More to add to the portfolio (Photographs)

[ak_powder_monkey]

Tell me what you think, how can these be better? (aside from the crappy scanning job)

[hardrider]

Get more attractive friends.

[FreshCoast]

i like the pics, but i think you could use less black. mabey its the scanner, mabey not, but i think that all the black takes away from the shots. dont be afraid to shoot scentes like number 2 which are very bright, but still show variation in the hue of the snow color (more or less blues, stuff like that)

im no pro, but thats what i thought after checkin out your work

[PaSucks]

Stop taking so many pics of people's backs. If a shot is supposed to be a portrait, then obviously the face is the focul point, if it is a scenic shot, then having a person blocking out the scenery is kind of pointless.

[BobMc]

I'm just curious, what part of this do you find hard to understand?

"Please do not post photos not related to snow sports. They will be deleted without warning. Sorry for the inconvenience. Biglines staff"

BobMc

[CS]

C'mon dude, no more close-ups of some ugly Alaskan's mug. And really, the pictures are plain and un-inspiring.

[Svengali]

All of the above advice is a good start.
What are you trying to say in each of these pics-Ever heard that expression "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words"? Well you dont necessarily need to replace the "missing" blanks word for word; But an image needs to say more than "So"! Lots of great shots tell a story, Others intentionally inspire the viewer to ask a question!,to wish they where there, etc. If your shot needs a written caption to tell the viewer what they should be seeing; well then you've sorta missed the point, (so send them to your grandmother!) those pics make one feel indifferent at best and disappointing to those who expect more (remember AKpm, lotsa maggots live the Ak dream thru your pics! Dont let them down!)
Another potential method is to try and visualize your images being published (if that's what you aspire to!); now ask your self in what context would you find images like yours?( if you answered "none" you are on the road to developing that necessary "critical" eye!) Look at the work of other photographers and what you can incorporate into your own style -eventually your style will develop and mature thru experience! Dont take this advice as a negative! Build on it and keep on trying! take lots of pics, and most importantly "Visualize" your shots before you pull the trigger! Remember that the best images inspire!

[FNG]

Add more Norwedge cleavage and you'll be fine.

[teledave]

This one has some potential but needs more contrast between the ridgelines and the sky, they kind of blend together. It would be a good shot if the sky were just right, but as it is it's just average. The bad part of "real" photography vs. just taking some nice pics on your trip is that the "real" photog will sit right there until the sky gets to be just the right hue to make the picture great. If it doesn't happen that day they will come back the next day, and the next..............

The last shot with the people on the cabin porch might have some potential if you had used a good fill-in flash.

I thought the composition was pretty good on both of those even though the final results were very average.

The bird in the tree B/W was okay too. Probably a little better than OK if you got it to the right audience.

[A-wreck]

No more closeups of ugly boys. You posted some action shots a few weeks ago that looked pretty good. I don't even think you took a beating posting them here. Take more like those.

try, try again. You'll get it.

[TheDingleberry]

"No... Fishing is the shit," -Nicholai when told "I don't get fishing"

AKPM I think it's time we had a talk...I think your an alright kid but bro you have some STRANGE tendencies. And when I say strange I mean completley fucked. Maybe its the water up there in AK. But bro is Nicholai your god? You quote him like you're his little bitch. Do you think he quotes you like you quote him. I doubt it. And the pictures, seiously man, post some pictures that fucking rock. I wanna see you rockin it off a cornice or droppin a cliff, even a small cliff. BUT DAMN I don't need to see two chicks at some cabin.

[The Reverend Floater]

AKPM....do you know "the rule of thirds?" I'm no expert photog by any stretch of the imagination but when I learned this one, simple rule, my shots got infinitely better. It basically says that the subject of your photo such as your friend on the ridge, the two girls at the cabin--whatever your focal point is--should be positioned by thirds. So it should be 1/3 up from the bottom or 2/3's up from the bottom or 1/3 in from the side or 2/3's in from the side, etc. etc. etc. It's amazing how much this can help and amateur photog's product

Also, try to improve the contrast and colors. In some of those mountain shots, the bottom half of your portrait is still shaded...this will probably never come out well. Shading is cool when done right--look at Grant's shots as he seems to blend really nice color contrasts with blue shading, etc. But it's way tricky, I think.

Also try and shoot these shots early in the morning or in the evening when the light is more horizontal than vertical on the subject.

Finally, try experimenting with different film, filters, etc. to get better contrast and warmer or sharper colors.

[Viva]

What I'd love to see is this pic. With AKPM's caption: "I nailed 'em!!!"




Edit- those are chicks, right?

[ak_powder_monkey]

Yea these pics suck (except I like my self portrait, the grey jay and the moonlight B&W one) they are only a bunch of crappy pics to make the hopefully EPIC black and white pics I took yesterday look better

[ak_powder_monkey]

C'mon dude, no more close-ups of some ugly Alaskan's mug. And really, the pictures are plain and un-inspiring.

actully he's swiss alaskan aren't that ugly

and dingleberry the sig seemed like a good idea when I was drunk, it was really funny, I guess you just had to have been there

[PacRimRider1]

blah, blah seemed like a good idea when I was drunk, blah...

WHAT!?!

I think you just made a lot of people very happy.

[shamrockpow]

No offense, but the odd numbered pictures all need work:
1. Don't shoot people's backs so much
2. You have a viewfinder on your camera: USE IT. Think about the composition and angle before the shot. The cabin pic with the girls could be decent if you cut out most of the white space and completely moved your body around.
3. If you don't have enough light, use a flash or a tripod.
4. Think about what is the subject of your picture and emphasize it. If the subject is some kid playing guitar, then let us see something about him - his face, his fingers, at least the freaking guitar.
5. Buy some photography books (or just get them from the library if you want). Old stuff by Walker Evans, fashion photography, check out national geographic for wildlife shots and study what makes a good picture.
6. Other than that, just keep shooting lots and getting feedback. Do you print your own B&W shots? That is the #1 thing that'll help you improve, b/c you'll recognize all the little mistakes and be able to correct a few of them by hand.

[ak_powder_monkey]

No offense, but the odd numbered pictures all need work:
1. Don't shoot people's backs so much
2. You have a viewfinder on your camera: USE IT. Think about the composition and angle before the shot. The cabin pic with the girls could be decent if you cut out most of the white space and completely moved your body around.
3. If you don't have enough light, use a flash or a tripod.
4. Think about what is the subject of your picture and emphasize it. If the subject is some kid playing guitar, then let us see something about him - his face, his fingers, at least the freaking guitar.
5. Buy some photography books (or just get them from the library if you want). Old stuff by Walker Evans, fashion photography, check out national geographic for wildlife shots and study what makes a good picture.
6. Other than that, just keep shooting lots and getting feedback. Do you print your own B&W shots? That is the #1 thing that'll help you improve, b/c you'll recognize all the little mistakes and be able to correct a few of them by hand.

Thanks, and yea I make B&W prints. Related Question can you get a degree in photography at western washington? What schools have photo degrees?