I would be greateful for your advice/opinions

[Fallow Way]

Hi

I am about to receive a new Canon 450D as I have decided to take a step into photogrtaphy much more than I previously have.

I thought as a starting point, I would upload into Flickr a collection of photos I am partial to which I have collected over the years by playing with a variety of compact cameras. They are a snapshot if you excuse the pun of where I am starting from so that I and others can compare my progress.

I would be interested in any comments or opinions you all have on my piccies at present, especially what would have made them better photos.

www.flickr.com/photos/fallow_way

Best Wishes

Paul

 

[chris_r]

Paul,

Great shot of the Damsel. I love it.

The shots of the foot hills would benefit from more foreground interest; rocks, stumps, etc. One trick is to get closer to the ground, this would have brought the texture of the heather into frame to a greater extent.

Hope this helps.

 

[Matthew.Passmore]

I like them all, one thing that I think would improve some of them is if the subject was off to one side instead of in the centre of the photo.

 

[Rob]

Sounds like all of your walks are going to take twice as long now I guess you will have lenses on your christmas list from now on.

Getting down on the ground for landscapes is sometimes great - as said above. I dont know how wide an angle your compacts gave you.

You seem to be looking up and down etc to find intersting subjects.

Did you use a tripod for the macro shots?

 

[Fallow Way]

No Tripod Rob.


Matthew - yes, i have come across the 1/3 rule/guide and have started looking at images with that in mind and it does make sense.

Thats for your suggestions guys, as I said, I`ve been a `happy snapper` up until now so now that I am taking an interest in developing my skills, these comments are really useful.

Paul

 

[Wayland]

The rule of thirds is a great starting point towards thinking photography.

Just to add another three, I usually reckon a "good" photo often has three elements to it.

This might be interest in three places or a prominent object, an interesting background and good lighting or atmosphere.

Take a look at pictures you like and see how often it is true.

Look at pictures that don't quite work and see what is missing.

When I take pictures I'm usually looking for good ways to include all those elements in the frame, if you can get some of them on the thirds, all the better.

As with all these "rules" the most important thing about them is that they help you to think about your shot as a finished photograph, they are a way of making you previsualise you picture.

It doesn't mean you can't break the rules, but try to think about them first.

 

[Fallow Way]

Thanks Wayland,

Can you say if any of them are photos I could develop on, by that I mean there is something promising in X photo and I just to refine how I take that sort of photo?

thanks again for the advice.

Paul

 

[Wayland]

I think your natural history shots are great, carry on what you're doing there and you won't go far wrong at all.

The landscapes need a little more in the foreground for my taste.

Moving in a bit closer to the heather in the foothills of Wales for example would create more depth and makes the heather a more important element in the picture, one of the three with the hills and the sky making the others.

Does that make sense?

 

[Fallow Way]

that makes perfect sense, I will be out on the forest durin gthe next couple of weeks to put that into effect. Thank you.

 

[Fallow Way]

I have started to upload the first photos I have taken with my Canon 450D at www.flickr.com/photos/fallow_way.

About half of the ones I think are decent are up there at the minute, with a few variations having played with the levels.

Please let me know what you all think and again, if there are any suggestions/advice, it would be warmly received.

Paul

 

[Fallow Way]

I`ve been adding a few photos agaoin, some I am not as happy with, however I know it was because they were taken in poor light conditions, I just didnt want to stop taking photos

 

[jongir]

Hi Fallow
No Comments as such, as I'm no photographer. Just thought I'd let you know that I really liked the timothy grass shot. thay all look really great to me. and as someone who works on the chase I really liked your chase shot.(pottal pool).

 

[Fallow Way]

Close, but no Pottal on there I`m afraid

 

[ArkAngel]

All in all a very good portfolio of work so far.

Personally i am not a lover of "weird" borders, preferring a simple thin black border but it is individual taste.

You are obviously thinking about what you are taking and how best to photograph them which is great. High and low viewpoints are one of the ways to break away from the "happy snapper" routine of standing up, camera to eye.

As has been said already, think about rule of thirds and a bit more foreground in your landscapes even if it's only a few rocks (and in this case a change of shooting position)

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k98/ArkAngel_06/DalesWaterfallcopy.jpg

or a fence

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k98/ArkAngel_06/CrimpleValley.jpg

just something to "lead" you into picture.

Otherwise great work, keep it up

 

[Fallow Way]

thanks for that