Tuscan Beauty - C&C PLEASE!!!

[istaycrisp]

Hi All,

Here's a few shots from my amazing trip to Tuscany, such a beautiful place...a photographers dream! It left me wishing that I had better equipment and a lot more know-how, but was still brilliant to photograph there! Obviously there are quite a few shots on here but there are hundreds that I would love to share!! Any comments would be greatly appreciated!

1)

2)

3)

4)

5)

6)

 

[Patrice]

#1: Vertical, fill light, include her hands, more girl and less background.
#2 and #3: polarizer filter.
#4: higher iso, better focus.
#5 and #6: a bit more saturation.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

How do I say what I want to say without sounding like an as*hole?

Please don't share the hundreds of photos! There, I've said it...

Instead, go learn about the use of fill flash, reflectors, etc. Either that or grow some rhino skin, keep on posting and learn from what you are being told. Those are better than your "photos from an airplane." But not by much.

Only #5 interests me. It is a funky point of view. But the PP is as lifeless here as in the rest of them and it is kind of sad considering how vibrantly alive Italy is.

 

[istaycrisp]

Hi Cloudwalker,

I literally decided to pursue photography as a hobby this month and firstly joined the forum solely for reading material, I then spotted the 'Beginners Forum' and thought that I would upload some photos. I am well aware that I'm not taking anything like 'good' shots but thought that along with demolishing articles and books on photography this might be a good place to learn. I am working with a Samsung Point and Shoot which allows me very little control and haven't use any PP at all which would explain why it is lifeless. Believe me when I say that I appreciate the C&C I have gotten so far, and I do not expect people to tell me that I am great when I am clearly not, but I feel that your feedback is almost mocking me rather than providing anything constructive. If this forum is exclusively for people at a far higher level than myself then that's fine, but possibly the 'Beginners Forum' should be renamed. I will however take on board the advice on Fill Flash and Reflectors. If I have taken your post completely the wrong way I apologise that's just the way I read it...

 

[johnh2005]

Hi Cloudwalker,

I literally decided to pursue photography as a hobby this month and firstly joined the forum solely for reading material, I then spotted the 'Beginners Forum' and thought that I would upload some photos. I am well aware that I'm not taking anything like 'good' shots but thought that along with demolishing articles and books on photography this might be a good place to learn. I am working with a Samsung Point and Shoot which allows me very little control and haven't use any PP at all which would explain why it is lifeless. Believe me when I say that I appreciate the C&C I have gotten so far, and I do not expect people to tell me that I am great when I am clearly not, but I feel that your feedback is almost mocking me rather than providing anything constructive. If this forum is exclusively for people at a far higher level than myself then that's fine, but possibly the 'Beginners Forum' should be renamed. I will however take on board the advice on Fill Flash and Reflectors. If I have taken your post completely the wrong way I apologise that's just the way I read it...

I think basically what he is saying, is that posting a ton of pics for us to C&C without really taking any time in between to apply any of the learning that you have done between shots to soak into your shots. I came here a while back blasted the forums with a bunch of shots. Learned what I could from the C&C and have only posted my own shots once or twice since then.

Take time between posting any of your photos. Learn AND apply the C&C you have received on previous posts. Only choose one or two of your very best shots to post. Take the time to say what you have learned about the shots that you have had C&C'ed and applied toward the current images. Then state what you think you could have done better and ask HOW you could have done it.

For instance I will play your role in this made up scenario:

I was out the other day and I captured this image:

From what you guys have told me here I went out into a place that I thought was interesting. I shot this in landscape mode and forgot that for portraits I probably should have shot a portrait in portrait mode. However, I did find some nice open shade away from the dappled sunlight. I tried to use some leading lines with the road but it just did not seem to work for me. I took the time to edit it and this is what I came up with:

I cropped it into a vertical (portrait) and I brightened her up and darkened the background some. What else could I do to salvage this shot?

Thanks for your help guys.
/end roleplay

Now, with something like that people are able to focus on one (or two images) to really help you get better and make more of your shots "count"

Just my personal opinion on the matter at hand.

 

[The_Traveler]

I'm happy you're staying crisp - whatever that means,

a) No this forum isn't for advanced people but you need to at least read only a few of the posts to see that you should
1) post one or two of pictures that you like the best and tell us why you think they are good.
2) tell us what you were thinking when you took the shot and why you took it.

b) These may be your first pictures but, if you want to actually be a hobbyist, you need to do some work at this.
Learn the vocabulary and you will also learn some of the basic issues in photography.
Find free picture editing tools on the web and try using them.
Make an effort before blurting out your pictures and expecting some help - at this point you don't know enough to really profit from any C/C you get.

