C+C my effort today(7 IMG's)? Also, Good composition books?

Hey all...

Back again for more boardsies advice, opinions, suggestions and I'm also looking for advice on a book, too.


Anywho... Slightly moving away from the world of Ambulances and Fire trucks for a short while (whilst I await other emergency services to get in touch with me), I awoke early today to catch a sunrise. Unfortunately I did the old "I'll get up in five minutes" routine, and slept well past it. So I was wandering about today and took some photomographs.

Just looking for other people's thoughts?

(By the way, I'm not expecting thoroughly in-depth analysis of the photos, just a general idea of whether you love them, hate them or are completely indifferent to them, although of course, tips on how to improve them or things to consider in future is always a bonus. I realise there's a lot of them, so just a general feeling on them would be great).















(Edited; updated to photograph with dust on sensor cloned out)



























Also, I was wondering if anyone could recommend any books that deal with composition in-depth? (ie; not a book that tells you what the rule of thirds is, and then skips on to symmetry, etc. but that tells you what rules of thirds is, gives examples of good and bad times to use it, what to look out for when using it, what to avoid, etc. etc.). In other words, a book that covers the subject and doesn't make me feel like I should've just Googled it.


Cheers guys

AnimalRights

we meet again!

Ok

#1 Looks more like a product placement shot with the white background and not a very good one at that.

#2 How can you go from such a bad shot to such a good shot! Love this! really do, I'd have liked a bit more grass at the bottom to so I get get a better perspective of the whole scene. I'd even like more of the picture on the left and right, the trees just seem crowded, but it's pretty close to a picture I'd frame.

#3 Decent, I probably couldn't do the same shot better, nothing too special of a normal flower shot.

#4 Dirt on sensor shows bottom left and even though you used f13 aperture the top of the railing in the centre didn't focus as well, odd that, I'm no DoF expert so someone else will probably explain that one better.
The shot itself I'm not mad on but I'm not mad on abstracts so thats just me.

#5 Too similar to last one to be in one C&C thread, some interesting DoF in this but the PP seems a bit flat and lifeless. The pic should have entered after the main in focus bit too, so no need for the right hand bit.

#6 There is a halo around the wire which is a big no no and as I said in #5 at the start, too many of the same, unless in future you do a story set to me thats the only time there should be similar type of C&C shots.

#7 If I hadnt've seen 4,5 and 6 I would've said not bad and potential for a story there between the barbed fence and the freedom of the bird, it could be executed better too.

Thecageyone

# 4, besides the obvious dirt spots, would be the pick of the set for me. First one is pretty bland, the outer leaves are over exposed and the inner ones under-exposed. 2 is ok and I like #7 too.

melekalikimaka

to be honest on the book front... composition... after the basic rule of thirds malarky... can't really be something read. have a look through images in books and galleries, flickr too, when i see an interesting shot, i sometimes write down the image in words in a my notepad, when you go back to it later, it really helps

AnimalRights

AnimalRights wrote: »

we meet again!

http://www.dramabutton.com/

AnimalRights wrote: »

#1 Looks more like a product placement shot with the white background and not a very good one at that.

#2 How can you go from such a bad shot to such a good shot! Love this! really do, I'd have liked a bit more grass at the bottom to so I get get a better perspective of the whole scene. I'd even like more of the picture on the left and right, the trees just seem crowded, but it's pretty close to a picture I'd frame.

I originally had grass at the bottom of the second shot I believe, but there was dirt and crap all over the ground. Kinda ruined it.

My original theory behind the first shot was to get the whole tree on it's own, with a foggy background (as it was foggy this morning) but it backfired on me and I ended up with that. I don't think it's too bad for what it is, but it's great to get another person's opinion. Helps with objectivity.

AnimalRights wrote: »

#3 Decent, I probably couldn't do the same shot better, nothing too special of a normal flower shot.

#4 Dirt on sensor shows bottom left and even though you used f13 aperture the top of the railing in the centre didn't focus as well, odd that, I'm no DoF expert so someone else will probably explain that one better.
The shot itself I'm not mad on but I'm not mad on abstracts so thats just me.

Didn't notice the lack of focus on the railing to be honest. Not trying to lie here, but still can't really see it.. It does look softer though. The sensor dirt is wrecking my head. Tried numerous times to rid of it, but to no avail. :mad: Must get someone to do a proper job on it.

AnimalRights wrote: »

#5 Too similar to last one to be in one C&C thread, some interesting DoF in this but the PP seems a bit flat and lifeless. The pic should have entered after the main in focus bit too, so no need for the right hand bit.

I agree with what you're saying about the right hand side not being necessary, but I seen this kind of focusing on a few different images and wanted to try it out. If you never try you never learn, and such.

AnimalRights wrote: »

#6 There is a halo around the wire which is a big no no and as I said in #5 at the start, too many of the same, unless in future you do a story set to me thats the only time there should be similar type of C&C shots.

Not really sure what a story set is? I assume three or four images, all incorporating the same theme? To be honest, this was going to be only the barbed wire/fence shots, but then I decided to throw in the flowers/trees at the last minute. I was just looking for opinions on the images independently and not related to each other, but I'll keep that in mind when posting C+C in future, thanks

AnimalRights wrote: »

#7 If I hadnt've seen 4,5 and 6 I would've said not bad and potential for a story there between the barbed fence and the freedom of the bird, it could be executed better too.

The last one is actually (probably?) my favourite of the lot. Not sure why.


Anyway, thanks a lot AR. I appreciate you taking the time to give your opinion on all the shots.

AnimalRights

I meant ofc to say ended not entered lol, I never read back and just post straight up.

daycent

A nice set. It looks like you've put a lot of thought into the composition which is good

Out of curiousity, does my (poor) attempt to clone out the dirt make the image any better or worse?

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4859/img9655pp23.jpg

Diabhal_Glas

Interesting Book on Composition

Thecageyone

Thecageyone wrote: »

# 4, besides the obvious dirt spots, would be the pick of the set for me. First one is pretty bland, the outer leaves are over exposed and the inner ones under-exposed. 2 is ok and I like #7 too.

Thanks for the reply. Looking back at the first shot, and reading that I can see what you mean. It's a bit all over the place

melekalikimaka wrote: »

to be honest on the book front... composition... after the basic rule of thirds malarky... can't really be something read. have a look through images in books and galleries, flickr too, when i see an interesting shot, i sometimes write down the image in words in a my notepad, when you go back to it later, it really helps

I tend to do look at other pictures online a fair bit, but I never write anything down. Do you mean write down stuff regarding the composition of the shot, or regarding the settings used to achieve similar photos? Not entirely sure what you could write down that'd help you out when you're out taking photos?

AnimalRights wrote: »

I meant ofc to say ended not entered lol, I never read back and just post straight up.

Doesn't really matter, I know what you meant (I think? The in-focus part should be the closest part to the camera?)

daycent wrote: »

A nice set. It looks like you've put a lot of thought into the composition which is good

I tried, I admit, but I'm still just learning ye olde basics. Hopefully I'll improve and my ratio of good/bad photographs will someday improve.

swingking

Deleted User wrote: »

Also, I was wondering if anyone could recommend any books that deal with composition in-depth?

Great book is The Photographer's Eye by Michael Freeman

Edit: just saw that Diabhal_Glas linked to it..

Thecageyone

Deleted User wrote: »

Out of curiousity, does my (poor) attempt to clone out the dirt make the image any better or worse?

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4859/img9655pp23.jpg

Much better, I like that shot.