[kbee]

Well, in my opinion, you’ve shown great improvement. It’s clear, sharp, and visually appealing to me, so good job. 🙂 Keep it up and definitely, feel free to go back and practice on it to get the framing and a different perspective on it.

You are definitely welcome. 🙂

[kbee]

With that insight, octo, I facepalmed. I’m still overly optimistic and hoping, judging by the screen cap you posted, that the person in question takes themselves seriously and swaps their major to pursue their ‘love’ of photography. Probably not, though, as you indicated. That would, agreed here, irk me as well.

“I’m in college for engineering, but I want to be a photographer! But I’m still in engineering school!” I only wish, when I was in college, I had the certainty of what I wanted to do. If I had even the slightest inkling of wanting to do photography as a profession, I would have swapped my graphic designer major in a heartbeat.

[kbee]

I can see where some people would dislike the general fare posted to the group if they’re not fans of HDR. HDR is pretty dramatic, and I like it when it’s done properly. I do know some purists who hate it with a passion because it’s ‘unrealistic’. To each their own. The group certainly does have a lot of HDR photos, but I’ve seen a lot worse, and I am someone who likes HDR for the most part.

Pardon the short post, I’ve got company so I’m distracted. Might post some more later for SOW to illustrate what I like (and don’t). 🙂

[kbee]

Congratulations on your daughter’s birth! I am jealous simply because if I had an infant in the house, you’d bet your buttons I’d be snapping like crazy. 🙂

My critique: it seems a tad overexposed to me, simply because her shirt blends straight into the background and there’s little detail in the blanket in the foreground. That said, I do love the light and soft portraits some of my favorite children photographers take. Softer lighting – not quite so directional and harsh where it casts obvious shadows on her legs and neck – would be nice as well.

Positioning: I would face her more on to the camera so her body doesn’t fade off into the background, giving her a larger head in appearance.  It would also allow you to give the impression she’s looking at the camera and just not down at something. Then pull back a bit more so as not to cut off her body, and just to emphasise how small she really is with a bit more space around her.

And she’s a got a little touch of  red in her skin tone, so I’d tone that down just a bit while keeping the pink in the clothing.

Now I’m done picking – I’m not a child photographer, but those are my suggestions – and I want to say I do like the photo. It’s very sweet, and I’m sure you’re going to have plenty and plenty of opportunities to play with her again, so enjoy it. Those days fly so fast!

[kbee]

I like what you’ve done, but maybe not quite so light as it blew out the background and white areas a bit too much for my taste. The warmer hue was nice though (and it seems that’s a preference of yours, judging by the few examples you’ve posted lately with warm sepia tones). If you had Photoshop or PSP (I am regrettably not familiar with Flickr/Aviary), you could just gently lighten up her face without blowing it out. But again, this is just my opinion. I prefer lighter photography myself, and she has such a gorgeous face I’d want to highlight that.

Good luck on the collage! I’m sure if you continue to post you’ll get some honest feedback. I recently put together a book for my brother in law, covering the birth of his daughter up to her first birthday. Whew, did I have some editing challenges to do. (A year of learning = lots of mistakes to fix.) I was proud, however, to include the final photos which showed not only her growth, but mine as a photographer. Very rewarding.

Maybe in a year you’ll find yourself looking at the collage and nit picking something out of it, and I know you will do your justice to it now. It’s just the nature of learning and time. Regardless, with the amount of time and effort you put into it today, your mother is gonna love it to bits. 😉

[kbee]

I quite like it, and the brightening up you did helped. I’m not a huge fan of sepia sort of tones, but it’s nevertheless an interesting shot! At first I didn’t realise you had shot it – since I’d looked through your portfolio before – but I do think you did well. My only nag is I would have probably kept in the corner of the building. It looks like it was cropped out accidentally, being just the tip of the edge. Apart from that, well done. 🙂

[kbee]

… Can I post pictures of my stuffed rabbit? Because I am lacking in the cute department here. 😉

[kbee]

Lee, I like your photos in general. There are some things I’ll point out: Katie on the Tracks 2 looks underexposed. Same with the girl in front of the tree trunk – she’s very dark, so better metering, reflector, fill flash. Something to just bring her out would help immensely.

