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08/02/2004 01:24:22 AM · #1 |
Most of the higher scoring photos don't suffer this problem but a majority of the lower scoring photos do. Besides the poor subject choices that don't score well, the compositions stink. There is little or no thought put into this aspect of the photograph.
If you suffer from frequent scores of 5 or below, ask yourself what you know about photographic composition. If you can't answer beyond "I know what the rule of thirds is" then you may want to do some investigation.
Enjoy your reading :)
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08/02/2004 01:30:13 AM · #2 |
hmmmmm... i don't think my composition "stinks." i use the rule of thirds in a lot of my shots, but i don't think it's ALWAYS the right choice. i know on my first entries, i needed a tripod, but i've since learned the error of my ways and have been much happier with the quality. i'm guessing my dilemma must be "poor subject choice," as i didn't put a bug in my macro shot and that must be the key to winning.
i don't like bugs.
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08/02/2004 01:41:13 AM · #3 |
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08/02/2004 01:44:14 AM · #4 |
pitsaman... are you saying that they DO have a purple hue? maybe my monitor's way off...
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08/02/2004 02:10:34 AM · #5 |
And for those of you looking for tips and leads here are a 2 to start you off...
//www.aea1.k12.ia.us/lois/photoguide.html
//asp.photo.free.fr/Composition/photoProgramCompMainClass.shtml
Message edited by author 2004-08-04 01:12:50.
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08/02/2004 02:12:59 AM · #6 |
While I'm by no means "good", I do think the quality of my work has improved since that dumb, mispelled "Pick-a-boo" entry, unfortunately for me, my scores haven't improved much. I also think the photographs I take for fun (read: not for challenges) are much better than those I do take for challenges. Unfortunately, the DPC community doesn't get to see those very often. Another thing I wanted to point out, I find it really hard to find a nice composition when I'm doing "studio" work, it just doesn't come to me naturally, like I mentioned in another thread, I'm more of photojournalism/stree/life photographer, if you know what I mean. That might have something to do with the crappy compositions around here, not just mine, but others' as well. Just my 2 cents.
June
Edit: typo
Message edited by author 2004-08-02 02:15:12.
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08/02/2004 02:40:18 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by annasense:
pitsaman... are you saying that they DO have a purple hue? maybe my monitor's way off... |
I'm afraid i've got to concur - sky on the statue and rocks in the penguin shot both feature a strong hue of purple... |
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08/02/2004 07:33:57 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by redmoon:
Originally posted by annasense:
pitsaman... are you saying that they DO have a purple hue? maybe my monitor's way off... |
I'm afraid i've got to concur - sky on the statue and rocks in the penguin shot both feature a strong hue of purple... |
Wow... I just don't see the purple! I even calibrated my monitor after pitsaman said it. Can I ask if y'all are using Macs or PCs, just out of curiousity? I know the color-shifts are pretty great from one machine to the next. Thanks for letting me know this, though. You can guarantee I'm going to be checking my photos on a bunch of computers from work today. :)
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08/02/2004 07:41:32 AM · #9 |
Definite purple here too, although I'm at work so this monitor isn't as well calibrated as it probably could be.
Edit: Doh! To answer your question, I'm on a PC.
Message edited by author 2004-08-02 07:43:34. |
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08/02/2004 08:19:48 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Most of the higher scoring photos don't suffer this problem but a majority of the lower scoring photos do. Besides the poor subject choices that don't score well, the compositions stink. There is little or no thought put into this aspect of the photograph.
If you suffer from frequent scores of 5 or below, ask yourself what you know about photographic composition. If you can't answer beyond "I know what the rule of thirds is" then you may want to do some investigation.
Enjoy your reading :) |
I think this comment would have served its purpose better if you would have taken some time to find some informative links before telling more then half the site that their composition stinks and they don't put any thought into photos that most of them probably really like.
