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Cat Morgan Photography · Joined: 23 Jul 2012 Posts: 6

Right now I'm looking at composition and exposure, getting the hang of the camera. I'll deal with the subject matter once I get the nuts and bolts down...flowers don't move and are easier to shoot for me right now :)

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 2:50 pm

Flowers do move and do not submit for a first ten.

The third try.JPG is OOF with harsh lighting and poor composition, also you can see your shadow below in the shot.

second try scaled.JPG OOF, lighing and composition needs to be better.

matthi · Joined: 30 Sep 2010 Posts: 554

seeing both, I agree fully that composition and exposure is really something you should be hard working on

you missed both here, composition wise you have done nothing, I mean the flowers are dead center, where and when has the "composition" been taking place ?

and there would have been even more to composition than just place them on some third, it´s about viewpoint, distance, angle...even DOF can be put into it etc pp

the camera "sees" different then you, I give you an example:

meanwhile you can watch a football match for hours in TV not even taking note of the flowers on top of it and the magazines from the last months next to it, the cam will see them, as clear as the TV with the running match and just don't know, what's about interest, so you would be surprised how your cam would see that match, and the same is true for your flowers here as for everything else

watch the background, avoid clutter, that all falls into composition

and that they are too dark, so underexposed, shouldn't be any news, I guess you see that yourself

Cat Morgan Photography · Joined: 23 Jul 2012 Posts: 6

People on this forum keep telling me "Lighting and composition needs to be better" but without telling me precisely HOW it can be netter or WHAT is wrong. My day job is teaching, and one of the things I do is make sure I tell my students specific things that are wrong so that they can correct them .. so what specifically is wrong here? I can take it but I can't fix what I don't know is broken :)

cpaulfell · Joined: 07 Dec 2011 Posts: 2644

Most critics on the forum will tell you what needs to be done but they will not teach you how to do it.

They will instead tell you to put in the work i.e. Go read, watch you tube, take some courses etc...

It is up to you.

matthi · Joined: 30 Sep 2010 Posts: 554

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 3:07 pm

When shooting outside shoot early in the morning or late in the evening.

Also cloudy days are great for shooting outside.

Watch the blinkies on the camera if you have to, and sooner or later you will not need to anymore because you will see it and know it ahead of time.

Cat Morgan Photography · Joined: 23 Jul 2012 Posts: 6

robhainer · Joined: 03 May 2010 Posts: 2905 Location: Dallas, GA, USA

Or use a diffuser, which will let you shoot flowers any time of day.

digigandalf · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 5455 Location: Twinsburg, OH

matthi · Joined: 30 Sep 2010 Posts: 554

hhltdave5 · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 3:23 pm

Some of those who give a critique will give you a basic review of your images while others will give more detailed ones.

If you want a detailed one then we are off and running :)

Let's start out with the third try one.

Composition - Basically you put the flower in the center of the frame as has been mentioned. This will often give the image a snapshot look to it. It becomes static. When it comes to stock it is often a good idea to allow space for added text or ad copy. You can accomplish this and give the image a better composition by following the Rule of Thirds.

Here is a video that Laurin and I did on this subject.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpxnBudaG-8

Also when it comes to composition the background of any image is often just as important as the object of attention. It should not draw the eye away from the object of the shot and what is in the background should compliment that object.

With this one you have some less than appealing foliage including some big brown thing just below and to the left of the main flower. In short too much unattractive negative space around the one flower.

Also look at the bottom right and the top right. See those two dark shadows? They should not be there but are there because of harsh lighting.

Light is the most important thing when it comes to photography. You must learn to properly "see" the light and not just look at it and take it for granted.

Harsh light equals harsh shadows which often detract from an image. As Barry mentioned it should be shot when the light is softer and more diffused or use a diffuser to soften the light.

Now onto Second try. Many of the same problems. Harsh lighting causing harsh shadows and areas where the light is not getting in to properly expose the flower (look at the bottom part of the main flower).

Again, you have it centered with an unappealing background.

Basically what you are doing is simply taking pictures. This will not cut it when it comes to a professional stock site. Many of us have a saying that goes "Make the shot, don't just take the shot."

This means that you need to take the time and effort to make sure you use the principles of photography such as focus, composition, lighting, exposure, proper use of depth of field etc to create an image and not just walk up to something and snap a shot.

If the shot is not there and there is nothing that you can do to make the shot right then either walk away or take the shot just for your own remembrance.

When composing a shot look at everything in the shot and that means the object of the shot and everything that surrounds it. If there is something wrong fix it, find a different and better way to photograph it or move on.

Again, it is the difference between taking pictures and photography.

I hope this was detailed enough and if you have any other questions we will be happy to try and help.

rinder99 · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 4:18 pm

OK, Dave and I both teach Photography, I have for many years and many years before that I taught Fineart painting. Same exact rules apply, Different medium.

There are age old rules of composition and yes you can break them but they MUST be understood before you can attempt it. You, Must do the work, Just like I hope you tell your own students weather they are 5 years old or adults.Just like we did, What you cannot do, Thats is if you want to do stock is simply buy a camera,Put it on auto and blast away. Each individual subject you shoot has it's own issues to overcome and that my friend can take a lifetime of study and work.

Your pics....

As Dave and the others have said your doing nothing more than taking snapshots that anyone can do even with a $100 camera, Your not looking. You cannot take a Image of a flower and have a dead blossom in it with dead leaves all around and junk in the dirt, Your lilly has many Faults also, the fence completely kills it and competes along with the other OOF Lillys. This is opposite of what you need to shoot. If that was the case, SS would have 250 Million Images instead of 25 Million [About 20 million to many]

Doing the work....

Doing the work is like you giving out Homework, It is critical you study Composition, I suggest you study the masters of Painting, You must Know and be able to know how exposure works as to the subject you are shooting,You MUST have a complete understanding Of Depth of Field as it "IS" photography and the biggest factor of all in determining what you want the viewer to look at, and How it relates to distance from subject and focal length used. Then you must understand WB and how it affects your Image.

this is a lifelong Craft my friend and can be very rewarding and not just making Money but for artistic freedom and for sure Photography can be enjoyed by everyone But "Stock" Is certainly NOT for everyone. You need a VERY strong work Ethic,Almost expert processing skills and strong desire. Images Must be Tack Sharp,perfectly exposed and composed. I redid 2 of your to a more Pleasing effect and the competition. Good Luck, You have some work cut out for you to be able to compete here.

Really study your work and look at every single thing in every image.Come to LA and take a class, I'll change the way you see in 3 days.If ya can't do this. Find another subject.

jeffbanke · Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 5:42 pm

Just a few examples of what you need to do