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How do I stop taking snaps and start taking photos? C&C
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Hey guys. So I am finally getting the hang of apatures, white balance, shutter speeds and all that. But I am still not happy with my shots. When I see some of your photos here I just think that it’s something I would like to hang on my wall, but any time I take photos I just find that the few I do like (For example today, out of about 700 shots, I like maybe 10), they are still ‘Just Snaps’.
Here are three I took today, please rip them apart and tell me what I can do to improve.
1
2
3
I like your shots.
I’m no expert, just some ideas…
Think I’d try the first one in B&W and up the contrast a bit. The shadows are nice.
Like the second one too. might have tried a slightly faster shutter speed, be nice to see bit more in the water IMHO.
Love the third one. have you tried using a polarised filter. It can really make the colours pop and take away some of the haze.Do you edit your photos? It may be the only difference between yours and the ones you’ve seen posted. don’t see anything really wrong with these.
keep shooting :)ditto…… What Deirdre just said…. No really, that’s pretty much what I was going to say.
I’d also say that you’re already taking photos and not just snaps. A little bit of processing could make these jump out at you.
Leo.
P.S. First one is my favourite.
I do have photoshop (Thanks work!) I just don’t really know how to use it for photo stuff (In work about all I do is crop, resize and save for web =/ )
Thank you very much for your comments guys.
At the moment I am using Tiny’s D50 so I don’t have any filters. I’m planning on picking up a D60 within the next month or two, so I’ll try and pick up some filters then as well.
You have the apatures and speeds right as too have good composition. But there is nothing wrong wiht a bit of photoshop that wil “boost” your efforts
Love number 3 best but the colours are a bit flat.
My rework of it.
Looks like you have the eye for a shot, these all look good. Just need some more detail in presentation and processing
PS will allow you to boost the colours on these and bring out some detailDee
These are definitley more than snaps! I like the second one best. Keep it up
I agree these are more then just “snaps”, I like them all especially the 1st one !
Great work !
(For example today, out of about 700 shots, I like maybe 10)
Lucky you! :lol: On my first outing I thought my shots were wonderful on the LCD but then I got them home and they were 541t. I only have them on a slideshow now (another thing I toy’d with) but I’ve never used them again.
Re the images themselves:
#1 – I like it – I’d agree on maybe a B&W conversion or certainly a boost in contrast with the curves tool.
#2 – Slow water – we all do it at some stage and my main thoughts on this one are that you’ve got all the elements cleanly in the image. Nothing is left wanting, no half rocks on the edge of the image, etc.
#3 – Similar to #2 in that it’s well composed. This for most is the hard part – getting to know what makes a good photograph. Johns work to boost the image shows what can be done but it may be a little OTT :wink: .On the filters issue – I only have 2 – one is a ND filter (lets in 1000 times less light so lengthens the exposure) and an infrared filter (a whole world of fun) but I don’t own any other filters. They do give you subtle changes and improvements to images but I’ve never felt deprived for not having them.
alan
Like the first one, I found a great way for moving away from random shots was to pick a project, flesh it out on paper, do a bit of research as to what other established photographers might have done and then work the same project for a month. At the end of the day its great ideas and a lot of work that make consistently great images.
Nothing wrong with your photos I would however take issue with taking 700 images in a day. Can I suggest you slow down the process and take less photographs but put more time into the images you do take. Slow the whole process right down. I am a film based photographer so it can take 10 to 15 minutes to set up a shot. Average would be 18 images per shoot.
Choose a location, a single location and concentrate in this area and also decide before hand what type of image you are going to shoot. Look at Flickr or other sites for inspiration, seek out creative work on the Internet, move outside your comfort zone and try challenge yourself more creativley. Seek out portfolio type photography books, at this stage avoid all the self help photography books and concentrate on your own creativity. Try photograph with purpose.
For a while as an project only bring the gear you need to do the specific shots you have decided on. Example tripod one lens one camera body one filter. This will help you focus more on the subject, less distractions. Aim to get one really good image from your shoot, if you get one a week you will have 52 in a year. that will be some portfolio. Print you images and make all your images the same size which will help build up your portfolio. Get a good storage box archival if you can afford it and display your images to a high standard and show them off to friends. A good way to sell images also.
No 3 is a fine image to start your portfolio, its been done a million times before but you have done it well and deserves to be in your portfolio when you are happy with the processing.
Final advice is take images in all kinds of weather not just sunny bright days.
I hope this is helpful. Best of luck.
i thing the moral is not to conform to conventional patterns be your self and remember every photo is a piece of YOUR art :D and your history :D
There is a photoshop focus guide out this month on fecking with colour etc in photoshop. So I picked that up to see if I can learn something from it.
Thank you for all your great comments guys, I will take them all on board.
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