My photos don't really do well, but my wife usually likes them, so I really don't care about the scores. I kind of take offense to you saying I don't put any thought into them because I do. They may not be the "right" thoughts thru the eyes of a professional, but that doesn't mean I don't put thoughts into my photos. |
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08/02/2004 08:38:01 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Most of the higher scoring photos don't suffer this problem but a majority of the lower scoring photos do. Besides the poor subject choices that don't score well, the compositions stink. There is little or no thought put into this aspect of the photograph.
If you suffer from frequent scores of 5 or below, ask yourself what you know about photographic composition. If you can't answer beyond "I know what the rule of thirds is" then you may want to do some investigation.
Enjoy your reading :) |
You have created a thread to tell people you think their compositional skills stink without offering any advice in your post on how this might be improved. What does that serve other than to insult and demoralise?
At least provide a suggested reading list, some links to sites with good advice or some pointers of your own.
Otherwise you come across as condescending and rude.
IMO.
Kavey
Message edited by author 2004-08-02 08:38:46.
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08/02/2004 08:48:44 AM · #12 |
| I assumed I'd just missed the URL... |
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08/02/2004 08:50:35 AM · #13 |
Actually, I think John's post was to make each of us think about our work. Maybe it's a little harsh for the people that feel they need everything sugar coated, but I don't find it offensive. If we want to grow to be great photographers, we need to think for ourself and learn to be great photographers.
John has given us something to think about. If we want to improve, we can do a little research on our own.
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08/02/2004 08:57:47 AM · #14 |
Originally posted by cbeller:
Actually, I think John's post was to make each of us think about our work. Maybe it's a little harsh for the people that feel they need everything sugar coated, but I don't find it offensive. If we want to grow to be great photographers, we need to think for ourself and learn to be great photographers.
John has given us something to think about. If we want to improve, we can do a little research on our own. |
Oh lordy, I certainly don't need things sugar coated at all. When I ask people for their comments I want them as they come.
But I'm doubting how useful this post really is for most people?
If people aren't already considering composition then they certainly should be but I suspect it's more accurate to say that people might be considering it but just failing to get it right, to understand how to get it right.
Surely a more useful post would have offered advice on HOW to improve or at least sources of information?
I have no problem with John's use of the word "stink" since I agree that many of my own images plus many others I see on this site do indeed stink.
PS It's John's prerogative to post as he likes. I just feel, personally, that there are ways of communicating successfully and ways of not.
SHRUG.
Message edited by author 2004-08-02 08:59:35.
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08/02/2004 08:59:23 AM · #15 |
John has a point. I know the composition of my pics leave alot to be desired. When a photographer of John's calibre offers advice, TAKE IT!
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08/02/2004 09:00:45 AM · #16 |
I think he is trying to get people to go explore on their own. Why should he have to hand feed someone information? Sometimes it's good to have someone point out the correct path to take without them telling you everything you will encounter on that path. It gives the person that wants to learn the responsibility of seeking the knowledge they need to improve.
I've noticed a few times John has posted an open ended comment like this. They are like little gems sprinkled within our everyday mundane conversations. Thanks. |
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08/02/2004 09:03:08 AM · #17 |
Exactly my thoughts.
Originally posted by pcody:
I think he is trying to get people to go explore on their own. Why should he have to hand feed someone information? Sometimes it's good to have someone point out the correct path to take without them telling you everything you will encounter on that path. It gives the person that wants to learn the responsibility of seeking the knowledge they need to improve.
I've noticed a few times John has posted an open ended comment like this. They are like little gems sprinkled within our everyday mundane conversations. Thanks. |
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08/02/2004 09:03:11 AM · #18 |
Fair enough, seems that it's enough to prompt some people to go research on their own.
Of course, I'm wondering why people posting on a photography site dedicated to improving their work wouldn't already have thought of reading up to improve techniques such as composition but...
...don't mind me... I'm obviously in a (grumpy and ingrat) minority!
LOL
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08/02/2004 09:04:04 AM · #19 |
I see no value in this original post. Any guidelines for improving photography, John. No ... value was not created by getting a discussion going.
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08/02/2004 09:05:01 AM · #20 |
The tone of the message could very well be taken as an insult, but don't take offense. Take action!
