critique my photos!!!

[Buddenbohn]

hey everybody,

im new to the DSLR scene, but i got a canon digital rebel xt today after wanting one for over a year! i went out and took some pictures basically just messing around. i figured yall could provide some good advice and/or criticism for me. here's a couple of my pictures i took.





We found these two really cool houses, both were built by some "rich guy" from what my buddy who grew up in this neighborhood told me.
















Anyways, these are a few of the ones i had time to resize etc. let me know what yall think and what i could do better, im sure that just experimenting alot with the camera will really help me alot. i'll probably also pick up a book on DSLR's, any suggestions?

Thanks alot,

Eric

[rockpics]

The fourth one is my favorite. The sky is well exposed, the angle of the clouds gives a
nice dynamic feel, and the house is well positioned within the frame -- not to mention it is a very unusual house! I'd like to see the inside of it. I also noticed that the angle of the house
mimics the angle of the clouds, and the fence coming in from the left side intersects these
angles and leads the eye to the house. Nice composition. I'm guessing this shot was taken
at mid-morning, which is a good time of day. Noonish often results in harsh shadows unless your are a pro with flash and a whole 'nother bag of tricks.

[widdors]

The 2nd photo would be awesome a little later in the day, when the dry grass wouldn't be so blown out and draw your attention from the giant dog statue. Is is a dog statue? I also really liked the geese flying low across the pond, and I think if you increased the brightness and contrast on it you'd have an excellent shot. Awesome pics for the first go around with a new camera!

[Cope]

Originally Posted by widdors

The 2nd photo would be awesome a little later in the day, when the dry grass wouldn't be so blown out and draw your attention from the giant dog statue. Is is a dog statue? I also really liked the geese flying low across the pond, and I think if you increased the brightness and contrast on it you'd have an excellent shot. Awesome pics for the first go around with a new camera!

The dog statue is a house.

[Cope]

look for the Magic Lantern books; they must have one to cover your camera. BTW, I got one for my Maxxum 5D from WalMart online for under $15 shipped.

[Finepixdude]

I use to live at Lake Ramson Canyon in the seventies.. when the first started making the Steel House.. wow.. brings back memorys... nice pics.. I remember when I waterski on that lake got more that 6 boats got to ruff ... lol.. anyways nice pics

[widdors]

Wow, a house!? That definetly wasn't my first impression. I guess it would be easy to give people directions.

[Cope]

Originally Posted by widdors

Wow, a house!? That definetly wasn't my first impression. I guess it would be easy to give people directions.

I know some people who still couldn't find it. One guy I worked with was lost in Nashville. I asked where he was and he said he didn't know. I was there a couple of months later with our boss and he showed me the spot. Right next to a highway marker!