Your opinions please - Critiques? Comments? Should I just give up or keep trying? #1 - ISO-100, f-4.3, 1/640 #2 - ISO-100, f-4.3, 1/250 Thank you for at least looking.

mahma Loc: Lower Alabama

Should I just give up or keep trying?
#1 - ISO-100, f-4.3, 1/640
#2 - ISO-100, f-4.3, 1/250

Thank you for at least looking.

rickyd Loc: Dothan, Al

wish I could help, PP would make is stand out more, but is more rewarding to me if I make a great shot without that,,I will be watching to see what some of the more knowldgeable one have to say,,

BGenie Loc: Sacramento, CA

You have 2 issues going on here...
1. You composition is wrong for the subject. Look up the 'rule' of thirds, it'll help a lot. I can crop the second photo for you as an example, if you would like me to.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds

2. Youre obviously taking this on a cloudy day. If you are not going to get any natural sun, I'd suggest using a fill flash with a diffuser so it isn't a harsh light.
I can post an example for you if you like, and tell you how to do this quickly and cheaply if you don't want to order a diffuser and wait for the delivery.

Also, if you're shooting outside, it's usually recommended you use an ISO of 200 or 400 (the low ISO is why you have so much noise.)

photophili09 Loc: NC

mahma wrote:

Should I just give up or keep trying?
#1 - ISO-100, f-4.3, 1/640
#2 - ISO-100, f-4.3, 1/250

Thank you for at least looking.

One thing about asking for a critique or comments on here is that you will get a whole lot of variety in opinions. Having said that I'll tell you I absolutely LOVE the first shot! I would blow it up, mat it, frame it and hang it on a wall if it were mine! As for the 2nd, I'd make it a partner to the first with some playing around. Just my opinion.

mahma Loc: Lower Alabama

For all of you that have responded and commented - thank you. The photos are of shoots growing up from a tree that was planted in a parking lot.

JAL Loc: Toledo Ohio

never give up.

mahma wrote:

Should I just give up or keep trying?
#1 - ISO-100, f-4.3, 1/640
#2 - ISO-100, f-4.3, 1/250

Thank you for at least looking.

;)

Bob.J Loc: On The Move

BGenie wrote:

You have 2 issues going on here... br 1. You compo... (show quote)

I'm not sure if you are referring to camera shake as "noise", but the lower the ISO number the Less the noise. Higher ISO more noise but higher shutter speed = less shake.
check this site for a better explanation
http://www.photoxels.com/tutorial_iso.html

rdbroman

Interesting subject.
In the first one, the blurred foreground and right side green is distracting in my opinion.
In the second, there is a distraction of what appears to be man made material in the lower left corner.
I think some cropping as someone else suggested would make for some improvement.

mahma Loc: Lower Alabama

rdbroman wrote:

Interesting subject.
In the first one, the blurred foreground and right side green is distracting in my opinion.
In the second, there is a distraction of what appears to be man made material in the lower left corner.
I think some cropping as someone else suggested would make for some improvement.

Please, crop away. I'm outa ideas. This is a landscaping tree in a parking lot with a shoot of the tree growing up next to the trunk. I liked the different colors of the leafs against the trunk of the tree and the bedding.

BGenie Loc: Sacramento, CA

mahma wrote:

Please, crop away. I'm outa ideas. This is a landscaping tree in a parking lot with a shoot of the tree growing up next to the trunk. I liked the different colors of the leafs against the trunk of the tree and the bedding.

Here's an example. Note the main flower is in the upper right third, the other flowers lead up to it, creating a line to draw your eye to the main subject.

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

mahma wrote:

Should I just give up or keep trying?
#1 - ISO-100, f-4.3, 1/640
#2 - ISO-100, f-4.3, 1/250

Thank you for at least looking.

we all get discouraged when our skills are emerging, just keep shooting, just keep seeking improvement, and dont beat yourself up ( the folks here will do that , JUST KIDDING).
Shoot , analyse, adjust SHOOT analyse adsust and shoot some more.
Trad the blogs and post and ask questions. try high, low, left right, bracket, but most of all keep shooting.

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

BGenie wrote:

mahma wrote:

Please, crop away. I'm outa ideas. This is a landscaping tree in a parking lot with a shoot of the tree growing up next to the trunk. I liked the different colors of the leafs against the trunk of the tree and the bedding.

Here's an example. Note the main flower is in the upper right third, the other flowers lead up to it, creating a line to draw your eye to the main subject.

might consider cropping the green thing, lower right, or PS it to never never land, I would like to see a lower point of view.

Photobuff Loc: East-central Illinois

mahma wrote:

Should I just give up or keep trying?
#1 - ISO-100, f-4.3, 1/640
#2 - ISO-100, f-4.3, 1/250

Thank you for at least looking.

If you like photography, never give up!

But do ask yourself why you want to take photos. If you only want to have a record of your family and surroundings for yourself and friends/family, you can take perfectly adequate pictures with a point-and-shoot that does most of the technical work for you. You might improve your photos if you read up on composition and take a look at the many great photos posted on this site.

Photobuff Loc: East-central Illinois

mahma wrote:

Should I just give up or keep trying?
#1 - ISO-100, f-4.3, 1/640
#2 - ISO-100, f-4.3, 1/250

Thank you for at least looking.

Here's another point to consider. Me personally, I'm really lazy. I don't want to spend hours cropping and adjusting photos in photoshop or similar program. So I try to take the best photo I can at the time and (usually) live with the result. This forces me to pay careful attention to composition and lighting when I'm lining up the shot. It also forces me to learn how to get the most out of the features of my camera so I can get the DOF (depth of field) and exposure right when I take the photo.

Some of the other replies to your post offer great suggestions. Look at them and at lots of other photos in this forum and I think you'll begin to see the characteristics of compelling photos so you can take your own.

jdtx Loc: SA, Tx.

BGenie wrote:

You have 2 issues going on here... br 1. You compo... (show quote)

actually the reverse is true..the higher the ISO number the more noise you will have..as far as the pics go..don't give up..if you have any post processing software, you can work on them..especially if you shoot in raw..good luck