Photo Critique

[redsoxmariano]

My name is Mariano Palacios from Irving, I just started taking pictures about 3 weeks ago... I'm 17 and I've never done this before... how can I improve? I am using a Sony camera or something like that.
Gracias

[msabas]

Great Pics.. btw.. I'snt your first name just awesome... So is mine..


Well first off.. I think you should just practice. the more you shoot the better you get.

There is so much stuff to read on this site look at all the photo tips lighting and everything there is to offfer.. The photographers here are way beyond professional and everyone study their phots look at what they do..

But so far not bad on what you posted

[texkam]

Become addicted to this forum. Look and listen to how the "big dogs" do it. Then go for it! You'll get better and better and if you have "the gift", you'll become great.

[humminboid]

By George, I think you have it!

Good pixes! Keep at it, study what others do, look at pictures by good photogs, and above all, ask questions. There is always someone who likes to share info with others.

Like yesterday, I was at the race track, shooting practice laps for the American Le Mans Series races.

A buddy of mine, who shoots for a publication, sauntered up, and said "HINT!" Nothing subtle about this guy. He then told me that panning the cars was lots easier if I would wait till the yellow flag is out.

He was right, 35mph is much easier to photograph than 120. I knew that, but just hadn't thought of it yet. Most of us are of the same inclinaton.

Just one of the many good parts of photography. Keep at it: the more you shoot, the better you'll get.

[Anacott]

Good start! I like the angles on the middle two shots. For portraits make sure and focus on the eyes. Other parts can be soft but the eyes are most important. Keep reading!

[L Stegall]

Welcome to the forum. The first thing I gave my nephew, along with a camera for graduation, was the book "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. I highly recommend it to you as well, as your photography will grow by leaps and bounds if you understand how aperture, ISO and shutter speed all interact. Once you do, you can get consistent results. I think Peterson does a great job of explaining all those things (and showing with examples) and it is a great reference tool. Of course, there is a lot of great information here as well (although, keep in mind, that there are people of all levels offering free advice, so take a lot of it with a grain of salt - you'll quickly figure out who can back up what they say with great images). Good luck and keep posting.

[venchka]

I'm serious as a stroke. I wish I had gotten this advice when I was your age.

Follow this link.

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad...eica-year.html

Follow Mike's directions.

Avoid computers and Forums like this.

Come back in a year and show us how good you are. You will be very proud of what you have accomplished. We will all be envious of your skills.

Go here for good deals on Leica cameras and lenses:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/phot...ndex.php?cat=1

Do not believe people who say Leica cameras and lenses are expensive. If you don't overpay (you will overpay if you buy on ebay) you can use a Leica camera and lens for 1 year and sell them for what you paid for them. Maybe make a little profit if you get a good deal.

Good luck!

Wayne
Who wishes he had gotten such good advice when he was 17.

[L Stegall]

Other than the Leica part, that is pretty much the way I learned photography....my dad's Leica got stolen (see Heather's post about people sucking who break into houses and steal stuff), so I had started with an all manual Minolta and a 50 mm lens, rolls of Tri-X and learned to develop and print my film. I still have all those negatives to this day.

The point, I believe, is that using film and a single prime lens teaches you how to stop, think and then compose your shot and get it right -- in camera. All the rest is just icing on the cake if you can do that. I still recommend the Peterson book, so you'll understand why you would, for example, choose f/4 v f/11 when either one could get you a correct exposure.

[venchka]

Lisa is on the money. Add a hand meter to the knowledge gained from the Peterson book.

1 all manual camera
1 lens
1 meter
1 film
I suppose it follows that you should use 1 developer also.

You could do worse.

[L Stegall]

Oh, and if you do decide to do something like this and aren't into the whole darkroom part of it, BWC on Maple will develop your b/w film and do just a contact sheet for you and that's a lot cheaper than getting the entire roll printed. Other than BWC, I don't really know places locally that do develop b/w film. I know that Cooter's Village Cameras in HP Village sent theirs to BWC to develop, but dropping it off there added days to your wait to get it back.

[venchka]

Kodak BW400CN is B&W film that goes through the C-41 (color negative) machines at Walgreens, CVS, Costco, Wolf/Ritz, etc. You can have a roll developed and small scan fils placed on a CD for about $5/roll. Except at Wolf/ritz. They charge about $15/roll.

[Jake]

Welcome to the forum Mariano!
Your photos look pretty darn good.

I'm going to have to disagree with Wayne though. Don't avoid computers and forums like this.

Different people learn in different ways. The way that Wayne is suggesting you learn is great and all, but not the way I would recommend.

I know for me, going from a film SLR to a digital SLR really sped up the learning process by a large margin.
Taking it even a step further, I would say I'm a better photographer because of the digital learning process.

[Coolclarkie]

Mariano,, Good start with the photos. It took me a few years to get photos i was proud of. The composition in your photos is good. My tip don't rely on the camera to do your work learn the manual setting and understand what the F stop ISO and shutter speed are and why they do what they do. PRACTICE PRACTICE. Good luck.