"When I grow up" B&W version....

[Trever1t]

Advice has been given and ignored repeatedly for a long time now. It's one thing if the OP was putting the help offered to use but that assuredly is not the case here.... It's become a roadside horror show.

 

[Ballistics]

They're all easily fixable (some in post, some with a little bit of education).

Also, if you can fix the focus in PP - I have a few shots I would love some help on.

See the part where I said 'some in post, some with a little bit of education'?

Some of the problems, like focus, are not fixable in post. They are fixable with a little education. If you can't even be bothered to read what I write, I am gonna have a little trouble believing that you're actually looking at her photographs.

This is starting to get a little acrimonious, and part of that is me. I've said all I have to say, really, so I'm out now.

Right, and you didn't specify which one was which. I read what you wrote and shook my head the whole time. Encourage progression, not stagnation.
Education is what has taken place with the OP over a series of months. This isn't her first week of shooting. She's been here for a while.

Also, why ignore the actual argument and harp on something that is actually trivial?

 

[Ballistics]

Advice has been given and ignored repeatedly for a long time now. It's one thing if the OP was putting the help offered to use but that assuredly is not the case here.... It's become a roadside horror show.

I think the only thing to do now, is for us to ignore images posted that do not follow advice, and focus on the one's that do.

 

[cgipson1]

Advice has been given and ignored repeatedly for a long time now. It's one thing if the OP was putting the help offered to use but that assuredly is not the case here.... It's become a roadside horror show.

I think the only thing to do now, is for us to ignore images posted that do not follow advice, and focus on the one's that do.

that would be nice.. but it would require a consensus! SO it won't happen! lol! If nothing else, similar shooters, and noobs would be passing out compliments, and encouraging the current practices.

 

[Ballistics]

Advice has been given and ignored repeatedly for a long time now. It's one thing if the OP was putting the help offered to use but that assuredly is not the case here.... It's become a roadside horror show.

I think the only thing to do now, is for us to ignore images posted that do not follow advice, and focus on the one's that do.

that would be nice.. but it would require a consensus! SO it won't happen! lol! If nothing else, similar shooters, and noobs would be passing out compliments, and encouraging the current practices.

Unless someone volunteers as a mentor.

 

[Tee]

The good news- this is probably your best work. There's definitely some progress, albeit slow. I think one positive comment is her composition is getting better (before you ask me what I've been smoking, harken back to last year with her examples). I think 1 or 2 can be keepers but the exposure is a little too hot. I agree about the watermark. Perhaps tone it down so it's not a dominant part of the image?


Amolitor- what I don't think you understand is the history behind all of this.

 

[cgipson1]

I think the only thing to do now, is for us to ignore images posted that do not follow advice, and focus on the one's that do.

that would be nice.. but it would require a consensus! SO it won't happen! lol! If nothing else, similar shooters, and noobs would be passing out compliments, and encouraging the current practices.

Unless someone volunteers as a mentor.

MLeek did that for several months.. and no notable progress was made. Very frustrating for her, I'm sure!

 

[Ballistics]

that would be nice.. but it would require a consensus! SO it won't happen! lol! If nothing else, similar shooters, and noobs would be passing out compliments, and encouraging the current practices.

Unless someone volunteers as a mentor.

MLeek did that for several months.. and no notable progress was made. Very frustrating for her, I'm sure!

Maybe she's not a good teacher

 

[Trever1t]

the yardstick was too short

 

[MLeeK]

Unless someone volunteers as a mentor.

Maybe she's not a good teacher

MLeek did that for several months.. and no notable progress was made. Very frustrating for her, I'm sure!

Oh, I am not the only one. Several of us tried. I can tell you that NOW I am probably not the ideal mentor. Then? I spent time helping and explaining 7 ways 'till Tuesday.

However... I'll breathe deep and try this again... Now that I am NOT in the bottom of a wine bottle...

You are quite obviously having a hard time using all 3 elements in full manual. Why not try using the priority modes?
I believe you said you don't have the steadiest of hands, so you know you must have a shutter of about 1/250 or more. You could use shutter priority for a time and practice using good shutter speeds to accomplish what you are attempting.
Put it in Shutter Priority
Dial in 1/250 as your shutter speed.
Start at ISO 100. If your settings blink at you in the view finder you need to raise your ISO up until it stops blinking.
Then spend your time focusing on focus.
When you are seeing what you need and it is starting to have that "AH HA" effect in your head, switch.

Then put your camera in aperture priority.
Set the aperture according to what you want for DOF.
Start at ISO 100.
Watch your shutter speed. If it is under 1/250 you need to raise ISO until you get to at least 1/250.
If you can't get there stop and think about WHY and what your options are to get you there? Can you reduce your aperture? If not then you have no choice but to add light.

These aren't things that you can do for a day or a session and WHAM BAM have it all together. I am talking weeks here. Shoot in one priority mode until you are looking at your kids and you already know in your head that you are going to have to use THIS ISO or THAT shutter speed because of ___________. It could be a year. Priority modes are FINE!!! MANY photographers shoot in them almost exclusively!!!

 

[Ballistics]

I know it's not evident via text - but I was kidding MLEEK.

 

[tirediron]

At one time I thought you couldn't use another's company name? Picturesque Photography is in use, can it be used because "by Erica" is in it?
You have many other companies ahead of you, I would look for something unique and then run a search on it, you want it towards the top of the page.

Depends on where you live. Here (BC), you can't use the trade-marked portion of a name, so I couldn't set myself up in business as "Xerox Photography" since "Xerox" is a unique, trade-marked name. Since "John's Photography" is not unique, and has nothing trade-markable, there could be ten of us on the same block.

 

[tirediron]

Okay everyone... can we try and re-rail the thread? This has turned into an "The OP won't take advice" thread rather than a critique of the images.

Thanks!

 

[dxqcanada]

Ok, to me this feels like digital images that are imitating those Lomography shooters.

Out of Focus'ness can be used as a creative tool ... but in this case it is just an error in the image taking (not trivial).

 

[AMOMENT]

If they're blurry and noisy, why post them? I can see that you're trying, but you're trying wayyyy too hard. Slow down _a little and think about what you're doing. Not every shot is going to be a winner. I'd like to set a challenge for you. Tomorrow, spend the day shooting, but don't take any people pictures. Not one! Shoot anything but, and for Monday post your two best images from that exercise. Remember to think before you click... Is the focus right? DoF adequate? Shutter-speed suitable? Am I metering for optimal exposure?

If you go back in time I tried this same exercise once. She doesn't like to shoot inanimate objects and throws the lesson out the window because its no fun.

Mleek =( Why would you say that? I have so many still life shoots. I even posted a bunch on here......everytime someone recommended it, I did it and reposted it....