying to tell? You can tell a story in many ways with many lenses. Don't tell my wife this, but you can get perfectly good shots with inexpensive glass especially when stopped down as many of us landscapers do. The so called rules are merely guidelines. If you can tell a story without having to describe it to people, then you have hit a good point.

You will make mistakes - many of them. Don't fear them, embrace them. Many people try and side step them by copying others. The mistakes are important - they are a very important learning tool. Good luck and most of all the person that should enjoy your photography most of all is you.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Yes, don't at all think that I was telling you it was wrong, you did a great job. That was an example of how you could change the perspective for your audience. I was guilty of centering photos all the time and putting too much in a photo, trying to show what was in front of me and not what my vision was. I was too close minded. I keep more photos than I delete now, finally. Don't be afraid to boost colors in your photos either, think of them like paintings. Your trying to get your camera to make your vision. Do you shoot in raw?

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

Oh, and... I personally love my 50mm 1.8, play around with that 1.4 indoors for photographing people or things close to you. The f1.4 will make an amazing background. Also, if you're unaware, you can flip your lenses around so the front element is now touching the camera mount and use it as a macro lens. Try it out!

 

[vintagesnaps]

Shadows can work but you need to think about where to put them in the frame, in your composition. I've had a shadow be the subject. This to me is a little too wide, with too much space on both sides. I think this could go a number of ways - the fence and the shadow, the shadow and the orange tree that stands out to the left, etc.

Something to me looks a little off. I know it was late day but the color almost looks too saturated or... Or maybe it was the focus/depth of field. Probably losing light late day I'd try to use a smaller aperture to get shots of the entire scene - the fence, shadow, tree line - all in focus. Then as the light's going and I need to use a larger aperture (to get more light into the camera) I'd probably go with just the tree and the shadow, or part of the fence and the shadow. I find that time of day I have to work quick before the light's gone.

Try walking/roaming around a little and looking thru the viewfinder and think about where things are in the frame til you get something that looks like it will make for a good picture. Think about your vantage point and perspective.

And listen to Gary, he knows his stuff.

Now I have to say I'm not sure if I exactly pre-visualize, although that's a valid way of composing images. For me it's more like I see a shot and know that's it, that's the shot. Or not. lol That's when I don't take the shot and keep looking til I see what I know is the photo I want.

 

[lj4bes]

Yes, don't at all think that I was telling you it was wrong, you did a great job. That was an example of how you could change the perspective for your audience. I was guilty of centering photos all the time and putting too much in a photo, trying to show what was in front of me and not what my vision was. I was too close minded. I keep more photos than I delete now, finally. Don't be afraid to boost colors in your photos either, think of them like paintings. Your trying to get your camera to make your vision. Do you shoot in raw?

Oh no not at all, I appreciate the feedback that's what I need. And I will mess around wily my 50mm

 

[lj4bes]

Shadows can work but you need to think about where to put them in the frame, in your composition. I've had a shadow be the subject. This to me is a little too wide, with too much space on both sides. I think this could go a number of ways - the fence and the shadow, the shadow and the orange tree that stands out to the left, etc.

Something to me looks a little off. I know it was late day but the color almost looks too saturated or... Or maybe it was the focus/depth of field. Probably losing light late day I'd try to use a smaller aperture to get shots of the entire scene - the fence, shadow, tree line - all in focus. Then as the light's going and I need to use a larger aperture (to get more light into the camera) I'd probably go with just the tree and the shadow, or part of the fence and the shadow. I find that time of day I have to work quick before the light's gone.

Try walking/roaming around a little and looking thru the viewfinder and think about where things are in the frame til you get something that looks like it will make for a good picture. Think about your vantage point and perspective.

And listen to Gary, he knows his stuff.

Now I have to say I'm not sure if I exactly pre-visualize, although that's a valid way of composing images. For me it's more like I see a shot and know that's it, that's the shot. Or not. lol That's when I don't take the shot and keep looking til I see what I know is the photo I want.

OK that all sounds good. Thanks for all the info.. And I'm sure Gary knows his stuff, I like hearing all everybody has to say..

 

[lj4bes]

Do you think the shadow ruins it.?

I would like to see the one without the shadows. They are distracting.

This one's from a different angle, let me know what you think

 

[lj4bes]

Don't get too hung up on other people's opinions. Bear them in mind, but you need to learn your own style in your own way. Since you deliberately included the shadows, there must have been a reason for doing so. Explore why that was. What story were you trying to tell? You can tell a story in many ways with many lenses. Don't tell my wife this, but you can get perfectly good shots with inexpensive glass especially when stopped down as many of us landscapers do. The so called rules are merely guidelines. If you can tell a story without having to describe it to people, then you have hit a good point.

You will make mistakes - many of them. Don't fear them, embrace them. Many people try and side step them by copying others. The mistakes are important - they are a very important learning tool. Good luck and most of all the person that should enjoy your photography most of all is you.

Thankyou for all that, sounds like very good advice

 

[vintagesnaps]

You seem to be seeing interesting subjects. The dark fence creates a somewhat odd line going across the photo, so next time walk around and think where you want that to be in the picture.

The three trees the light's hitting are to me the focal point. There's too much sky which seems to throw off the balance of the composition. I'd probably crop it down some, as well as on each side, because on the right side there's some odd bush/tree thingy sticking into the lower right corner and not doing a whole lot for your photograph. I can see why you might have found the clouds interesting, but sometimes it's a matter of figuring out what a photo is about - the sky? the three trees? I'd try to bring the viewer's attention in to what's interesting in the photo.

 

[Frank F.]

OK so I've read and read and Googled, youtubed, I thought I was learning but after just joining this forum yesterday, I feel I know soo little. So my first of many questions, I have a t6i, I was under the impression it is a full frame but had just read it is not. I have a 55-250mm lens, is that even a right lens for my (not full frame camera) ??

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It is the piano player making the music.

Equipment is overrated.

There are world famous photographers with one camera and one lens and others who have all the equipment in the world but their photos are irrelevant.

When I teach about photography I ask: "where does the light come from?" standing without cameras in the nearest art museum looking at paintings.

Try to take relevant shots. Equipment does not take photos.