Could someone please critique my work?

Question

I would love to here some thoughts on my photos - constructive critism welcome!

http://flickr.com/photos/8668518@N05/

I've loved photography for years, but it was only recently that I've decided to try to make a career of it.

The camera for most of these is a Kodak Z710

Answer 1

I'd say they are typical snapshots, some show a bit of artistry. Almost all have some exposure problems. One thing that will ruin a landscape, particularly a beach shot, is a crooked horizon. The Bahamas shots are all crooked.

Get some books on beginning photography, lighting, and composition. "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson is a great book to start with. Study photos in magazines and professional websites and see what makes them good. Maybe try to duplicate some shots you admire. Then practice practice practice.

Answer 2

Not bad. You're showing some interesting angles and views. I'd work on your exposure, though. The cannon shot is a bit overexposed, and the woman dancer and Gabe's first bday photo is a bit underexposed. I like the Bahamas shot, except that, too, is a bit overexposed - the colours are a bit blown out. One thing to try is a polarising lens, which really makes the colours pop.

One final picky comment is to make sure everything in the photo looks okay. I mean, specifically placement of everything within the shot. For instance, the second baby shot, the baby's left hand is quite tightly clenched - it would be a bit nicer if the baby's hand had been open more and relaxed. Also, the breast of the lady dancer appears to have been almost cut off a bit in the frame. This creates an unpleasant tension within the picture and detracts from the overall image.

Apart from that, well done! Keep it up - the more photos you take, the more you learn. Thank you for sharing.

Answer 3

For the camera you are using you did a great job.

The scan shot is one of your best as far as artistic composition and such. The girl on the beach is not bad but I would have not zoomed in so much. The last picture, the one shot through the trees toward the ocean is another good one. Could use a little more saturation but hey, your camera can only do so much. When you get yourself some good photo editing programs on your computer you will be able to tighten up some of these shots but overall you definitely have the eye for picture taking. Keep up the good work.

Answer 4

I love the Bahamas one. The little girl off center is really good. However, I wish there would be something in the background, such as a colorful sailboat. If you have Photoshop, you could carefully transfer a nice boat, and cover up the rocks on the left.
I also like the other Bahamas picture of the umbrella, but there is something noticeably wrong with the overall look. The water near the beach is oversaturate(too bright), and also looks oversharpened.
"Drag Brunch" is very good, but would look much better if there would have been a fill flash.
"th__scan looks good, but the sky just needs to be darker. If you can use Photoshop, you might be able to bring in some detail in the sky, and darken it up just a tad.

Keep on taking pictures.

Answer 5

Here goes...
drag_brunch is visually interesting, but feels like a "grab shot." It would have served better to zoom out a little bit; his/her face right at the edge of the frame makes it feel claustrophobic and the lighting and lens distortion aren't flattering.

bahamas (cannon shot) is _almost_ there. As it is it's a nice vacation shot...changing your perspective and setting up the cannons at more of an angle would have given more visual drama to the scene.

th_scan (glass wedge) I like the concept, the juxtaposition of old vs new is there. I don't really care for the dead-center framing and I think you're trying to do too many things with it, silhouetting + people + old vs new + dead center + too much sky inside the archway. It would be great to bracket your exposures and be able to bring back the natural color of the sky...

th_scan 041 (windows) I like. The perspective isn't ideal, but the light/shadow interplay is very nice.

the kids: zoom back (via lens or moving if needed) to get the tops of their heads :) It's better to crop after the fact if desired. I like the at-their-level, direct eye contact you have with them.

Both of the bahamas beach shots are okay. Look up the "rule of thirds." It's a common stage we all go through to focus, then take the picture dead-center. It's visually more interesting and appealing to take your subject off-center. Find out if your camera has a "focus lock" and give it a try.

Girl-on-the-beach-shot: I like this, the water's diagonals contrast with the girl's off-kilter pose. The cove (the focal point) is, again, dead-center, but there's more here to direct the viewer's attention away from the middle of the picture. I'd like to see more room behind the girl on the right side of the picture. The position of her left hand is unnerving if you look at it...

Criticism aside, it looks like you've got a good eye for some of the key things like light/shadow, texture, points of interest, etc...work on your composition (especially moving away from dead-center framing) and look into some more advanced techniques, using depth-of-field, etc. I imagine your camera should be able to handle full-manual operation...try your "art" photos in manual for a while to see what effect different exposure lengths and apertures have. Just make sure to put it back in "full auto" before trying to grab pic of the kids!

Good luck, and thanks for sharing!

Answer 6

Now dont you play the ones reindeer video games along with her. Just flush that child down the drain, Oh she’s end up stale and unsightly; It’s a brand new day, now see that instruct? Hop on it, it received’t be effortless. Or run so far as you'll cross From all the ones 27 years; Stop googling her to mention hey, Nor try to revive arrears. I’m no plumber however I’m rather definite She’s within the pipes, so drop the spade I’m no health practitioner however right here’s a therapy It’s referred to as relocating on, allow it fade. You’ve come far with new peers Who real care and recognize.

Answer 7

"Bahamas March 2007 405" is very cool.

Unusual composition makes for a dynamic image -- see how the eye gets sucked into the picture?

Good work.

Other pix? Sorry to say, they're OK but cliche or happy snap.

Keep shooting, though!

Answer 8

i think that you tend to over expose in bright sunshine , it tends to wash out some details, i recommend that that you try underexposing by 1 or 2 stops and you might put a little more thought in to the framing of the picture, try not to cut out too much details, try stepping back a little.
i liked the one framing the glass pyramid, but if you framed a bit more of the side it would be better.
God bless,
gabe

Answer 9

I am not a pro but from what I saw the angles were very good I especially liked the shot of the bahamas

Answer 10

Nice! How long have u been doing it for? I like the one of the BAhamas with water. What kind of camera did u use?