Your photos (123)


Hints and tips
by Philip Grosset



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




" I recently emailed a local photography society as I think I would like to join one . . . if anyone will have me ! Im a very amateur point and press, and thanks to my husband have some kit Minolta 404si with lenses...! ( a big one and a little one ) and Fuji Fine pixs 4900. The Fuji is my favourite simply for the erase button factor !!! I love taking photos but my knowledge is nil. I know nothing regarding shutter speed and aperture, and admit to relying on auto focus-sorry. I have a tripod (never used) not sure what to do with it . . . I was recommended your website which is very informative and would like to take up your offer and send you some photographs. there the best ive got so imagine the 2000 other rubbish ones . . .
1. This is some houses that I decided to shoot as I like the undulation of the road and colour of sky which made a contrast ( I think ! ) (Digital)
2. I was fortunate to take the whole storm on this one so have 5/6 pics in different light and mood stages as the storm past over, I liked the reflection off the water also. (Digital)
3. This is a little girl that visited us from Ghana, she was stood looking out of the patio window as the sun shone hence the shades and light . . . I used Adobe to remove the background . . . now she could be anywhere and not stood in our living room she was a beautiful little girl.
4. I have many opportunities of taking pics of yachts and boats at sea, I find it difficult as the sky and sea colour always seem to match and if I get in too close I do not get the whole boat in and if I zoom back to get the sails and mast I just get another boat in the sea, with no action ! This one was the end of the round the island race (Isle of white 2000) it was dusk and I tried to capture the light on the water as it was fading. ( Minolta )
well that's me my real name is Helen Williams (36) - from Apperley Bridge, Leeds. Hope you like my pics I spared you the ones of my boxer dog Dudley and will really look forward to your comments In anticipation thanks. Regards." (Helen Williams)
Houses cropped
Houses
I too like the contrast between the sunlit houses and the dark sky and road in your photo on the left, and also the way you've included the leaves to provide some foreground framing. But it might be an idea to crop out the ugly road sign on the extreme right, as I've done on in my version on the right.
A fine dramatic picture that would have been very good indeed if it had been really sharp. It looks as though you may not have held the camera steady enough to cope with the longer exposure needed in poor light. Here's where that tripod might have helped!
Reflections
Child cropped
Child
Your photo on the left is very stylish and impressive, and I much like your use of Photoshop. However, perhaps a vertical format, as on the right, might better fit the shape of your subject. I find this even more pleasing.
Yachts Another attractive picture. Not an easy subject, but if it had been possible to get closer to the boat with the red sail (the red stands out very well), it might have been that much more dramatic. I like the sky and the water.

There's nothing wrong with using a fully automatic camera. In the end, an eye for a photo is more important than technical knowledge - and that you've certainly got!

Reply from Helen Williams: "Many thanks for your comments regarding the photos I sent you, your points are taken and hopefully will help me produce better pics. I will be visiting your site now on a regular basis, as I like to view other peoples photos and gain new ideas. good and very informative, thanks for not being too harsh on my photography, Regards."




"I'm starting to get into photography. I'll be brief. Could you let me know what you think of these photos? These were taken with a Polaroid digital camera, no zoom, and no wide lens. I would like to get a manual camera to do more with, but I think I had some nice ideas for what I was working with. Please let me know what you think. http://community.webshots.com/user/newton1968 I know your time is valuable, bit I can't seem to get these photos from my site. Please look at the albums called "Buildings" and "City Scapes" Thank you." (Anthony D. Dean)
Fire
Statue
I've chosen what I thought were your four most successful photos. The statue (above left) is a fine dramatic shape, even if it gives little idea of what the whole thing looks like! It might have been even better if you had included rather more of it. But using it to frame the bright blue sky was a good imaginative idea.
The fire photo is even more dramatic, and is much helped by the inclusion of the bright red fire engine. You did very well to get so much (including the jet of water and the smoke) into the picture. It makes it a highly successful photo.
Buildings can look distorted if you photograph them from immediately below. Here you've got the central vertical lines vertical, but both the side edges slope in. In this case, this produces quite an interesting pattern - but it's all a bit impersonal. Perhaps it might gain from some explanatory text about the building.
Church
Church straightened
Church
Your photo on the left has attractive silhouettes and coloring, but the tower on its left and the church both seem to be leaning over to the right, and the church tower is also bending in at the top. On the right, I've used Photoshop to correct both these errors. I've also moved the church away from its absolutely central position, as this is seldom the most effective place for the main subject. I like the way you can see the sky through the church windows. I agree with you that you've got some good ideas for photos!




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