Where Did I Go Wrong?

[Mrs Ten]

Or am I way out of my depth in joining this forum as a novice?

I asked for opinions a few days ago and I've had no feed-back whatsoever?

Maybe I should just stick to myself and not post or ask for opinions, go it by myself.

[jinky]

This revised site is still building (hopefully) and one of the problems is a lack of feedback on images. It`s therefore a little bit hopeful to just ask for feedback and expect people to trawl around galleries when some still find it difficult / inconvenient to get around this site and find them. You might have been better off posting one image in a thread - in this one rather than start a new one - and seek opinion on that.
That said I had a quick look through your images just now and would offer the following pointers :
1. Decide what your subject is and make them jump out of the image by reducing background clutter and making sure they are the prime object of interest
2. Watch your horizons and verticals
3. Don`t know what camera you use - suspect a compact - but use the settings to mix up aperture use for subjects as far as possible. If DSLR use wider apertures to help isolate subject.
4. You`re right to break rules like thirds now and agin but need a subject where it matters
Just my opinions as requested.

[flake]

JInky is right, but I have to say that from the old site there are so many people who will have a go at those who do critique photos that to be honest it just isn't worth it, and now I just won't do it.

To add to Jinkys list though; Watch your shutter speed and use a tripod whenever necessary; Try to learn where the best place to put the point of focus is; Learn how to assess your own images for issues such as Chromatic Abberations (purple fringing), dirt on the sensor, noise, and white balance faults.

All the above will not help with your artstic vision & creation, but if you get them right as basics you will be able to produce technically correct images which are a pleasure for everyone. Looking back at old images, it's nice to see how they have improved as technique has. A technically perfect picture will still look boring if the subject matter is boring, and it's possible to make images which fit all the rules and still aren't anything special, so as Jinky says, break the rules, but do make sure that when you do, you're aware you're doing it!

You might like to take a look at Cambridge in Colour which has some very good tutorials for people starting out in digital photography, or ask for Tom Ang's Digital Photographers Handbook for Christmas!

[chris-p]

Hi Mrs Ten,

My apologies, I haven't seen your original post until now. If I had this is what I would have said...






"Welcome to the forums

Generally speaking you will get a better response if you post a specific image (or two) and ask for feedback on that. This is a new site and the galleries aren't fantastic so many users won't bother to trawl through them (sadly).

For example...



I like this shot a lot. I think you're SP590 has done a really good job of dealing with the highlights in this scene. The colour is lovely and it's full of tonal detail as well. The only thing I don't like are the blades of grass poking up from the bottom of the picture as they really distract the eye from the birds and the reflection of the sun. It might be possible to remove them in post processing. The shot would also benefit from a couple of usual PP tweaks like a saturation boost and some sharpening.
All round though it's well composed, nicely balanced and you've done a really good job of retaining detail in the highlights which are all too easy to clip in these sorts of shots."

[Gil Ritchie]

Originally Posted by flake

JInky is right, but I have to say that from the old site there are so many people who will have a go at those who do critique photos that to be honest it just isn't worth it, and now I just won't do it.

I can understand and have empathy with flake's comment.

In the old DCM site - I frequently gave critique on the galleries - but many, in particular some "prima donnas", did not like the defficiencies I picked up on - I was accused of being "non-constructive" in my comments - but my remarks were always frank and honest - but unlike flake - I think it is STILL worth it - and I do STILL give critique - but on a much more restricted basis now - and in the main to the front page selections and a few galleries and threads which I enjoy visiting.

Someone recently said " If you have nothing nice to say - you should say nothing" - complete "tosh" - If I dislike an image - I will say so - and give comment with frankness and honesty of why - and damn the consequences - not enough people are prepared to be equally forthright.

Even the changes made to the front page selection - is an example of this "softly softly" approach - the powers that be - have decided to change the "language" attached to the "star sytem" - so as not to "hurt the feelings of the poster"'.

And as an example of my forthrighness - my somewhat scathing comment on today's poor front page image will no doubt get "pelters" - but as the French say "c'est la vie" - I could have given a 1 star - but not wishing to open that "can of worms" again - I reluctantly gave a 2 star

So I apologise to the original poster of this thread - I have simply not had time to view her gallery - but as already suggested - perhaps if she had posted an image or two in a thread - or better still select her best and post it in the" Post Your Best Here" thread or similar - it would have generated more interest - and led to the critique she obviously seeks.

If any of her images make the front page - I will almost certainly make comment on them - so she has been warned - look out. :

[BryanSheehan3]

Gentlemen,

As a 'newbie' to digital photography, without a DSLR I might add, I would appreciate appreciate any and all suggestions that will enable me to produce better photographs. Maybe some people who take umbridge should check their ego's before comitting pen to paper.

This is an excellent site to assist everyone to learn and get a lot of enjoyment from their hobby.

Many thanks,

Bryceson Sheehan

[Mrs Ten]

Hi all, firstly I'd like to say a big thank you for taking time to reply to my post. I've taken everything you say on board.

I'm not long back from another 10 week jaunt to Tenerife so I've now got some more time on my hands and I'm looking forward to learning more and contributing more to the forum.

Once again, a big thank you for replying.

I'm now off to have a catch up before I have to go out.