Your photos (125)


Hints and tips
by Philip Grosset



If you'd like to submit photos for criticism,
click here.

with comments from Philip Grosset




"My name is Timothy and just got into the hobby a few months ago with much enthusiasm. Came across your website and wanted your views and improvements on the pics I have attached. They were taken during a visit to my local zoo. Oh, I'm from Singapore if you were wondering. It was a hazy late morning and during the monsoon season, so getting good light was a problem. Didn't use any Flash at all in these shots and they were taken on ISO 400 Fuji superia film. I am using a Nikon F65 with a 70-300mm lens and UV filter only for these shots. Didn't bring a tripod though I regret it a little considering it was hazy and I was using a zoom.Info as follows;
White Tiger. This was taken after they ate so they look kinda relaxed. I was at the end of my zoom here at F5.6 1/350. Waited for several minutes but the Tiger didnt budge and I had to move on cause the rain was coming.
Meerkat. F4.8 1/90. The shoot was cropped a little on the right. Wanted to single out the animal and blur the background to make it stand out as it striked a pose.
Pelican. Didnt record the exposure as it was about to rain and I ran after I took this shot. Sides were cropped in Photoshop. The Pelican was pretty near to me and there was another far in the background. Wanted to have the rocks pave a way with the pelican being the focus.
Chimpanzee. He was sitting there looking around doing his own thing when I took this shot. Exposure not taken as well.....duh. Tried to use the barks as a frame and focusing point for this pic. It looks like he's playing a drum.
Thats my 4 pics for your comments please. I need all the feedback I can get as I'm just venturing into this new hobby. Hope my explanations are enough and if you need more please feel free to email me as well. I'm here to learn all I can. Thanks and look forward to your reply soon.Regards." (Timothy Lim, Singapore)
As you realise, not much is going on here.You can have to wait quite a time to catch an animal doing something interesting. It's a pity you weren't there when the tiger was fed!
Tiger
Meerkat This looks much more lively - and it was a very good idea to concentrate attention on the meerkat by throwing the background out of focus. You've positioned him very well at the intersection of thirds, and all that empty space in front of him suggests that anything might happen!
Pelican
I like this too. The pelican in the background effectively echoes the shape of the one in the foreground, and this lifts this picture right out of the ordinary.
Chimp cropped
Chimp
This, on the left, is another interesting picture, but it didn't suggest to me that the chimp was playing a drum! I suggest it might be further improved by coming in closer, as on the right. This not only concentrates attention on the chimp, but removes the man-made "drum" in the bottom centre. Now it looks as though he really could be in the wild. Of course, if he really were playing a drum, the picture would be more interesting still - but we'd have to see him actually doing it!

Altogether, a very successful group of pictures - and how sensible to avoid flash.

Reply from Timothy Lim: "Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Yes I should have been there when the Tiger was being fed, but it was bad planning on my part. Maybe next time I'll get a better shot! I agree with the cropping of the Chimp pic and thank you again for the good comments to the rest and my decision to not use the Flash. Your words are very encouraging and comments valuable to my new hobby. Though I am still learning, at least my trial and error in judgement kinda paid off in getting what I wanted in the shots. Overall, getting feedback from someone of your experience is as wonderful a learning experience any beginner could hope for. Thanks a whole lot ."




"My name is Amanda. I am an Australian amateur photographer who is hoping one day to go further, but seeing the competition in only the amateur class, I have a long way to go! I just wanted you to see one of my photos that I took at the Hastings Foreshore (taken during my break at work) one night. It was quite dark, but the photo came out bright considering! I have an SLR and this took around 3 seconds or so. I'd be greatful for any comments you may have. Thanks" (Amanda Angell)
Harbour
Harbour cropped
Your photo on the left is a very effective night shot with an interesting diagonal line of boats that lead us into the picture. I like the reflections too. However, on the right, I've tried removing some of the empty sky so as to concentrate even more on the boats and reflections. I've also removed the mast down the extreme left edge as it was half in and half out of the picture. It's a colorful and arresting scene.




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