I need critiques

[AaronM]

Hello. I'm pretty new at photography, and so I need some help. I have nobody to look over my shoulder to give me hints or to tell me that my latest shot is trash, so I guess I'll see if I can get some help here.

I basically need somebody to tell me if these three pictures that I'm attaching are any good, or what I should have done to make them better. My family just looks at them, and says, "looks great."

[attachment=1141:attachment]

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[cescx]

Hi...

Pretty shots, good light balanced, but, for my, the point of interest is too much centered in the composition. Impedes a good one visual travel. Essay to shot with the motive not centered, you will obtain a lot more dynamism

[Tim Gray]

I'd suggest checking the daily critique on http://www.radiantvista.com/news/ - after you've seen a number of them you'll be better able to critique your own shots.

I'd start by just identifying all the major elements in the shot and asking youself did you intend to include or not - eg: in the first shot, the background sliver of shore, or the branches in the top left.  Also when taking the shot run your eye around the frame for intruding elements - eg: the blades of grsss poking into the frame on the lower right (knowing and using the tools of post processing is important).

I like the second shot (you could clone out the intrusion in the bottom left) - I like the framing of the foreground trees and the vertical patterns of the grass.

I also like the third, - compelling in an abstract, Halloweenish kind of way.  Are ther power line running throught the bottom third?  Again that's a bit of a distraction.

The trick is to deliberately include and exclude elements either by changing position, framing, or focal length, and PS as a last resort.  In a perfect world, everyting in the frame is there because you explicitly wanted it there.

[AaronM]

I'd suggest checking the daily critique on http://www.radiantvista.com/news/ - after you've seen a number of them you'll be better able to critique your own shots.

I'd start by just identifying all the major elements in the shot and asking youself did you intend to include or not - eg: in the first shot, the background sliver of shore, or the branches in the top left.  Also when taking the shot run your eye around the frame for intruding elements - eg: the blades of grsss poking into the frame on the lower right (knowing and using the tools of post processing is important).

I like the second shot (you could clone out the intrusion in the bottom left) - I like the framing of the foreground trees and the vertical patterns of the grass.

I also like the third, - compelling in an abstract, Halloweenish kind of way.  Are ther power line running throught the bottom third?  Again that's a bit of a distraction.

The trick is to deliberately include and exclude elements either by changing position, framing, or focal length, and PS as a last resort.  In a perfect world, everyting in the frame is there because you explicitly wanted it there.
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I had taken the second picture in a real hurry. I didn't take time to really think about it much. It was starting to rain, so I quick grabbed my camera and shot. I recroped it, and so got rid of all the leaves and stuff.

The third picture has the power lines where they were because I was trying to crop it to get rid of some nasty lighting from a mercury yard light. I'll attach the uncropped version to show y'all. There was a storm blowing up, so I was outside trying to get some "stormy" looking pictures.

[attachment=1144:attachment]

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[etude]

I wouldn't worry much about if other people think your photos are good or not. You can always find someone to say "great photo" and "terrible photo" for anything half decent, depending on who it is, but as long as this is your hobby, why not be your own judge on that one?

Still, getting constructive criticism is a great way to learn. My comments are along the lines of constructive criticism rather than a judgement of your ability or how good your photos are.

First image. Composition could make a difference. There is such a tiny amount of grass on the bank - either needs to be more of it or less by removing it altogether so that water is at the top. The lillies and grass form a horshoe shape, which is partly chopped off so that the bottom part is just slightly past the left edge. If you come out so there is water around it, this would be better. Perhaps a slightly higher viewpoint or a different zoom might help also.

I like the second image more, the leaves in silhouette are a strong element that frame the view. I'd crop out some of the water at the bottom along with the leaves in the bottom left, which are a little distracting.