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Critique my sunset shots!

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C.A.V.
Posts: 1706 - Karma: 1,644
So i was really bored and there was a alright sunset so i decided to go take some shots, i seem to have trouble getting shots in the dark, if you know any tips let me know, and tell me what you think!

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and here are some other random shots i have done pervios to these, image shack wouldnt upload alot of them (they were abpve 5 mb, dont know why..)


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let me know your sugestions! anything helps.

Jun 10 2012 1:48PM
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.Max.
Posts: 2930 - Karma: 701
Use a tripod and a longer shutter speed. Those are all under exposed.

You should also lose the watermark. It makes you look amateur and nobody is going to be buying your photos at this point so there's no sense in having it. If anyone wants to know who took them you'll have that info on your flickr page which I'm assuming is where you're posting these.
Jun 10 2012 2:03PM
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,395
^
Jun 10 2012 2:15PM
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C.A.V.
Posts: 1706 - Karma: 1,644
i didnt have my tripod during these, i drove by and saw it and had my camera in my car and took them real quick, and thats true about the water marks, but i dont have a flckr yet, im making one soon, i just post them to fb, why not put them there? doesnt make the photo look any worse.. but thanks! +k
Jun 10 2012 2:18PM
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JWeinstock
Posts: 3439 - Karma: 1,352
the sunset ones were a little to dark for my liking. really the only thing you could change would be to get there before it got that dark haha. but the bottom two are great.
Jun 10 2012 4:26PM
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C.A.V.
Posts: 1706 - Karma: 1,644
hahah thanks, i could of figured that one out, i just drove by, but thanks! +k
Jun 10 2012 4:50PM
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TijmenDal
Posts: 4849 - Karma: 1,295
This really isn't a sunset lol. It's LOOONG after the sun set. You should try shooting similar pics 20-30 minutes prior to the moment you shot them. Timing is everything! It's really hard critique something that's not really an honest attempt. Also, ask for critiques on stuff you're content about, not stuff that you know isn't good.
Jun 10 2012 5:25PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
i actually disagree.



photo watermarks are, by definition, the mark of a professional. It shows that your photos are at the level where you want to make sure other people aren't claiming them, or it at least shows that you THINK your photos are at that level. For that reason, it's important to have a watermark that looks professional, and looks like you put legitimate though into it.

Here are some examples of watermarks that I think are cool:

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see, all these look like they have some thought and design put into them. the last one is bad in a way because i have no way of knowing whose photo that is even though there's a watermark, but it still looks cool. a watermark should be more than just putting your name is a random font at the corner of your photo.


But since you are just a beginner photographer, I really wouldn't use a watermark.
Jun 10 2012 7:01PM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,945
In addition, note that most if not all of those watermarks are just that - WATERmarks. The artists aren't boldly tagging their photos, they're using a washed out logo that's very subtle but still noticeable so that it doesn't take away from their picture while still marking it as their own. Yours are bright and contrast harshly with the photo itself. With your dark photos, your tag (let's call it a tag) is actually the most noticeable thing in the picture. My eyes are drawn more to your name than anything else in the picture, and that's a huge negative.
Jun 10 2012 7:58PM
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.Max.
Posts: 2930 - Karma: 701
Ha!
Jun 10 2012 8:29PM
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C.A.V.
Posts: 1706 - Karma: 1,644
alright i under stand alot more about the water mark now, etheir i will make it less noticable, or not use it untill i further progres in photography, but this thread wasnt created on the water marks, it was a helpful pointer, but i wanted to get so critigue on the photo it self, such as exposure, shooting in the dark and such! thanks for the help! alreadt gave you both +k though haha
Jun 10 2012 8:41PM
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WillStart
Posts: 3955 - Karma: 3,192
well, there's not a whole lot to say about the photos. you were late, but i understand that it wasn't like you were planning to shoot or anything. so much of the frame is dark and underexposed that it isn't very interesting. the framing on the second one felt awkward with the bright part so far on the left. and the plant or whatever in the foreground of the third is unnecessary, it's too hard to make out what it is and is basically jsut a big object obscuring part of the shot. also, make sure your horizons are level.

i would say try to take some pictures of a sunset earlier, then post them in here for more critiques.
Jun 10 2012 8:45PM
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.Max.
Posts: 2930 - Karma: 701
Here's the deal. You want a critique on a photo, right? Then take a shot that you really like, where you had a tripod and could properly expose at the very least. Then post it here and people will critique it for real. Like Will said, there's nothing to these photos.

