the Roaches (re-run!)

funkyphantom · 4 Jun 2008 at 00:04

Right, after an appalling attempt at photography on Sunday at the Roaches, i thought to myself i must concentrate and take more time to compose my shots, instead of just snapping away willy nilly. Im a heck of a lot more pleased with these pictures and enjoyed taking them a lot more too! Hope you think these are better than my previous efforts see: http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17882053

Please C+C these guys, as i need to learn! be as 'constructive' as you want!! i wont take offence.

1

2

3

4

5

6

Thanks for looking

Sic · 4 Jun 2008 at 00:27

on the whole they're much better than the last ones. You've balanced exposure much better so you actually have a sky. the first one is my favourite as the fence draws the eye in and is caught by the tree. Nice sky in this one, too.

After that, as far as criticism goes, it's hard to say because they're just not very interesting. They seem really snappy - the long exposure on the water is just an excuse to do a long water exposure, the foliage isn't very attractive and that horrible tarmac drive doesn't belong. The others are just a bit non-descript.

The important thing in my opinion is to be taking photos that you like. Read loads of photoblogs/magazines and really study all of the elements of photos that you like, then try to include elements of that in your photos. When you're looking at a landscape, think about photos you've seen that are like what you're looking at and try to recreate them. Landscapes are great because you've got plenty of time to really look through the viewfinder and see if what you're about to take is interesting or has merit. That's what I'm trying to do right now and it's bloody frustrating, but you end up taking less shots with a better hit rate. It's now quite rare that I go out and come back with no photos that I want to keep, whereas before it happened all the time!

Sorry for rabbiting on and making no sense - it's late and that's my prerogative

Helium_Junkie · 4 Jun 2008 at 09:23

I think they show an improvement in exposure, and I really love 4-6, I think theyre great subjects framed well, and I do find them interesting.

Only downside is that instead of blowing out the sky the foreground is a little (just a tad) too dark. This could very likely be rectified post production in PShop or similar: duplicate the layer, adjust levels so the foreground is right, apply a layer mask and paint over the sky so that it shows through from the unedited layer. Give it a go

TheAlex · 4 Jun 2008 at 22:11

The first one is ace; I like the position of the tree and the wall leads my eyes in.

2 is weird as the land looks over-exposed, but the sky doesn't. Or it's just something about the colour that looks odd.

I'm trying to picture how the composition would be better in my own head for a couple of the others...4 could perhaps have those protruding rocks to the right of the frame, with more landscape in the background? Nice reflection in 5; again I think the backlit rocks would have looked better on the right, with the dirt-track leading the eyes in. This is assuming there was nothing dodgy out of frame.

I went to this area a couple of weeks ago, and only came away with 3 shots I was happy with. I'm going camping there this weekend so hopefully I'll have more.

funkyphantom · 4 Jun 2008 at 23:33

Sic said:
on the whole they're much better than the last ones. You've balanced exposure much better so you actually have a sky. the first one is my favourite as the fence draws the eye in and is caught by the tree. Nice sky in this one, too.

After that, as far as criticism goes, it's hard to say because they're just not very interesting. They seem really snappy - the long exposure on the water is just an excuse to do a long water exposure, the foliage isn't very attractive and that horrible tarmac drive doesn't belong. The others are just a bit non-descript.

The important thing in my opinion is to be taking photos that you like. Read loads of photoblogs/magazines and really study all of the elements of photos that you like, then try to include elements of that in your photos. When you're looking at a landscape, think about photos you've seen that are like what you're looking at and try to recreate them. Landscapes are great because you've got plenty of time to really look through the viewfinder and see if what you're about to take is interesting or has merit. That's what I'm trying to do right now and it's bloody frustrating, but you end up taking less shots with a better hit rate. It's now quite rare that I go out and come back with no photos that I want to keep, whereas before it happened all the time!

Sorry for rabbiting on and making no sense - it's late and that's my prerogative

Sic, thanks for the comments, the first one is my favorite too. I understand what your saying about the others i suppose, if im being truthful i did snap away at them without too much thought on composition, i suppose i was trying so hard to get exposure right to prove to myself that i actually knew how to properly expose a shot after my last attempts. It all goes down to learning though! and im enjoying it whilst im doing it.

funkyphantom · 4 Jun 2008 at 23:36

Helium_Junkie said:
I think they show an improvement in exposure, and I really love 4-6, I think theyre great subjects framed well, and I do find them interesting.

Only downside is that instead of blowing out the sky the foreground is a little (just a tad) too dark. This could very likely be rectified post production in PShop or similar: duplicate the layer, adjust levels so the foreground is right, apply a layer mask and paint over the sky so that it shows through from the unedited layer. Give it a go

Helium, thanks for your C+C too Ive given the PP a try and will post some results up shortly so you (or anyone else) can C+C again

Looking forward to buying those filters when i have the money!

funkyphantom · 4 Jun 2008 at 23:37

TheAlex said:
The first one is ace; I like the position of the tree and the wall leads my eyes in.

2 is weird as the land looks over-exposed, but the sky doesn't. Or it's just something about the colour that looks odd.

I'm trying to picture how the composition would be better in my own head for a couple of the others...4 could perhaps have those protruding rocks to the right of the frame, with more landscape in the background? Nice reflection in 5; again I think the backlit rocks would have looked better on the right, with the dirt-track leading the eyes in. This is assuming there was nothing dodgy out of frame.

I went to this area a couple of weeks ago, and only came away with 3 shots I was happy with. I'm going camping there this weekend so hopefully I'll have more.

I may go up on Sunday again, might see you up there

funkyphantom · 5 Jun 2008 at 00:06

As promised edited pictures: + a few more that ive managed to rescue using heliums technique.

7

8

9

10

11

12

thanks for looking

Helium_Junkie · 5 Jun 2008 at 09:33

Applied the technique well you have /yoda

Good work

Keep practicing and you'll only get better

In 5/9 I would restore the rocks in the background to their former dimness, but keep the grass lightened.

12 is ace, love it. I'm a sucker for colourful clouds. Consider chopping off the white top third.

I like the change to 7

DampCat · 5 Jun 2008 at 12:57

Number 1 is lovely, and i like what you've tried to do in #5. It's easy to see what you were thinking with the reflection and the bold rocky outcrop. It's just a shame that there's nothing interesting around the outcrop itself.

Overall though, from another begginners view, you're moving along in leaps and bounds

funkyphantom · 5 Jun 2008 at 21:53

DampCat said:
Number 1 is lovely, and i like what you've tried to do in #5. It's easy to see what you were thinking with the reflection and the bold rocky outcrop. It's just a shame that there's nothing interesting around the outcrop itself.

Overall though, from another begginners view, you're moving along in leaps and bounds

Thanks for the kind comments Damp.

funkyphantom · 5 Jun 2008 at 21:55

Helium_Junkie said:
Applied the technique well you have /yoda

Good work Keep practicing and you'll only get better

In 5/9 I would restore the rocks in the background to their former dimness, but keep the grass lightened.

12 is ace, love it. I'm a sucker for colourful clouds. Consider chopping off the white top third.

I like the change to 7

Thanks Helium, i understand where your coming from with 5 and 9. Just had a little crop with 12, and came out with this: Must admit it looks a lot better!

funkyphantom · 5 Jun 2008 at 21:56

bah, stuffed up the frame, but you get the picture