Your photos 35

Your photos (35)

Take Better Photos

Hints and tips
by Philip Grosset

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with comments from Philip Grosset

"Hello! I am not a english speaking person but I'm trying to write this. Please comment on my fotos. I use a Nikon FM10 and kodak proimage iso 100 film. Congratulations for your website." (Luis Ochoa, Honduras)

Left: I like this bright and colorful photo very much, and think it's very successful. All I'd be inclined to do is cut off the extreme right edge of the picture so that the black line marking the end of the wall is not seen, as it's a very slight distraction.
Right: It's always a good idea to move in for close-ups, but, as this one shows a horse eating, it's a pity we can't see its mouth. This might have made it more interesting.

On the left is the photo as you sent it me. On the right, I've moved in to show the children more clearly. This is one of those subjects where you really need more than one picture. It's interesting to see where the children are, but it's a good idea to show them close up too - and, if you'd persisted, perhaps you would have been able to obtain some rather more animated shots of them!

Reply from Luis Ochoa: "Hi! Thanks for your comments on my photos, this is the first time that someone out of my country do it. I would like to study photografy in NYIP, could you give me an advice about that?"
Sorry, I've no experience of NYIP!

"Hi, I found your site to be really useful, especially the photo critiques. I recently became interested in photography, and was wondering if you could comment on some recent photos I've taken using a point & shoot camera. I cross processed Fuji Superia 400 film to get the strange colors in the photos. As well, the scanned images are not as clear and are a bit darker than the originals. The 2 photos taken in the park are my attempts at taking portraits using a tripod. (one was taken using a self-timer) The other photo is of Honest Ed's Discounters in Toronto, Canada at early evening. I was not sure whether or not to use the flash, as I wanted the lights from the store to stand out in the picture. Please let me know if and when you will be commenting on my photos through email. Any pointers on composition would be greatly appreciated!!"(Joyce Chow)

Left: I can't understand why you deliberately aimed at strange colors! The glimpses of flowers in the background suggest that this scene might have looked much more attractive in daylight, but, if you are using flash at night, try to exclude these large areas of blackness.
Right: I've moved in closer so as to concentrate on the most interesting part of the picture. I've also tried to restore the coloring to nearer what (I guess) it originally was.

This (on the left) is the most successful of your three photos, although I don't think the overall coloring is any too flattering, so, on the right, I've removed some of the green tinge, and moved in just a bit closer, although I've left in enough of the attractive background to show where you were. I think this works fine.

You either need to use a flash to lighten the man's face, or to turn him round so that you just show his back in silhouette. Or you could position him in a better lit area, when the odd coloring produced by the street lighting might seem quite appropriate. You can only discover which you prefer by trial and error, do don't be afraid to experiment! Some automatic cameras have a useful night mode flash setting that balances the flash and existing light conditions, so that a lit background isn't lost in darkness. Here the background is too light and the foreground too dark.

Reply from Joyce Chow: "Thanks for the comments, I wasn't expecting such a fast reply. The picture with the flowers actually was taken during late afternoon, it's probably due to the cross processing that the lighting appears strange. I heard about cross processing and wanted to experiment with it a little, although I think it lent itself better to scenes I took in the city rather than for portraits."

Go on to YOUR PHOTOS 36

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