C&C - Dublin Zoo Trip

Reati

Hey all - Would love all your C&Cs on my photos here from a recently trip. Recently had a photographer tell me these photos were ****e but didn't want to elaborate on the why when asked. So came here in the hope I can learn from all of you on where all the bad points are and what I can do improve on them.

I've noticed (afterwards though) on pictures like the robin and a few others, I let the camera pick the ISO and it went up to 6400 and added so much noise it's taking away from the picture! So going to try stop relying / trusting auto ISO

Edit: As noted by CabanSail - I've picked out some I like / dislike for C&C instead of hosting the entire album.

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Don't be gentle

CabanSail

Firstly it's very hard to do a C and C on the whole album. It's best to post a few examples and are specific questions.

The advice that you got from a so-called photographer that your work was #####e says more about them than it does about your work.

What I can see is that you take a competent record shot better than your average point and shoot photographer. A couple of the robin at the end are actually quite good.

Something that does stand out is your composition, which is not strong. Most of your subjects are placed dead centre in the frame. This is generally not the best place to put a subject. There are many guides to composing an image. Look up the "Rule of thirds". There are other rules of composition as well. Remember that while they are called rules they are more like guides. Some of the strongest images are made by breaking these rules. You still should be aware of them when composing an image.

The other thing which stands out is your images look very much like they are only processed in camera. Most cameras will do a confident job of processing images for an average user. However if you want your images to have more impact then you really need to process them yourself. This is called postproduction. An advantage to post production to shoot in raw mode. This gives you the best set of data to use when postprocessing your images. You can select raw plus JPEG as well that gives you the best of both worlds.

Some of your images would benefit from just simple cropping to get rid of stuff that should not be in the frame and concentrate on the main subject. The other thing is that when shooting animals it's very much like people and, generally, the strongest photographs will be when the animal is actually looking at you. Generally speaking photos of the backs of animals are not very interesting.

Reati

Hey CabanSail,

Appreciate the detailed post - some great feedback and learning in there for me already.

CabanSail wrote: »

Firstly it's very hard to do a C and C on the whole album. It's best to post a few examples and are specific questions.

Good point - sorry about that, I'll pick out a few I like and others that don't work for me, then post em here for everyone to C&C on.

CabanSail wrote: »

Something that does stand out is your composition, which is not strong. Most of your subjects are placed dead centre in the frame. This is generally not the best place to put a subject. There are many guides to composing an image. Look up the "Rule of thirds". There are other rules of composition as well. Remember that while they are called rules they are more like guides. Some of the strongest images are made by breaking these rules. You still should be aware of them when composing an image.

To be honest, I am aware of the theory of the Rule of Thirds but you're very much right I'm not framing pictures or using it the way I should. I'll going to dig around the web and try practice it some more. I think my problem is I'm always rushing to the shot - Animals don't tend to wait for me to set up the shot. I guess with more practice I'll get faster at composing while getting the shot still

CabanSail wrote: »

The other thing which stands out is your images look very much like they are only processed in camera. Most cameras will do a confident job of processing images for an average user. However if you want your images to have more impact then you really need to process them yourself. This is called postproduction. An advantage to post production to shoot in raw mode. This gives you the best set of data to use when postprocessing your images. You can select raw plus JPEG as well that gives you the best of both worlds.

So the good news is I always shoot in RAW. These have a very minimal levels of post processing. I've adjusted the white balance, exposure and added some small level of sharping. I've not really had much other experience with post processing other than that - to be honest, I'm not even sure where I'd start and what I'd need to change. I'll take a look for lightroom books while I'm in town today too.

MarkN

First thing to do is turn off auto ISO. It's highly unreliable! You can set a limit to how high auto ISO is allowed reach but I still would be against it.

I'd disregard the comment from the photographer that said that to you, we all start somewhere and there's some good photos here. Well exposed, correct shutter speed.

Yes there's noise, you can change that next time. I'd crop one or two tighter just to make them neater but there's a great moment with the gorillas and the scarf or whatever it is but in this case I'd clone out the head of the fella down the bottom or crop it up a tad.

ScumLord

I would say they're a bit bright, if you could drop the exposure in camera raw it will bring out some more of the detail.

kevc2

No 2 could be a great image with better processing. Maybe 9 too, meh on the rest.

AnimalRights

You like Tigers

Wossack

Im no photographer, but quite like #6 - if rule of thirds was used here, and the face was bottom left of centre, I think it would have really added to it. Course, Im presuming the scene would have allowed it

Also, the profile shots of the tiger (7, 8, #1 too) would have been a bit better if you could see what he is looking at, or allow more of the scene in that direction in shot etc

My very amateur 2c

km991148

yep - composition I would is your biggest issue - and the one thing that doesn't really matter how you shoot (full auto/manual/semi etc)..
take no 10 for example, had you not included this picture in a 'pictures from the zoo' series I would have taken a while to figure out what the subject was..

Out of interest what is your favourite from this selection and why?

niteclubbecks

Anyone know when the next trip to the zoo is? I'd love to join a few photographers n head off

Reati

km991148 wrote: »

yep - composition I would is your biggest issue - and the one thing that doesn't really matter how you shoot (full auto/manual/semi etc)..
take no 10 for example, had you not included this picture in a 'pictures from the zoo' series I would have taken a while to figure out what the subject was..

Out of interest what is your favourite from this selection and why?

I really like number 10 - I think this is more because of the subject though than the photo itself. The Gorilla baby was playing with a cloth and threw it over his head to "hid" in the tree - was really child like and I thought it was cool.

I am starting to see, the more I read into it online based on the great feedback here the issues I've having with composition. I'm hoping to get out this week and take some pictures and try to fix it by getting better.

Thanks all - keep the comments coming