Critique and Tips Thread
 

There are some great photographers in this section. I for one am always interested in learning more and giving some tips if I feel I have the knowledge to help. Post up some pics for critique and/or Feedback some questions about how to get better, just general advice on various topics and even images explaining how you shot it (Exposure Setting, External Lighting etc..)

NOTE: this is not a thread for just one person to post or reply. We should all use this as a place to collectively improve our craft!

Here I will start. All comments, feedback and criticism welcome:cert:

These are my all time favorite images! Not that it is technically a great image mind you but because of the great meaning it has to me personally. The Pic is of my Wife and (2) Daughters (one Bun in the oven) ;) Dancing in our backyard.

Very simple setup.

I got down low so I would only get the sky without and other distractions in the background and then Under Exposed by about 2 full stops so they would become a silhouette. Shot with Canon 5Diii in AI Servo Focusing mode. Manual Exposure. 50mm Prime. F5 1/2000th sec exposure at ISO 100. Some minor adjustments in Lightroom 5. The second pic I did purposely change the sky Hue to bring out the Reds.


http://www.rickbeldenphotography.com...ity-2718-L.jpg

http://www.rickbeldenphotography.com...ity-2721-L.jpg

I am not sure what you are looking for exactly, but my first impression of the first picture is that it is weighted to the right. Perhaps "mom to be" could have been on a single knee (???)


I'll find a pic and post it so someone else has a turn. Was that your intention?

What is my intention with the thread? Exactly what I put in the first post. To ask questions, share ideas, give tips, talk about techniques, get feedback, give feedback......etc..

Just something a bit different that everyone can participate in at all levels. As stated the thread has nothing to do with me, I only started it out to share and give a few basic tips and also garner feedback if someone wanted to give. My hopes are that everyone will post some images, questions, tips, techniques etc..

You tend to center your subjects. Are you familiar with the rule of thirds? I'll find some shots to post...

Something I've been meaning to work on too.

...when I get some time. I've got all this gorgeous countryside now, and can't seem to find the time to snap off a few pics.

Yes I know the rule well, along with others in composition such as Leading Line, S-Curve, balance, golden means etc... Like almost all rules in photography they can be broken pending on the type of image someone wants to portray. Now, I do typically use "rule of thirds" most of the time, however IMO these particular images do not look right to me cropped so they would fit on a 1/3 plane.

That being said I'm always interested in others vision and point of view, so please feel free to take them and crop in different ways to improve. I would be very interested to see some different styles. Thanks :cert:

Something I have never played with and wonder about with your pic, Nitro. In camera metering modes. Did you spot meter? Or was it a spur of the moment capture not allowing a setup change? Also, just curious, why not b/w for this one? Seems like it would be perfect for conversion.

a good photo tells a story. maybe not the same story to every viewer, but it says something.

1000 words. We all know of historical and famous images that provoke various emotions in us. I'm glad someone was there to capture those moments. A photographer once said the best camera is the one that you have with you.

Good questions. For that those particular shots I pretty much knew what I wanted the final image to look like. So I planned accordingly. Basically just spot metered off the wife -2 stops (she was abit in the shade at this time anyway) and I knew they would go to a silhouette. That being said I did "Chimp" the LCD to make sure I was capturing the image I had visioned. I actually originally converted that to BW as that is normally how I would PP. It does look good as a BW, the only reason I left in color was being my family I thought it conveyed the warmth of a a family....added a bit of Pink hue also portrayed the feminine feeling IMO.

Similar to 'fill the frame'. I've heard some portrait people say be careful of empty space above the head.

http://www.rickbeldenphotography.com...ity-2721-L.jpg

Space removed and could use a bit more...but you loose the cloud wisp.

http://i.imgur.com/dGsAGgW.jpg

perhaps you could a provide larger image or as originally shot, then we can work on it for better or worse.

That is a great tip, I often times leave too much space!:seasix:

That being said I read an article last year about a Photog that said "Want interesting family photos - shoot wide Primes for awhile!" Basically for one month the only shots he took of his family were using either 24 or 35mm (on full frame). Very interesting concept and results. Really pulled in the environment in every image as he would have alot of space all around the subject matter, which is usually not a desirable....but as they say rules were meant to be broken!

From time to time I will purposely pick a Prime Focal length and do an entire shoot. Really helps with the creative process. :cert:

Don't take this the wrong way as I mean no offense. But I'm not going to post a full Resolution image and/or RAW file of my family on a public internet site. :cert:

My good friend was color bearer at the 150th Gettysburg. Of course, he is in the center of the pic with the colors. I would love to see what y'all can do to improve it (it needs a lot of help, underexposed, etc)with it PP. Crop, cut, saturate, whatever you like.

http://i.imgur.com/u6dO8LF.jpg

How about something like this:

http://www.rickbeldenphotography.com...reyGhost-L.jpg

In an earlier post I spoke about shooting with Wide Fast Primes as a change up. Here are a few of favorites all shot with a 24mm 1.4 on Full Frame Canon 5Diii

http://www.rickbeldenphotography.com...mmy-6678-L.jpg

http://www.rickbeldenphotography.com...d-6108-2-L.jpg

http://www.rickbeldenphotography.com...02012--6-L.jpg

http://www.rickbeldenphotography.com...02012--5-L.jpg

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