Your photos 16

Your photos (16)

Take Better Photos

Hints and tips
by Philip Grosset

Sunset

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with comments from Philip Grosset

"I took this picture when I was staying at a hotel in Pensacola, Fla...it's Pensacola Bay.... I'm very new to photography..please tell me what you think." (Amanda W.)

Your photo (left) comes out very well, and the colors are very attractive,but it's just a little bland. Some foreground framing (such as leaves or a boat) might have made it just a bit more unusual.

"I also took this one of a neighbor's daughter, I think she has beautiful eyes and I tried to focus in on that..what do you think?" (Amanda W.)

You've taken an effective portrait (on the left), but it is not helped by the light white area on the extreme left. Why not move in closer (as on the right), then you not only remove the background distractions but can really see the girl's eyes - which is what you wanted to show. It was a good idea to look up at her from slightly below, and to choose a light background. The blue hat effectively matches her eyes! A very successful picture.

"These are just a couple of photographs I have taken recently could you please comment on them. I have been using an SLR (Minolta 700SI Dynax for about two years. Unfortunately do not get enough time for my photography." (Derek Hodgetts)

I was only able to open one of the two images you sent me. It's on the left. As always, I'd be inclined to get in closer (as on the right). This also has the advantage of losing the rather puzzling lighter area at the top left of the background. Otherwise, the black background works very well, and I like the arresting colour of the rose, but it has a curiously squashed appearance because of the angle you took it from! It's always worth trying out different viewpoints to be sure you end up with the one that shows your subject to the very best advantage. Some people would even add a few drops of water to the rose to suggest dew, so as to make it just that much more appealing!

Reply from Derek Hodgetts:"Thanks for the advice The rose was taken in the garden at the rear of our house and it was still on the fence. therefore made life difficult trying to take the correct angle.The top right was the daylight coming through the rose tree.Sorry about the second one try this one which was taken on a trip to Ireland last year."

A pleasant scene, but there's such a contrast of light and shade that the grass in the immediate foreground is a bit over exposed. I'm left wanting to see more of the stream too. If you'd been able to include more of the swirling water at the bottom of the waterfall, it might have looked even more impressive!

"I have several litters of kittens every year and I love to photograph them. I would like to take better photographs, any advice would be appreciated. Photo Album: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=251908&a=1872271. Thank you." Carol Dore

Your photos, of which I have selected three, range from the very good (top left) to the totally under exposed and out of focus (bottom right)! So my main piece of advice would be to discriminate - and only include the ones that really work!

I like the top left picture very much. The red rose contrasts very effectively with the white cat. But, above all, I like the real background. There's always a danger of setting up very artificial-looking sentimental pictures posing kittens with musical instruments or other objects (bottom right) with which they don't interact at all. These tell us much more about the person who took the photo than about the kitten! The kitten in the milk jar (top right) was, I suppose, specially set up, but the picture works because it 's something that could (perhaps) have really happened. The result is cute and amusing, without (excuse the pun) being too over-the-top. Contrast it with the picture bottom right where there seems no connection at all between the kitten and the mystery object on the left! Yet you also included an equally out of focus b & w version of this on your site! It really does pay just to pick the best, because your best are very good.

Reply from Carol Jane Dore: "Thank you so much for your advice. I am sure it will help me to improve my photographs. It is so nice to finally find someone who was willing to take the time to give me some advice."

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