I'm coming to grips with the whole portrait thing. I'm comfortable composing shots taking the shots, sitting down and going through my shots and judging which to use and why and what adjustments I can make to make them just that little bit better. I don't always get the shot I want every day, but thanks to the great advice I've had here, it's far more likely than it used to be. I'm comfortable letting that skill develop.
Today's shot is a still life though, and while I'm happy with it, it was very much a "oh hey look I pointed the camera and clicked the button and it worked". I'd really appreciate some critiques of this shot.
If you don't like it, and I would like to know if you don't, why not?
If you do like it, what makes it likable?
If you would like it if detail X, Y and/or Z were different, what are they?
Mate I think it looks like a yellow watering can..... ;-)
Have you heard about the rule of thirds? He he he he.. The same rules that we have spoke about for portraits apply for still life, landscape and any other type of photography.... Oce you get a really good understanding then it is easier to move from that foundation.
The first thing that bothers me is that the can is cut off. The 2nd thing is that the can is here and we know it's a watering can, but what is it's purpose in this photo. It's just kind of shoved in some greenery.
Now, the yellow watering can totally has a ton of personality, so put that to work for you. If you have a little girl, dress her up in a summery dress and let her water some pretty flowers (gives the pot purpose) or have someone holding the pot and pouring water out of the spout and catching the spout and the sprinkles raining down (maybe with some sunflare coming in through the background.
You've got lots of possibilities with a watering can that pretty!
Cheers for taking the time. Your 2nd point Jennifer is what didn't really sit well with me either, I liked it BUT I kept thinking, "It's just a watering can, people are going to see this and wonder what on earth the point was".
I tried having my son play with it this morning (without the summery dress as I just can't afford to pay for the therapy sessions later) as per your suggestion Jennifer, but he insisted on turning his back to the camera and watering his toes, cute, but I couldn't get a decent shot of it. But you have saved me some time trying to take shots of a thing just being a thing in space and wondering why they don't work.
Allison, if only! I can sometimes trick my camera into doing what I want through the inventive use of different modes outside their intended function, but my camera offers little or no manual control.
@alpeedee - I'm sorry! I totally wasn't being mean. I was just trying to be helpful. Sometimes I guess that's hard to convey while being written, but truly, it wasn't coming out as mean.
No, no, no! I didn't think you had been. I really do appreciate your advice. What I meant to say was that, your 2nd point confirmed what I suspected as being a bit off with the shot. That it is just a thing being an inanimate thing in space. I've since had a fun day taking terrible shots of it in use, but it has been quite educational and challenging.
@alpeedee - oh good! I was feeling pretty bad that I might have made you feel bad (See, conveying in mail is harder to understand sometimes.) :o) But you did give me a giggle about your son having to go through therapy because you made him dress up & play with a yellow watering can!
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Have you heard about the rule of thirds? He he he he.. The same rules that we have spoke about for portraits apply for still life, landscape and any other type of photography.... Oce you get a really good understanding then it is easier to move from that foundation.
Now, the yellow watering can totally has a ton of personality, so put that to work for you. If you have a little girl, dress her up in a summery dress and let her water some pretty flowers (gives the pot purpose) or have someone holding the pot and pouring water out of the spout and catching the spout and the sprinkles raining down (maybe with some sunflare coming in through the background.
You've got lots of possibilities with a watering can that pretty!
Also the photo is a tad underexposed.
Cheers for taking the time. Your 2nd point Jennifer is what didn't really sit well with me either, I liked it BUT I kept thinking, "It's just a watering can, people are going to see this and wonder what on earth the point was".
I tried having my son play with it this morning (without the summery dress as I just can't afford to pay for the therapy sessions later) as per your suggestion Jennifer, but he insisted on turning his back to the camera and watering his toes, cute, but I couldn't get a decent shot of it. But you have saved me some time trying to take shots of a thing just being a thing in space and wondering why they don't work.
Allison, if only! I can sometimes trick my camera into doing what I want through the inventive use of different modes outside their intended function, but my camera offers little or no manual control.
No, no, no! I didn't think you had been. I really do appreciate your advice. What I meant to say was that, your 2nd point confirmed what I suspected as being a bit off with the shot. That it is just a thing being an inanimate thing in space. I've since had a fun day taking terrible shots of it in use, but it has been quite educational and challenging.