Your photos (126) |
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 Hints and tips by Philip Grosset If you'd like to submit photos for criticism, click here. |
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with comments from Philip Grosset "Thank you for your fast reply and comments (on previous page)! The same problem with the sky is in a lot of my favorite photos, and I'm trying to get rid of it. I guess I aim a little too high. I've only been doing this for a few months now, but feel I'm getting better with each film processed. I don't know how well the next two photos will show up as digital images, but they're bursting with colour on the actual prints. I used a 50mm lens with magnifing filters on. I'm really hoping the subjects of plant identification and biology has helped my photos of the flowers. Thanks again!" (Amanda Angell) |
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| Was this really the best possible viewpoint? It might have been an idea to have included the few leaves cut off in the top left corner, but to have left out part of the less interesting area on the extreme right. Also, it might have been better without whatever it is that is in the background down the left hand edge. But it certainly is a colorful picture. |
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| Your rose, on the left, is much more successful, but even it looks more arresting if you move in closer, and remove the dark areas at each side, as on the right. |
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| "I wanted to get your opinion on these photos. This was my first attempt at a b&w portrait. I used only available sunlight and a camera mounted flash for a little fill-in. (all that I have available!) I especially like the small water drops falling from the right arm of the skier. It is kind of difficult to see in the scan, however they are pretty prominent in the enlarged print. Thanks for your time and opinions.Thanks." (Carey L. Huff) |
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| This looks a fine thoughtful pose, and you've correctly exposed for the face, but the jersey gets quite swallowed up by the dark background, whereas there is more emphasis than necessary on the light jeans. More appropriate colors would have helped. Also it seems a bit odd to cut off her hands! | |||||||||||||||||||
| This is a much more successful picture, even though I can't see the falling drops. It makes an effective off the cuff shot. Her face may not be absolutely sharp, but you've caught her really concentrating on what she is doing. A pleasing photo. | |||||||||||||||||||
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"I have here two pictures for you to comment on. I am an amateur photographer who recently got a digital camera (Sony Mavica CD-1000). I used the camera's macro setting to get the two photos. There was a polarizing filter attached to the lens, by the way. At first glance, I was amazed when I saw how blurred the background got with an aperture of 2.4 (or thereabouts) in macro mode. Upon closer inspection, however, the green background (foliage) and the blue (sky) were rather dull. I used PhotoSuite to enhance the pics and was immediately rewarded with better colors both for the subject and the background. With enhancement, the spider web attached to the flower became very apparent. I used the clone tool to get rid of that in the picture with the sky background. I left it as is in the one with the foliage background. My question is this: Do you think that the largest aperture was a wise choice for these photos? It had completely blurred the foliage and the sky, making it difficult to believe that these were outdoor shots. Using the same apperture, would i have gotten a better-defined background had I moved back a little from the subject and then zooming in? I look forward to your response. Thank you for taking time to help educate photo enthusiasts like myself." (Nathaniel Salang, Philippines) |
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| I personally prefer the photo on the right (you can't really see the spider's web on the first one, anyway), as I agree with you that the green foliage would be better if more in focus. If you'd zoomed in, you'd have reduced the depth of field even more, so this wouldn't have helped. A smaller aperture was what was needed. But why not remove the polarising filter? This by itself might allow you to use an aperture about 2 stops smaller. Get the background foliage just sharp enough for us to recognise what it is, and I think I'd have preferred this version as the flower itself is more brightly colored. It always surprises me how easy it is to take really pleasing photos like these with a digital camera in macro mode. Get the light right, and you don't even need to enhance the pictures! Reply from Nathaniel Salang: "Thanks you very much, Philip. Your comments are very much appreciated. More power to you!" |
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Go on to YOUR PHOTOS (127) NEXT PAGE PICKING THE BEST VIEWPOINT |
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