What do you think of my pictures?

Question

My dream is to become a full-time photographer, and I just want some opinions of my work.
I'm fifteen years old by the way. I use a Canon PowerShot S3 IS. No tripod, no lens, nothing.

http://i10.tinypic.com/8ghe53b.jpg
http://i19.tinypic.com/6ovs3np.jpg
http://i2.tinypic.com/82se1dy.jpg
http://i2.tinypic.com/6wyi0kp.jpg
http://i14.tinypic.com/6xrclyr.jpg
http://i7.tinypic.com/6yk4z1w.jpg
http://i9.tinypic.com/7weqb79.jpg
http://i6.tinypic.com/7yew9x0.jpg

I copyrighted the last one because I'm going to try and sell it if I can, and I don't want anyone to steal it, lol.

Thanks!

Thank you DRAAGON, I appreciate your information. Most of the pictures here were spur of the moment, and that's not an excuse, but I just wanted to put it out there. (: Thanks again.

And electrosmack, thanks to you as well. I am in 10th grade, but I started homeschooling last year for health reasons. I am currently looking for some photography classes nearby, but I live in a rural area so it's tough. The reason the cars were shot at an angle was because they were about five or more apart and wouldn't have fit in one image from the front. Here it is without the copyright:

http://i6.tinypic.com/6xb3w5s.jpg

I switch between Manual, Aperture, TV, and Auto. I don't use Auto much, because I don't get great results unless the lighting is absolutely perfect. Thank you for your honesty and information. (:

* five FEET or more apart. whoops.

Answer 1

The images were suprisingly quite good. All of them were taken quite well. That's not to say they are not perfect. The last image, of the cars, is in focus, and has great contrast, but that's about it for me. I think it would have been much much better if taken from a frontal view. This might just be me, though. I dont think I would have copywritten it.

The other images are good as well, while some just feel like snapshots.

Do you shoot in manual, or Auto? If you shoot in manual, then you are very talented. If you shoot in Auto, you need to shoot in manual. Auto will get you nowhere.

Like I said, all the images were great for a beginner. But, if showed them to anyone that was judging them, nothing would be said about them them. The reason being, you are so young, and your images are undoubtedly not as good as photographers who have been shooting for years, and who have gone to photography school as well. I'm not trying to be mean or anything, I'm just telling you the truth.

With that said, start planning now. This is the first year of high school for you, is it not? This will allow you to take plenty of photography classes, along with art classes. The reason why I mention art classes, is because art and photography deal with the same things. The only difference is the medium. While in high school, develop your portfolio. This will help you later in life.

To develop your skills even further, start planning to take photography in college. If your portfolio is great, then expect to pick up scholarships and other awards. While in college, you will learn what goes into a great image. It is not just a good eye, or luck. When a professional photographer pushes the shutter release, many things are going through their mind. Such as composition, rule of thirds, emphasis, direction, light, focus, texture, and more. They are also constatly scanning the viewfinder to make sure nothing has changed from one second to the other. To do this, and do this well, a person must truly understand photography. To do this, you must have formal training in this art.

Hope this helped.

Answer 2

Here is some honesty.
I looked at each one and the only one that shows any creativity at all is the grasses one.
The remainder show that you have a lot of work to do, especially regarding composition for visual power.
Grabbed snapshots are not the answer - and there are a few in this group that appear to be so. A GOOD photograph is planned, is thought about, is created and not shot because one sees a pretty opportunity.
A good photographer has a natural talent referred to as 'Having the eye'. It can be taught but the best photographers grew up with it in-built.
You are 15 - you have time to gather experience but you do need to get TRUE opinion and take any negative comments on board. The negative comments are the most valuable. The 'Wow - you are awesome!" kind you MUST dismiss.

Full-time photography as a career is not as glamorous nor as easy as you may think. There are thousands of experienced photographers out there and the competition is harsh. Once established, the novelty of photography will soon wear off and it will become a job of work, where the client will be VERY picky. It ain't easy and having a natural talent is just the start. So far, and not wishing to destroy any illusions at a young age, you don't show that talent.
Keep shooting, though, and THINK before you click. SEE exactly what makes visual power and seek it out. You have the youth to be able to develop any skills - the next four years are available for you to try harder.

