I have a lot to learn!
- Thread starter XJBANKER
- Start date
XJBANKER
Explorer
The photos with Gabby are done with the nifty fifty. The star trails is a wide angle
Every Miles A Memory
Expedition Leader
I'm totally jealous of Steve having such a great model. When our daughter was younger, I wasnt into photography as I am now. I mean I was into it, but I was young and had no clue as to what I was doing.
If I had a child now, knowing what I know now, the kid would be modeling for Baby Gap and paying for my camera gear...LOL
Lost Canadian
Expedition Leader
Coming along Steve! Don't be afraid of B&W, especially with people. Peoples faces are usually one of the lighter elements in the frame. A lack of colour will help organize the eye and draw attention to those elements which are both sharper, and lighter/brighter, a good thing in the case of a portrait. If you find B&W is too cool you can always warm it up by toning the image warmer, like sepia. Nice use of fill flash in this one.
adventureduo
Dave Druck [KI6LBB]
Looking good Steve, i like the bridge shot the best too.
XJBANKER
Explorer
Ryan this one is Sarah's favorite. I was trying to get her to look up at me. I just love her eyes and can't get enough of them.
john101477
Photographer in the Wild
Nice images. I know the feeling of shooting blondes in white on a bright sunny day. Besides some small technical things and missing out on one portrait "rule" in the bridge photo they are well done. Not saying to not break the rules once in a while but remember the rules applied to nature shots are very different that the rules applied to portrait. Picking which rule to follow on an outdoor location shoot can make or break the image.
XJBANKER
Explorer
What are the rules that I missed and what are the few technical things that would have made these shots better? This is what I am trying to learn so CC would be very welcomed.
nbleak21
Adventurer
I haven't read all of the posts on this thread, as I too feel like I am needing to visit the next flower bed (or in my case, porta-potti)... TMI, I know!
But anyways, to hit on a couple of points from my brief observation, the three main improvement areas that I see are:
1. making some editing adjustments (saturation, contrast, curves, etc...)
2. Focusing points. some were out of focus.
and 3. Depth of Field. Some of the photos with the landscape in the background would be much more impressionable if the aperture were stopped down further, and judging from the looks of the amount of available light, this could easily be done w/o comprimising shutter speed.
But anyways, to hit on a couple of points from my brief observation, the three main improvement areas that I see are:
1. making some editing adjustments (saturation, contrast, curves, etc...)
2. Focusing points. some were out of focus.
and 3. Depth of Field. Some of the photos with the landscape in the background would be much more impressionable if the aperture were stopped down further, and judging from the looks of the amount of available light, this could easily be done w/o comprimising shutter speed.
Lost Canadian
Expedition Leader
Steve just keep these things in mind when you're shooting and you'll get better. Ultimately there are three things that make for good photos. The first is composition, this is simply the placing of elements withing the frame. What is an element? Well it can be anything in the frame, it's not always just a head or a rock. When taking pictures try to break everything in the frame down into shapes and tones. If you see a big bright spot in your frame, say from the sun, ask yourself how you'll balance that out with other elements in the frame. A lot of times it's as simple as placing the big bright spot opposite of another bigger bright spot, say something like a well lit face. At other times getting rid of it by simply moving is preferable. The second thing to keep in mind is the type and quality of light. Most people know it when they see it, but many people ignore it when taking pictures. Train yourself to pay attention to the light in your frame. Ask yourself, where is the light coming from, what's being illuminated by it, those types of things. Soft, even light is often prefered over hard light but this is not an absolute. As a tip, our eyes are naturally drawn to lighter areas first, so if your daughters back is a big bright spot and her face is hidden by shadow the first place most people will look to is her back. Finally the third and most powerful thing that makes for a good picture is the moment or story, sadly this is also the most difficult aspect to capture. We all know great moments when we see them but capturing them can be something far more challenging. If you can train yourself to be aware and anticipate a moment though, you'll be doing alright.
Keep at it, photography is a life long learning process.
Keep at it, photography is a life long learning process.
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john101477
Photographer in the Wild
Well said Trevor.
Being able to get a perfect exposure is only as good as the composition of the frame.
Learn the "rules" of nature and portrait photography, practice them and then knowingly pactice breaking them one at a time.
I have been lucky enough to shoot with some great photographers and learned a lot from them, but even then most of my learning has been self taught, trial and error. simple research of techniques is great only so long as you practice those techniques. also while your looking through magazines stop and think about how the photographer might have captured that image, what the concept was meant to show etc.
Some light reading that may help
Being able to get a perfect exposure is only as good as the composition of the frame.
Learn the "rules" of nature and portrait photography, practice them and then knowingly pactice breaking them one at a time.
I have been lucky enough to shoot with some great photographers and learned a lot from them, but even then most of my learning has been self taught, trial and error. simple research of techniques is great only so long as you practice those techniques. also while your looking through magazines stop and think about how the photographer might have captured that image, what the concept was meant to show etc.
Some light reading that may help
john101477
Photographer in the Wild
At least your kid sits and waits for you to get set up 