Your picture of the couple walking down the path in the black and white photo actually made me kind of nauseous (I get motion sick easily, don’t stress it) because I felt unbalanced by the slight horizon tilt. I couldn’t tell if it was an accident or intentional. I still can’t work it out but I know it’s there by the slight tilt of their bodies.

I love the girl lying in the grass (with the flowered tank top) but her skin is a mixture of yellow/green and red/purple. I would try to balance that out a little, and maybe lightly touch up a few of her blemishes.

The girl in black and white, smiling at the camera with a type of crocheted tank top on (sheesh, flash sites make this hard!) – she’s beautiful, but out of focus. Same again when she’s lying on the grass (Oct 15). The Birthday Boy shot is grainy with heavy greens and yellows and I would have probably composed it at another angle to include the rest of the sparkler and frame his face better in the background.

Just from a quick glance over your site: you have some focusing issues. Some color balance issues and exposure. Many of your subjects are in the shade and are quite dark. Reading back, I see you’ve pointed out that your weakness lies in post production and lighting, so I’m sure none of this is new to you. In the photos you did post, I can see a difference compared to the ones taken months ago. You are progressing, but I think you’ve got a little way to go yet. Get yourself a cheap flash, a reflector and play with the light. Once you start, you’ll never go back. It’s amaaazing what some light can do! And if you can get your hands on it, play with some software and learn some touch-up techniques. (In Photoshop, all I really need is the patch and spot heal tool, and I’m 90% with my touch-ups.)

Erin: I took a look and from a quick glance, the few things I see are:

You’re shooting often at high noon or around that area. Certainly not in the ‘golden hour’. There’s harsh backlighting here https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/c0.106.403.403/p403x403/577965_517059725006356_1148254032_n.jpg and in this photo, https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=456592461053083&set=a.456590497719946.97386.197479223631076&type=1&theater their faces are dark and flat.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=517493458296316&set=a.205974246114907.49196.197479223631076&type=1&theater Is cute, but I’m having trouble finding the focal point. It seems to be midway on his hat. His face seems just a little bit blurred (or is that Facebook compressing like a jerk again? My eyes, ah my eyes.) The shadow is a little hard, but nothing too bad. And this might be controversial, but his skin is slightly splotchy, as many babies’ is. Would a black and white help to alleviate that?

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=517356828309979&set=a.205974246114907.49196.197479223631076&type=1&theater Looks more like a candid with the blanket halfway stretched out in the photo and his fingers cut off. I think I would have dropped down lower and to the right to snap a better angle of his anguish and to stop the sidewalk from cutting him in the head.

This is so cute https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=517097595002569&set=a.205974246114907.49196.197479223631076&type=1&theater but unfortunately the tree behind her is in focus, and she’s not.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=460795843966078&set=a.460795710632758.98369.197479223631076&type=1&theater You’ve cut her off at the wrists, sort of an awkward area to chop limbs, as if she’s handless.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=511276248918037&set=a.205974246114907.49196.197479223631076&type=1&theater Is gorgeous, but a little underexposed in my opinion. I would risk blowing out the background a bit to brighten her up in post, or use a fill flash or reflector. This tells me you took the photo of her in the shade. Same here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=460795050632824&set=a.456590497719946.97386.197479223631076&type=1&theater

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=505939806118348&set=a.205974246114907.49196.197479223631076&type=1&theater I love this photo. It’s candid, and you must have captured the action perfectly because I see no blurring from the action. I just would have cropped it a little to take out the extra space on the left, maybe cut out the base of the tree, tilt it so the trunk is a little more vertical. The color saturation is a little high for my tastes, but I think it works to make this photo pop.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=455255961186733&set=a.205974246114907.49196.197479223631076&type=1&theater This would have been so cute if it were in focus and better exposed.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=343956435650020&set=a.343955998983397.73968.197479223631076&type=1&theater Is a bit too red for my taste, so I’d watch out for white balance.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=220324818013183&set=a.216898305022501.51109.197479223631076&type=1&theater In contrast to my earlier comments, this is a flash straight in the face, washing her out and flattening her features. Pop-up flash?

