I had a few favorite shots, knew they could be better, but wasn't sure HOW to make them better. This post is to simply show what the critiques are for; keeping an open mind as the artist, and improving through putting that open mind into practice... Are the pictures perfect? Nope! Are they better because of the advice?
You decide.

Before:


AFTER:


Before:


AFTER:


Before:


AFTER (Both... Couldn't really pick):




Again, they're not perfect, but because of the honest criticism, they're better.
Thank you to all of you who handed a slice of humble pie, I appreciate it

Nice work! I love 2 and 6.

Posted by DescentOnARope Nice work! I love 2 and 6.

Thank you!

Definite improvement, #6 is my favorite.
This subject just don't got a lot going for her.
However since it's easy, try this...
Shoot again at sunrise or sunset, whichever puts it in the best light.
Shoot from any height or angle that works... take lot of shots.

Use DPP to adjust the contrast curve of the RAW if you aren't already. Play around with pic styles and other options there.
The older version 3.14 is best.

Posted by blackhawk Definite improvement, #6 is my favorite. This subject just don't got a lot going for her. However since it's easy, try this... Shoot again at sunrise or sunset, whichever puts it in the best light. Shoot from any height or angle that works... take lot of shots. Use DPP to adjust the contrast curve of the RAW if you aren't already. Play around with pic styles and other options there. The older version 3.14 is best.

Improvement was the main goal; although I can go back again and again, it's not the most exciting place, like you said. There are so many small places like that around, so I'll get those again too.

Posted by Oculus.Affectus.Foto Improvement was the main goal; although I can go back again and again, it's not the most exciting place, like you said. There are so many small places like that around, so I'll get those again too.

Abandoned industrial sites, hospitals and churches are better subjects and a lot more fun.
Houses tend to bring trouble... risk vs reward.

Posted by blackhawk Abandoned industrial sites, hospitals and churches are better subjects and a lot more fun. Houses tend to bring trouble... risk vs reward.

Totally agree; there really aren't many big places where I am though. Kinda snobbish area, unfortunately. There are 2 places north of me that I'm planning to go to, so hopefully that happens within the next few days. But, driving 2.5 hours without even being sure I can get in is kind of annoying. There's a massive town in the mountains, about 3 hours east of me, totally abandoned, but everything I have found online says that there's security at the gate and there is definitely only one road to the town, and that's where they wait... The place has a jail, school, hospital... EVERYTHING.

Posted by Oculus.Affectus.Foto Totally agree; there really aren't many big places where I am though. Kinda snobbish area, unfortunately. There are 2 places north of me that I'm planning to go to, so hopefully that happens within the next few days. But, driving 2.5 hours without even being sure I can get in is kind of annoying. There's a massive town in the mountains, about 3 hours east of me, totally abandoned, but everything I have found online says that there's security at the gate and there is definitely only one road to the town, and that's where they wait... The place has a jail, school, hospital... EVERYTHING.

Your mission:
Best to recon first, are there vehicles there you can see on sat images, if where?
Don't use the road if security is present.
Find a safe parking spot, a bike can help make miles seem like blocks.
Generally best the skirt the road if any security is present. Any rail lines near it you can use to infiltrate it?
Determine your route and predawn it.
Lay chilly for a bit once there at good observation spot and watch for activity. A good pair of tactical binoculars helps.
Proceed with caution, don't smoke, stay off your phone, and keep your eyes/ear open. Maintain noise discipline; hear them, see them first.
If so hide, evade, elude... each situation is different. Sometimes you can work around security.
Observe where they go, what they do and when.
Is there a pattern? Do they go inside buildings?
Do they only drive through? Do they lurk in areas giving them an extended view or do 'ambush' type lurking in cars or on foot?
Many times there's no or very limited security.
If spotted, bugging out is always an option if cover is good and your car is far away and not spotted.
Guard>run, cop>never unless you're sure you can escape.
Sometimes it works out better to be friendly with guards and tell them your interested in the history of the site (helps to know a lot about it).
If people get busted there all the time... run.

