This is my first post on here but I thought I'd just jump in.
I'm not really happy with this shot, I'm finding needing to get a shot a day a bit of challenge and having to settle on something that I'd normally just ditch.
It being winter here also doesn't help, the sun only comes up after I'm at work and sets as I leave, so everything I'm doing at the moment is at night.
I did about 20 versions of this shot, basically playing around with different shutter speeds and f-stops, from 1.8 all the way through to 9.
I also tried a variety of shutter speeds, was done on f-9 at 30" shutter speed.
When I loaded them onto my laptop last night, this one looked best to me, but this morning it looks very dull.
Maybe I should have used one of the shots with a shallower DOF and the edge of the shelf at the bottom of the frame is a little distracting.
I would love to help you but am only learning myself. I guess we see so much sparkle in things these days its hard to look at plain things without wondering what can I do better. I think its neat
I probably would've left the figurine out of it? Those books, I think could be awesome on their own, given the right treatment! Some type of vintage/old world editing.
@plumtree500 thanks for looking, truth be told I'm seldom happy with what I shoot, but that's not always a bad thing.
@ozziehoffy oh the books will make an appearance again, one thing I have is books, plus it's the rainy season here so I'll have to be creative indoors. thanks for your response.
Sometimes when I'm dissatisfied with a picture I stop and ask myself what I was trying to achieve, why was I wanting to photograph the subject in the first place, what am I trying to say.
Taking several shots at different settings is a useful learning exercise, one I do frequently, and the shallower DOF would have been more interesting. When did you notice the edge of the shelf was distracting? If it was during the photo shoot, you could have moved the books. I subscribe to various photographic tutorial/tips websites and read this this article from photokonnexion.com very recently which reminded me to 'chimp' the photograph after every shot by scrutinising the camera screen for errors before completing the shoot.
@pennyp I think you've hit the nail on the head in the first sentence, I find that sometimes needing to take a photo a day means that I more in a rush to get it done (I've only been at this for 4 days, but in truth, it's a standard modus operandi for me) and it's a bad habit I should nip in the bud as soon as I can.
I remember thinking I don't like that edge, but it took me 5 minutes to get the little guy to stand up straight (he's held together with copper wire) and I was like either I cut his legs off or deal with it, I decided to deal with it, and well, yes, bad move.
thanks for the link, open in another tab now and will give it a read.
I am just finishing up my first year. I used to over think about what to shoot and the pressure of one a day. I am not the same person that joined this group last June. I have taken shots that I thought were just too simple, and received great comments from my followers. I am not into overly creative shots, like putting in the figurine. Antique books are my day job, and there are a million ways to present them in their full glory. Take what you have learned, and apply it to tomorrow, and so on. Also, make sure you join in on the challenges and such on this site. I participated in the mundane challenges during the winter here, and now two of them are in an "ordinary things" exhibit in a small art gallery this month. You just never know. Don't sweat it, but dig in your heels. I am still learning how to use my camera settings, and that's why I am here. Welcome to 365! @semjaja
Welcome to 365. I'm going to follow you and see how you develop. Like @welcometocarolworld I have found that some of the simplest shots have received the best comments and favs from my followers. My second piece of advice is to enjoy it, the photography and 365. I've been a member since 01/01/13 but before that I was taking a photo every day to force me to learn how to use my camera and 18 months down the line, I am beginning to feel it is an extension of my eye/hand.
@welcometocarolworld Thanks for that, I intend to take on some of the challenges here and yes, I intend to take what I learn from day to day and apply it. I'm not usually into shots like this, but with the rain we've been having lately, I kind of forced to play about inside, but the sun's shining today and I can shoot outside tonight, which is much more my style.
@pennyp At one point I decided I should aim for one shot a day, but truth be told, I'm a pretty lazy bugger so this kind of setup is much more my style, and I reckon if you want to be taken seriously, you'll post a photo a day. I feel mostly comfortable with the beginners theory, it's just pulling it all together, it's kind of hit and miss and I'd like it to be mostly hit.
Hi, welcome to 365. I hope you enjoy it. You have started with the right attitude.
I would have said two things about this picture... 1. It is much too complex. 2. The lighting needs to be better.
A good guide to composition is to simplify, simplify, simplify. The lines are all over the place and too dark to really perceive the forms. Lose the figurine, try to make something consequential out of the corners and lines of the books.
A slight lift in the light would help the eye access those lines. Really the only problem here is composition.
You can read a lot about composition on Photokonnexion. Check out: http://www.photokonnexion.com/?page_id=4674 - a whole page of links to composition resources on the site. It is all simple stuff designed to build you your knowledge in bite sized chunks.
