Member of the Month

PartyBullshiit
March, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

OMG, not another rate my photo's thread.

profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
So i started taking pictures a couple months ago and here are some of my best shots.

I have a Canon XSi, a 18-55 F3.5-5.6 IS (kit lens). I also used my grandpa's 28-105 F4 IS for a lot of the shots.
Their all on my Flickr acount. I'll ad more in July when my 100MB a month limit goes back too zero. The link should be in my sig.
Jun 15 2010 5:45PM
0 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
oh and +k for good advice or comments.
Jun 15 2010 6:05PM
0 0
profile picture
ike.
Posts: 2292 - Karma: 93
not bad, my one thing was the composition. try using the rule of thirds and avoiding center weighting more. overall they aren’t bad, my favorites were the rabbit and the sunset.
Jun 15 2010 6:08PM
0 0
profile picture
leahey
Posts: 2548 - Karma: 32
The sunset and the duck were pretty sweet, try to mess around with different lenses and use different lighting once in a while. Nice job though!
Jun 15 2010 6:09PM
0 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
I'm getting an old 50m high apeture lens and a flash for free. I'll hopefully get another lens if i have the money. I'll work on composure.
Jun 16 2010 9:01PM
0 0
profile picture
BryantPhoto
Posts: 1574 - Karma: 891
+1 on the rule of thirds, and definitely grab a 50mm, essential in my opinion.
Jun 16 2010 9:58PM
0 0
profile picture
.Max.
Posts: 2930 - Karma: 701
The wood shed was nice
Jun 16 2010 10:14PM
0 0
profile picture
PeterWojnar
Posts: 3937 - Karma: 678
They covered it already. ^

Don't just blindly follow the rule of thirds, there are times when it should be broken.

You just have to learn when. Also, when "rule of thirds-ing" think about what's going on - in a bike photo, your rider shouldn't be about to ride off-frame, we want to know where he's going. (example)
Jun 16 2010 11:03PM
0 0
profile picture
1080ski
Posts: 4424 - Karma: 191
Usually shooting in the morning or afternoon is key. Overhead light is genearlly not too interesting, but with the light coming from low in the sky comes some interesting colors, shadows, as well as light-tones (ex, warm light in the afternoon) that can help your photos pop.
Jun 16 2010 11:51PM
0 0
profile picture
ptracy
Posts: 2 - Karma: 10
LOL
Jun 17 2010 1:52PM
0 0
profile picture
TPalms
Posts: 859 - Karma: 252
Agreed. I think your picture of people are the strongest.
Jun 19 2010 10:55AM
0 0
profile picture
mattytru
Posts: 2767 - Karma: 5,479
i do have to agree with whoever posted the thing about breaking the rule of thirds sometimes (internet is being slow so i wont go back to quote it), i definitely think some of these look better centered than they would off to the side or on a rule of thirds gridline (that didnt make sense, you know what i mean) it kinda puts a different feel to the photo

however at the same time, yeahhh some definitely woulddddd look better if you used the rule of thirds, just feel it out
Jun 19 2010 11:04AM
0 0
profile picture
Deezy
Posts: 4580 - Karma: 1,004
The rule of thirds is a great tool, but you dont need to use it all the time. i see so many shots where that rule is used... and it does not work. use your own judgement.

also, i really like "Through the ladder" one of the best i have seen in a long time. amazing.
same with "suns reflection"

amazing buddy +K
Jun 19 2010 11:26AM
0 0
profile picture
Hogis
Posts: 551 - Karma: 393
Click for larger image

I think you need more contrasts and some of your photos are really overexposed.
It could be my screen also, idk
Jun 19 2010 11:58AM
0 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
^
i'm going to use the duck as an example. The light that day was really finicky and was changing a lot. I had to choose what part of the image I wanted properly exposed, so I obviously choose the subject, being the duck. In order for the duck to be properly exposed, the water and rest of the dock became overexposed. This is the same with the branch and the tree. They were the subjects so they needed to be properly exposed. Because of that the water became overexposed.
Jun 21 2010 4:39PM
0 0
profile picture
icantskiiFILM
Posts: 2113 - Karma: 140
RULE OF THIRDS!!!! LEARN IT! everyone of the subjects is in the middle and thats not very good for every single photo
Jun 21 2010 5:02PM
0 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
enough with the rule of thirds, i know it, I just felt that some of these shots would be better centred. My grandpa's friend and neighbour at our cottage is a pro photographer he told me that rule of thirds isn't something you should rely on, just use it when it applies. I find that i like rule of thirds for skate and ski shots, and some other shots, but for some shots it doesn't work. Again I will work on composure for different shots and find what works and what doesn't.

