Your photos (102)


Hints and tips
by Philip Grosset



If you'd like to submit photos for criticism,
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with comments from Philip Grosset




"Hi, I'm a student learning about photography and I'm requesting your professional opinion. I took both of these pictures in Purgatory Colorado last spring break. They were both taken with a Canon EOS Rebel G and a Hoya polarizer filter to deepen the tones of the sky. I saw the condo as just a beautiful scene, but the tree landscape had a little more artistic vision behind it. I used the large tree to the right as a focal point. It was just a little closer than the others but I think it adds a nice effect. Any suggestions or comments? I recently purchased a Hoya #4 Neutral Density filter and a close up set. I was wondering if you had any suggestions in their usage as well. Thank you very much and I look forward to your professional opinion." (Brant Mills)
View Snow scene
I much prefer your photo on the right which I find really attractive. I'm afraid your tree landscape, on the left, looks much more ordinary, and it is not helped by the way that the large tree on the right merges into the background. Also the sky color doesn't look all that real! The photo on the right has much more immediate appeal, and the building is nicely positioned in reference to both sky and snow. It's another example of how well the old intersection of thirds can work! As for your new kit, I don't suppose you'll use the neutral density filter all that often, but the close up set could prove invaluable for flowers etc.





"Dear Philip: I am submitting 4 photos for criticism. They were all taken this summer with my Sony Cybershot P1 digital camera. I've had it less than a year and am always trying to improve my photos.
Picture I This is of a father and his daughter who were selling driftwood furniture at a market on Salt Spring Island in Canada. I wanted to capture the gentleness and beauty of this father and daughter.
Picture 2 This is of a family selling flutes at the market on Salt Spring Island in Canada. I liked the way they were dressed, kind of sixtyish, hippyish and just wanted to show that. I find the sleeping baby especially interesting. I realize the sun is in their eyes so they are squinting.
Picture 3 This is of a mother, son and dog preparing to go out canoeing in the early evening on Salt Spring Island, Canada. I wanted to capture the extreme peace and tranquility of the scene.
Picture 4 This is of flowers and a windchime at our house in Slovakia. I love flowers and I love the sound of this large windchime. I wanted to capture the beauty of the two together. Michael Skorulski, Canadian living in Slovakia and Saudi ArabiaI would be interested in hearing the views of others on my photos and photography in general. I include my email mikeskor@sol.net.sa"
You've sent me a very good set of photos. I like this one very much. It is an effective combination of portrait and background, with just enough of the latter included to effectively set the scene.
Father and daughter

Flute seller cropped
Flute seller
I like this too but would prefer to move in just slightly closer. A scene like this can be worth several photos. In the version below, I've just concentrated on the old man.
Flute player in close up

Canoe Another attractive scene. Perhaps it might have been even more attractive if it had been taken from a lower camera position over to the left. Then the mother and canoe might have featured more prominently in the foreground with the boy and dog seen in the background. This way you might have been able to avoid that empty space on the right. But it's a really colorful scene.

Flowers Flowers cropped
Your photo on the left is rather an odd shape, and you really need to be able to hear the windchime to appreciate it! Perhaps it might have helped to have seen more of your house in the background. Or you could just concentrate on the most colorful part of the scene (the flowers), as I have done on the right.


Reply from Michael Skorulski: "Thank you for your comments which were both encouraging and enlightening. I tried to get close to the subject in each photo when composing and cropping. But you have let me know again that getting in just that much closer can make the photo more pleasing. Thanks again."



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