Deep Thought
by zodaonly

Comment by K3Master:
As he gazed up, his inner thoughts were a turmoil. He didn't quite understand why he was here, or what he was supposed to be doing. He didn't know why life could be so simultaneously cruel, yet joyful. He didn't know why...

... and then 34 came up on the Keno board he'd been looking at, and nothing else mattered. He'd just won $300!

SuburbiaTake1.jpg
by zodaonly

Comment by tnun:
Good perspective and thought. Agree that varying the composition might show things up better, but I like the elements; spider, flag, what looks like a real estate sign, and the big car. Pineapple's time of day suggestion is excellent.

ChicagoBackLit_Sunset_MC_8_16_sm.jpg
by zodaonly

Comment by goinskiing:
Excellent colors! I maybe would have cropped just a tad off the top. Otherwise, very strong image.

goinskiing

ChicagoNight_7_15 121_Edited_BW.jpg
by zodaonly

Comment by goinskiing:
Very good! I love the clarity of the shot. I like the long exposure and it works very effectively here. Good use of black and white. Excellent background framing.

Keep it up!

32FordHotRod_sm.jpg
by zodaonly

Comment by goinskiing:
You've definitely got a good start, much better than mine. You have the angle right to make it more interesting and not just another car picture. As someone already mentioned, having a clear subject is pretty essential in having a strong shot. Try to avoid distracting backgrounds that draw the eye away from the subject. Exposure seems a little bright in this particular shot. This would have been a good candidate for a polarizing filter, especially to get that sky a little bluer. You could also try messing around with the Depth of Field (DOF). If you shoot in Av (aperature priority) you can see how you f-stop number affects focus. Here, I would have used a narrower DOF, meaning the number is smaller. This would have isolated the subject much better.

Good work and keep practicing and welcome to a wonderful community! Good luck!

goinskiing

ChicagoNight_7_15 121_Edited_BW.jpg
by zodaonly

Comment by trevytrev:
I like this shot, very nice. Well composed and the exposure is great. The couples that are standing in front of the fountain make this shot for me, much more of a personal story than just a picture of the fountain. Well done.

32FordHotRod_sm.jpg
by zodaonly

Comment by TCGuru:
This looks like it has potential :) Try getting a bit creative with your exposures. I cut my photography teeth on an XTi and it's a great little camera. The best advice I can give you: Put that thing in M mode and start getting frustrated. You will be better for it in the end. This photo would have been enhanced by shooting with your 18-55mm at 20mm for a bit of distortion, pulled a tiny bit closer to the ground so the angle was a bit more upward to include the hood, at f4, ISO 100, and then just meter with the camera to get the shutter speed. Set it, and forget it :) Nice reflections in the windshield too. A step out to the left would have filled the windshield with clouds and killed the bright sunspot in one swift move. If you have ?s, feel free to PM :)

MCLightHouse_Sunset_Back_8_16_sm.jpg
by zodaonly

Comment by Ken:
Hey! I know that lighthouse (check out my portfolio). Beautiful colors in the sky, my only nitpick is the blown out sun. This type of shot was made for HDR.

ChicagoBackLit_Sunset_MC_8_16_sm.jpg
by zodaonly

Comment by Nusbaum:
Nice shoot. I walked that pier many times before being shipped off to Minnisota.

SuburbiaTake1.jpg
by zodaonly

Comment by Ken:
While I like the viewpoint and colos, I agree with what Moose says about the lack of subject - that was my first thought also. Google "rule of thirds" - it's a great place to start at when thinking about composition.

Welcome to DPC!