I've noticed you tend to have an opinion and post a question relating to that opinion in hopes that everyone will agree with you if they don't then you make excuses or start arguing. You can't make excuses in a critique. If you want to learn and improve you need to be able to take other peoples advice and be grateful that you have access to the knowledge of some of the amazing photographers on this website..

I'm going to give you some advice for the future, take into account I'm young and inexperienced in photography so take this with a grain of salt. When you see something that you realize you want to shoot. Stop for a second and ask yourself, why? Why do I want to shoot this? What do I like about this? When you know the answer find a way that you can shoot that particular subject so other people see what you saw. When you learn to do this your photos will become exponentially better. All the technical knowledge in the world cannot compete with an ability to convey your thoughts and feelings through an image.
Jun 10 2012 9:01PM
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McFellon
Posts: 1841 - Karma: 2,005
Yeah max you know nothing about photography
haha
Jun 10 2012 9:19PM
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C.A.V.
Posts: 1706 - Karma: 1,644
Lol, I'll get better pics tonight and ill add them here
Jun 11 2012 7:56AM
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C.A.V.
Posts: 1706 - Karma: 1,644
So as i said i would take some more today:
things to note, these shots were on a canon 17-40 mm UWA L lens unlike the otheres were the stock 18-55mm lens and i was eariler to the shots it was really bright out so i couldnt do exposures! and i also didnt do water marks but here they are! tell me what you think!

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Thanks!

Jun 11 2012 9:11PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
I like this one the best of the set.

This is the most interesting composition IMO, the grass in the foreground adds to the image, because it works to frame the sun, whereas in some of the other photos there is no strong focal point.
The others are underexposed, too
Jun 11 2012 9:18PM
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C.A.V.
Posts: 1706 - Karma: 1,644
thanks, thats my favorite too!

the under are under exposed on the grass so you can really see the sun on the water,, thats what i wa going for, but it could still be brighter on the grass, just need to work on these shots some more!
Jun 11 2012 9:26PM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,945
I like the second and fifth the best. I think they're the most interesting images. The light on the grass in the second is stunning. I just wish that straw thing wasn't on the rock in the bottom left. The negative space that is the sky in the fifth one is quite nice, but your horizon line is a little off. Both are slightly underexposed but I like them anyway.
Jun 11 2012 9:46PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8864 - Karma: 31,612
A grad nd filter would help get proper exposure on both
Jun 11 2012 9:53PM
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miroz
Posts: 10333 - Karma: 3,945
Take back what I said. That second one isn't underexposed, I'd say.
Jun 11 2012 10:00PM
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,395
Did you buy this lens?

If so, good choice.

Cool photos.
Jun 11 2012 10:01PM
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C.A.V.
Posts: 1706 - Karma: 1,644
i ended up getting a really good deal on that lens so i just said yolo and got it, not sure how it will be with action shots.. but these shots came out good, thanks!
Jun 11 2012 10:14PM
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zahava
Posts: 7791 - Karma: 12,039
17-40 is a great lens, perfect uwa. I'll critique those photos when I get on a computer.
Jun 11 2012 10:30PM
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Downtofilm
Posts: 6896 - Karma: 20,395
Well im glad you didnt cheap out.

Jun 12 2012 1:02AM
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C.A.V.
Posts: 1706 - Karma: 1,644
It's a nice lens, those sunset ones I just posted are the only ones I've taken , excited to take some more! Let me know Amy suggestions
Jun 12 2012 7:31AM
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C.A.V.
Posts: 1706 - Karma: 1,644
gunna go attempt to take a long exposure witht the lens! bump!
Jun 12 2012 5:12PM
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C.A.V.
Posts: 1706 - Karma: 1,644
any one else have some ideas?
Jun 20 2012 12:16PM
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