I went through only a few pictures on your timeline, but I think I’ve covered a few points. I really like some of your photos, but you’re experiencing a few of the common problems when it comes to photography. As I pointed out to Lee, watch the exposure of your subjects while in the shade so they don’t turn up dull and dark. Keep an eye on where you’re focusing and what you are framing in the shot (what  body parts are you cutting out, what is in the background, is it level or do I not intend t to be).

Just some things I noticed, in my humble opinion, that you might take into consideration. You both have good subjects to work with, luckily, so you just have a few places to work on. 🙂

[kbee]

Going off on a tangent, but you can’t win with the “post to their FB” or “don’t post to their FB” argument If you don’t post to their FB and you leave all critiques here at YANAP, someone will inevitably accuse you of being a gutless so and so who doesn’t have the balls to tell them to their face. And then you’ll get the demands to back up your claims by posting your own work if-you-know-so-much otherwise you-don’t-know-wtf-you’re-talking-about-(lol).

If you do go and post on their FB, then you’re stepping over the line and you should GTFO and mind your own business, nobody asked you. Risk of flying monkeys sent your way as a bonus.

Anyway, I don’t agree with people trolling anybody‘s Facebook page simply because I’d like to think we’re at least respectful enough to keep it away from their business where clients don’t need or want to be dragged into it. That said, sheesh at the photographers who unleash invectives on their FB page. Not very professional.

Okay, so I’ve lurked a lot but I found a tog that might qualify. (I feel like a heel posting, but here you go.) http://roseposephotography.shutterfly.com/

On camera flash, sepia tones, blurring, heavy vignetting, out of focus, awful white balance.  I’m posting this because she advertised on Craig’s List, saying “Check out my site for examples of my photography, it speaks for itself. I do not need an expensive camera with fancy long lenses, I create beautiful pictures with my Olympus digital camera and creative editing skills.” (http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/crs/3564155458.html) I was hoping to find a paragon of skill with a little digital camera and creative editing skills, but I didn’t quite find it.

More power to you as a budding photographer, but I just don’t feel it.

[kbee]

I’m not a pro, I don’t get paid for it. I’m an enthusiast. I’ve been taking digital photographs for about 10 years, creating galleries and displaying them as a hobby. I got my first DSLR 7 years ago, and my first Canon EOS 60D 2 years ago. My background is in media and graphic design, with some college education behind it. I have no formal training in photography.

Pros and/or cons of digital photography: I feel the digital aspect has made it extremely easy for people, like me for example, to get into the photography scene. With the low cost of decent equipment and the empowerment of fast and easy media sharing through sites like Facebook, Flickr and such, just about anybody with an interest in the field can give it a shot without the relatively prohibitive costs of yesterday, such as film, development and equipment. This is undoubtedly a positive side to the digital age of photography.

In a way, however, the ease at which casual enthusiasts can get started in photography has, in my opinion, somewhat cheapened the experience. You have the MWAC (mom with a camera) phenomenon, and I’ve witnessed it myself in my circle of friends and family. I have no less than three family members/friends who own brand new SLRs who have not used them, and have no clue on how to use them, yet they wave them around as if dropping hundreds or thousands of dollars onto a camera makes them the family photographer.

So hence, you have a market that’s become saturated with people from all walks of life. From enthusiasts to fauxtographers to genuinely talented professionals. Keeping in mind this is a profession that doesn’t require accreditation or education; it is not like going through law school and passing the bar exam. By it’s very artistic nature, it is open to all individuals with a passion and those who (should) have a talent for it. Sadly, in the latter, that no longer seems to be the case for many.

When running a ‘business’ is as easy as setting up a Facebook page, or a shop on Etsy, people can and do find some niche to settle into as a way to make money. And the more they’re competitive, the better. (Or so they believe.) The quality of goods may not be up to a professional par, but in an age where people want it fast and easy and cheap, professional and quality sometimes isn’t the focus.

Also, how do you feel the industry can be improved in a time where DSLRs are relatively affordable, and the Internet provides a platform for unprofessional behavior?: I feel the best way to at least preserve the integrity of the professionals in photography is to maintain a personal level of responsibility for the quality of work. Continue to learn and grow, challenge oneself and accept criticism along with praise.

