I asked once before but I'm asking again

[Chrstyfrst08]

Thank you for your feed back. It’s the digital workflow certificate. I will stick with it and continue taking classes and workshops in my area. I can say that the only people I get glowing reviews from now are other students. I am truly afraid to post a photo here. I want feedback and critiques, but I have read some pretty mean things in here. But the people getting critiques called themselves photographers. I call myself a student. I don’t get paid to take pictures, nor do I plan on doing so anytime soon.

I worry more about my editing skills than the actual photos. I can see small changes when using Lightroom or Photoshop, but nothing drastic. I actually hate editing, I think it is an over used tool in a lot of photography. The color selection thing is atrocious to me.

Maybe I will post a photo later for review.

Thanks again for the feedback.

[cameraclicker]

I actually hate editing, I think it is an over used tool in a lot of photography. The color selection thing is atrocious to me.

Editing became a lot easier with digital.  It lets you do things like this

which would be a real pain in a wet darkroom.  White balance is treated two different ways and then blended.  The picture is still alright with a single white balance but it looks more like what the eye sees when done like this.

I looked up “Digital Workflow Certificate” and was amazed by the cost!  Much, if not all, of the information that makes up the course is available for free from the Internet and some of the manufacturers.  The benefit of the course is that it gets the material all together in an organized manner.   For what it’s worth, the certificate might get you in the door for an interview, but you won’t last unless you actually know the material.  If you want to strike out on your own, pay close attention to the sales, marketing and general business sections of the course.

If you feel we are too mean, you could try out your local photography club, or even some of the on-line clubs.  Take part in the competitions.  If you win reasonably often, you can argue you are doing well.  If you are not winning, you might come here to ask why.

[Chrstyfrst08]

It’s not that I think you are being mean to be mean. I agree the pictures are horrible. I would never think to post the things I have seen on here. To be honest, maybe I am just too nice and wouldn’t know a good way to say that picture sucks! I certainly don’t want to hear that, I want to hear what to do to improve. I will look into photography clubs and I do plan on taking some of the Scott Kelby classes too. Learning is important to me. I have only entered 1 contest so far and I didn’t win. I wasn’t too disappointed, a lot of people entered and I am just a beginner. I am still learning, but I am proud of the photos I entered.

[Chrstyfrst08]

http://ourstate.upickem.net/engine/Details.aspx?p=A&c=106317&s=45332555&i=1&sort=DESCENDING#SD

 

a photo I submitted for a contest.

 

[cameraclicker]

Not bad.  That upickem site has some really good photos, and some that aren’t.  Your photo could easily be improved by careful cropping and a little selective sharpening.  I would crop it to a more vertical orientation to get rid of both sides.  Really, to make it look more like the photo on the lion’s page:  http://www.conservatorscenter.org/about/our-residents/lions/ra-lion/

If you were to practice the skills your course outline suggests you are learning, I would say try out replacing the blue/green triangle by his left ear with something much darker and more neutral.  I would try changing out the whole background above the grass; five minutes, give or take, with Photoshop.  Cropping should get rid of the foreground wood, and that little bit of shadow at lower left.  If it had been shot a little wider, the top of his hair could be included, but as with people’s portraits, it’s optional.

Try out a few different backgrounds, different crops, different degrees of sharpening, and so on.  Practice, practice, practice, then practice more.  Look at your work critically.  I don’t think you have to worry about being featured on the front page here.

[Chrstyfrst08]

Thank you so much for the feedback. I will definetly take those suggestions and work on this photo some more.

[Trainwreck]

Hi Chrsty!

I’ll toss in a few thoughts for your consideration if I may? And I’ll try not to be too mean about it! If you are here on honest pretenses and looking for constructive feedback I think there are a few folks here that can and will provide some for you. It is the p&s pocket poppers that try to sell a professional service because they think they are “amazing” (I’m really beginning to loath that word!) that folks find irksome here.

I understand your views/apprehension on editing but I think maybe it would be beneficial to you if you adjusted your approach. Editing in itself is not Evil nor what I would call “over used”. I would, however, say that it is certainly overly improperly used (i.e. garish effects, improper or no sharpening techniques, and the attitude that a bad shot can be “saved” in post to name but a couple).

