deviousfun Loc: Ohio

I've posted on facebook and for quite some time did a photo a day posting with a group. It forced me to use my little camera every day. But it really was about getting pats on the back. I am guilty of enjoying that aspect but when I asked a fellow member how he got some of his amazing shots he pointed me towards photo editing software. I'm not a purist and I do believe that editing has a time and place, but the rig he uses cost more than my car. Ahh jealousy.
I'm using a cannon A590 point and shoot and, this is smug, in some very creative ways to get what I think is acceptable photo's with minimal editing.
Anyway I would like more than a pat on the back, a bloody nose or kick in the shin should do it. I just would like feedback for improvement cause I feel like everything I'm doing is stale. Here are some not so recent to recent.

This was for an assignment "water"


Newly hatched mantis on gamorphia


This was for an assignment "Exposure"

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Boy did you come to the right place for that kick in the shin hehe .... ya ready ....
The first shot just doesn't speak to me about water... I'm distracted right off the bat by her bloodshot eyes ... nothing Visine wouldn't fix right ? but then her hair all over her face and the top of her head missing ... and her red nails the very last thing I see is the actual water ... still it's an interesting shot

The second one is a great shot of the flower and the mantis but the white wall or whatever is distracting as well as the rest of the flower bush .. perhaps cropping or maybe a macro shot would have been more captivating ... still great subject

The concept of the third one is by far my favorite .. Love the expression on his face and the coffee falling is a nice touch... the color of her robe and the tattoo is also a nice touch ... perhaps a bit lighter on the overall pic would help but all in all a good photo.

That all being said .... Welcome to the Ugly Hedgehog .. where you are guaranteed to only get pats on the back when you wow us LOL ... nah just kidding .. I look forward to seeing more of your work :)

a lousy example .. but I'm sure you get the idea

deviousfun Loc: Ohio

Thanks I'll Try and edit these some and keep your suggestions in mind.

deviousfun Loc: Ohio

I took your advice and really tried to emphasize the mantis

modest genius Loc: joshua tree park CA

Yep. New Mantis works well. First one no focal point. Number three fun. I am sure took more than one shot!

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Oh ya much better

deviousfun Loc: Ohio

Thanks for the suggestions I do see a real improvement. Number 3 was fun and I can teach you how to levitate coffee cups. Since my wife and I belonged to the same photo group her post was from over my shoulder. It was getting late and the light in our home is very harsh.

The photo from her perspective


A single cotton thread holds my cup.


The thread between two single pixel lines.

Fifty-Fifty Loc: Arkansas

welcome to the ugly hedgehog , nice touch with the cup, and I like the edit of the mantis, keep posting and like me I'm sure you'll learn a few things here...there are some great photographers here... oh and don't expect them to go easy on you because they pull no punches if your serious about learning listen up take notes and especially keep posting because thats how you learn the best IMHO

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Excellent I love the concentrated lighting on her face ... unique and flattering :) great expression too.
yay .. I can actually see him in the doorway ... Well done !
Love them both :)

I'm impressed with the difference !

P.S. This is not a critique.. I was just playing with Topaz plugin for photoshop .... trying to learn how to remove blur ....not that you needed it in these photos ... But I do however need the practice lol.

deviousfun Loc: Ohio

Thanks Fifty I will do that. I just came from a group that really was more about the equipment (toys) and kissing bottoms, so I've had enough of that for now. My wife and I were involved in a photo a day group and we have improved but we went as far as you can go when there is too much inbreeding.

deviousfun Loc: Ohio

Thanks, your advice from earlier is what actually made the photo work or at least turned some gears. I'll post the original that went to our group and got raves from them. Looking now it's rather sad I mucked around with the curves and feathered it liberally then dug into the hue/saturation. I'm modestly proud BUT there is plenty of room for improvement

This is as submitted.

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Wow looking at the original ... I'm very impressed at the edited version ... keep up the excellent work ! I look forward to more of your posts .... I just noticed last night Who your models are ... very cool .. that makes composition so much more convenient. :)

deviousfun Loc: Ohio

Thanks for the encouragement. Being a photo partner with my wife has been thrilling and frustrating. I know I mentioned it about a thousand times but the last group had theme weeks with each weekday one subject. We had a Alfred Hitchcock week and each day was a different movie. My wife drove me nuts, But I did get to roll her up in plastic sheeting.

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

LOL I love it .... great sense of humor ... Ya know what would be great for that shot? If you had taken one of the tub empty then overlaid this one with reduced opacity making her appear ghostly
Love this shot

David707 Loc: Medford OR

Very creative..