Your photos 68

Your photos (68)

Take Better Photos

Hints and tips
by Philip Grosset

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with comments from Philip Grosset

"I was sitting on park bench with granddaughter when this scene developed before my eyes. Gripped camera and took shot. Minolta 800si,Tamron 28-200 lens, Kodak Supra 400." (Gene Zonis, Freehold, N.J. USA)

Well done! An example of why it pays to have your camera constantly at hand. Oddly enough, it might have been even more dramatic if you'd been further away and able to use the extreme (tele) end of the zoom. This would have brought bird and cat even closer together. But I realise that wasn't possible!

"Hi, Philip. I came across your site while looking for photo advice and think I've hit the jackpot. Your service is second to none!!! Here are 4 photos I've taken. I'm a very new photographer -- past two months. I have a digital Olympus C-2100 ultra zoom camera. I live in Pennsylvania. Here are some notes on each.
1. Orange sky: this was taken near an overlook that offers an amazing view of Pittsburgh, Pa. But when I turned around, this is what was there.
2. Snowy beach (the one with the whole beach in it): This is the shore of Lake Erie just last week. It's frozen and covered in snow for the first mile out. I like how on the right side of the picture, it looks like a white wave is coming in, when in reality it's snow.
3. Snowy horizon: Looking out into the first glimmer of sunshine of the day. Looks like the horizon is being swallowed by clouds, or just opening up.
4. Tree-lined sunset: A state park. I managed to catch the sun just as it was going down, and I thought framing it in the branches attracted the eye to the sun and the golden reflection in the water. Thank you. I can't wait to get your reaction. And any tips you can provide would be so helpful. I seem to enjoy landscapes like this.Sincerely yours." (Scott Kleinberg Pittsburgh, PA USA)

A dramatic scene, even though the sun is a bit near the bottom of the picture. The colors are spectacular, but I'm wondering if it would have looked even more arresting if you could have included more of those foreground branches on the left. But it's certainly a very pleasing picture.

At first, it's not too obvious what you are showing us here. It's one of those pictures that needs a caption to make sense of it. Perhaps it would have been easier to understand, if some water and/or snow could have been included in the immediate foreground.

An original and interesting picture, It was a good idea to avoid having the horizon exactly half-way up it. Mind you, it too gains from your explanation!

I like this picture, but didn't you leave it just a bit late to take it? It would have been more colorful to have seen the sun when it was higher up. The branches provide very effective framing, but there isn't really quite as much golden reflection in the water as I think you hoped for. But it's a gentle, tranquil scene.

Reply from Scott Kleinberg: "Philip: Thank you so very much. I expected it to take quite a while to see your comments, as I imagine you must get a lot of requests. I am amazed at how fast you did this, and I really appreciated the comments. Thank you so very much. Scott."

"I was just looking at your site and decided to send in this photo. I took this photo in the car while we were travelling. I was just curious of what you think of it. I quite like it. Regards." (Esther Carmichael, Melbourne, Australia)

This is what can easily happen if you take a photo from a moving car: the horizon isn't straight, and the view is largely lost behind a blurred fence! If the view is really stunning, it would be worth stopping the car (if you can!), and poking the camera through the fence. But better take this from a moving car, than get run into!

Reply from Esther Carmichael: "I just wanted to say that you are great. Your quick response to my photo and your comments will make me a better photographer. By the way my camera is a Pentax ESPIO 738G. Its just a compact with a zoom.

Here is another photo I have taken on our travels. I like how the sun is contrasting and the centering of the dish. Please tell me what you think. Regards Esther."

It might have been more interesting to have seen the sun through the dish if you could have waited for this. Or could the tree have provided more foreground framing? This photo needs something to make it look just a bit less ordinary!

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