Some pictures I took with my new camera...

[KenJulio]

We're all here to help

Michael - thx for helping :)

[iCe]

Originally Posted by Dustin

I understand. I apologize.

vBulletin is a very powerful script. Even if I did upload a 2000x2000px image, it would be automatically resized. In the original post, I didn't use the uploader, I use the BBCode for images which is

[img]link goes here[/img]

I upload and sometimes I use the img tags. I spent a lot of time working on making my uploaded images really small so that WHEN (not if) someone ganks one they get a 100k or less file that looks decent on the web and doesn't print very well (even when Perfect Resize or some other uprez program is used)

PS- no apologies necessary. Just post more images

[Dustin]

Originally Posted by iCe

I upload and sometimes I use the img tags. I spent a lot of time working on making my uploaded images really small so that WHEN (not if) someone ganks one they get a 100k or less file that looks decent on the web and doesn't print very well (even when Perfect Resize or some other uprez program is used)

PS- no apologies necessary. Just post more images

:)

No no, I should apologize. I wasn't thinking about others and their internet situation, however, I appreciate your diplomacy toward this situation!

[iCe]

It's all good. Lets talk about images...

(1) Everyone is going to have an opinion. This forum is full of good people that reply to help. I doubt if you will every get a response that is intended to be anything but help. With that in mind, have fun...

(2) I like Photoshop as my image editor so I am naturally going to lean toward suggesting that you learn to "gently" use CS. However, the software is not cheap (unless you are a student and even then it's not "cheap"). The digital darkroom, as its called is as important as the camera. The most important part though, is the photographer. I've never seen a camera take a great image.

I don't like what I did to this image to be honest (theres an opinion for you ). I was going to show you what a few quick photoshop tweaks can do for an image but I kind of over did one of them. I flattened the image before I noticed and since the point was the crop not the tweaks I decided to post as is.



The crop is what's known as a square crop. If ever there was a time when a centered image can work it's with a square crop. I also took out the stray leaf at the bottom left. Now you have a somewhat uncluttered background and the focus is on the flower not the big dark spot in the upper right corner.

Light is your friend. One of your images has a pink flower to the far left side. The bulk of the image is "empty". If you crop the center to right side of the image out it'll bring the focus to the flower. BUT- the thing that really brings the focus to the flower is the little kiss of light on it. Your'e eye saw that and that's what caused you to shoot the image, even if it was unconscious.

Carrying the idea of light being your friend on a little further- The puppy is cute as it stands but it if was just a little brighter and the background was a little darker the puppy would stand out. When I look at the image my eye wanders back to something laying on the floor. If I remember right it's pink or close to it. That's not the important part of the image but I remember it... see how it works? With a little contrast mask you could bring the puppy up and the background down but you can also accomplish the same with a little bit of light. It doesn't even have to be flash. A lamp or something like it that lights up the dog (and that's all) could help. The proper use of fill flash, by the way, is an art in and of itself. PS- I realize that it was a candid shot and sometimes it is what it is. I'm just using the image as an example.

[iCe]

Two more...

This is what's known as a 4x5 landscape crop. I set my crop tool to 8" x 10" out of habit. 8x10 is the same "format" as 4x5 (4x2=8 and 5x2=10)

I couldn't bring the dog up in brightness any but I (quickly) took the pink thing out. With more time and effort it could've been removed with not trace. That said- what else do you see that takes away from the dog. Where does your eye go? If you shoot raw format you have a lot more tools to work with. If you strive to shoot the best you possibly can you need fewer tools. You seem to do a pretty good job with exposure... Just keep an eye on the background and how the subject is lit.



This is one of those times where you can't really do anything... the crop helps but the background is too cluttered and the foreground is OOF (out of focus).



I hope this helps in some way...

[Dustin]

Thanks for the advice! I really appreciate it! I read somewhere that with regard to composition, it's sometimes nice to have the subject off to the side or bottom (rule of thirds) and still have some background for the viewers' eyes to play with. I honestly got lucky with that picture of the dog. She has an attention span of about two seconds, and I didn't have much time to play with the background, I just squatted and shot. But I see where you're coming from and I appreciate the tips! If I have time to modify the "backdrop," I will keep those ideas in mind!

[iCe]

Originally Posted by Dustin

Thanks for the advice! I really appreciate it! I read somewhere that with regard to composition, it's sometimes nice to have the subject off to the side or bottom (rule of thirds) and still have some background for the viewers' eyes to play with. I honestly got lucky with that picture of the dog. She has an attention span of about two seconds, and I didn't have much time to play with the background, I just squatted and shot. But I see where you're coming from and I appreciate the tips! If I have time to modify the "backdrop," I will keep those ideas in mind!

The "Rule of Thirds" is pretty handy but its not the end of the world if you break it. There's another "rule" that works as well or better in some cases. Look up Golden Mean.

Centered in a square crop is sometimes good. I've even broken (stomped on and pee'd all over actually) the landscape rule of not centering the horizon in the frame with more than a few images. I hate rules.

Examples of broken rules















That said... there's nothing wrong with following rules if you are so inclined.

[Dustin]

Originally Posted by iCe

The "Rule of Thirds" is pretty handy but its not the end of the world if you break it. There's another "rule" that works as well or better in some cases. Look up Golden Mean.

Centered in a square crop is sometimes good. I've even broken (stomped on and pee'd all over actually) the landscape rule of not centering the horizon in the frame with more than a few images. I hate rules.

Examples of broken rules

That said... there's nothing wrong with following rules if you are so inclined.

Hey! I am good at breaking rules, so that won't be a problem!

Those are cool pictures! I'll check out the golden mean when I get back home.

Can't say how grateful I am for all the help here! Great site!