@netkonnexion thanks for your comments. The books really were an afterthought and I can see where you're coming from re. the composition (this is actually something I really struggle with tbh), so thanks for the link.
The lighting is not great, I can see that, I tried to create a dark mood, but it didn't really work here.
I actually spent some time on your site today, it's a great resource!
You need to dump the statuette and work on your composition. The books alone have some potential.
If you're struggling with composition, try going back to basics and work on the "thirds" principle. Mentally divide the viewfinder into 3 roughly equal horizontal or vertical sections when you shoot the pic-a typical horizontal thirds shot would be beach in the bottom third, sea in the middle third and sky in the top third. The same principle applies vertically. It doesn't matter (in fact it often helps) if something in the pic comes out of one third into another. In my example, you could have the sail of a boat starting in the middle third (the sea) and cutting into the top third (the sky). If you mentally divide the screen into thirds both horizontally and vertically, you will have 9 rectangles and 4 points where the lines cross. These are "focal points" and you could do worse than have the main subject of your shot on, or near to a focal point. You don't have to be 100 per cent accurate in your object placement-it's just a principle to work on.
This pic gives an idea of what I mean:
Sorry if you already know this stuff. It's one of the first things I teach in my photography classes, and it usually helps people who struggle with composition, or just don't have an "eye" for it. Of course, you don't have to apply this technique to every shot - there's lots of other ways to compose a pic!
@pistonbroke I am aware of the rule of thirds but I struggle with composition so I can't be told enough!
Every time I put a pic up for crit, I get told to look at my composition so it's obviously something I need to look at as it would appear, the eye, I've not got it :)
Thanks for taking the time to explain it to me.
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@ozziehoffy oh the books will make an appearance again, one thing I have is books, plus it's the rainy season here so I'll have to be creative indoors. thanks for your response.
Taking several shots at different settings is a useful learning exercise, one I do frequently, and the shallower DOF would have been more interesting. When did you notice the edge of the shelf was distracting? If it was during the photo shoot, you could have moved the books. I subscribe to various photographic tutorial/tips websites and read this this article from photokonnexion.com very recently which reminded me to 'chimp' the photograph after every shot by scrutinising the camera screen for errors before completing the shoot.
I remember thinking I don't like that edge, but it took me 5 minutes to get the little guy to stand up straight (he's held together with copper wire) and I was like either I cut his legs off or deal with it, I decided to deal with it, and well, yes, bad move.
thanks for the link, open in another tab now and will give it a read.
@pennyp At one point I decided I should aim for one shot a day, but truth be told, I'm a pretty lazy bugger so this kind of setup is much more my style, and I reckon if you want to be taken seriously, you'll post a photo a day. I feel mostly comfortable with the beginners theory, it's just pulling it all together, it's kind of hit and miss and I'd like it to be mostly hit.
@ozziehoffy certainly is, and I got tons of 'em!
I would have said two things about this picture... 1. It is much too complex. 2. The lighting needs to be better.
A good guide to composition is to simplify, simplify, simplify. The lines are all over the place and too dark to really perceive the forms. Lose the figurine, try to make something consequential out of the corners and lines of the books.
A slight lift in the light would help the eye access those lines. Really the only problem here is composition.
You can read a lot about composition on Photokonnexion. Check out: http://www.photokonnexion.com/?page_id=4674 - a whole page of links to composition resources on the site. It is all simple stuff designed to build you your knowledge in bite sized chunks.
Enjoy!
The lighting is not great, I can see that, I tried to create a dark mood, but it didn't really work here.
I actually spent some time on your site today, it's a great resource!
If you're struggling with composition, try going back to basics and work on the "thirds" principle. Mentally divide the viewfinder into 3 roughly equal horizontal or vertical sections when you shoot the pic-a typical horizontal thirds shot would be beach in the bottom third, sea in the middle third and sky in the top third. The same principle applies vertically. It doesn't matter (in fact it often helps) if something in the pic comes out of one third into another. In my example, you could have the sail of a boat starting in the middle third (the sea) and cutting into the top third (the sky). If you mentally divide the screen into thirds both horizontally and vertically, you will have 9 rectangles and 4 points where the lines cross. These are "focal points" and you could do worse than have the main subject of your shot on, or near to a focal point. You don't have to be 100 per cent accurate in your object placement-it's just a principle to work on.
This pic gives an idea of what I mean:
Sorry if you already know this stuff. It's one of the first things I teach in my photography classes, and it usually helps people who struggle with composition, or just don't have an "eye" for it. Of course, you don't have to apply this technique to every shot - there's lots of other ways to compose a pic!
Every time I put a pic up for crit, I get told to look at my composition so it's obviously something I need to look at as it would appear, the eye, I've not got it :)
Thanks for taking the time to explain it to me.