a few from today
- Thread starter xirokx
- Start date
!?!This isn't specifically aimed at you, xirokx, but it does apply.
When people ask for 'C&C' I assume they mean 'comment and critique'. Well I don't know about any of you, but I find it extremely hard to be of any use with my comments unless I know what the photographer themselves thinks of their work. Why did they shoot the photos? What were they thinking? What were they trying to convey? Is it a simple 'walkabout' session or have you been planning them for some time? What are you happy about? What don't you like? Are there any problems that you couldn't overcome? And so on and so forth.
Anyway, enough of that for now.
#1 - this looks like you've sat down on the platform and aimed your camera down the other end. There doesn't appear to be any apparent thought behind this as there's no specific focal point and the fact the focus drops off about halfway into the photo doesn't help matters. As a result there's nothing to make my eye want to look through the frame and down the line of perspective as there's nothing there worth looking at. In all honesty this looks like a simple snapshot or an experiment, but not the finished article.
#2 - Is there some other meaning behind it or is it simply a novelty shaped shop sign? The contrast between colours is... interesting, but I'm really clutching at straws now. It's not a particularly appealing composition, the angle isn't exactly flattering and it's very soft. I assume this is a heavy crop of an original image?
#3 - The point I was trying to make above comes into play here. Why have you taken this photo of this particular building from this particular angle? For me it doesn't show enough of the surrounding area or detail of the building to make it an interesting architectural study, there no focal point to make it a interesting urban scene and it's not pretty enough to be a nice picture. Confusing.
#4 - A very plain picture of the lock with a complete lack of focal point. What am I supposed to be looking at? There's a large mass of static water, the background is overexposed (tough break on the weather) and there's not really anything interesting to look in the frame. I'm going to assume this is actually THE Camden lock, but it's a boring photo of what could be an interesting scene. Some people might never have seen this before of even realise there are canals in London - is this the best way to show Camden lock off?
#5 - Purely only of interest to the people that own and work in that bar. Otherwise it's a pretty pointless photo.
#6 - Hmmm. A blurred, wonky and dull photo of the inside of a tube train. What are you trying to show in this photograph? What made you take this photo and decide you wanted to show it off?
I'm sorry that this sounds extremely negative, xirokx, but I don't know what else to say. I really think you need some help with your photography as from the evidence here you would appear to have the passion for photography but your technical ability is unfortunately not there yet. I think you need to tell us what you were trying to do with this set of photographs, how you think they came out and what you like or dislike about them.
One final note though. Save the fancy processing tricks for later and concentrate on your composition and focal points. I'd recommend thinking over these shots, discussing possible improvements and then going back to re-shoot them, if that's possible. Some of the architectural shots would benefit from an early morning or mid-evening approach so you can get softer light and a nicer skyline or let the artificial lighting in the evening show off the buildings details. But most importantly - think about why you want to take these photographs and what you want out of them.
When people ask for 'C&C' I assume they mean 'comment and critique'. Well I don't know about any of you, but I find it extremely hard to be of any use with my comments unless I know what the photographer themselves thinks of their work. Why did they shoot the photos? What were they thinking? What were they trying to convey? Is it a simple 'walkabout' session or have you been planning them for some time? What are you happy about? What don't you like? Are there any problems that you couldn't overcome? And so on and so forth.
Anyway, enough of that for now.
#1 - this looks like you've sat down on the platform and aimed your camera down the other end. There doesn't appear to be any apparent thought behind this as there's no specific focal point and the fact the focus drops off about halfway into the photo doesn't help matters. As a result there's nothing to make my eye want to look through the frame and down the line of perspective as there's nothing there worth looking at. In all honesty this looks like a simple snapshot or an experiment, but not the finished article.
#2 - Is there some other meaning behind it or is it simply a novelty shaped shop sign? The contrast between colours is... interesting, but I'm really clutching at straws now. It's not a particularly appealing composition, the angle isn't exactly flattering and it's very soft. I assume this is a heavy crop of an original image?
