There are six 1052x700 shots here.

These first four shots were all taken on full auto with no custom aperture or shutter speed settings. I guess I'm looking for specifically what i did wrong in any specific photo as well as what you think I might do to improve things overall. I've never had any formal training in photography but I've had lots advice tidbits given to me by family members and friends who are into photography.

#1
http://pix.rwven.com/albums/Nikon%20D40/Striking%20Scenes/DSC_0069.JPG

#2
http://pix.rwven.com/albums/Nikon%20D40/Striking%20Scenes/DSC_0068.JPG

#3
http://pix.rwven.com/albums/Nikon%20D40/Striking%20Scenes/DSC_0067.JPG

#4
http://pix.rwven.com/albums/Nikon%20D40/Striking%20Scenes/DSC_0018.JPG

#5 - I freehanded this one with a 1/4sec shutter speed (can't remember what I had the aperture set to) and did some contrast/brightness adjustments to it afterwards. The original shot was quite bright. The extra-bright false-color/contrast was intentional, but I don't know it it looks a little odd to any of you true-blue buffs.
http://pix.rwven.com/albums/Nikon%20D40/Striking%20Scenes/DSC_0036-2.JPG

#6- This one was also freehanded with a 1/4sec shutter speed and I don't know the aperature on it either. I think I did a decent job of brightness/contrast balancing it afterwards but you all may be able to offer me some suggestions.
http://pix.rwven.com/albums/Nikon%20D40/Striking%20Scenes/DSC_0022-2.JPG

Thank you all for any advice you may be able to offer. :-D

Hickeroar, please understand that my critique does not mean that I do not like your images. It's easier for me to point out the things that I would not have in an image than it is to say what I like about them (I need to work on that, lol).

#'s 1, 2, and 3) The images have some bad lighting, the big shadows in the center and the harsh light on the gazebo(?) are very distracting. I would have taken them at a different time of day.

The images have a tilt to the right, which can be easily seen looking at the gazebo posts.

A shallower DOF would have worked much better. The tree's in the background should have a slight OOF blur to them. I would clone out the picnic table and I would clone out any of the ducks that are halfway in any of the images.

#4) I like the image but it also has a tilt to the right which can been seen by looking at the fence, sign posts, and telephone/light poles. I would try to clone out the yellow signs and maybe the light poles. I'm not a big fan of centered objects and I think the placement of the waterfall should have followed the rule of thirds.

#5) looks overexposed and I would move the falling water away from the very center of the image.

#6) also looks overexposed and think you should have pulled back some so the top of the waterfall was visible.

I hope that doesn't seem too harsh, again, it does not mean that I do not like the images.

Hickeroar, please understand that my critique does not mean that I do not like your images. It's easier for me to point out the things that I would not have in an image than it is to say what I like about them (I need to work on that, lol).

#'s 1, 2, and 3) The images have some bad lighting, the big shadows in the center and the harsh light on the gazebo(?) are very distracting. I would have taken them at a different time of day.

The images have a tilt to the right, which can be easily seen looking at the gazebo posts.

A shallower DOF would have worked much better. The tree's in the background should have a slight OOF blur to them. I would clone out the picnic table and I would clone out any of the ducks that are halfway in any of the images.

Thanks for this info. I hadn't noticed that my shots are angled a bit to the right. I'll DEFINITELY concentrate on fixing that. Any hints there? That could be a major problem down the road if I don't figure out a way to fix that habit.

Thanks for the insight into the lighting and such as well as the cloning. I'll take all of that to heart. There are a few places on the white painted stuff that are overexposed as well. The time of day for this was definitely "crappy."

#4) I like the image but it also has a tilt to the right which can been seen by looking at the fence, sign posts, and telephone/light poles. I would try to clone out the yellow signs and maybe the light poles. I'm not a big fan of centered objects and I think the placement of the waterfall should have followed the rule of thirds.

I knew the rule of thirds would come up in at LEAST this one. I have a similar shot to this one where the waterfall is in the right spot, but there are cars driving by in the background... :-P Thanks for the cloning pointers.

#5) looks overexposed and I would move the falling water away from the very center of the image.

Definitely IS overexposed. I tried to compensate with brightness/contrast adjustments PARTIALLY but left some of the overexposure for a "HDR" look.

#6) also looks overexposed and think you should have pulled back some so the top of the waterfall was visible.

Agreed. Thanks.

I hope that doesn't seem too harsh, again, it does not mean that I do not like the images.

Thanks for all the insight. I'm a relative newbie at this so I'll take any advice I can get.

"Thanks for this info. I hadn't noticed that my shots are angled a bit to the right. I'll DEFINITELY concentrate on fixing that. Any hints there? That could be a major problem down the road if I don't figure out a way to fix that habit."

