Help out an aspiring photographer...

[My_Car_Goes_Rar]

Ok... so I love taking pictures. I take them almost constantly no matter where I go and I never seem to really like the results (only a few that I do like out of maybe 100). Obviously my olympus point-and-shoot camera leaves much to be desired, but I'm just wondering what kind of recommendation you all would give me as far as what to practice on... what kind of camera I should be looking into (I want to get an XTi this summer once I can scrape together some funds after installing the mods on the TJ)... that sort of thing.

I've been kicking around the idea of majoring/minoring in photography, but I need to learn so much more. Here are some of my pictures that I would like you all to critique (I have lots more, but they aren't all uploaded). Please give ANY suggestions you want... I don't care if they're negative or not. I know that I'm not a professional and that's why I'm asking for tips.

Thanks!

[boardFreak5]

I like the first 2, the second is way out of focus, but I think that that was planned.

The rest don't really do anything for me. The pictures of the white 3000gt don't show off the car very well, and they are in a poor location.

The 3rd picture, is fine i guess, it's just that its really "boring" and there's nothing interesting in it.


hope this helps/
David

[My_Car_Goes_Rar]

Originally Posted by boardFreak5

I like the first 2, the second is way out of focus, but I think that that was planned.

The rest don't really do anything for me. The pictures of the white 3000gt don't show off the car very well, and they are in a poor location.

The 3rd picture, is fine i guess, it's just that its really "boring" and there's nothing interesting in it.


hope this helps/
David

First 3 are the most recent, with the one of the jeep being taken yesterday (sunday).

The one's of the white 3000GT I agree were in a poor location and if they would have been taken on somewhere more exciting (like at the track in the staging lanes or something) would be much better.

3rd picture was more just to show the scenery, not sure where I was going with that...

2nd picture was at dusk and I actually did not plan on it being that blurry, lol.

1st picture was to showcase the scenery and the jeep being off-road. Kind of like a "Here we go!" type of pic.

I'll take some more when I get a chance and try harder to get some creative shots. It'll be sort of like my homework.

Thanks for the help!

[stealthxtreme4]

I guess it depends on what type of picture you are going for.. The ones of the 3000's just don't have solid good backgrounds...

Contrary to what a lot of people think, backgrounds can definitely make or break the pictures....


for example, here's a few of our offroad pics...









They all would have turned out better if I wasn't using a real cheap point and shoot... but you get the idea.

[My_Car_Goes_Rar]

Nice pics I wish I had something other than a point-and-shoot also.

[DBLerman]

A better camera isn't going to fix poor composition. I think you should work on that first before spending money on upgrading your camera.

[My_Car_Goes_Rar]

Originally Posted by DBLerman

A better camera isn't going to fix poor composure. I think you should work on that first before spending money on upgrading your camera.

Well I have literally hundreds of other pictures that aren't uploaded (I'm way too lazy for that.) I was just showing you some examples. I agree though... I need to work on my actual creativeness and explore my artsy side a bit more.

[Dark-Hawk]

Composition is nonexistant in your pictures unfortunately. You also aren't using good locations, they're just random places that you've been and unfortunately that doesn't produce quality results.

Wait until you're able to take well composed shots with your point and shoot before upgrading to an SLR. An SLR isn't the end-all-be-all of photography, without the basic cursory knowledge of photography, the shots you produce from an SLR will look like any other regular shot. See JeremyG's photos for an example of what I'm talking about.

[Macky]

I agree with Dark Hawk. there seems to be no order or sense on the pictures above. they are at best, random.

1 - too "heavy" on the right. horizon is skewed and the background is just not good.

2 - too much out of focus. i dont think it was intentional. i think the camera couldnt autofocus (looks like it was aiming dead center and couldnt resolve the focus) and the shutter was fired anyway.

3 - lacks any subject matter or theme. zooming in closer reveals that the camera didnt AF properly either.

4 - couldnt make up which one is the subject. too random.

5 - same as #4

6 - the garbage bin takes away from the intended subject which is cut off (missing rear), making no sense.


buying a DSLR will not improve these photos.

[boardFreak5]

Originally Posted by Dark-Hawk

Composition is nonexistant in your pictures unfortunately. You also aren't using good locations, they're just random places that you've been and unfortunately that doesn't produce quality results.

Wait until you're able to take well composed shots with your point and shoot before upgrading to an SLR. An SLR isn't the end-all-be-all of photography, without the basic cursory knowledge of photography, the shots you produce from an SLR will look like any other regular shot. See JeremyG's photos for an example of what I'm talking about.

haha, wow thats funny.