Your photos 42

Your photos (42)

Take Better Photos

Hints and tips
by Philip Grosset

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with comments from Philip Grosset

"Hi there...I just bought a used Minolta 400SI. I have no prior photgraphy lessons, but I am a videographer so composition is my strong point, however I'm not perfect. In the first and last ones, I used a cross screen filter from Quantary. On the first one, I was trying to get the romantic feel with the siloette of the boat, dock, and the gazebo. Let me know what you think? Thanx." (Jay Exner, -Syracuse, NY USA)

Your photo (on the left) works fine, but I don't think it really needs the filter effect. If anything, this distracts from the scene. If you want to make it more dramatic, why not wait until the lighting is a bit more colorful, as suggested on the right,

Your photo (on the left) would have looked much more lively in bright sunshine, as I've tried to suggest on the right. Here's a subject full of movement that really would have looked better on video! As it is, I'm not sure quite where the centre of interest is meant to be. Without being able to see the movement, it all looks just a bit ordinary.

I like your photo above, but once again am not so sure that you really needed the filter effect. If you are going to use it, though, it might be a good idea to compose the picture more firmly around it, as shown below.

On the left, I've tried to show what it might have looked like if you'd waited until the boat was about to cross the sun's reflection. I think this might have made it more interesting. However, I really prefer my version on the right, where I've also moved the boat much closer to the bottom of the picture, so as to achieve a more balanced composition - not something, I admit, you could easily do while actually taking the photo!

"See attachments. Summary of submissions.
Plane and Moon: Moon slide shot using Nikon F2 body attached to 8" reflecting telescope using Kodachrome 64. The plane was shot on Kodachrome 64 using a Nikkor 300mm telephoto. The shot was done into the late afternoon sun to produce a transparent washed out sky that could be used to "sandwich" on top of the moon. The two slides were then remounted together and printed on Cibachrome print film.
Florida sunset: This shot was done at Flamingo Bay, Fla. in the Everglades National Park. It was one of the most fiery sunsets I have ever seen. A Nikon F2 with 24mm F2.8 lens was used along with Kodachrome 64. Later, it was printed on Cibachrome print film.
Farmington rapids: To call this a rapids is stretching things a bit, but it made nice subject for the shot. A Bronica ETRS 645 was used with a 75mm lens. Kodak VPS 120 print film was used and then it was later printed as an 11 x 14. This shot is a scan of that print. A slow shutter speed was used to cause the water to "feather". (Christopher Poole)

If you can produce results like these, you don't need any help from me! I particularly like the photo on the left which looks both original and dramatic. It certainly grabs the attention. So does the sunset. All done without a computer too!

I don't think this works nearly as well as the other two photos.The problem is the large dark smudged area in the bottom right of the picture. It gives the impression that something was obscuring the lens, and that can't be what you intended! What the picture lacks is a picturesque foreground. However, your slow shutter speed produces an impression of flowing water that makes an interesting comparison with the waterfall seen higher up this page.

Reply from Christopher Poole: "That was quick response! Regarding the picture of the small rapids, I agree completely with your comments. This particular small rapids was not the best subject but I was in an area that was limited in subject choices so I had to use what I could get. There are some areas in north Georgia that have much more interest in the foreground Stream

(like colorful maple leaves on the rocks with water flowing around them). Later this same afternoon, I did find another stream that I tried (shot attached...) but the light was fading and there was a lot of trash, cans, and broken glass under the water. It left me with less than a good impression of the area as a subject. I had to use a slow shutter speed to hide all the debris. It worked in the final 11 x14 but I still had doubts about the stream as subject. This shot was done with a Bronica ETRS 645 and 75mm lens, tripod, and Kodak VPS 120 print film. This shot may or may not work better but I would be interested in your comments.Thanks for your input. Regards."

I prefer this picture to your previous one, but think it really needs some bright sunshine to bring it to life.

Reply from Christopher Poole:"Again, I agree. The weather didn't cooperate however and I had to leave the area the next morning so it was a case of getting what could be "gotten".:-) Best Regards."

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