Beginner

Alqua

I am what you would call a serious beginner in photography, and I just take pictures every now and then for fun. I don't have a super camera or anything, but I like taking photos. These are the only two that I've ever been sort of proud of. Just wondering have ye any...feedback? Thanks -

http://www.freepgs.com/lotrpics/general/eveningsilhouette.jpg

http://www.freepgs.com/lotrpics/general/sunlitbelleek.jpg

Shrimp

the first one doesn't have enough contrast

PurpleFistMixer

Contrast in the first one looks fine to me. Nice tones in that picture. It looks kind of like the banky bit in the right corner was just a protrustion into the shot, though. Perhaps if it extended across the entire bottom if only a little, it'd look more like a framing element as opposed to a corner thingamabob.

Second one's nice too, I like the way the further trees are in darkness. Gives it a good feeling of depth. Problem I find with photographing trees in a forest though, is that if you're photographing them head on (as would be usual, since that's how you see trees normally) you end up cutting out the top or the bottom of the tree, which can make the trees look like they're floating in space, not connected to the ground anywhere. I have yet to come up with a way to photograph trees head on and not face this problem, so I usually just go for the arty pretentious angles instead.

Alqua

Problem I find with photographing trees in a forest though, is that if you're photographing them head on (as would be usual, since that's how you see trees normally) you end up cutting out the top or the bottom of the tree, which can make the trees look like they're floating in space, not connected to the ground anywhere.

I see what you mean, but I suppose we could just... take pictures of tiny trees and sort the problem.

Those were just two of a load of random photos I took one day in February.
The first one was a complete accident, as I didn't mean to have the flash off!
I couldn't get the bank to come accross any further though, because I was sitting out on a jetty and if I tried to get in more of the bank I'd have taken the jetty.

Metacortex

The first one is nice but it is very flat and needs a better level of contrast.
Also,its taken at a bad angle. Those weeds (?) are very distracting and my eye keeps getting drawn to them instead of what is past the weeds.

gerryk

From a compositional point of view, the first one is a little boring... try cropping off the right most quarter and the bottom quarter. I like the tones though.

I like almost everything about the second... good depth, nice colouring. It could be improved upon by 1. shooting from a different angle to add more interesting shadows, and 2. by shooting from a lower viewpoint to make the trees seem taller and more imposing.

You'd swear I was more than the amateur I am from how critical I am

Alqua

Don't worry about being critical, all comments help!

gerryk

I should have added a final point... keep snapping

Alqua

Thank you, I certainly will.