Do your best to make sure that the criticism doesn't apply to you. ;-) |
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08/02/2004 09:08:10 AM · #21 |
I think the point people are trying to make is that while yes, it's helpful to highlight that composition lets some photographs down it would be a lot MORE helpful to give some constructive critisism or at least a link or two to pages which give some compositional help that John feels is useful.
We've had this discussion before regarding comments on photographs. Which is more helpful:
"This photo sucks"
"This photo sucks, and could have been improved by..."
In fact the original was worse, it was the equivalent of "This photo sucks, and I know how it could have been better. Ha ha!" |
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08/02/2004 09:08:13 AM · #22 |
I would have to agree with Kavey on this. The lack of including a few suggested links in the original post of this thread is slightly rude and quite condescending.
I am not looking for some kind of sugar coated cheapened posting. I joined this site in order to learn how to boost my skills. Right now, I know I suck. I have only recently started becoming more serious about this hobby.
The thing that 'sucks' about this site is that few people really offer any kind of suggestions as to how I could improve any of my images. I have had a handful of 'Good Shot' comments and a few 'Composition sUx0rS' but very little in the way of suggestions to actually improve my photography.
We all start somewhere, none of us start out as 'elite' photography geniuses. You know, where we can look down from our 'Ivory Photographer Tower' and tell the Philistines how poor their work is. Anyone can say they think someone's work is juvenile or otherwise poor.
Obviously, there are a few roads to take. One is to tell people they suck and hide all your 'toys'. The other road is to suggest that people could improve their skills by checking a few posted links and perhaps by also providing some tutorials. Out of the two, one of those methods deserves a great deal of respect, the other, not-so-much.
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08/02/2004 09:14:07 AM · #23 |
Ok. You want to improve your composition. Go buy, or check out from the library,
"Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" and do the drawing exercizes in it. I'm serious. It will help you to look at things in new ways. |
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08/02/2004 09:21:56 AM · #24 |
my .02:
there are 4 types of photographers:
professionals
serious hobbyiest (those with experience and equipment)
explorers/inquirers (those really wanting to move up a notch
snap-shooters
if you want to move up, you have to work at it. this means shooting like crazy, analyzing what you've shot, then re-shooting. it means finding great examples and duplicating them. it means spending time online looking at pictures and reading. it means dropping a few bucks here and there not just for equipment, but also on books. it means taking notes about what works, and just as importantly, what doesn't work.
it means not caring about the scores, but carefully considering the comments.
it means buying a tripod.
it also means learning how to critique without being abrasive, holier-than-thou, condescending, or anything other than helping others improve their shots and/or shooting. it means encouraging others to move forward rather than giving them reasons to quit.
here are some resources that are great:
fellow dpc'er jodiecoston has a free online course that is fantastic: //morguefile.com/ver3/classroom.php
canon has a tremendous online course: //www.photoworkshop.com/canon/rick_sammon.html
here are some great books (and keep in mind, they wouldn't be published if the photographers weren't recognized as top professionals):
Masterclass in Photography - Michael & Julien Busselle
Color Vision - Joe Marvullo
Capturing the Landscape with Your Camera - Patricia Caulfield
another tip: go to Barnes & Nobels (or something similar, where you are free to drink coffee and browse books), grab 5-10 books on photography, scan through them, and make lots of notes! then go and shoot it up.
also, take advantage of your digital camera. it doesn't cost anything but time. take shots from all angles, playing with all your settings. then take the time to review what works and what doesn't. don't just shoot a couple and hope for the best.
the reality is, only you can make yourself better. it's not a matter of winning ribbons or scoring 7's. it's a matter of thinking about what you can do to move yourself up a notch. don't make the mistake of thinking this is all automatic. pick someone who has won lately, and look at their history...only a handful were consistely recognized as great from the get-go. everybody that really works at it improves.
hope this helps,
skip |
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08/02/2004 09:26:05 AM · #25 |
| I think John was voting on Everyday Objects and became quite frustrated... |
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