DramaKing opened this issue on Mar 21, 2009 · 7 posts
inshaala posted Mon, 06 April 2009 at 5:20 PM
There are some nice shots in there where you have met the goal of isolating the subject. But watch your exposures too, #46 (the bench) for example is a tricky one: the intended (i believe) subject is a silhouette but the detail is in the surrounding area - so the eye doesnt know what to do.
Remember also that not every photo you take is a keeper. It is difficult whan you are on a "budget" of film I would agree, but with every shot which you are about to take of a static scene, look at it... wait, move, look at it, think about it, try another angle, think about the lens (field of view), look again, picture you have just taken the photo and imagine what it would look like, wait a bit, then think about taking the photo itself. Basically, spend longer on each shot thinking about each aspect - composition, what the subject is and thus the exposure, portrait/landscape? horizon straight? leading lines? interaction of background foreground, contrasts... etc If it is a static scene nothing will change generally (unless it is one of those days with quick changes in lighting - in which case, wait for it to change for the effect you want)
If you already do this, then you know what i mean, the essence then is to just keep practicing. I have the luxury of digital, and i average i'd say a 1 in 20 keeper rate - that is almost one per roll of film, but then i can do that as i just delete the others, if i had to use film it would be a different ball game and i would think more about my photos rather than generally know what i am going for and fire off a few shots with minor differences so i can look at them later on a screen and decide then. On that note - take a tripod out with you - it worked wonders for my thought process in composing the photos i take.
I'd agree with the comment to move closer and try to isolate the subject from the "busy-ness". Take the first Church shot as one example... if you were to move your shooting position forward and slightly to the right i reckon you could get it somewhat on its own (also, you cut the top of the spire - as it is the obvious subject of the photo, the convention is to have the whole subject in the frame).
But that aside i would definitely agree with Steven, you have a very inquisitive eye with your photos - you want to find things to photograph and make something out of it, just keep going and you will improve - everyone does. That is the beauty of it all :)
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