Stan the Man
Adventurer
Thanks Brian. I read an article stating that photography actually increases stress. I don't remember if it was posted on her or another board.
What's the Trick to getting Good Shots?
- Thread starter Stan the Man
- Start date
Thanks Brian. I read an article stating that photography actually increases stress. I don't remember if it was posted on her or another board.
Stan the Man
Adventurer
Alright guys, here's a little update. Over the past month, I've been trying real hard to better at my shooting. I've read some books, studied pictures from you all and others, and got out and shot. I have A LOT of pictures of my girlfriend, but thats because she's easy to shoot (err... I should say photograph). I've quick worrying about the settings, the colors, the exposure, etc., and I've just shot. Pictured in my head what I want and what I didn't and shot both.
I'll tell you what, a lot of the images didn't please me. But some did and I'm happy with that. :victory:
Please leave me with comments, feedback, anything.
I'll tell you what, a lot of the images didn't please me. But some did and I'm happy with that. :victory:
Please leave me with comments, feedback, anything.
Stan the Man
Adventurer
Anything?
nwoods
Expedition Leader
The bridge kissing shot is pretty cool. For me, of the photos you've posted, that is the only that that tells a story or has a compelling aspect to it. I know nothing about flash photography, so can't offer any help there. With the other photos, I would recommend shooting more towards the corners of the day, when the the light is at sharper angles. The flat overhead lighting is not helping you. You might also try taking more detail oriented shots. Zoom in, find a component of the scene you are looking at that tells the story by itself.
Also, a lot of yours shots are of people (feel free to post more of your GF
. I like looking through the images on POTN to see what others are doing. I learn alot from just browsing, but what I like, and what I do NOT like. Here is one thread on People: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=26 (you might need to register, not sure?)
Also, a lot of yours shots are of people (feel free to post more of your GF
. I like looking through the images on POTN to see what others are doing. I learn alot from just browsing, but what I like, and what I do NOT like. Here is one thread on People: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=26 (you might need to register, not sure?)
Stan the Man
Adventurer
The bridge kissing shot is pretty cool. For me, of the photos you've posted, that is the only that that tells a story or has a compelling aspect to it. I know nothing about flash photography, so can't offer any help there. With the other photos, I would recommend shooting more towards the corners of the day, when the the light is at sharper angles. The flat overhead lighting is not helping you. You might also try taking more detail oriented shots. Zoom in, find a component of the scene you are looking at that tells the story by itself.
Also, a lot of yours shots are of people (feel free to post more of your GF
Hah, thats because my assignment was "people". I'll let my lady know you want more pictures of her :sombrero:
Here's some other shots:
Feel free to browse my Flickr and add comments to the photos. I'd love to hear anything and everything.
Stan the Man
Adventurer
I'm starting to pick up the functions of the camera. Making adjustments for lighting, exposure, etc. The problem is when I'm in the field trying to get shots, I get a little anxious and forget to adjust the settings. Its a learning process though.
john101477
Photographer in the Wild
A little light reading might be in order "the Magic of Digital Nature Photography" by Rob Sheppard.
While you never have the ability in the wilds to control light, learning what you can control with your camera, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, are all important processes of learning photography. This is second only to practice, but in order to evaluate your images, you need to know why it is how it is, which brings us back to what you can control and what you can't.
While you never have the ability in the wilds to control light, learning what you can control with your camera, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, are all important processes of learning photography. This is second only to practice, but in order to evaluate your images, you need to know why it is how it is, which brings us back to what you can control and what you can't.
Stan the Man
Adventurer
Have any feedback for the couple of photos I just posted? How would you change those controllable settings to make the images better?
Photog
Explorer
The phots are a journalistic style. They have never been know for exact exposures or artistic style.
In the photos 1 & 3, it might be exactly what you want. It shows the sign and person holding it, with an angry face. If that is all you wanted to show, you could use an aperture setting (f-stop) close to 2.8. This would cause the people in the background to be out of focus. But; you may want to show the volume of people in attendance, and keeping the background in focus (as you did) with an f8-f16 aperture will do that for you.