So I got an old 24mm F2.8 from my grandpa, its sick and works perfectly, as well as a polarizer/polarized filter. He also had two converter lenses, a tele and a wide angle, from an old P&S. The tele is alright but you get a slight vignette effect on the corners. The wide angle seems like it will be good till i can get an actual wide angle lens. Anyone have any experience with converters on SLR's? I'm getting a bunch of money from my job this summer so I might look into getting a 70-200 F4. or another good long focal length lens.
Jun 21 2010 11:45PM
0 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
bump.
Jun 24 2010 11:52AM
0 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
Bump. Finally got around to putting some new photos up.
Nov 4 2010 5:41PM
0 0
profile picture
triebby
Posts: 8670 - Karma: 2,189
Some of the earlier posts nailed it in regards to the light you're working with and the time of day you are shooting. Cottage 174 and Thanksgiving 7 are pretty run of the mill shots as they are now. However, if you go back there and shoot in the morning/evening when you've got some nice clouds lit up with a good sunrise/senset that is reflected on the water and some warmer lighting, you could get some serious bangers. And if you are shooting in harsher light and are doing anything involving the sky/reflections, check into getting a polarizer. It will let you bring out the blue in the sky so it's not so washed out and get as much or as little reflection off the surface of the water as you want, depending on what you're try to create.

The subject matter is al around you, it your job to display those subjects in a unique and interesting way.
Nov 4 2010 6:06PM
0 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
^I have a polarizer, but it doesn't work with the way my kit lens focuses. The only time i really use it is when i'm shooting with my 24mm F2.8
Nov 4 2010 6:11PM
0 0
profile picture
FMeissner
Posts: 490 - Karma: 85
I really like Sun's Reflection, though I think it would be a tad better if you obeyed the rule of thirds and kept it to the left or right of the image, not center weighted. I feel like that's mostly what people are saying, just stick with the rule of thirds (obviously, there are exceptions to every rule).
Nov 4 2010 6:13PM
0 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
I'm really only looking for comments on the first 7 photos, which i just uploaded yesterday.
Nov 4 2010 6:17PM
0 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
bump.
Nov 6 2010 11:52AM
0 0
profile picture
Ducky.
Posts: 5811 - Karma: 1,420
This exactly. Besides that, the photos very nice
Nov 6 2010 1:22PM
0 0
profile picture
zbphoto
Posts: 7789 - Karma: 12,037
bump.
Nov 7 2010 2:07PM
0 0
profile picture
solitaryman
Posts: 3578 - Karma: 123
Your photos lack composition and contrast.
Nov 7 2010 3:01PM
0 0
profile picture
no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,267
rule of thirds is a guideline and by no means the first step in taking good photos

if you have a very distinct subject with an interesting background, by all means use it, but you make the call. it's the photographer's discretion, just something to think about
Nov 7 2010 4:20PM
0 0
profile picture
MADDECENT
Posts: 5579 - Karma: 951
More knowledgable people have told you what you need to change, but this really got my attention.

Really?

Nov 7 2010 5:20PM
0 0
profile picture
MADDECENT
Posts: 5579 - Karma: 951
Well that didn't work

Click for larger image
Nov 7 2010 5:21PM
0 0
profile picture
MADDECENT
Posts: 5579 - Karma: 951
I'm going for the photo of a lens cap. Necessary?
Nov 7 2010 5:21PM
0 0
profile picture
solitaryman
Posts: 3578 - Karma: 123
DUDE THE COMPOSITION AND STORY BEHIND THAT PHOTO WAS INCREDIBLE DONT HATE!
Nov 7 2010 6:56PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-4)