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UER Mobile > UE Photo Critiques > New User Looking to be a Better Photographer (Viewed 3953 times)

post by OmahaUser

New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
< on 7/12/2014 10:07 PM >

These are some shots from a local site I took semi recently, looking for any manner of critique. They are shot on an iPhone... if that is a cardinal sin I am deeply sorry. Buying a real camera soon. They're also unedited, but a few do look like it.

1.

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post by Cosmic

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 1 on 7/12/2014 10:14 PM >

Number 3 is nice. The building kind of blends in to the sky in a way though.

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post by Axle

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 2 on 7/13/2014 4:31 AM >

The best way to improve your photography...get out, shoot every day.

Shoot Less, Most More.

Make every shot count, don't waste something, never say 'oh I'll fix it in post' get it right in camera.

Read, look, figure out what and who inspires you.

Study any photographer out there learn from them, but don't try to be them.

Learn the rules of composition, follow them, then figure out when you can bend and when you can break.

And finally I return to the first point: practice every day. In a year, you'll be miles beyond from where you started.

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post by shadowedsmile

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 3 on 7/14/2014 5:49 PM >

Looks like you've got a decent grounding on composition - except #1. Cutting off the subject in an awkward way.

But, just keep shooting. That's the only way to get better at it. Look at other people's work, read up on the basics, look back through your old photographs....even if you just spend 10-20 minutes a day, you'll see improvements within a few months.

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post by randomesquephoto

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 4 on 7/15/2014 3:50 AM >

I think number four is the best of the bunch. And axle gave the best advice.

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post by OmahaUser

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 5 on 7/16/2014 5:54 AM >

Thanks for all the feedback, I'm a little busy at the moment but once things settle down I plan to do a lot more photography as suggested.

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post by mhester

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 6 on 7/17/2014 4:31 AM >

Its like everyone else is saying just go out there and Shoot. Don't feel stupid for starting out shooting on automatic. Once you get more comfortable with your gear then practice shooting on manual. Play with your ISO, shutter speed and things like that. For now just focus on interesting subject matter. As far as the
pics none are real bad but my opinion they don't capture much interest for me. But you know they say about opinions lol.

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post by OmahaUser

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 7 on 7/17/2014 9:33 AM >

Posted by mhester
Its like everyone else is saying just go out there and Shoot. Don't feel stupid for starting out shooting on automatic. Once you get more comfortable with your gear then practice shooting on manual. Play with your ISO, shutter speed and things like that. For now just focus on interesting subject matter. As far as the
pics none are real bad but my opinion they don't capture much interest for me. But you know they say about opinions lol.

I appreciate the negative critique a lot actually; any specific reason they don't capture much interest?

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post by mhester

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 8 on 7/17/2014 10:25 AM >

Posted by OmahaUser

I appreciate the negative critique a lot actually; any specific reason they don't capture much interest?

I live in a city full of empty hulls.So stuff like this is commen for me. I wasn't tryingto be negative though there not aweful pics or anything. You should check out an old jail or psych ward; you will get so much more material to shoot.

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post by Speed

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 9 on 7/17/2014 2:57 PM >

read this:

http://www.amazon....rstanding+exposure

and listen to Axle.
two mistakes I see new photographers make is 1) trying to include too much info in the frame and 2) not filling the frame. for example 6 would have been a more interesting photo if you filled the frame more with the electrical box and included less of the surrounding walls.

Krush is excellent with regards to filling the frame.
Macgruder is excellent at use of depth of field.
check out their photos.

[last edit 7/17/2014 3:06 PM by Speed - edited 1 times]

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post by vmn551

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 10 on 7/18/2014 10:30 PM >

1: Would be nice if the top wasn't cut off but I'm sure you did your best with the angle you had for this shot.

2: Pretty good photo, but try using the rule of thirds to line up your shot next time.

http://en.wikipedi...iki/Rule_of_thirds

(This is probably the best photo tip you can have)

3: Nice photo, I would have panned a bit over to the right to have more of the trail showing. Also the whites are a bit bright, try shooting the photo a 2 or 3 stops darker for more shadow detail and editing the RAW image to make it a bit brighter.

4: Nice composition, again the whites are just a bit blown.

5: Again, whites are a bit bright, otherwise great photo.

6: Love this pic, a bit dark for my taste and the electrical piping and box on the right is a bit out of focus.

7: Pretty good overall, whites aren't too blown on this one but could maybe be toned down just a tad.

8: Looks slightly out of focus, whites are a little bright on this one as well.

Overall I say work on capturing the right light level. Try shooting everything a bit darker and editing your RAW image to bring the brightness up as needed.

EDIT: Just read you did all of these with an iPhone, so as far as capturing light goes you did a pretty good job for not having much control over that aspect. Keep taking pictures and think about buying a camera with some adjustable settings (aperture, ISO, shutter speed)

[last edit 7/18/2014 10:31 PM by vmn551 - edited 1 times]

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post by OmahaUser

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 11 on 7/21/2014 4:54 AM >

Posted by vmn551

Is there any camera you would recommend on a sub $80 budget?

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post by mhester

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 12 on 7/21/2014 5:05 AM >

Posted by OmahaUser

Is there any camera you would recommend on a sub $80 budget?