Also: The photos do not explain what the ralley is about; something about access or education. Is it about providing free education to people that don't pay taxes? I really can't tell.
Photo 2: Buildings tend to look better when they can be kept square and vertical. A shift-type of lens (usually sold as a tilt-shift) will fix this issue. It can also be corrected a little in Photoshop. The clouds are a bit over-exposed, but not terrible, since they are not your subject.
In the photos 1 & 3, it might be exactly what you want. It shows the sign and person holding it, with an angry face. If that is all you wanted to show, you could use an aperture setting (f-stop) close to 2.8. This would cause the people in the background to be out of focus. But; you may want to show the volume of people in attendance, and keeping the background in focus (as you did) with an f8-f16 aperture will do that for you.
Also: The photos do not explain what the ralley is about; something about access or education. Is it about providing free education to people that don't pay taxes? I really can't tell.
Photo 2: Buildings tend to look better when they can be kept square and vertical. A shift-type of lens (usually sold as a tilt-shift) will fix this issue. It can also be corrected a little in Photoshop. The clouds are a bit over-exposed, but not terrible, since they are not your subject.
Dennis David
Observer
For the first shot a longer lens will also help isolating the person with the sign. For the last picture many photographers actually carry a small stool or hold the camera above their heads so that they are able to shoot over the crowd. A articulating LCD also helps.
Now that live view is becoming more popular I wish the 1D MKV came out with an articulating LCD for those of us that are under 6ft tall.
Now that live view is becoming more popular I wish the 1D MKV came out with an articulating LCD for those of us that are under 6ft tall.
Stan the Man
Adventurer
Thank you. What would have been a good way to show what the rally was about? Am I supposed to show that all in one picture or in a series of photos?
I'm 6'7" and that was taken from my eye level. I saw a couple of people do that, but thats because they were much shorter and it didn't strike me that I should have done it too.
Dennis David
Observer
I'm 5'8" so have no choice.
Photog
Explorer
Sometimes it takes a series of photos. Maybe one of the signs being waved has enough info to know what is going on. Get a good view of that sign, as part of your series. Capture the mood, by the facial expressions. Don't do like the big media - create the mood they want to report on.
john101477
Photographer in the Wild
The only thing I can thing of would be what photog said about playing with the aperture. I also have a hard time with the journalistic approach, but knowing your camera and it's capabilities is important in learning your trade. Having an "eye" for photography is about 40% instruction and 60% practice. maybe a little more in the practice.
IMO in the first image, the main subject could have been super sharp and the people behind could have been a little fuzzy. Making an effort to learn the "rules" of photography is a good way to learn composition. rule of thirds, rule of leading lines, etc etc.
IMO in the first image, the main subject could have been super sharp and the people behind could have been a little fuzzy. Making an effort to learn the "rules" of photography is a good way to learn composition. rule of thirds, rule of leading lines, etc etc.
Photog
Explorer
There is an old photo-journalistic saying from the days of the Graflex cameras.
"f8 & be there".
The idea was to set the aperture at f8, and place yourself at the right place, and wait for the right time. f8 would provide enough depth of field to allow for being slightly off on the focus. Photojournalism is typically for newspapers and weekly magazines (not National Geographic, Pop Photo, etc.).
Good photojournalism is attained by being at the right place, at the right time, and getting a photo or set of photos that can enhance the story being printed.
If that is what you want to do, keep practicing.
If that is not waht you want to do, work on a different type of photography.
"f8 & be there".
The idea was to set the aperture at f8, and place yourself at the right place, and wait for the right time. f8 would provide enough depth of field to allow for being slightly off on the focus. Photojournalism is typically for newspapers and weekly magazines (not National Geographic, Pop Photo, etc.).
Good photojournalism is attained by being at the right place, at the right time, and getting a photo or set of photos that can enhance the story being printed.
If that is what you want to do, keep practicing.
If that is not waht you want to do, work on a different type of photography.