Do it.

The originals have better subject matter. The re-edits have more of a sense of space. Not any better or worse. Opinion

Posted by blackhawk Your mission: Best to recon first, are there vehicles there you can see on sat images, if where? Don't use the road if security is present. Find a safe parking spot, a bike can help make miles seem like blocks. Generally best the skirt the road if any security is present. Any rail lines near it you can use to infiltrate it? Determine your route and predawn it. Lay chilly for a bit once there at good observation spot and watch for activity. A good pair of tactical binoculars helps. Proceed with caution, don't smoke, stay off your phone, and keep your eyes/ear open. Maintain noise discipline; hear them, see them first. If so hide, evade, elude... each situation is different. Sometimes you can work around security. Observe where they go, what they do and when. Is there a pattern? Do they go inside buildings? Do they only drive through? Do they lurk in areas giving them an extended view or do 'ambush' type lurking in cars or on foot? Many times there's no or very limited security. If spotted, bugging out is always an option if cover is good and your car is far away and not spotted. Guard>run, cop>never unless you're sure you can escape. Sometimes it works out better to be friendly with guards and tell them your interested in the history of the site (helps to know a lot about it). If people get busted there all the time... run. Do it.

I love it; it's like I just listened to my own brain. But there's the added problems of the surrounding terrain. I WISH I COULD JUST SAY WHERE IT IS!
There is one road, and only one road that goes into this "ghost town." The 2 cars that appear via satellite are at the school, which sits on a hill over-looking that one road. So, basically, they'd see the car a mile away at least. Now, typically, that's not too far and I'd just park and make my way there/in, BUT, this has nothing to hide in/with. We're talking barren desert. It's not a dirt road, but it's a tiny little two-laner and, again, not even a tree to park behind. It looks to me as though the straight part of the road goes for at least 5 miles. I'm thinking one of two things:
1. Just say screw it; it's too far of a drive without even the honest chance of SNEAKING in.
2. Do exactly what you said, and try the pity plea with whatever guard is there. California is a big state; "I drove 7 hours just to get here because my family was from here back in the 70's and I wanted to get some pictures of the place."
OR, maybe a 3rd, and I get obnoxiously lucky, and no one is even there. Because there's no way it'll be an actual law enforcement officer of any kind. It's too barren and SB county can't afford the salary to just have one sit up there doing nothing.

Posted by Adv.Pack The originals have better subject matter. The re-edits have more of a sense of space. Not any better or worse. Opinion

Thank you, I'm definitely glad they're not worse! And the space is only because I didn't even have a wide-angle back then... Shame...

Posted by Oculus.Affectus.Foto I love it; it's like I just listened to my own brain. But there's the added problems of the surrounding terrain. I WISH I COULD JUST SAY WHERE IT IS! There is one road, and only one road that goes into this "ghost town." The 2 cars that appear via satellite are at the school, which sits on a hill over-looking that one road. So, basically, they'd see the car a mile away at least. Now, typically, that's not too far and I'd just park and make my way there/in, BUT, this has nothing to hide in/with. We're talking barren desert. It's not a dirt road, but it's a tiny little two-laner and, again, not even a tree to park behind. It looks to me as though the straight part of the road goes for at least 5 miles. I'm thinking one of two things: 1. Just say screw it; it's too far of a drive without even the honest chance of SNEAKING in. 2. Do exactly what you said, and try the pity plea with whatever guard is there. California is a big state; "I drove 7 hours just to get here because my family was from here back in the 70's and I wanted to get some pictures of the place." OR, maybe a 3rd, and I get obnoxiously lucky, and no one is even there. Because there's no way it'll be an actual law enforcement officer of any kind. It's too barren and SB county can't afford the salary to just have one sit up there doing nothing.

Walk in the early AM to predawn on a Sunday morning.
Hunker down or bug out before dawn depending what you find.
If no one shows you got the place for a day.
If they do show you may need to hide until dark.
Bring plenty of water.