It is a 50-50 approach. The shot is half and has to be done correctly. Meaning good composition, exposure, and lighting. Strive to get it right “in-camera”. Its obvious that the people who are fauxtogging have no clue how to properly frame and compose a shot. Much less how to set a camera or deal with the scene/lighting before them. When you do it right you don’t need garish, over the top effects to hide your incompetence.

The other 50% is post processing. There is not now, nor has there ever been a photo shot that could be viewed that wasn’t processed. Period. RAW files give greater latitude in post and that is what you should be shooting. But as an example, do you know your camera manufacturer’s recommended capture sharpening settings for RAW capture? Do you know the three stages of proper sharpening? Proper cropping/framing aspects? I mention this since Mr. Clicker mentioned your shot could use some sharpening/cropping. I concur.

Learn proper, grounded post production techniques/workflows (forget crazy actions, plug-ins that you know nothing about) that you can reproduce consistently and that you know why you are doing it (and I don’t mean “because it looks cool”).

As regards your photograph? I could mention a few things that come to mind if you would like, but what if we did something that, as far as I know, has never been done on here if you’re game? You want to learn. You had the nerve to post a shot. So let’s break some ground!

Why don’t you give us a very critical, honest, hard, detailed self-critique of your own shot? After a hard look maybe say to us what you have learned from this shot and what you might like to try different next time and why? What you are seeing that you don’t like. What you are seeing that you like. Maybe you can help the rest of us! Maybe someone can help clarify if you have certain thoughts/questions.

And no worries Chrsty! This site tore me a new one when I posted for review! It was so bad that I’m not even good enough for the front page!

[cameraclicker]

Some sage words from a photographer who should know:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K36unQrQ4yI

[CoastalTog]

Sorry…no sympathy from me.  When you apply for school, one must always research the institution.  The piss poor reputation of the for profit AI schools is well over a decade old.  Besides, the best degree for someone entering into photography is not photography but business.

You have amateur entry level gear with variable aperture lenses.  You have a deviant art website.  How can you call yourself a professional?  Get yourself a job at a restaurant to pay off the massive school debt and to purchase decent glass and then a good body.  Get yourself a credible website with your own email address and not a gmail or hotmail address.

It’s been researched and found that to master something you need 10,000 hours of practice.  Learn the classical lighting configurations and master the rule of thirds and other general principles of good photography before you resort to photoshop actions and processing that covers your shortcomings.

And that folks, is non-sugar coated advice.  Somebody has to say it before they end up in court.

p.s.  I hope you’re a registered business and paying your taxes on your professional service you provide.  After all, one thing you failed to mentioned in being a professional photographer also means you’re earning 51% of your income from photography and are a registered and legal business.

p.p.s. I just took a look at your deviant art website.  I highly suggest you drop the “professional photographer” title from your vocabulary and spend many hours learning the basics and learning how to pose your subjects.

[Chrstyfrst08]

CoastalTog,

Are you referring to me or the first person who posted on this thread?

I do have a Deviant Art account. I have that because I enjoy the ART that is posted there and for no other reason. I do have some of my pictures posted, however, I never claimed they are great, I just like them. Hell, half of them were taken with a point and shoot or my iPhone.

I DO NOT, NOR HAVE I EVER called myself a professional. I am a student of photography, not just with The Art Institute, but any other classes or workshops I can find. The money I spend on the education whether you like it or not is my business and my cross to bear.

BTW.. Thank you for your directness.

[Chrstyfrst08]

Train wreck. I just got a new camera 2 weeks ago, so I definetly will research, read, and practice.

As far as my photo that I posted goes. I like it, but I do feel it could have been composed better. This shot was actually taken not to long after I got my first DSLR. I had no idea what I was doing. I just sat in front of that lion’s enclosure and took pictures. I played with the settings and hoped for the best. This was before any classes, any school, any workshops. I just had a new camera and I wanted to practice.

Next time which is next Sunday, I will pay more attention to the lighting and where my subject is at in the enclosure. It isn’t like I can tell him to move. Lol. I will try to get more in the actual shot, so I can have more opportunities to place with cropping.

Well thanks again for your input. 🙂

[Trainwreck]

Okay Chrsty. Fair enough! Thank you for responding.

Enjoy your new shooter!

Hope you come back and show us how it’s done! I’ll look forward to seeing what you come up with!

[CoastalTog]

Christy-  My post above was in reference to the original starter of this thread.

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