To critical?

[shera426]

I'm having trouble half the time convincing myself that I can actually take okay pictures. I am so terribly hard on myself I can't stand it and i'm trying to figure out if my family's opinions actually have merit.

I should start from the begining. I LOVE taking pictures. So I finally had enough money to buy a Canon 40D and it's amazing. The only problem is I bought the camera w/o knowing much about photography LOL So I am taking a class from New York Institue of Photography (i'm sure your familiar) and I have learned a tremendous amount. My problem is the assignments we have to do I want to take the best possible picture there is and I have these fabulous ideas but I can't quite seem to get the perfect picture. I have photo's that need to be sent in at the end of each unit and I have the hardest time picking one out that will work. Am I alone here? Honestly I have HUNDREDS of pictures and none of them seem right. Am I over thinking these things, what does everyone else do when they have a specific type of pic to capture? How do you pick the right one or what's your thought process when you head out the door ? I'm thinking I just don't have what it takes to be a photographer but who knows?? Right now i'm working on texture, framing, off center placement and leading lines

So I guess I'm saying I need some honest opinions and I didn't want any from my family who knows nothing. LOL Stupid I know so here goes the good, bad or ugly. Let me know what you think and be honest, if they suck let me know i'm a big girl I can take it :eek:

[TheWengler]

1: I'd go with a vertical composition since the stems are vertical.

2: This one is just ok. I'm not sure it's a good place for a portrait.

3: I think if you frame the flower so that it's facing the open space in the frame then it would look better.

4: I'd say the image would look better if you shot from closer to the ground. Experiment with vertical and horizontal compositions. It looks like the guy in the middle is peeing too. :P

[24Peter]

Shera - your photos are fine. Remember: there is no "right" way to do anything in life, esp. photography. What's right for me may be wrong for someone else. Creativity has no rights/wrongs - some things may not "work" for technical or even artistic reasons. But even that doesn't make them wrong. And usually finding out what doesn't work moves us closer to what does. But remember, it's all subjective.

I'm also with you on the family thing. If I relied on them for encouragement/ approval I probably would have never picked up a camera to begin with.

Do what pleases you. Try different things. Experiment. Study other people's work and ask how they did it. Also remember learning a new hobby like photography takes time. Years and years in some cases. You don't have to know everything today to make a great photographer. Allow yourself to grow into it.

[Mark_48]

Hi Shera,
It looks as if the Unit 2 assignment has changed slightly in the few years, they've added texture. Not sure if I'd agree that the thorny stem captures the feeling of texture exactly, but it might. When I think texture, I think something such as rough bark, course surface of a stone, bricks on a wall. And the way the texture is brought out is the way the light strikes it to create shadows and highlights on its surface.
Framing you've done well and also placement.
If the pathway were maybe a tad longer and the subjects more the focal point towards the end, it may work better for leading lines. You want the leading lines to draw your focus to the subject. As Wengler hinted, have the subjects pose a bit differently :eek:

If you haven't, drop over and join the group below. The critique may be more target for what your doing.

http://groups.msn.com/NYIPRoundtablePart2/messages.msnw

What I had submitted below for Leading Lines. As I look back on it, it isn't "best" I had done, but the instructor was pleased with it. If you get too hung up on not having the "best" shot it can slow your progress in the course. I usually start with 7-8 images that are close then pick each one apart to get down to the one to send in. I have sent in two on occasion when I was really undecided.

Convergence - Leading lines

[adam75south]

it's hard to keep realistic visions in your head at first...and who knows, maybe that's a good thing. but usually this is a lighting issue...at least was the case for me.

as you learn and develop as a photographer, you'll begin to see pictures the way they'll look in the camera. you'll see blown out skies and dark shadows and you'll begin to fix those issues before you even take the first picture. those are personal examples though, none of these shots have those problems.

the first and third are good. i have no problem with those. the 2nd seems out of place and almost looks like it was shot with any point and shoot...probable because of the shadows outlining his body from the flash as well as the hot spot on his glasses. i might have rather seen a tighter portrait here. the fourth just kinda seems out of place....maybe a vertical crop would have been better with the camera axis closer to ground level with the trail leading your eye to the people..for me i feel like the people are the distraction and subject is actually the scene...and you probably meant for this to be the other way around.

[NewTekBuzz]

Welcome!

My 2 cents... HAVE FUN. with digital photography you can learn on the fly... meaning you can see your shot right after you take it.
I think your pics look fine, are you using any type of software to adjust your pics after you upload to the PC?

what type of camera did you have before the 40D?


Tim

[shera426]

Thanks everyone, your advice means a lot. I know I have a lot of learning still to do but I'm so thankful I have someone to bounce ideas off of. I hope to head out today and see what else I can come up with and run with a few of your suggestions. I know one of my problems is having all these ideas when I leave the house and when I get somewhere I get so caught up in finding a great pic that I overlook a lot i'm sure.

Lighting is a big one for me, seems sometimes I don't have anything neat to work with it's ALWAYS cloudy/rainy here and I have a hard time finding ways to be creative with it. I don't have any lighting accessories so i'm trying to make the most out of what I have.

-Tim- to answer your question I have nothing in terms of software to adjust my pictures what you see is what came straight from my camera. The camera I had before my 40D was a canon powershot sd600. I've had the 40D since Feb. of this year

[TheWengler]

Lighting is a big one for me, seems sometimes I don't have anything neat to work with it's ALWAYS cloudy/rainy here and I have a hard time finding ways to be creative with it.

Overcast days are great for portraits because you don't have to deal with all those harsh shadows. Also when the clouds break, usually the sky is very nice. If it was raining then the ground shines too when the sun hits it.