 

[johnh2005]

Yeah, what the traveler said. :hug::

And yeah, I know my edit sucks. I suck at PP. However, this is something that some one else new to PP might come up with as well =) So it was just illustrative. You can C&C the edit as if the OP posted it. It won't hurt my butt any!

 

[cameleon]

OP, I like #3 and #5. I see what u were trying to do with the roof shot. Perhaps move the cam more to the right to take out strip of white roofing, and it would look decent.

I like the way u shot the field in #3.

The pics with the girl in it are confusing? Not sure what ur focus is? The girl, or the background?

Pick a subject and go from there.

Keep shooting.... And being shot down.... It's the best way to learn

 

[Derrel]

I'm happy you're staying crisp - whatever that means

HE'S FROM THE UK, oh great and wise world traveler...

IN the UK crisp means:

• 1
  crisp food is firm in a pleasant way and makes a noise when you bite itThe bacon should be crisp and brown.
  
  a crisp apple/carrot
  
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of crisp
  
  
• 2
  crisp cloth or paper is smooth, clean, and freshHe put on a crisp white shirt.
  
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of crisp
  
  
• 3
  crisp weather is pleasant because it is cold and drya crisp spring day
  
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of crisp
  
  
• 4
  crisp speech or writing is clear and effectiveHer reply was crisp and unemotional.
  
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of crisp
  
  
• 5
  a crisp movement is quick and accuratea crisp backhand volley
  
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of crisp
  
  

 

[istaycrisp]

Thanks for that guys! Very constructive! I'd consider the shots uploaded this week to be my first attempts and I have learnt so much. From reading books and articles etc. I am getting the science and the theory but the books cannot tell me whether or not I have executed it properly, which is where you guys come in! There will be a gap between my next shots now as I have a lot of things that I want to experiment with using new knowledge, and I now feel that I know just enough to C&C my own shots a little which will allow me to have a go at fixing problems with PP. I will keep posting though as having your shots ripped apart on here is far more constructive than A) Me just convincing myself that they're amazing and perfect or B) Family and friends that are not interested in photography telling me I'm fantastic due to lack of knowledge! As I'm taking my next batch I will no doubt be thinking 'right what will the forum guys pick up on in this shot' which will inevitably result in improvement!

So Thanks Again.

 

[LaFoto]

Heya, istaycrisp, don't let them discourage you. You ARE in the Beginners' Forum, and you say that your kind of camera is limiting you, so everyone who replies should keep both in mind. Plus I assume you had taken these photos of your holidays in Tuscany earlier than you ever came to read any of anyone's critisisms here, right? So they already existed before you first came, and you just decided: "I'll dare put those out for them to comment", right?

I cannot help but tell you that also I can't but think: "He's still got a LOT to learn and a LONG way to go" when I look at these. They present the most classical mistakes of beginners to the hobby with limiting equipment (or beginners with better equipment who make the same mistakes, mind you!)

The first is: all these are horizontal shots. Your girlfriend, however, is nicely slim. Which makes her a vertical subject ... so when you frame her in the future, remember: turn your camera by 90 degrees and make her fit into your frame. If SHE is the subject, she should actually be presented as such, and not as just one element among all that happens or is there in the background.

That Samsung of yours ... is it basically "Auto only"? Or can you switch to a P-mode (which would offer you some more opportunity to actively control some of your settings), or even an M-mode where you have total control over your settings? If it is primarily "Auto only", and assuming you really want to get into photography, you will very soon begin to feel the limitations your camera is giving you, and you'll grow out of it in no time, wishing for a camera with offers you to take control yourself.

So once you'd be able to change the aperture, you could separate your subject (girl-friend, who you form now on will only photograph by not cutting her in half, or cutting her feet off, or her hands etc, as you'll turn the camera around) from the background by getting her into focus and the background out of focus. Then she'd no longer be just one element among many, but THE subject.

What you will now learn through your first photo is that it sometimes makes sense to activate the flash even when the auto settings wouldn't do so, just so you can add some light to your subject (girl-friend) when she's in the deep shade, with the sun brightening the entire background. Next time you take her photo and place her in the shade so she doesn't squint, you a) ask her to remove her sunglasses (always nicer unless you do a shoot for a sunglasses producer) and b) you use the flash to brighten her face. I somehow believe that even your camera has that option of CHOOSING when it's meant to flash and when not.