Maintain a professional attitude and rapport with clients. It shocks me to see photographers using grossly inappropriate language when dealing with clients or critics, or to see them neglecting their clients by failing to deliver on goods or services. The latter I see quite a lot, with clients posting regular Facebook wall updates asking when their prints would be ready, or when the photographer will return their call.

Educating clients on the true value of good photography. By all means, don’t hit them over the hit and preach about the evils of cheap photography, but be proactive in detailing how priceless a treasured memory is in the years to come, and the insurance a client pays to make sure that memory is preserved with all the skill, respect and humility it deserves is truly a small price to pay.

Do you think education should be a priority for someone going into the industry?: I wouldn’t go so far as to say yes, all photographers should have formal education and be accredited nationally before being able to practice their art. After all, many incredibly talented photographers did not get a formal education.

I do, however, think that a photographer of any caliber – enthusiast or professional – should take it upon themselves to learn as much as they can, however they can. This digital age has hurt photography in some aspects, and yet, it is full of information just waiting to be accessed. Nobody has the excuse that they “didn’t know” or “couldn’t find it” these days. If a person has a passion for photography, I would hope that passion extends to bettering oneself and diving deep into learning from others. Whether that be from online tutorials, formal classes or learning under the  guidance of a professional, there are ways to educate oneself.

[kbee]

I think I am just getting past the basics and putting what I’ve learned into practice. Unfortunately, I don’t have ready means of transportation so I don’t have a lot to practice on outside of family gatherings on the weekends. Because of this, I feel somewhat stagnant circling the same area trying to put into action what I’ve learned and find creativity.

This week I cleaned out our spare room and set up an impromptu studio with a backdrop. The room has great natural lighting and is also good for my flash photography. But with only me to shoot conveniently, without a remote it’s a pain in the ass to focus, move in, hit a shutter, step back and try to find the focusing plane again before the shutter goes off. That said, I just ordered one, so I’m excited. Hoping to get some real practice in with me, myself and I.

This last week, I finally took some photos that I am proud of and would share. They were consistent, clear, with good exposure and color balance, and as this was during the twilight hours, I was quite adept at adjusting the settings to make up for the fading light – on the fly, not using the LCD screen to make changes. Very pleased. I feel encouraged to keep it up and just wish I had more ready opportunities to torment some poor subject. 🙂

My sister in law said her best friend, who just had a baby, is interested in having me shoot some photos for her. She and her husband are on a tight budget, and I assured her as long as she understood I’ve never done infants before, I would be willing to do my best. And I wouldn’t charge, of course. (As I said that, I imagined a crowd of torch and pitchfork-wielding YANAPers coming for me if I said I’d take the money!)

I just suffer from a lot of self-doubt. I always second-guess myself, and I am a shy person around people I don’t know. That’s a problem in this business eh? I also don’t know what kind of photography I want to get in. So while I am still practicing, I am still undecided and on the fence about where I want to take it. Do I want to remain an enthusiast the family calls on for gatherins, or I am serious about going into business, and what I need to do, personally, to get there.

[kbee]

Nick – exactly what I’ve been doing. I got my f/1.4 50mm prime a few weeks ago, but I’ve only just started using it (shame on me) As sharp and fast as it is, I was using my (ugh) kit lens as a crutch and safety to fall back onto for family shots. Better the devil you know right? Just last weekend I put the kit aside and did all photos with the 50mm. What a challenge, tracking rambunctious kids with a prime, but it opened up a whole new aspect I didn’t have before by just standing there zooming in and out with my feet planted.

And for me personally, I like to switch it up by making a homemade lightbox and shooting macro with my jewelry, coins etc. Takes all the background noise out and lets me focus on depth of field, white balance, clarity. A little less creative and more back to basics, but it helps to switch tracks from time to time instead of focusing on one style or subject.

[kbee]

I see a lot of great photos (disclaimer: I’ve had like 3 hours of sleep so how much that means, who knows). Though I see some real awful ones, though. Take for example that blurry, dark, random as photo of the pool table. What?

[kbee]

I am hoping this is coming from a high-schooler’s “When I Grow Up I Wanna Be” place, and not a MWAC who has a point and shoot and a baby.

[kbee]

Nice! Refreshing change from the usual fare here at YANAP. 😉

[Author]

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