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Hey guys! I’ve been a member of this site for a couple weeks now, but I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the things I’ve learned, and all the photos I’ve seen everybody post are like flawless. I was/am feeling very nervous to post, but I know I need to push through it to get better so, here’s two photos from a couple months ago. It was the first time I really got to play around with the camera since it was given to me. I would love some advice!
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Looks like you’re off to a good start! Beautiful flowers in the first photo, but my impression is that it’s too “busy” with a lot of distractions. I like the effect of the staggered dock in the second photo, although so much of it is blurred that the only thing left to focus on is the end of that long single plank, which to me is not a very interesting subject. Perhaps you could have used the plants in the foreground in a more purposeful way or even focused more on one of the posts as a dominant subject.
I kind of like the first picture. On the second one, I agree with Dan – maybe you could try shifting your focus in the picture. I’m guessing you did the blur in post-processing (after the picture was taken)? I’d probably feather the edges on the blur more, and maybe have more of the bridge in focus.
Hey @annalee13! I’m glad to hear you’ve been learning a lot on this site and built up enough courage to post a few pictures of your own for critique!
I remember the first time I submitted some pictures for critique! It was actually with a pro photographer in-person, we sitting across the table from each other, and I had printed/chosen a bunch of images. Boy was I nervous! 🙂 Thankfully critique over the computer is it easier and we can still learn just as much!
How are plans going for your trip in November to China? I love your description on your profile for why you’re wanting to learn photography: “I don’t want to just tell you their story, but I want to show it to you too, and I’m trying to gain experience in that.”
Anyone reading this topic make sure to check out https://annaleetravelstheworld.wordpress.com/!
The picture of the bridge tells a story of moving forward, even faith in stepping out on something that’s different than the solid ground I’m used to. But it feels like it’s in a park, so it feels safe. The blurred edges and B&W processing give it a feeling of being in one’s memory or thoughts, a concept instead of a concrete subject.
I think the edges of the blur could be less distinct, fading from blur to non-blur more subtly. Perhaps that’s a setting in your editing program? This would make it less noticeable, which is what you want because the blur isn’t the subject of your picture. Also, making sure the beginning of the bridge isn’t blurred would be a good thing too, because that’s where you want your viewers eye to start in it’s trek into the picture.
Way to fill the frame with the flowers picture! Flowers of that size are difficult to shoot. I know from experience! They are just so small, and you can’t really focus on any single one of them without specialized equipment. So what did you do instead? You filled the frame with them to create almost a texture, or repeating pattern which the eye finds interesting.
Perhaps I would have included less foreground and a little more background. Perhaps I would have created blur within the camera too, using aperture and focal length, instead of simply relying on post-processing for creating the dreamy effect. Not sure how to create that blur? Take a look at this post I wrote on a missions trip to Mexico: How to Make the Background Blurry. You’ll love it! All the kids are orphans at an orphanage I support with my cell phone bill using MissionTalk, and with my photography services when I’m down there. 🙂
Thanks y’all for the comments! I totally understand what you mean about the blurring. For some reason, the pictures look different on my computer than other devices. I was viewing it on my phone recently and realized this. But I was editing photos the other day and I think I’ve found a way to combat that. I had intended for the blurring to not be so strong and having a smoother transition from the focal point.
@jamesstaddon I’ve been reading all your blogs! And realizing how limited my camera is haha some of the things I’ve been able to apply though and it’s been really helpful. Ahhh wow, I couldn’t imagine showing my photos one-on-one like that!Preparation is going well for China! The only thing left is money. I’m 1/3 of the way there! Another team went to the orphanage a couple weeks ago and I got to see updated pictures of all my kiddos. Makes me so excited!! Thanks for asking. After coming back from China last year and speaking with everyone about it, I realized I could do so much more with pictures! According to the last team who went, they’ve really opened up with photography since I was there. There are now pictures in rooms we weren’t even allowed in last time and a ton of pictures of kids they had deemed “unadoptable” and not worth the time to be photographed. Seeing these new pictures was the first time I got to see how God is changing the worker’s hearts at the orphanage. It may seem like little things, but I know they’ll add up to something big! I’ve never heard of MissionTalk! That’s SO cool! And I will definitely try that technique out on blurring.
I’m going to try it again and make the changes you guys suggested!
Thanks for all the help!!
So glad to hear things are going well, @annalee13!
I was really impressed with the pictures on your blog that were taken by some other photographers, so I hope you’re able to start getting some great pictures too to use when you get home to spread the word about God’s work in China.
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