Critique of my pictures

[Exterous]

Hi all,

We recently got back from ireland and this was the first time I had ever really had a chance to play with somewhat detailed camera settings.

I was hoping you all might be able to shed some light on what I did well (if anything) and what I could have done differently/better - including composition. I don't think I could even be considered an amateur photographer but it is something that I want to get better at. I am particularly interested in the first two. I had a really hard time dealing with the boat motion and all of the light reflecting off of the ocean

ISO 200, F4.0, 1/1000

ISO 160, 1/800, F4.5

Thanks!

 

[Gooberlx2]

Nice shots. Really makes me want to visit Ireland (or anywhere really, I haven't had a vacation in years )

Anyway, I'm a big fan of the church shot (really shows what the S95 can do at higher ISOs). Just level/straighten it out. Something like Windows Live Photo Gallery, Picasa, etc... should have tools that do it easily.

 

[Exterous]

Nice shots. Really makes me want to visit Ireland (or anywhere really, I haven't had a vacation in years )

Anyway, I'm a big fan of the church shot (really shows what the S95 can do at higher ISOs). Just level/straighten it out. Something like Windows Live Photo Gallery, Picasa, etc... should have tools that do it easily.

Good call on the straightening out. I don't know why I didn't think of that - I just kept looking at that picture and wishing I hadn't had to rush it because of the other people randomly milling about

If it make syou feel better it's the first real vacationw e took in 6 years

 

[Lotheron]

Take these with a grain of salt as to what I would do:

#1 I would crop off the top/bottom a bit. There's a little too much water and sky. Cutting those off would direct your eyes to the main focal point.

#3: just straighten as Goober said. I might crop to center the back wall as the main focal point.

#4: I like it, just not much going on. There's not really something to look at.

#2,5,6: I like em!

All and all, great shots! The S95 is a great camera.

 

[Exterous]

Take these with a grain of salt as to what I would do:

#1 I would crop off the top/bottom a bit. There's a little too much water and sky. Cutting those off would direct your eyes to the main focal point.

#3: just straighten as Goober said. I might crop to center the back wall as the main focal point.

#4: I like it, just not much going on. There's not really something to look at.

#2,5,6: I like em!

All and all, great shots! The S95 is a great camera.

Thanks! I will crop #1 a bit
As for #4 I know there isn't much to it but I really like the giant green field going to the blue sky. I find it relaxing (but I can definately see your point)

 

[Gooberlx2]

My only wishes for #6 would be that you were positioned more left, so that (it seems) the tower would be less obstructed by the trees....for me, it's a little too much foliage in front of what looks like a super interesting castle.

You may not have been allowed though if it was a roped off area. That's totally understandable.

Maybe underexpose it slightly so that the highlights from clouds aren't as blown out; dodge/burn later as needed. If you shot RAW, it would be interesting to see how much can be recovered.

 

[CuriousMike]

The first two do nothing for me - they just look like someone on a boat snapping pictures.
#3, the church, is fine.
#4 - Snapshot.
#5 - Big promise there. Perhaps shot wider, or turn the camera sideways.
#6 - Good snapshot.

Rule of thirds will help you with some of the landscape shots.

 

[Exterous]

You may not have been allowed though if it was a roped off area. That's totally understandable.

Maybe underexpose it slightly so that the highlights from clouds aren't as blown out; dodge/burn later as needed. If you shot RAW, it would be interesting to see how much can be recovered.

There was actually a souvenier shop right there. Thats a great point about the clouds. That means my ISO setting should have been lower, right?

I was playing around with the photo some and there is a fair bit that does look like it can be recovered. Sadly I can't figure out how to bring that out without completely destroying the rest of the picture although that could be a limitation of the software. I'll bet I've got something better around here somewhere. Thanks for the tip!

The first two do nothing for me - they just look like someone on a boat snapping pictures.
#3, the church, is fine.
#4 - Snapshot.
#5 - Big promise there. Perhaps shot wider, or turn the camera sideways.
#6 - Good snapshot.

Rule of thirds will help you with some of the landscape shots.

Thanks! Just read up on the rule of thirds. I guess that explains the grid overlay on the camera LCD screen :awe: It appears I have much more work to do in composing my pictures

I appriciate the time guys!

