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archyI agree with the “instagram” thing to an extent. Really just on your earlier stuff. Not that the pictures aren’t good, it just isn’t that much of a compliment to you when you work hard on an image but people can log into instagram and find several pictures just like it within minutes.
That being said, you certainly have improved (er…from album to album, that is). The only thing i think i could comment on is the composition. The angels sometimes feel a little forced. But overall i think you have a good grasp of how to handle your camera and what to do in certain lighting situations. Your post processing is also nice and light (not overwhelming or even noticeable).
Here’s an example of a picture that looks fantastic, except for one small flaw:
her HAND. I can’t stop staring at it! The model is gorgeous and her eyes are stunning, but the strangely cropped hand is very distracting. Otherwise, the photography elements in the picture are all nicely balanced.
Here is the next photo in that album.
The composition here is much nicer. The tree creates a nice line that points us to t he model, and the light casting down spotlights her very well. The only real thing that might could improve the image would have been if the light hadn’t hit her dress (particularly the chest area) so much. It isn’t distracting or bad. It is just the only thing that might could have improved the picture (if it needed improvement at all).
from a different album:
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/s720x720/200794_418338391534674_899890329_n.jpg
This picture isn’t bad at all, but do you see how the railroad tracks lead straight into that very white area behind the model? A crop might have made the picture better, or a slight adjustment to the model’s position or your angle relative to her. There is also this large blank space above the model’s head that is emphasized by the overly washed out white areas. Otherwise, this is a nicely done photo.
The female portraits album is actually quite nice. My suggestion is to avoid “myspace” angles. (over the head. dramatic tilts.). There aren’t a lot of those but they are still something you want to avoid.
I think you are doing great, especially since you appear to be continually learning as you go. Keep up the good work.
Oh, and as for the discussion on lenses and manual vs auto, if you REALLY want to understand your lenses, i suggest taking an Optics course (if your high school offers it or in college when you get there). This is a physics based course, i’m not sure if photographers generally take it, but when i took it i learned a crap load about light and lenses (not specific to camera lenses, of course). When I was taking it I would sit in class and calculate different focal points to about +\-2% accuracy and then go try my calculations out later. It didn’t help my photography skills, honestly. But now i can guesstimate my DOF and focal point without even looking into the viewfinder depending on what lense i’m using and my aperture setting. I suppose it’s kind of a fun bar trick?