However, try to avoid making use of the inbuilt flash when it is dark out and the camera decides that from now on flash is required. The little flashes of those small cameras don't reach very far, and you'll only end up with unbalanced snapshots like the one you're showing us here. For your camera there may well be situations when you no longer can take any good photos. You either capture those moments for your own albums, as moments are fleeting and you might want to hold on to some, but then you must be aware that it is just for you, but will never be "good photography", or you leave it all together. Sorry to be so harsh, but for as long as you are thus limited by the equipment you have, this simply is the case.

Your landscapes are quite nice, I must say, though with a camera as small as yours, and a lens that doesn't really allow for any filters, you'll have to put up with washed-out skies and clouds and blown parts: the little sensor simply doesn't allow for any subtler graduations and the compact cameras tend to blow the skies, try as you might, they simply do that.

But I quite much appreciate you use of lines and direction (adding depth) in your photo of the vineyard, and I do like the quality of green in that one!
I also quite like the shadows in the other landscape.

Hope this helped some.
Keep in mind: you are restricted with that little camera, but if this is what you have at present, use it where and when you can, and try to figure out how far you can manually control your settings.

 

[c.cloudwalker]

Yeah, johnh2005 almost got it.

By drowning us in hundreds of shots that do not show any improvements or even signs that you are listening to what you are being told, you will turn people off. Well, you will turn me off anyway. If you were to post a whole bunch of shots of Italy now there would be no improvement to be seen. And if there was, we would be wondering why you showed us the bad ones first.

Believe me, you don't need to post your own photos to learn. Read any C&C thread and you will learn.

One thing a lot of newbies seem to have a problem with is self editing. We don't need to see every photo you have shot unless they are absolutely fabulous. When they are, we will be more than happy to visit a linked gallery.

By the way, you seem to have the right attitude, just grow thicker skin. Some responses will seem harsh (as mine can be understood on re-reading) because of the way we present what we say, or because we rush through the answer, or whatever and some will just be harsh but you can learn here if you can just look at this aspect of it as just the way it is on forums. At least forums like this one.

 

[The_Traveler]

oh great and wise world traveler...

Finally, the proper way to address me.
Not really necessary in informal conversation but appreciated nonetheless.
In token of this appreciation I have sent you a large economy size Midol that will, I hope, prevent a snippy occurrence next month.

 

[istaycrisp]

Hi LaFoto, and thanks for your input. You are correct in assuming that I had taken these shots before I had read any books/articles or C&C from this site. In truth mid-way through the holiday is when I decided that I was enjoying taking photographs and upon arriving home would start looking into making it a hobby. I had no clue on what I was doing, why I was doing it, and even if they were good shots or not, I guess I just got over excited with the forum and scoured my computer for as many photos as I could find to upload. Even after a few weeks my knowledge is far greater and to be honest I am really enjoying the learning process.

Regarding my camera it does have a P-Mode which allows me slight control over ISO, EV, White Balance, and yes I can activate the flash as and when I need to. I cannot directly control aperture or shutter speed but I can cheat a little to get certain desired effects, for instance to get the bokeh effect you spoke of I can put it into 'Portrait Mode' which results in a wider aperture. I can also use 'Night Mode' which does allow me to select aperture and shutter speed but obviously using this in good light results in shots that are way too bright! So yes my equipment is going to limit me very quickly but if I behave who knows what I may get for my birthday in a few months I'm looking at possibly a Nikon d50/d70 as a possible entry level DSLR but I do think there's a lot more I can learn yet with my current camera such as composition etc. Your feedback was in no way harsh and I enjoyed reading it. Thanks again!

 

[istaycrisp]

Hi cloudwalker,

Thanks for taking the time to get back to me, as I confessed to LaFoto these shots were taken before I began to gather any knowledge at all and I admit that I've gotten a little over excited and uploaded shots for the sake of uploading shots. I can totally understand that this is frustrating for you guys as it must seem to you that I'm either totally disregarding your comments or that I'm a complete moron and will be forever taking crap shots anyway. In truth I haven't taken any shots since doing some research and learning so I can swear to you now that 1) I won't post anymore shots from the laptop hard drive and 2) when I do next post shots there will be definite signs of improvement. I apologise if it seems I went on the defensive previously but appreciate that you have returned and posted again...and thanks for the comment on my attitude, I'll work on the old rhino skin a bit more as well!