please critique?

[technodoll]

OK here are three photos i snapped with my new Nikon D80, in natural forest daylight, just with the auto setting. How could i improve these photos to make them WOW and not just NICE? Not talking about photoshop or anything, just focus, composition, etc. i have a general idea of what i'm doing but want to get really good at it! thank you!

[~michelle~]

im jealous i want a good camera!!! i cant give you an hints or advice..... just sending evil jealous stares your way \ /
-

[technodoll]

i always wondered what one of those stares would look like, LOL! well FINE, you have THREE dogs and I'm jealous! so we're even teehee

[~michelle~]

awesome i like when things are even...... btw when are you going to be getting your next dog TD????... you've been talking rescue.

[technodoll]

michelle as soon as we live in a house with a yard and not in a small rented appartment in the city... it will be a joy and a blessing to rescue a dog or two in need. i can,t wait!

ok back to the photos, i need critiques! LOL

[Byrd]

The first one is AWESOME!!! But, what the heck is that in the third one?

You live in an apartment with TWO Akitas??????

[~michelle~]

oh wow i was just looking at the info on your camera online!!!! wow wow wow .... what would happen when taking photos if you used the skylight filter effect with those photos??? ok im not critiquing, but you learn best by teaching right? it looks like a wonderful camera thats easier to use than some. and 10 megapixels are you thinking of taking a photography course. that camera is going to allow you to get some magnificent photos of the beanies and blow them up without distortion, oh wow i think i am in love with your camera.... im asking for one for my bday! i like all the in-camera editing options

[technodoll]

Originally Posted by byrd

The first one is AWESOME!!! But, what the heck is that in the third one?

You live in an apartment with TWO Akitas??????

LOL! it's actually a rock on a tree stump and yes, two keeters in our small appartment... thankfully they are very quiet and we all fit pretty well in here although i dream of the day we buy our own house

Originally Posted by michelle

what would happen when taking photos if you used the skylight filter effect with those photos???

hmm i don't know, what is a skylight filter effect? DUUHH i know nothing yet, it's actually quite daunting... sigh. i better start studying eh? LOL! and yes put it on your birthday list

[~michelle~]

i dont know what it is either but your camera has it , tomorrow you should take some pics with that on Im curious now giving you more work to do TD

[Prin]

Great pics, but if it was me...

Pic 1: Just the lighting would be different. The shadow on the branch in focus takes away the feeling like this branch is out alone.. You know what I mean? The shadow makes it more claustrophobic. Hard to explain.. Oh and I would have opened the aperture a bit more to get the background branches more blended in...

Pic 2: I would have put the aperture a bit smaller. Just a bit. So all the grassy thingies would be in focus, but the background wouldn't have been. Or if it was already small, I'd have opened it up and just gotten a couple in the same plane in focus... You know? the background blurry ones just take away from the front ones.

Pic 3: Just the lighting again. Of course, in Quebec, in the winter, you can't always pic your lighting, but if you could, I'd have the light coming from above at an angle... So the pumpkinny guy had no shadows on him. A filler flash might also have made that picture better... Oh and same for the aperture. You're kind of in the middle, so it's half in focus and half not. You just have to decide if you want us to see it or not. If you want us to see the background, pump it up and if you don't, open up the aperture all the way.

Don't forget that with digital, you can shoot the pic as is, and then move the settings and shoot again and again. Later on, you look at them and decide which technique you like best. The good thing about digital is it saves everything about how you shot the pic so you can recreate it.

[Prin]

Oh and definitely drop your ISO speed. You're at 800. You should try to be at 200 or maybe 400 (max). The pics will be sharper and better to blow up. I like to shoot at 100 when I can... But with black doggies, it's hard.

[technodoll]

wow! thank you prin! just the info i was looking for... all these were shot in the "autofocus" thingie mode, nothing manual so no aperture manipulation, because... well because i'm too stupid to have figured out all that stuff yet, LOL! kinda lazy too... i'll get on it eventually. after i've caught up with sleep. yeah... zzzz sleep. THEN i'll be more better! i hope

[Prin]

You can start with the Av or Tv functions, if you have them on your camera.

[brandynva]

Originally Posted by Prin

You can start with the Av or Tv functions, if you have them on your camera.

Oo Oo! I have those. I've been reading and think I comprehend what it means. Now I just have to play with it outside to play. I like the pictures TD. But I'm no expert.

[wdawson]

i think if you use a polerizing filter it might help with the blue haze in bright winter snow shots....i think ...as far as i know the skylight filter is used more as a lens guard... but i think it cuts some glare.

[BEDPhoto]

Originally Posted by Prin

Don't forget that with digital, you can shoot the pic as is, and then move the settings and shoot again and again. Later on, you look at them and decide which technique you like best. The good thing about digital is it saves everything about how you shot the pic so you can recreate it.

Cant agree more.. and the d80 gives you almost TOO much information. You can keep shooting and shooting and switch things up as much as you care to and get immediate results, rather than waiting for the film to be developed to see if you 'got it'. Which is part of the fun of film of course, but try stuff out...if you dont like it, that little trash can button is right there

The d80 lets a like me take good shots.. youll have a blast with it!

[mummummum]

While I can't comment on technique could I offer some suggestions on compostion ? And apologies if I'm too blunt.

Photo #1 . If you were able to capture the crystallization of the snow on the tree (which would have given depth to the snow and allowed a background ~ a 3-D image) it would be great as is. As you weren't, cut out the tree trunk to the left it's distracting.

Photo #2 ~ too much of the same thing. After the fourth stalk from the left the textural differences between sharp and hard become moot.

photo #3 ~ the only interesting thing in this pic is the stump framed by a tree trunk in the foreground to the left and the tree trunk in the far background to the right with the wild weeds in front of it. Crop the rest.

Sorry to be blunt (they're great photo's all the same !!!!!)

[technodoll]

thank you mummummum! your comments help alot, and i appreciate your time

[breeze]

I wish i could take pictures like that, heck i wish i had a camera. so no commet from me i think they are great.

[marko]

OK here are three photos i snapped with my new Nikon D80, in natural forest daylight, just with the auto setting. How could i improve these photos to make them WOW and not just NICE? Not talking about photoshop or anything, just focus, composition, etc. i have a general idea of what i'm doing but want to get really good at it! thank you!

The eye tends to naturally move around when looking at a photo and it tends to get 'pulled' toward the lightest part of the shot. So first off I would really watch what the bright parts of a scene are when looking through the lens.

Just a small tip that may help in the future....