Answer 3

Becky, for the equipment and the amount of experience you have you've done a fine job. One or two are a bit snapshotish but some clearly show you thought about what you wanted the image to look like...that hints at the "eye" that Draagon referred to.
The trucks would appeal to some and not to others, personally I like it, I like the angle and the repetition of the grills, however taken from just a few inches lower and you'd have eliminated that RV in the background - looks like there was a bunch of out of place stuff over by the pole and so there's not much you could have done about that. So keep an eyeout on what's in the back ground, especially on a busy image it's easy to overlook things you don't want in the picture - done it myself too many times.
Keep practicing, take some classes, and when you can, upgrade your equipment - and if you do turn pro don't forget to do it just for fun once in a while.

Answer 4

Not a bad job for your age and experience level. They are not great though. I do like the car one, although the pole is distracting and maybe you can work on the levels a bit to give it a little more punch. Not sure if you can sell it, but hey, try it if you want. In land/sea scapes, it is very important to keep the horizon level, your boat pic horizon is seriously tilted. The sunset shots are rather dark and suffer from boring composition. The grass shot doesn't have a focal area and I would prefer to see the tops as well. The out of focus area is distracting because it is so big and homogenized. The dog is cute and in focus, but the table legs are unattractive and detract from the subject. Start learning and thinking about the art of composition and using light to your advantage.

I would suggest a book "Understand Exposure" by Bryan Peterson, as well as a good beginner's photography book if you don't already have one. Then just keep practicing and develop your skills and "eye". You also might want to subscribe to a magazine like Popular Photography and Outdoor Photographer. They have articles and how-to aimed at the novice to amateur photographer that will help you a lot, especially as you are in a rural area without the facilities and resources of a big city. Also look at professionals' work on the web and in magazines like National Geographic. Have fun and keep learning!

Answer 5

I've obvious ones with --the marriage ceremony occasion going for walks in--now not certain how your bridesmaids, maid of honor, grooms guys, and so on will probably be attending to the entrance. --then the bride along with her father or who ever is giving her away. Also the moms being seated. --quite a lot of ones of the rite...the mothers lighting fixtures the solidarity candle, the bride and groom watching lovingly into every others eyes, if you're having candle lighters, specified track, and so on...of path you must seize the hoop alternate and the kiss then as soon as you're offered as guy and spouse then going for walks down the aisle in combination. (those might rely at the laws the minister has...this can be anything to examine) --after with the marriage ceremony occasion usually there are a few with the bride and her women then the groom with the women, the groom together with his men and the bride with the men...those may also be humorous or severe...the bride w/ her mom and dad, grandparents and different loved ones then the groom with the brides loved ones and the groom together with his loved ones, and so on. --the reception you'll be able to definately wish the cake and when you have beautiful wine glasses. What I've continuously proposal used to be neat on the reception used to be simply havign disposible cameras and allow the men and women there take pix, I'd simply make an observation for men and women to maintain them tasetful. One photograph I have continuously cherished used to be the shot of the brides hand and the grooms hand as soon as the rite is completed. I have a few pix from my nieces weddings I can ship you if you would like to get a few strategies. Good Luck and Congrats!

Answer 6

First off, DRAAGON is an idiot. Pay no attention to him. While admittedly some of these shots are not good at all, there are others in this selection that I would be proud to have in my portfolio. Especially the one of the dog, but then, I love dogs. So, keep up the good work, and despite what DRAAGON says, you do have talent.

Answer 7

The photo of the dog has amazing color. And the one of the cars looks great in black and white! Have you ever heard of the rule of thirds? Here try this link.

http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/rule-of-thirds/

This will help with the composition that Draagon was talking about!

Try the rule of thirds! See what you think! It would definitely add edge to your work!

Answer 8

Hi, I like them. Maybe you can do this: everytime you take the picture, make them into resolution as follow:

1024x768, 1280x1024, 1280x800, 1680x1050, etc. Don't just make picture, make them into the resolution above.

Why? because they are series of computer screen standard resolution. So people can easily download them and use them as desktop wallpaper. If you don't make into those resolutions, the wallpaper either cannot cover the whole computer screen or stretched.

good luck. ;)

Answer 9

if photography is your passion follow it...study it, join a camera club and ask for critiques, take classes and learn about composition and all the technical garb.
and they are good it was a treat to see your pictures.

Answer 10

wow all of the are Great.I am real impressed with them all,Keep up the Great work,I think you will be a very successful photographer when you grow up!