Help out an aspiring photographer...

[tmartin417]

So probably one of the best things you can do is shoot on overcast or cloudy days. Because the sensor in your camera is limited and filtering your lens is out of the question look for cloudy days, because the light is diffused and not so direct it makes for much better pictures outside.
Angles, angles, angles. Typically people shoot horizontal or vertical and at head height. By mixing up your angles(tipping your camera slightly) and adjusting the level you shoot at can really make a huge difference.

[jeettao]

Another thing that really helps is using tips from fashion photography. Cars are more like "models" than they are like landscapes. Because of that, in addition to the rule of thirds (which is an excellent start), always live by the rule: closer and lower. Get closer to and lower than your subject.

The further away you are from the subject, the lower you have to get to keep things in scale. Cars photographed from above look bloated and out of shape (just like human subjects) - it makes everything shorter and shallower.

Getting "closer" is a philosophy that makes you really focus on your subject, rather than trying to get too much in your frame. You should not use the zoom on your lens to get closer, you use that to change perspective and depth of field and things like that. Physically move closer and further away from your subject to "zoom".

Once you are proficient at that, then you can start breaking the rules to make even more creative compositions.

If you do go DSLR, get a starter camera like a Nikon D40. Not much more than a middle-range P/S, and offers you plenty of flexibility and play. The 18-55 is a deceptively great lens too. My little cousin, at 14, won a fairly competitive picture of the month contest on a forum using a P/S last summer, so don't feel that you need to get a SLR to make amazing images, it just takes a little more work.

On a side note, I know you took those pics a month ago, but I can see that you're trying on the composition - you're beyond step 1, which is just pushing the shutter button. You're trying to think of ways to capture things in a new way, you're just a little out of focus (pardon the pun) when it comes to what you're trying to really do with your images. Because you're determined, and because you're on the right track, I can see that your photography can really improve. Can't wait to see what else you'll have for us down the road.

[My_Car_Goes_Rar]

Took some more pics today (unfortunately I think I broke my ankle backing up to take a better picture... lol.) Taking pics in the field is dangerous.

I was running out of day light, so I had to rush these. They're untouched and straight from the camera.

Let me know what you think.

[TheOmniscientRT]

Originally Posted by My_Car_Goes_Rar

Took some more pics today (unfortunately I think I broke my ankle backing up to take a better picture... lol.) Taking pics in the field is dangerous.

I was running out of day light, so I had to rush these. They're untouched and straight from the camera.

Let me know what you think.

getting better, you are still keepping the horizion dead center in the pics. since you dont have much of a mountainios or cityscape background, get more of the ground and less sky. it will give the picture more subject.
I notice you like the sunset pictures a lot, they are nice but very hard for a p/s. try blocking the sun behind something like the jeep or a bush. it should keep from washing out the colors in the sky that give sunsets there appeal.
I would also suggest a subscription to popular photography. that magizine has helped me imensly with ideas and direction as well as many little tricks.

and as someone else said, ANGLES, cars invoke a since of power and speed. angles can make the car look like its moving while its sitting still, just check out the cover of most import magizines as well as some of the photographers on 3si.

damn another one, lol, lines. if there are any lines in the pic make sure they lead towards the subject. you dont want lines that lead your eyes away from the subject.

[My_Car_Goes_Rar]

Will do.

[My_Car_Goes_Rar]

Here's a couple from today... they were just random pics.

[TheOmniscientRT]

Originally Posted by My_Car_Goes_Rar

Here's a couple from today... they were just random pics.

nice, i'm likin the king ranch
the other one is good but maybe if it was cropped more on the truck it would be nicer, too much empty boring space, but very good job on the panning and getting a motion blur

[My_Car_Goes_Rar]

Originally Posted by TheOmniscientRT

nice, i'm likin the king ranch
the other one is good but maybe if it was cropped more on the truck it would be nicer, too much empty boring space, but very good job on the panning and getting a motion blur

Thanks, I appreciate it! I'll play with them in photoshop some more and post up the results.

[Vice]

Eight important photography elements:

Simplicity- uncluttered backgrounds, walk around and look for the best angle
Lines- lead the eye to the subject, also repetition (like 20 3Gs all in a line)
Balance- symmetrical pics are boring
Framing- give the subject a border (like having it parked in garage and taking a picture from outside)
Motion- Freeze or blur
Decisive Moment- uhh this one is hard to explain but really only applies for more difficult photography
Avoid Mergers- don't have a dear hunter standing in front of a mounted buck hanging from the wall so is looks like the hunter has horns

hope that helps