These are my very best photos. Where do I go from here?

bleeblu · Jul 1, 2012

I feel like I've progressed very well since starting photography in October of last year, however, these last few weeks I've been in a standstill. What should I start learning from here? What can I improve on?

Seafood Diet by Mark Harless, on Flickr

The Ease of Falling by Mark Harless, on Flickr

I Don't Have To Exist Outside This Place by Mark Harless, on Flickr

The Earth and The Sky by Mark Harless, on Flickr

Murphy's Law by Mark Harless, on Flickr

Teaching You To Fly by Mark Harless, on Flickr

Within the Confines of My Mind by Mark Harless, on Flickr

Continuity by Mark Harless, on Flickr

I had a visitor fly in early in the morning. She told me that the one I've been worrying about is going to be okay. by Mark Harless, on Flickr

Unself Portrait by Mark Harless, on Flickr

Daydream by Mark Harless, on Flickr

dxqcanada · Jul 1, 2012

I would say you need to perfect these images.
The concepts are very interesting ... but in most of these you have ignorned the entire scene ... backgrounds are weak in comparision to what is going on with the human subjects.

Right now most of them are interesting/different ... but I feel a little let down.

bleeblu · Jul 1, 2012

Haha, I'm sorry. I'll try to work on that though!

dxqcanada · Jul 1, 2012

Great, I love where you are going with these ... and I think if you can get the whole thing, it will look awesome.

PhotoBrody · Jul 1, 2012

I agree with what dxqcanada said.. Interesting and creative but you're missing a lot of technical aspects. Crooked horizons, lighting, more creative editing, the one with the nude model holding the mirror - its pointed up but has a reflection as if it's pointed down, doesn't make sense. Keep up with the practice though, you are on the right track.

manaheim · Jul 1, 2012

hm... wish I was where you are with as little experience as you have... hell, I wish I was were you are with as much experience as I have now. :lol:

Whatever issues you may need to work on, you're clearly very creative. Continue to sharpen your skills and learn about how details affect your overall presentation and we'll probably be seeing you famous and be able to say we knew you when...

bleeblu · Jul 1, 2012

Ok cool. The mirror has no photoshop trickery other than erasing my camera and tripod out of it!

LizardKing · Jul 1, 2012

These are some really nice pictures. I like your creativity to find a way to express a feeling or idea. But if I were to say anything, I'd try to work mostly on composition. Not that it's bad, but it's just where I would 'go from here' if I were you. The composition on these same images and concepts can be really improved after some reading on the subject.
Anyway, keep it up! Pics are great :thumbup:

unpopular · Jul 1, 2012

I think that they're interesting, but, as I've said before, they're interesting for the sake of being interesting. I think forming some better defined conceptual themes, with your unique style, you'll have a very powerful portfolio.

Robin Usagani · Jul 1, 2012

Nice man.. im a fan.... Crazy you have only been doing this for less than a year.

chuasam · Jul 3, 2012

Great stuff. You've got your technical and conceptual. Only place to move is to develop your own style and avoid seeming like a Brooke Shaden clone.

slackercruster · Jul 3, 2012

Interesting shots.

Look up Apeture books on Amazon. Order as many of the classic togs books put out by Apeture from your library.

Keep blasting away with the new inspiration you will get from other togs.

If your a PP freak, lots of artsy PP books from the library as well.

You may wish to check out lightpainting photography. May be up your alley.

Good luck!

davisphotos · Jul 3, 2012

Pretty strong set, good concepts. I would rather see a good idea not necessarily executed as well as it could be than a 100% technically perfect shot of a boring idea. I'm loving what you are doing with the mirrors, that could be a really great conceptual series.

fjrabon · Jul 3, 2012

I felt like for a lot of these, lighting was the thing that kept them from being complete show stoppers. Really only the butterfly shot is what I would consider 'well-lit'

However, I think the issue is that for the grandiose type of outdoor shots you're trying to pull off, getting really great lighting might get $ in a hurry.

1) The lighting is I guess fine, but it also doesn't seem to be a positive either.

2) The lighting is seriously flat. Making a picture with a lot of sort of 'built in' drama and action fall flat as a visual experience.

3) I think the lighting on this one is good, but it could probably be even more enhanced.

5) is just sort of there. Not sure why this is included with the other shots.

6) light seems really flat and also cold.

7) I like the idea of the light here, you just need more. Either the shot needs to be brighter, or it needs more contrast.

8) Lighting is flat, and perhaps need more contrast as well

9) I like the lighting in this one, though it perhaps needs more contrast

10&11) again, sort of flat.

For a lot of these, the lighting wouldn't even be that bad if it wasn't that the shot was already sort of dramatic in a way that demands dramatic lighting. It's kind of like your very well developed personal style is calling for a type of lighting you're not giving it.

I think Zack Arias would be a good inspiration for the type of lighting I think your shots are searching for. And of course Joe McNally is the ultimate lighting guru for all situations. (then again, Joe McNally has more $$$ in lighting cases than even the biggest gearhead in here has in gear period. Once heard Zack Arias say he figured out that Joe had more money in cases than he had gear, and Zack was already an accomplished photographer at the time.)

And yeah, to the echo the sentiments of others, your work is amazing given the amount of time you've been doing it. You have a very strong creative base, which is probably the most difficult part to get a handle on.