looking for some c&c

32finn

hey everyone,

i am looking for some c&c for some of my pix. so far all i have to go on is family and friends tellin me what they think but, i would love to hear what you have to say and give me some advice on how to improve.
good or bad let me have it :-)

so if anyone has the time visit my flickr page http://www.flickr.com/photos/32finn

all advice is greatly welcome and thank you for taking the time to check it out.

cheers,
les

ThOnda

First impression - google some tutorials for BW conversion, the presets don't serve your pictures well. And quite refreshing set of pictures you have.

32finn

cheers thonda, thanks for the advice

Fenster

Honestly, you have a hodge-podge selection of types and a mix of hit-and-miss images. I like the mono portraits, but in several of them (1, 2 and 3) I see burnt-out highlights. Are you using a direct flash for your portraits? Invest in a flashgun and diffuser, because it will pay for itself!

I do not like your landscape images. They are dull and either lacking in a spectacular background interest, or a contrasting foreground interest.

/elitistjerk

32finn

hey fenster, the three you are refering to were taken about 15 months ago. i was using a nikon f801 camera and some halogen lamps i had in the shed, think i had an sb28 on the camera also.
the first two on the page were taken a few days ago usin just window light and i was just lucky to be in the room at the time.

cheers for the heads up on the landscapes

32finn

btw, no longer usin the f801 nor the lamps ha

spav

I think you have a nice set of shots there. Some better than others, but it's clear that you're still trying to find your preferred style (as am I!). You've a bit to learn from a technical point of view, but that's half the fun of photography.

My only advice is to steer clear of the post-process frames that you have on some pics. It detracts from the images for me. Other than that, it seems to me that you're enjoying it, and you clearly have a decent eye. Some of the portraits look terrific to my untrained eye.

32finn

hey spav, cheers for the comments. i agree i still have a lot to learn and thats what im hoping to achive from this, finding out what im doing wrong and what im getting right. as for my style i think its going to be people photography mostly ( i love candid shots ) and will prob do some dusk shooting also.

thanks again

eolair

Nice enough as pictures, but I'd humbly suggest:

* learn how to do BW conversions, and how to apply different types of contrast to low, mid and high tones. Photoshop is your friend.

* learn how to position people / place lights / use flash. Many of the portraits are very flat in tone, or the subject isn't positioned in the most flattering light, esp to illuminate eyes.

* think what message / story you want the image to convey. If you see something and think 'that's nice' well, frankly it's not stirring much emotion is it. Find things that are shocking, surprising, funny, unusual, unique, beautiful, ugly, weird and wonderful - ie things that evoke strong emotions and feelings.

keep taking pics.

32finn

hey eolair, thanks for the advice and tips, ill take all into consideration next time, cheers