Warning: Amateur Photography

This is very amateur photography. My first photo assignment, actually (assigned by myself, I have no experience and have not taken any classes). These photos were taken in January, soon after i recieved a relatively nice camera for Christmas. Keep in mind that this is my first time taking pictures with that camera and my first time attempting photography as well. I know my photos are not that special. Soon I will take some more, hopefully with a little more creativity.

Selections From
"January Flowers and Things"
Photo Assignment One

They're all very nice, indeed. My favorite is the one with the fan spinning... and I take it these are all from Florida? There's some FL look to the vegetation.



Keep 'em coming.

Well they look nice, but I can't help but notice everything is up close. Having everything thing focus in to be as close as you can get it is not always good. Try to find that right spot where you get a nice view of more then that one thing. Hope that you understood what I'm trying to say.

I must say I love the flower photos, the first one was nice too, kind of captured the feeling of beeing a kid.

I have to say though that the rest of them lacked a soul, they didnt give me anything, no feeling, nothing I can truly remember about them. Well, thats just my opinion and actually the first post I do in this section so dont listen to me too much .

Originally Posted by Jehanne

They're all very nice, indeed. My favorite is the one with the fan spinning... and I take it these are all from Florida? There's some FL look to the vegetation.



Keep 'em coming.

Thanks. And yes, they're all from Florida. Honestly, most of those photos don't give an accurate picture of what 'my Florida' (the area in which I live) looks like. I took pictures of this one quaint house (the fan, umbrella chime, and tree with objects) mainly because it was so unique to the other houses around it.

Originally Posted by nikuvillain

Well they look nice, but I can't help but notice everything is up close. Having everything thing focus in to be as close as you can get it is not always good. Try to find that right spot where you get a nice view of more then that one thing. Hope that you understood what I'm trying to say.

Most of the photos are close up because my camera takes better pictures that way. It looks better close up then in 'landscapes'. Next time I'll try to add more diversity to the angles and zoom lengths of the photos.

Originally Posted by Anarand

I must say I love the flower photos, the first one was nice too, kind of captured the feeling of beeing a kid.

I have to say though that the rest of them lacked a soul, they didnt give me anything, no feeling, nothing I can truly remember about them. Well, thats just my opinion and actually the first post I do in this section so dont listen to me too much .

I suppose it's a matter of opinion. My friend liked the umbrella chime and spiked tree the best, for instance. But, about the photos having a soul...I really like that. Thinking of it in that way will really help me. Thanks.

Originally Posted by dann

But, about the photos having a soul...I really like that. Thinking of it in that way will really help me.

Hmm. I have a lot of photos myself of buildings/plants/animals. I wonder if people would say that they lack "soul"? Maybe I'll post them to find out. I mean, I think they're just fine, but I don't take the pictures with "soul" in mind. How does one do that?

dann, if you get a couple good ones that people say have "soul," please let me know; I could practice, too.

Very nice. I am also a fellow photographer. I hope you don't mind if I critic them a little?

1) Very interesting composition of the lines and curves. The only problem is that it's not quite sharp enough. Most of the fine details show up, but they lack edge.

2) 10/10 Truly exceptional!

3) Also very well done. But the left-most flower is a little out of focus.

4) Also well done, but it lacks impact. There's not enough constrast, I think.

5) I love the concept, but I would have tried a slightly different angle. The path of the water is too linear, and the background is a bit distracting.

6) It's nice, but its also too linear. I would have cut out the top third and the left third.

7) One of the best photos I've seen in a while. The blur of the windmill combined with the sharpness of the surroundings, as well as the eye-drawing lines of the leaves are wonderful. d ^_^ b

8) Very nice contradicting lines and shapes.

9) Hmmm . . . It's kinda bland. It would have been better if the sky were a lot brighter, and the tree darker.

10) Very nice. I love how you used the depth of field.

Ahhh, please don't take anything I said too seriously. I just couldn't help but take a professional eye to them (Not that I can truly call myself "professional"). ^_^; What kind of camera do you have? Do you have different lenses?

Thank you, I enjoy critique. It helps me become a better photographer. Since I'm very unexperienced, I'll take all the advice I can get.

As for my camera? Canon Digital Rebel XT. I only have one lens, and that is the lens it came with. I'd love to get another lens, but right now, I can't afford it. Like I said, I've only had this camera since Christmas, and it's my first 'professional' camera.

Yeah I could definately tell those were form florida, especially with the structure (as little as you see) of the building.

Some of these are quite nice, in particular the one with the little pinwheel and the windchimes. I think you could do a better job in choosing some of your angles, though. Right now it seems like you just took them to look neat, not to capture any sort of emotion or character of the subject matter.

The water foutain and windmill I like, but if you want to show some emotional depth in the windmill phot, you could take a picture of not only the windmill, but the building behind as well as to capture the whole picture perfectly. Still, nice photography.

Originally Posted by sea

Some of these are quite nice, in particular the one with the little pinwheel and the windchimes. I think you could do a better job in choosing some of your angles, though. Right now it seems like you just took them to look neat, not to capture any sort of emotion or character of the subject matter.

Yes, you're right about the last part. When I have time to take some more photos, I'm going to put some thought and meaning behind them.

Originally Posted by Nox

The water foutain and windmill I like, but if you want to show some emotional depth in the windmill phot, you could take a picture of not only the windmill, but the building behind as well as to capture the whole picture perfectly. Still, nice photography.

Thanks.

More photos are on the way soon, hopefully by the end of the week. I'm going to try and give them alot more creativity this time. Thanks everyone for your comments and critique.

Originally Posted by Nox

The water foutain and windmill I like, but if you want to show some emotional depth in the windmill phot, you could take a picture of not only the windmill, but the building behind as well as to capture the whole picture perfectly. Still, nice photography.

Hmmm . . . I'd have to disagree. If she included more background, the effects of the windmill and plants would have been lost, and it would have lost emotional depth. As it is, there's just enough of the building showing up behind it to provide a nice background and contrasting lines.

Don't use the flash all that often indoors unless it's part of your original concept, it's far better to use set-up lighting and such.

The fan would have been a better picture if the shutter speed was a lot faster, the movement blur really distracts from the peice.

The tree photo could have used some diffused lighting, a silohette would have been much more fitting.

The last photograph really bothers me, in such a close up shot, the flowers closest to the veiwer should have been the most in focus, then visibility sould have decreased according to distance.

Otherwise, great start.

Thats all very beautiful.

I love the four in a row!

nice start, I especially like the last one.

maybe try taking any upcoming photos at a larger resolution.