I need to get more creative

[Gabe C.]

Dont you think? Please share opinions

[mdmc]

No, I don't think so Gabe. All of these pix have an interesting composition, but thats just one element of photography. Hang in there, learn, and next year people will be asking you for advice.
Mark

[Gabe C.]

No, I don't think so Gabe. All of these pix have an interesting composition, but thats just one element of photography. Hang in there, learn, and next year people will be asking you for advice.
Mark

Thanks Mark. I was really happy when I printed these photos. I enjoyed the sharp contrast. These were worth getting kicked out for.

[GB1]

Well, let me throw in my thoughts -

First of all, IMO, architecture is difficult to get creative shots of. Here you've done an OK job of taking shots of the structure, but it is very geometric and the photos show it. I personally see nothing exceedingly creative in the shots but, again, that's a challenge with stuff like this.

Here's some ideas:

Try different, uncommon angles. For example, on the bottom shot you could have used a wide-angle lens and gotten right down on the floor to snap a shot of the left-side wall. The top photo's roof structure has potential for an abstract. A multiple exposure of several areas here might work too.

Try a shot on the stairs aiming up, with all the people walking up/down with the sky behind them. A slow exposure would blur them and add to the shot. The middle shot shows that the architect really tried to be different, but the shot itself is pedestrian, looks like you shot it from the same sidewalk that everyone else is walking on. Nothing wrong with that if you just want some memory shots, but not as a creative experiment.

The bottom shot is most interesting to me but is missing something. If you had some people in it (other than the ones you have in the distance) I think it would add a new element. Again, try a slow shutter so that they blur a little.

Good luck and note that everyone goes through this. It is good that you asked the question, and are investigating avenues for creativity.

Gb

[Gabe C.]

Well, let me throw in my thoughts -

First of all, IMO, architecture is difficult to get creative shots of. Here you've done an OK job of taking shots of the structure, but it is very geometric and the photos show it. I personally see nothing exceedingly creative in the shots but, again, that's a challenge with stuff like this.

Here's some ideas:

Try different, uncommon angles. For example, on the bottom shot you could have used a wide-angle lens and gotten right down on the floor to snap a shot of the left-side wall. The top photo's roof structure has potential for an abstract. A multiple exposure of several areas here might work too.

Try a shot on the stairs aiming up, with all the people walking up/down with the sky behind them. A slow exposure would blur them and add to the shot. The middle shot shows that the architect really tried to be different, but the shot itself is pedestrian, looks like you shot it from the same sidewalk that everyone else is walking on. Nothing wrong with that if you just want some memory shots, but not as a creative experiment.

The bottom shot is most interesting to me but is missing something. If you had some people in it (other than the ones you have in the distance) I think it would add a new element. Again, try a slow shutter so that they blur a little.

Good luck and note that everyone goes through this. It is good that you asked the question, and are investigating avenues for creativity.

Gb

Thanks for those ideas. I've been told by my friend kyle to get more creative with the angles too..but i was just in a hurry because i got kicked out of that place for taking photos. Also, what did you mean for the "multiple exposures on the top photo" What did you have in mind for that?

[dbutler]

I think you're already off to a good start. Looking at your other posts, you are obviously drawn to architecture and geometrics. So, you've already discovered what you are drawn to. Also, it looks like what you are trying to work on right now is how to find what to focus on. Once you've got that, no doubt you will start eliminating what distracts and even out the horizons and such.

Like GB, I don't think you're quite where YOU want to be yet, but I can see what drew you in all your shots. Try cropping them in several different ways. I think with some creative cropping and editing, you might see more of what really drew you in the first place. I'm about where you are right now, and I know that when I get suggestions from these great folks and play around with my shots, I can often find how I could have bettered the image. And I've definitely improved based on their suggestions.

[GB1]

Thanks for those ideas. I've been told by my friend kyle to get more creative with the angles too..but i was just in a hurry because i got kicked out of that place for taking photos. Also, what did you mean for the "multiple exposures on the top photo" What did you have in mind for that?

Gabe - A multiple exposure is several shots overtop the same film frame. Since I haven't really gotten into digital photography yet I do not know if those cameras support this. But you could do the same thing, maybe, with photo editing software after the shoot.

This is a multiple exposure I shot awhile back - I used a mask to only shoot one side at a time (that is the same fellow in both). This is *not* exactly what I was referring to, but I dont have another shot scanned to upload right now... hope you can get the idea. Basically, you make something interesting out of subject photos that by themselves aren't creative or good enough, but together, done creatively, can make for something interesting.

Good luck and keep experimenting - GB

[Gabe C.]

Gabe - A multiple exposure is several shots overtop the same film frame. Since I haven't really gotten into digital photography yet I do not know if those cameras support this. But you could do the same thing, maybe, with photo editing software after the shoot.

This is a multiple exposure I shot awhile back - I used a mask to only shoot one side at a time (that is the same fellow in both). This is *not* exactly what I was referring to, but I dont have another shot scanned to upload right now... hope you can get the idea. Basically, you make something interesting out of subject photos that by themselves aren't creative or good enough, but together, done creatively, can make for something interesting.

Good luck and keep experimenting - GB

Well i'm drawn into architecture and geometrics, but i'm trying to get into shooting people, not portraits, but shooting with friends, but candid. any suggestions? i have some on my images, but not where i really want to be. Also could you show what a mask looks like or what it is?

[GB1]

Well i'm drawn into architecture and geometrics, but i'm trying to get into shooting people, not portraits, but shooting with friends, but candid. any suggestions? i have some on my images, but not where i really want to be. Also could you show what a mask looks like or what it is?

Gabe - I'm not very prolific when it comes to photographing people. It's something I really want to get into though, some day soon. There's several books on creative angles and viewpoints: one is called "Learning to See Creatively" by Bryan Peterson and isn't bad. Another approach is to do a very detailed critique of your work and decide what's missing. This board is good for that too, of course.

As for the masks, it is a filter that slides over your camera lens and blocks light over certain parts of the frame. You then reverse it on the double exposure and photo a different subject, so you get a photo similar to the one I posted earlier. Check out Cokin filters, http://cokin.com/ico3-p1-8.html, specifically #346, #340, # 342 and # 345. Click on those filter images to see what they can do. But your camera must allow multiple exposures to do it. Note that a lot of this stuff can prob be done using photo-editing software (I haven't tried it). Good luck and post some of the results if you decide to dive in.
GB

[drg]

I believe you chose three fairly good subjects. Now it is just what you want to do with them. It may be merely be a matter of exploring technique.

Tighter framing with a little more of the roof curve on the first photo might be an example or spread it way out to make the whole structure just an element in the setting.

The creative part is showing what you want us to see!

I'll think about these some more.

[Gabe C.]

I believe you chose three fairly good subjects. Now it is just what you want to do with them. It may be merely be a matter of exploring technique.

Tighter framing with a little more of the roof curve on the first photo might be an example or spread it way out to make the whole structure just an element in the setting.

The creative part is showing what you want us to see!

I'll think about these some more.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP.