CC: Seastreak Boat Ride

[Blitz]

(I didn't change NC to CC like I wanted to. Oops!)

I'll spare you the details, but basically I went on a boat ride Saturday morning up and down NYC, and snapped some pictures. There are a ton more then this, but these are the ones that I liked the most. I'm still REALLY new at photography, and am constantly getting better. Slowly but surely I'll learn my way around a camera. Anyway, I encourage constructive criticism, but if you're going to be negative at least give good reason as to why! The first two were my favorites of the pictures I took, and the second two I am torn between as possible gifts for my girlfriend's dad (he works construction on the tower).

Edit: Removed the Santa picture.

[Patti Edens]

Eric, I like the first one for all the detail you captured and I don't mind that it is not level. At times, intentionally shooting with crooked horizon adds some tension and drama to photos and I think it looks good here. Although, I suspect you shot it crooked because of the boat? Same as the second one.

I don't care for the second one for the same reason I like the first. It is a bit soft and the unlevel horizon doesn't appeal to me in this shot. Just my opinion, though. I'm no expert by any means.

I really like the last construction shot. That's my favorite of all of them. I think it would make a great gift just as is or maybe with a little perspective and straightening correction (example here). I did this using the Edit > Transform > Perspective tool in Photoshop.

[Blitz]

I very much appreciate the input, Patti! And yes, it is crooked because of the boat. I usually use a tri-pod for such pictures, but I didn't bring it with me. And I wish I could have gotten better colors out of the Santa shot, but we can't win 'em all. I'm just glad that I was able to capture such an event!

I'll try out the Perspective tool and post my results here.

Thank you =]

[lfmerrell]

Sounds like a great way to sea the area. Out of curiousity does the cruise take you past the Russian 9/11 tear drop memorial?

[auddii]

One hint if you're worried about the tilting pictures. My camera (xsi) has a live view function, and with that on, it displays grid lines on the screen, so you can line up the scene and make sure that it is level, even if the surface you are on is tilted.

Of course, if the boat was bobbing severely, that might still not be able to help, but it wouldn't matter for me anyways, since I'd be dangling over the side puking.

[Blitz]

Originally Posted by lfmerrell

Sounds like a great way to sea the area. Out of curiousity does the cruise take you past the Russian 9/11 tear drop memorial?

I don't believe so? It was freezing out, so I shot what I wanted to shoot and went back inside, lol. I need proper winter atire.

Originally Posted by auddii

One hint if you're worried about the tilting pictures. My camera (xsi) has a live view function, and with that on, it displays grid lines on the screen, so you can line up the scene and make sure that it is level, even if the surface you are on is tilted.

Of course, if the boat was bobbing severely, that might still not be able to help, but it wouldn't matter for me anyways, since I'd be dangling over the side puking.

Haha, I don't get any kind of motion sickness (knock on wood). I also love the grid. I don't always use it, and it wouldn't have helped anyway; the boat had slowed down so we could take pictures and see the Statue of Liberty and all that jazz, so it was pretty bumpy. Windy + on water = for most. I got some shots of a Helicopter as well, but they didn't come out too well. Maybe I'll post them and see if theres anything I can do to fix 'em.

[ronocnikral]

I'm not really a fan of any of these:

#1, I don't like that you cut off the top and bottom of the "support" structure. I also don't like that the "support" structure is not straight. Also, I would like some nice warm light like you would get at sunrise or sunset, which, with the source of light more to the side, would also give some "drama" and contrast side-to-side. I also don't get what the message you are trying to convey with this image.

#2 is soft, looks like it is falling into the water and a bunch of people in red are about to die. it is generally a good idea, and I would rather see a zoomed in picture with people in santa outfits filling most of the frame if that is your subject. same lighting suggestion as #1.

#3 and #4, I don't really understand what you are trying to convey or what the subject is, which make them not very interesting images for me. technical improvements have been discussed by others. same lighting suggestion as #1.

Overall, I think the biggest strides you can make in your photography is picking a single subject for your images and composing around that. I've seen lots of poorly executed images that are stunning to me b/c of the composition and the message the image is sending. W/o that, even the best technically executed images are boring to me. ymmv.

[Blitz]

I'm sorry that I can't please you with my photos. If you actually read my post, you would know that I was on a BOAT, and that I am NEW and still LEARNING. I didn't have all day to sit at one location to make sure that the light was perfect or that every single picture was straight. I had about 30 seconds at each location to snap a few shots, and for someone new at this isn't quite enough to get it right. Unfortunately, the sun was not where it needed to be in respects to what I was shooting, so that goes out the window right there. And as for #3 and 4, it's exactly easy to get a shot of the entire building and the cranes when it is surrounded by other buildings and you're on a boat. There were no openings where I could see enough of the building to really do much with it. Again, I am NEW at this and have yet to really figure out how to capture what is and is not aesthetically pleasing to people.

