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10/07/2006 06:42:11 AM · #1 |
So I got my first Canon Digital Rebel XT a few months ago and joined this site soon afterwards. This site has been soooo incredibly helpful in learning, helping, and just general critiquing. With every picture I submit I learn a new lesson. Rating and staring at pictures much much better than mine has helped me to get a better eye for photography, I think.
My pictures are okay. They are better than somebody who doesn't care about photography, but whenever I look at all the winning pictures or near to winning pictures I just think "How?!?!? How did they take that image? How is that even possible?" The winning pictures are so much better than mine! How do you take your pictures from mid 5s and surpass that 6 barrier? If I could even take one picture that gets a decent 6 or so I would be so happy, just because it would show I have the potential.
Is it photoshop? I don't really use photoshop much. Should I be messing around with it a lot more? All I do with it right now is auto adjustments, curves, levels, colors, and sharpen.
Is it not shooting in RAW?
Is it never adjusting white balance?
Maybe I'm just being impatient, but I feel like I'm not getting any better, like I hit a plateau.
Can people suggest ways of improving? Anything and everything would be greatly appreciated! This website is the best, there are so many incredibly skilled and talented people here. If only I were from Iceland...
Here are some of my best:
//static.flickr.com/106/261368797_b5b2c96544.jpg
//static.flickr.com/63/192251728_1372aa3198.jpg
//static.flickr.com/44/192251649_3256a916c0.jpg
//static.flickr.com/64/192250039_f78395b3bd.jpg
//static.flickr.com/62/192254053_13790ec233.jpg
Message edited by Manic - keep images under 500px/30kb or post links/thumbs. |
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10/07/2006 06:58:00 AM · #2 |
yes photoshop is a big help. i personally reccomend it, that and sooting in RAW. those two things give you dones of options in making your photos better. i really love the second and fifth photos you posted. they look like ribbon winners to me. winning ribbons is so subjective and random. Don't put too much time an effort into worrying about that. you make great photos. thats whats important.
just looked at your profile. man you have a very respectable average. better than mine. maybe don't listen to me. lol
Message edited by author 2006-10-07 06:59:24. |
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10/07/2006 07:21:07 AM · #3 |
My images have improved a load since I learned to use photoshop. It can be a great thing. However, I think just looking at images, studying their construction, especially the ones that make YOU say "wow" will improve your photography ten-fold. The most important thing is that you're happy with your image, not whether it wins on DPC. Images 2,4 and 5 on this page are AMAZING. I really love them.
Then again... I've been trying to improve for a while now... hehe. |
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10/07/2006 07:24:48 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by NerdJNerdBird:
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Maybe I'm just being impatient, but I feel like I'm not getting any better, like I hit a plateau.
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After entering just 4 challenges it is a little early to think you've hit a plateau and not getting better. Keep on trying.
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10/07/2006 07:59:34 AM · #5 |
it all depends on what you are trying to do...
if you want to do better at dpc, read this thread.
if you want to be satisified with what you are doing, try this thread.
if you're looking at winners and wondering 'how is that possible?', you need to take the time to pick out a few of those shots and try to replicate them yourself. if you really want to get good, you need to be shooting as much as possible; shooting 100 frames a week will get you nowhere. shoot a 1000 frames a week, and you'll start to learn something...
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10/07/2006 08:39:36 AM · #6 |
The advice to study shots you admire in some depth is, IMO, great. In particular look at the light. How is the shot lit? single source? multiple sources? from direction(s)? how diffuse? Great lighting is the difference between a shot that's OK, and a shot that makes you go "OMG!"
Photoshop skills are important to develop (pun intended). PS is your digital darkroom. It should be a route to optimize, polish, perfect, but not a substitutue for in-camera skills. |
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10/07/2006 09:02:27 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by NerdJNerdBird:
Is it photoshop? I don't really use photoshop much. Should I be messing around with it a lot more? All I do with it right now is auto adjustments, curves, levels, colors, and sharpen.
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The auto-adjustments show you what effect each tool has on the image. They don't often do the best job and using the same tool by yourself generally allows for more subtle and better looking results.
Originally posted by NerdJNerdBird:
Is it not shooting in RAW?
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Shooting in RAW gives your more latitude in post-processing to get the image looking exactly how it should. I wouldn't say that by not shooting in RAW your pictures are destined to be sub-par, but if you are looking for as much creative latitude as possible and willing to put in the effort involved then, yes, it is the way to go.
Originally posted by NerdJNerdBird:
Is it never adjusting white balance?
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If you are shooting in jpeg you need to be doing this in camera as you are shooting. If you are shooting RAW you can take care of it afterwards. One way or another it is important and does have a big effect on how your image looks.
Originally posted by NerdJNerdBird:
Maybe I'm just being impatient, but I feel like I'm not getting any better, like I hit a plateau.
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Best way to approach anything is to take the very, very long view. Learning is a lifelong process. Wether it is photography, writing, leaerning an instrument - you have from the day you start till the day you die to improve the skills involved. Setting short term goals and expecting immediate results does nothing but frustrate you and limit your vision of what you can some day acheive.
Originally posted by NerdJNerdBird:
Can people suggest ways of improving?
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Keep shooting.
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10/07/2006 09:09:43 AM · #8 |
Since the 5 you shown are not on DPC, I will give you a quick critique here.
1. Has noise. Good color and focus.
2. Fantastic! Love the lighting coming down the walls and floor.
3. Great composition and colors. Looks grainy/noisey to me.
4. Good composition. Whites are completely blown out. I think the stark whites take away from the subject.
5. Lovely scenery and subject. The sky is lifeless. It could be remedied in Photoshop. The subjects dress is similar in color to the soil. I would get in closer to the subject.
Considering you haven't dove into the world of photoshop yet these images are fantastic. I think you have the photography skills, now you just need the processing skills. Good job!
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10/08/2006 12:33:39 AM · #9 |
Thanks for the critiques, the kind words, the encouragement, and the advice everybody! I'm going to carry this camera around with me all the time and shoot as much as possible. I'll also put some time into learning photoshop. Does anybody know of a good website for this?
Thanks again! |
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10/08/2006 02:28:29 AM · #10 |
David,
Here are my observations about how to place high in the challenges here at DPC:
o Images should not look like snapshots
o Images should not have busy/distracting backgrounds
o Images must be crystal clear (except for strategically soft-focused ones), proper white balance, and proper contrast (depending on the challenge)
o Except for landscapes (and the like), close cropping is generally a good idea
o Photographs should be taken from an artist's perspective, not a shutterbug's perspective.
o Images projecting an allure of mystery and surrealism seem to fare better
Again, these are my observations. There are always exceptions to these, as you can see by perusing all the past challenges.
Message edited by author 2006-10-08 14:20:29.
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10/08/2006 03:26:26 AM · #11 |
#1 - Realizing that all the equipment and techniques in the world are just tools for saying something.
#2 - Figuring out what I wanted to say, and not worrying about what everyone else thought.
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10/08/2006 05:49:35 AM · #12 |
I'm not sure if it's a good resource, but I've just started making tutorial videos for photoshop:
My Tutorials
There's also PhotoWalkthrough
Message edited by author 2006-10-08 05:51:38. |
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