#3 - The point I was trying to make above comes into play here. Why have you taken this photo of this particular building from this particular angle? For me it doesn't show enough of the surrounding area or detail of the building to make it an interesting architectural study, there no focal point to make it a interesting urban scene and it's not pretty enough to be a nice picture. Confusing.
#4 - A very plain picture of the lock with a complete lack of focal point. What am I supposed to be looking at? There's a large mass of static water, the background is overexposed (tough break on the weather) and there's not really anything interesting to look in the frame. I'm going to assume this is actually THE Camden lock, but it's a boring photo of what could be an interesting scene. Some people might never have seen this before of even realise there are canals in London - is this the best way to show Camden lock off?
#5 - Purely only of interest to the people that own and work in that bar. Otherwise it's a pretty pointless photo.
#6 - Hmmm. A blurred, wonky and dull photo of the inside of a tube train. What are you trying to show in this photograph? What made you take this photo and decide you wanted to show it off?
I'm sorry that this sounds extremely negative, xirokx, but I don't know what else to say. I really think you need some help with your photography as from the evidence here you would appear to have the passion for photography but your technical ability is unfortunately not there yet. I think you need to tell us what you were trying to do with this set of photographs, how you think they came out and what you like or dislike about them.
One final note though. Save the fancy processing tricks for later and concentrate on your composition and focal points. I'd recommend thinking over these shots, discussing possible improvements and then going back to re-shoot them, if that's possible. Some of the architectural shots would benefit from an early morning or mid-evening approach so you can get softer light and a nicer skyline or let the artificial lighting in the evening show off the buildings details. But most importantly - think about why you want to take these photographs and what you want out of them.
thanks ....
thats certainly plently of food for thought..
I will digest your points and before pressing the shutter think about your words and also prior to posting on any forum..
thanks for the time you have taken to convey your comments it really helps and I will take them into consideration prior to posting again..
cheers
thats certainly plently of food for thought..
I will digest your points and before pressing the shutter think about your words and also prior to posting on any forum..
thanks for the time you have taken to convey your comments it really helps and I will take them into consideration prior to posting again..
cheers
I think glitch has offered some good advice.
I have similar advice too. I did a college course and each week we would have to bring in photographs to be critiqued by the whole class. Also, we had to explain in detail why we took the photograph, how we took it and what we liked/disliked about it.
This makes you think a lot more about what you wanted to capture and how to go about it.
Also, for example, if a picture was not sharp then there is no excuse, either you meant it to be like that or you didnt - if you didnt then its no good, but you will know better next time.
And don't be discouraged from posting more photos no one is being mean - we are trying to help
I have similar advice too. I did a college course and each week we would have to bring in photographs to be critiqued by the whole class. Also, we had to explain in detail why we took the photograph, how we took it and what we liked/disliked about it.
This makes you think a lot more about what you wanted to capture and how to go about it.
Also, for example, if a picture was not sharp then there is no excuse, either you meant it to be like that or you didnt - if you didnt then its no good, but you will know better next time.
And don't be discouraged from posting more photos no one is being mean - we are trying to help
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I have to agree with sid, your comments are very well worded and they point out several things I would have not thought about. Nice logical steps.
I have a DSLR being delivered on Friday, I cannot wait to start snapping but I will definately take all that into consideration.
To the OP, I don't have a very experienced view of things, but I'm sure photo #1 would look better with a train approaching.
The others don't really seem that interesting, but I can imagine they would more so to the locals.
Also don't hold back on posting! It brings up some very useful points.
thanks guys appreciate your comments.
i didnt think glitch was being mean but I think he has added a new dynamic to my photography.
thank you so much for taking the time to follow up and advising me not to be discouraged it is really nice of you guys to take the time to fuel my enthusiam to take more pics...its most appreciated..
i am a newb and can do with all the positive and negative comments to assist me improve overall
cheers!!!
cheers!
i didnt think glitch was being mean but I think he has added a new dynamic to my photography.
thank you so much for taking the time to follow up and advising me not to be discouraged it is really nice of you guys to take the time to fuel my enthusiam to take more pics...its most appreciated..
i am a newb and can do with all the positive and negative comments to assist me improve overall
cheers!!!
cheers!