Why do these photos kind of suck....

So we finally had a nice sunny day last weekend, so I took the cam with me to the hill for a few quick turns and pictures. Needless to say, every shot is very "snap shotty".....I wouldn't print or frame any of them.


Tips on any of the below? Maybe they're better than i think, but I just am not diggin them.


Am I bored with my own photos? Or are these just...boring. I have thick skin, flame away.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/...e513fd.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3545/...680115.jpg?v=0

composition and content.... those are the first two most important factors when considering the "quality" of an image when it stands alone.... perhaps i just dunno the context though....

The first one isn't framed well- put the whole sign in the picture. Plus, it looks a little over exposed.

The second pic would be cool if there was a better background. As it is now, its too busy.... but put that guy in front of a cool patrol shack or a beer stand, nice and simple, and it would be a better shot.

Your light is really harsh. If you are shooting in the sun in the hours surrounding noon, you will have really bright parts of a photo and then shadowy ones. This is evident especially in your second photo. In your first photo, the light might not have been a big a deal as the fact that the sign is cut in half.

Framing....got it. I actually posted the wrong pic,which is now updated. Thanks for the comments thus far.

^^^ That pic still doesn't do it for me.... if it showed the run below, maybe- but with that background, I'm not sure what to look at or what its supposed to mean. The horizon is a little washed out too, which is probably a result of it being hazy which you can't do anything about.

1. Sign is not interesting enough to be a shot on it's own, and the background is just boring. I've got many shots just like that, DELETE and move on.

2. That dude has character in spades, now you just have to get him to take off the sun glasses, get in some good light, and take a portrait. Get in tight face, and not in wide... people want to see the story in his face. Slap a 50mm on your body, shorten up your DOF especially when it's just meaningless noise in the background.

Here's an example of what I mean by getting up on your subject.

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/a...1&d=1237490638

A polarizer may have helped with the first shot, depending on where the sun is, it can really blue up the sky. Then again someone mentioned it looks like it may have been hazy, there isn't much you can do about that other than wait it out and come back. For the record, I sort of like the first shot, but it can be much much better. If you were facing east or west, go back at whichever golden hour would have the sun at your back.

Shot 2 was just a crappy background (too busy) and direct sun on his face. Using a bit of fill flash may have helped with his face, but the background would've still killed the image. I would've had him step out a bit and opened up the aperture to squash the DOF. I wouldn't have gone total blur, as there is some cool stuff back there, but enough so that the focus on the snow gun was very very soft.

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with poop*ghost on your second image. I think the full look of the guy, not just his face is what gives him character. Sunglasses included. I do also think that having the snow guns in the shot tells a story, but you don't want it to overwhelm the image as it currently does (see above about DOF). Then again there are many ways to take a great photograph of the same subject, I'm sure the close up method on this guy could turn out interesting, it's just not how I would do it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dumpy

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with poop*ghost on your second image. I think the full look of the guy, not just his face is what gives him character. Sunglasses included. I do also think that having the snow guns in the shot tells a story, but you don't want it to overwhelm the image as it currently does (see above about DOF). Then again there are many ways to take a great photograph of the same subject, I'm sure the close up method on this guy could turn out interesting, it's just not how I would do it.

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How dare you? Respectfully disagreeing is unheard of.

Actually I sorta feel the same way looking back at the pick. I like the idea of getting his tat sleeves into the shot.

Don't be afraid to pose somebody if you get inspired. Have the guy wrap his arms around the snow machine or something where you get to see the tats.

Shit I don't know... I'm just flapping my fingers while waiting for files to move from server to server.

These are all great ideas, much appreciated. I did want to get the guy's tats in the photo, I kind of dig that about him.


I didn't experiment with this a whole lot, but it was SO bright I was nervous about opening the ap. I'll have to look back at the EXIF, but I'm guessing F8. I doubt the brightness of the day would have allowed me to shoot anything less than 5.6, my shutter only goes so fast.


But I do agree, a little blur to take out the background would have done me well there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by justcuz

I doubt the brightness of the day would have allowed me to shoot anything less than 5.6, my shutter only goes so fast.

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ND and/or polarizing filters can drop you by many stops, especially if using more than one (not recommended for other reasons, but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do).

Regardless of that, harsh bright sun sucks butt. Overcast days are great for photography, especially portraits.