 

[Gooberlx2]

That means my ISO setting should have been lower, right

Or a faster shutter speed, or smaller sperture, etc... Whatever helps get you the look you want.

I was playing around with the photo some and there is a fair bit that does look like it can be recovered. Sadly I can't figure out how to bring that out without completely destroying the rest of the picture although that could be a limitation of the software. I'll bet I've got something better around here somewhere. Thanks for the tip!

What software are you using? Since the S95 shoots RAW, I'd assume it can use Canon's software, Digital Photo Professional, which is pretty good actually. Is the file a RAW file anyway? Rawtherapee is a good free RAW processor, Adobe Photoshop Elements has a limited version of Adobe Camera Raw, you could install a trial of Lightroom, etc, etc...

 

[Exterous]

Or a faster shutter speed, or smaller sperture, etc... Whatever helps get you the look you want.

What software are you using? Since the S95 shoots RAW, I'd assume it can use Canon's software, Digital Photo Professional, which is pretty good actually. Is the file a RAW file anyway? Rawtherapee is a good free RAW processor, Adobe Photoshop Elements has a limited version of Adobe Camera Raw, you could install a trial of Lightroom, etc, etc...

Yeah - it's in a RAW and it's canon's DPP software. I have been playing around with it and it is pretty good. The only issue is that I can't figure out how to dodge and/or burn only certain areas of the photo while leaving the others alone

 

[Gooberlx2]

I don't think you can. You can do it in Lightroom. Or make your RAW adjustments in DPP, then save a tiff and work on that in Photoshop/Gimp/PSP/whatever.

 

[Smoove910]

The biggest improvement you can ever make to your pictures (once you learn the ins and outs of your camera) is WHEN you shoot your shots. Look up the term 'civil twilight' and try to capture your shots during those times. Your local weather station/website should have forecasts down to the minute on when it occurs locally. That is when you take your shots from a 'nice shot' to a 'HOLY SHIT!' shot...

Good luck and cheers!

 

[ElFenix]

nice job on the exposure in the church. getting stained glass windows and the interior lighting can be difficult

 

[Exterous]

The biggest improvement you can ever make to your pictures (once you learn the ins and outs of your camera) is WHEN you shoot your shots. Look up the term 'civil twilight' and try to capture your shots during those times. Your local weather station/website should have forecasts down to the minute on when it occurs locally. That is when you take your shots from a 'nice shot' to a 'HOLY SHIT!' shot...

Good luck and cheers!

I looked up Civil Twilight and I am not sure that I am into their music Thanks for the tip!

nice job on the exposure in the church. getting stained glass windows and the interior lighting can be difficult

Thanks!

 

[Rottie]

Straight up your church photo Adobe photoshop element can do straight up. anyway I like your church photo.

 

[JohnnyRebel]

At some point I started liking something in the foreground when I shoot these sort of shots. In #4 something is casting a shadow on the left. Maybe if that was in the foreground (assuming it has some interesting texture or angles). Whatever it is would probably look good in the lower left "box" (rule of thirds) of the frame, keeping everything in focus.

#1 and #2, I just don't know. They don't sing to me even though they are beautiful shots. All of our shots are not going to be art. There is huge value in using photos to record memories. Those shores are something worth recording, even if it's hard to get them to tell a story.

Leading lines are useful. In #3 the ends of the pews almost do this. Maybe bring the camera over to the left, start the pew line in the lower left corner and have it point to where the communion elements would be. Have one of the candles in the foreground, out of focus but not so much bokeh where you can't tell what it is. The blown highlights in the glass are just going to happen, especially with the S95. The only thing you might have done is to underexpose another shot of the same (bracketing, sort of)and see if you could bring the light levels up afterwards. When the highlights are clipped they are gone.

#5 is pretty cool. I might have gotten down low with the camera (I hate to shoot nature from eye level) and gotten something in foreground. Just changing perspective from what we always see can make an interesting shot.

#6 more of the same. Forground, leading lines, have the trees/bushes and other structures frame what you wanted to see.

Add a pretty girl to all the above...

JR