You can prob get a capable point and shoot.

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post by dashrsp

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 13 on 7/21/2014 6:44 AM >

As some people have said, adhere to the rule of thirds. Study all the 'rules' of composition and experiment with them, some you can bend or break, some are better to stick with (like the rule of thirds). An easy way to start is just take pictures focusing on the composition and less on settings and other aspects.

I like #2, but a little dark in the shadows. The way the foreground frames the building is pretty interesting.

4,5, and 6 are also pretty cool. They could just use some tweaking with lighting, and #6 looks a bit crooked.

I think the subject and perspective of #8 has a lot of potential with a new shot. Like maybe a little closer, looking up at the door with good contrast and focus with light beaming out from under, but of course follow whatever framing speaks to you best! I hope this all helps.

While iphones can be surprisingly good at some things (especially with HDR), you images do lack some finesse found with higher level cameras:

Posted by OmahaUser
Is there any camera you would recommend on a sub $80 budget?

If you want to get into dslrs, this is a decent body from back in the day, not sure if this listing is in good shape or not, but you should look around anyway. http://www.ebay.co...ash=item4ad8f6f9fd It also may be worth waiting to save and increase your budget.

For non-slrs, the fuji x-series is pretty good as well as sony mirrorless options among others.

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post by mhester

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 14 on 7/21/2014 3:17 PM >

Just wanted to point out that the rules of third in General is one to follow; it does not always apply. The rule of third by definition like most photog rules is a theory.

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post by RedBush

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 15 on 7/21/2014 4:34 PM >

I'm apparently in a really nitpicky mood, so just keep that in mind if at any point it feels like I'm telling you your photos are crap.

#1: Like folks have been saying, try to avoid cutting off the subject matter.

#2: The building itself may not be within that rule of thirds, but the foreground objects are, which I feel tend to frame up the shot well enough in addition to "anchoring the foreground" - which gives a sense of three dimensionality to a 2D image. So, decent composition, but something about the lighting/coloration of the image itself bugs me (I can't put my finger on it). Sometimes it's just a matter of waiting for clouds to pass in order to get the right look - natural lighting can be fickle.

#3: Good lighting, and nice framing, though I would have liked to see more of that dirt road off to the side, as I feel it could enhance the focus on the structure.

#4: Not 100% certain what the focus is here. I like the activity around the edges, but my attention seems to always drift toward that blown out window.

#5: Probably one of my favorites in this set, and I really like how the subject is partially obscured. However, the edge of that corner on the right side is distracting. Try playing around with where you're taking the shot from - sometimes taking a shot just an inch or two to the right or the left makes all the difference.

#6: No complaints - despite what someone else said, I feel that the simplicity of the background, coupled with those two lighter colored stripes and the conduit bring enough focus to the box that it works.

#7: This feels really boring to me. There is nothing really accented, and while you can't get any more blatant with the rule of thirds, I feel like this isn't so much one single image as it is a collection nine separate images jumbled together with the least interesting part right in the center. I wanna say this shot is crying out for something to break me away from staring at a shot that's crazily symmetrical.

#8: One "rule" I generally try to go by is that you should try to avoid any lines that bisect the frame, either vertically or horizontally. I'd say diagonally, too, but that's a bit more of a gray area. That beam cuts right through the image and it takes my attention away from the rest of the image.

Aside from that, not much to say that hasn't been said before. Keep in mind, though, depending on the situation it's totally okay to break the rules, and often whether or not a photo is good is completely subjective. Just keep the rules in mind, and use your own discretion as to whether or not they ought to be followed.

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post by Nero

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 16 on 2/2/2015 1:17 AM >

I would say 4 is my favorite...if i were you i would work on composition

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post by Ganesha

Former Moderator

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 17 on 2/2/2015 2:01 AM >

Posted by OmahaUser

Is there any camera you would recommend on a sub $80 budget?

Look at refurbished. I got an obviously new camera this way, I think they dump the old models as refurbished.

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post by DJ Craig

Moderator

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 18 on 2/2/2015 4:45 AM >

Posted by OmahaUser
They are shot on an iPhone... if that is a cardinal sin I am deeply sorry.

Nothing wrong with that! The iPhone camera is incredibly good, and I've seen stuff shot on an iPhone that you would never believe was taken on a phone!

Of course, with the phone, you're going to have little or no control over focus, exposure, depth of field, etc, so there's not much point in critiquing these photos on those more technical points. Instead, whole you're still stuck with the phone, focus on mastering the composition and the artistic side of things, as well as editing. Then you'll be that much further ahead when you get an SLR.

All of these are outdoors in daylight so the exposures came out great! Keep in mind the one shortcoming of the iPhone camera is that it's terrible in low light, which can be really annoying for UE. So I'd say keep doing what you're doing, practicing with outdoor or well lit shots.

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post by Ganesha

Former Moderator

Re: New User Looking to be a Better Photographer
<Reply # 19 on 2/2/2015 5:45 PM >

There are 3rd party camera apps for iOS. In particular, "Camera!" claims to be good in low light; it has zoom, a movable focus point, and a few other nice features.

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