Strong Criticism Allowed

[cascade]

Hi guys, this is my first post and I'd like to say I love your forum, exactly what I've been looking for. I bought my self a 400d twin lens kit recently and I'm keen to learn the art properly, with some help from you all hopefully.

I've got a couple of photos here I took which I'd like some input on. Please be harsh as I think the best way to learn is through some good constructive criticism. I've only got the kit lenses at the moment but I'll be updating them as soon as the budget allows.



this is straight out of the camera



Just added a bit of a highlight to it



Cropped it a bit and played with the colouring a little



Straight from the camera, untouched.

Hope it's not too many at once, thanks guys.

[macka]

Hey mate, get rid of the ?v=0 bit from the end of your links, that might help.

Edit: Also they're a bit small to comment properly.

Cheers

[cascade]

Sorry about the size, should be fixed now.

[macka]

Hey, I can see them now!

I find #1 a bit busy, and the diagonal mast(?) on the left hand side is a bit unfortunate. I can see why you went for a selecive de-sat in #2 to try and isolate your subject. Perhaps you could also try cropping or cloning out that diagonal as an alternative... Just a thought.

#3 is quite nice, and it works in a pano crop. You could probably do a bit of curves work to bring out the foreground a little more.

#4 is a bit soft - were you using a tripod? Nice colours though.

Oh, and welcome to the forum.

(NB: For the size, people usually post somewhere between 640 and 800 pixels on the long side)

Cheers,

[cascade]

Thanks macka, that is the sort of stuff I'm looking for. I'll go and have another play and use your suggestions and I was using a tripod, guess I have a lot to learn.

[Nnnnsic]

This'll be like the three bears:

Imagine me with gold locks flowing from my otherwise freakish head

The first time, your images were too small!
Now, your images are too big!
But next time, they'll be jussssstttt riiiggghhhttt!!!

Seriously, try and go for a restriction of 800 pixels on any one side. Whether that means you go for (straight out of the camera example) something like 800x533 or 533x800, entirely your prerogative, but try to keep it to a max of 800 on one side.

[drifter]

I'm normally not a fan of selective colour/highlighs but i think its worked really well in your second shot .Apart from the blown out sign ,but it still looks cool .

[!~DeViNe~DaRkNeSs~!]

I bought my self a 400d twin lens kit recently

[cascade]

Well hopefully I got the size right this time, sorry guys on a bit of a learning curve here.

[Marvin]

Hi Cascade and welcome to the forum.
There are some great reflections in number one but I also find the diagonal mast? very distracting. Not sure I like the treatment in number 2 as I found the boats and the reflections the most interesting part, but that is personal taste.
I think number 3 could be better with some different PP. I am certainly no expers, but it doesn't seem to have much "pop". I like the jetty leading into the picture.
Number 4 has some nice colours but the cars and the sign distract from the house. I think if you zoomed in and cropped the modern stuff it would be better. Also, I agree that using a tripod would have helped. It looks like a little bit of camera shake has occurred.