My tripod head has a built in level.

Many editing programs have a feature/tool to fix tilted horizons. The way they usually work is by you drawing a line on a straight object (vertical or horizontal) and then software makes the correction... the image will need to be cropped after.

As far as the other things go... Looking for the things to avoid becomes easier the more you get out and shoot, and the more you post your images for critiques :) It also helps when you critique othe peoples images... it kind of forces you to think about what makes a good image.

And BTW, compared to just about everyone else here, I'm still a newbie too.

Ah, I wasn't using a tripod for those pics. It was in-hand. Next time I go out, I'll bring the 'pod.

I've already made a decision to at LEAST read other reviews to see what is being "picked on." I'm all about the feedback at this stage. This seems like a pretty laid back group so this place should be pretty informative.

I realized how true my beginner status was after I started following the links to peoples sites in their sigs. Some people here have really taken some absolutely beautiful shots.

hick....what're you shooting with?

hick....what're you shooting with?

Nikon D40. Got it on Monday. I've done a little bit of shooting with my wife's XTi, but I'm really wanting to see what I can do now... I realize the camera is just an entry level offering, but the reviews were raving...

I just got a UV Filter last night so I'm wanting to see if it'll help with the haze and/or colors at all. Any thoughts on that?

Its looks to me like the pictures are a bit warm (To much color tempterature) I like the compositions, though and how you got those pics that sharp at 1/4 handheld is beyond me.

Over I like the compositions, just have issue with White Balance and color.

When it comes to shooting level, without a tripod, I find it helpful to turn on the "grid" display. But then, I am using a P&S with an electronic viewfinder. Do dSLR's not have something akin to this? I can see how they might not, given you are actually looking through the lens.

Also, when it comes to straightening in post-processing, Photoshop Elements has a "built-in" cropping feature you can use along with the straightening. You draw the level line, it rotates th photo, and automatically crops it to rectangular. Does anyone know if there is a macro, or add-in, or whatever, to do this sort of cropping with Photoshop CS2? It seems like it should be a simple algorithm to select the largest possible rectangle from a non-right parallelogram. I thought about writing this myself, but I do not yet know how to do macros for CS2.

When it comes to shooting level, without a tripod, I find it helpful to turn on the "grid" display. But then, I am using a P&S with an electronic viewfinder. Do dSLR's not have something akin to this? I can see how they might not, given you are actually looking through the lens.

Also, when it comes to straightening in post-processing, Photoshop Elements has a "built-in" cropping feature you can use along with the straightening. You draw the level line, it rotates th photo, and automatically crops it to rectangular. Does anyone know if there is a macro, or add-in, or whatever, to do this sort of cropping with Photoshop CS2? It seems like it should be a simple algorithm to select the largest possible rectangle from a non-right parallelogram. I thought about writing this myself, but I do not yet know how to do macros for CS2.

I don't know of any SLRs that allow you to put up a grid. I'd definitely like something like that though...

I know with PSP you can manually rotate a picture a couple degrees and then drop it yourself. I don't know what automatic options are there though.

The method I use to keep things vertical is to use the edge of the frame and compare by eye any horizontal or vertical features in the photo, e.g., known posts or edges of buildings or a clear horizon, if taken straight on. Horizons can be misleading so watch for them. I spot the horisontals or verticals before looking through the viewfinder.

I suggest you look at examples of the rule of thirds the tic tack toe or OXO in the UK grid and then visualise this through the viewfinder, that will help with placements.

You also need to look for leading lines to lead you into the photo's.

An example would have been to get the bridge to lead the eye to the gazebo rather than sticking to the side of it. This would have meant moving to the right, closer to the bridge.

Roger.

Thanks for the hints. :-D

I don't know of any SLRs that allow you to put up a grid. I'd definitely like something like that though...

I know with PSP you can manually rotate a picture a couple degrees and then drop it yourself. I don't know what automatic options are there though.

Just been reading the manual on my 5D and I can get a grid for my camera, but look at the strap line below. LOL

Roger

Nice. That's quite a camera there...

I don't know of any SLRs that allow you to put up a grid. I'd definitely like something like that though...

I know with PSP you can manually rotate a picture a couple degrees and then drop it yourself. I don't know what automatic options are there though.

Yes you can turn on the view finders grid, it's in the camera's menu settings.

Yes you can turn on the view finders grid, it's in the camera's menu settings.

Can you elaborate on this? I haven't seen this setting in the menu and I'd like to turn it on.

I also posted this if anyone is interested.
http://forums.photographyreview.com/showthread.php?t=31811