Some Of My Amatuer Photographs - I would appreciate some feedback! Thanks

hey, why that angry smiley?
ok, i'll start with the bad news: the pictures are not really great
and the good news: you have great models + interesting settings.
so i think you should take advantage of this and keep on trying!
whatever you do, don't give up:)

well, about the first one : the effect u used is not appropriate for this king of pictures with persons (especially if it's a nice looking person in a sunny day) - u should try it on more abstract objects..

the second : keep playing with the camera options until you find the right settings.. although the ideea and perspective are good, the technique is not that brilliant. maybe you moved the camera at the wrong moment, because the image is not clear.

the third: this is better, except you should have tried a closer perspective or a flash, the face details are not very clear becase of the palm tree shade

good luck!!

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

I believe your photographs are good enough to be MODIFIED. Because most professional photographs that I see from professionals they seem to have take a raw picture and modified it with a picture editing software such as Photoshop. Making the picture more polished and unique. Some options you can try to edit the ones you have is an angle change in photoshop or cropping does wonders too...

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Teachers are good, but the way to learn is making lots of photos.
The second one is fantastic !

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Yes, i have to agree with Cassandra, I don't think amateur means bad. I consider my work amateur and if I posted a pic asking you all to say what they think I would certainly not want people refraining from any criticism because I'm an amateur. These are pictures that you could perhaps positively pass comment on, but it would be not for their photographic merits. That said, I don't actually believe that was the purpose of them when took. I think the reason why it was said they were touristy is because they look like fun snapshots taken while on holiday. Perhaps they have memories, or perhaps they are just particularly flattering, either way, but these aren't things that we (we being the collective people of a photography forum) can pass comment on, especially as light of the fact that Lilmizkat did not give any background behind the pics.




I definitely agree that Photoshop filters have been used and abused. THAT SAID, i don't think you can completely disregard any form of post production on a photograph. I mean, when done well you don't even notice. Obviously the best thing is to try and do it right when you take the photograph. But I definitely digitally alter photographs to compensate for lack of features on my current digital camera. When I get enough money I am certainly buying a digital SLR (I have my greedy eyes set on a Nikon D200) but until then...the only option of depth of field is through Photoshop. Not the best...but it does suffice. There are many other things you can do in post that are really creative and interesting things you can do in post-production and I don't believe you can complete discount using any of these, especially in lieu of all the many possibilities the digital revolution has enabled. Actually, that would make quite a good thread topic...What are the creative possibilities of digital alteration, what are examples that people have done in post that are effective but don't go over the top. I think that is key, not to go over the top.

Filters are something that I think are quite addictive when you first start to use photo programs. Or maybe that was just me but either way, they can be used to create a desired effect. Halftone can be used to create a comic book or newsprint effect...like the covers of those old pulp fictions. Or diffuse glow can be used to give things a very ghost like effect. I am unsure what effect the filter Lilmizkat used on that photo (like paint daubs or something??) has, perhaps it wasn't best for that photo. I don't know, I'm honestly struggling to think of a photograph where that filter would be particularly appropriate. I must say, I'm not terribly fond of filters. It's not...really...art. I guess you're just telling the program to do it for you. I think when you alter areas personally the results are more interesting, and definitely more original.

But I definitely agree with Bangalore that composition is extremely important. Ultimately, whether or not you use a compact digital camera or not, the composition is what makes it good. I actually think the composition of the first photograph is good, and quite nicely follows from what Bangalore suggested, that a subject placed in the centre conveys balance, something pleasant and not threatening. The composition of the other two are not as good, both needing to be cropped. The 2nd one cropped at the bottom, and the 3rd definitely having to much space at the top, as well as the sides to be honest. It's also not very good that the shadow falls directly over her face. Anyway, that's my two cents

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)

Come to think of it, I have been playing around with a bit of photography these days. But I am having serious trouble with the composition.

I know that to have manual controls is of flexibility and that brings out a good photograph. But, at present, I have access to only digicams, and that too the simple ones. That means I have to do about with the auto features of those with very little other controls to play with. But, what I think, I can play with is the composition.

Looking at the three photograhs attached, the same thing came to my mind. I mean, in terms of light and dark, or the exposure and colour levels, they all are pretty decent. But what makes it look good or not was the underlying composition. Though, it does not seem like much in the output, it does make or break the photograph.

That means, I got a lot of work to do on composition. Other than what 'banglore' has provided, does anyone around here know somelinks that can help me with this. Links that would lead me to pages on photograph composition - not the general photography site. (OK, I am a bit lazy to look around, but if you already have links, that would greatly help).

Comment/Reply (w/o sign-up)