I swear, people love coming up with crazy assumptions that conditions are always perfect when others are shooting.

[auddii]

Originally Posted by Blitz

I'm sorry that I can't please you with my photos. If you actually read my post, you would know that I was on a BOAT, and that I am NEW and still LEARNING. I didn't have all day to sit at one location to make sure that the light was perfect or that every single picture was straight. I had about 30 seconds at each location to snap a few shots, and for someone new at this isn't quite enough to get it right. Unfortunately, the sun was not where it needed to be in respects to what I was shooting, so that goes out the window right there. And as for #3 and 4, it's exactly easy to get a shot of the entire building and the cranes when it is surrounded by other buildings and you're on a boat. There were no openings where I could see enough of the building to really do much with it. Again, I am NEW at this and have yet to really figure out how to capture what is and is not aesthetically pleasing to people.

I swear, people love coming up with crazy assumptions that conditions are always perfect when others are shooting.

You asked for critique on your photos. I'm sorry if not everyone was saying that they are great photos. However, even if conditions weren't optimal, you can go back and look at these photos and and listen to the critiques. You can't go back and change these, and you can only work with your conditions. But, if you understand what the critiques are saying you can apply what you learn to future shoots. It's a part of learning.

If you can't do that or don't want to hear the critiques, then maybe you should just post pictures as NC. However, it will be much harder to learn that way.

[Blitz]

I understand that I asked for critique, but I felt the need to defend myself. If he had read my post, he would have better understood the conditions I was facing and that there really was nothing that I personally could have done about it at the time.

Everything he said would have required me to be able to set camp at each location, which I could not do. Again, I am new at this and need time to assess the situation. Time that I did not have.

[KenJulio]

All - Please keep in mind, we all started somewhere, and are constantly learning.

Eric - please keep in mind, there has many discussions about people asking for critiques and not getting any responses. I'm not saying be grateful, but take the critiques with a grain of salt and take something away from it, if you can from the situation you were shooting in.

[lfmerrell]

[QUOTE=Blitz;1379680]I don't believe so? It was freezing out, so I shot what I wanted to shoot and went back inside, lol. I need proper winter atire

Having stood a Weather Station Bravo winter cruise (Think roughly 54N-50W in November-December) Cold on a boat is very understandable.

I checked out the Tear of Grief Wiki - To the Struggle Against World Terrorism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It is actually in Bayonne and in direct line with the Statue of Liberty and the former Twin Towers. Or so it said.

I find the freebie Google Earth to be a great help in photography. Scout out the lay of the land, terrain elevations an relative directions and projections structures/paths of interest. That along with the app Photo Emeresis lets you have a feel for the shadow fall during the suns daytime transit same for the moon.

I am old I think in bits and pieces. Capisce?

[Blitz]

Originally Posted by KenJulio

All - Please keep in mind, we all started somewhere, and are constantly learning.

Eric - please keep in mind, there has many discussions about people asking for critiques and not getting any responses. I'm not saying be grateful, but take the critiques with a grain of salt and take something away from it, if you can from the situation you were shooting in.

^This. Thank you.

[ronocnikral]

I did read the OP, and I did, and still do, know you were on a boat.

But, does that mean we should "handicap" your images? I've seen many good images taken in horrible conditions. and I've seen many poor images taken in optimal conditions. and I've done more of the latter myself. I understand your conditions weren't optimal, but that doesn't mean your image has to be a bad one. I made suggestions, and yes some would require a different environment, but it's what I would have done. and I am not a photography wizard, but I tried to share what I know with you.

you asked for CC, honest CC, and I told you what I thought. I spent a good deal of my break at work looking over and providing you with honest CC. I tried not to be personal and stick the facts, and I apologize if I was unsuccessful. While my thoughts are on your reaction are reserved for another conversation, I can't help to ask why people can tell you they are awesome with little explanation and all you say is "thanks."

I can redact my critique, tell you the images are awesome and we can all move on with our lives if that is your desire.

-ron "There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept" nikral

[Blitz]

I really don't want to have this conversation right now but just because you would have done something does not mean that anyone else would have done it. Creativity differs from person to person or else it wouldn't be called that, now would it? And like you said, "I've seen many good images taken in horrible conditions. and I've seen many poor images taken in optimal conditions." The fact of the matter is that I didn't have these conditions, so there was no way that I could have done what you had suggested. I appreciate the input, but there would have been no way for me to apply it with under the circumstances. I will keep what you said in mind when taking pictures for now on.

And yes, all I say is "thanks" because this is the internet. If someone were here complimenting my work then I would be able to express my thanks properly, but since they are not here and I have trouble expressing real emotion through text, a simple "thanks" will suffice.

This conversation as far as I am concerned is over. If anyone wishes to take it further, please PM me.