Washington DC pics

I recently bought a Canon Rebel XTi DSLR 10 MP. I use a Canon EF 28-200 lens. This is my first time out with the camera. These were taken late afternoon in Washington DC while walking through a sculpture garden. Any tips or comments are appreciated.

Thanks
Andy

1. Globe structure
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...a/IMG_0189.jpg
2. Bronze thumb sculpture
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...a/IMG_0197.jpg

Andy,

Welcome to the group. You have some interesting subjects. The sky in the first is a little too bright and distracts from the globe. You can try a different perspective without so much sky, or you can try to expose for the sky. Unfortunately, exposing for the sky will probably underexpose the globe so you will need to use fill flash to compensate.

To get the pictures without the links, use the attach option (the little paperclip) on your posts. Alternatively, post the shots into your member gallery and add them as a picture (the mountain icon). Hope that helps.

PC

Welcome to PR. You can also choose the advance option when creating your post and click on upload photos. I realy like the globe shot minus the pesky sky.

Monkey Wrench:

I have the same camera, love it. Nice shots, the globe is great.

CF

Andy,

I quite like the bronze thumb, but the line in the wall and the odd shadow on the right I find distracting. A bit of work cloning this out will make this so much better for me. You captured the lighting on the bronze well.

The Globe has several problems, the sky as others have already commented on.

The proximity of the globe to the other statue to its left which is too close and needs more separation, so moving more to your left could achieve that. I would have like a bit more on the bottom showing the plinth.

To get the sky detail I would have taken 2 shots, one as you have and the other exposed for the sky and then merge the 2 in PP. Or use an ND Grad but it would have to be a cleaver one where you can push it off centre and tilt it, e.g. a Cokin or Lee.

Roger

Andy,
Since you are using Photobucket, just copy the IMG code, and paste it in the body of your message.
I too, like the globe shot but feel the washed out sky hurts it.
John

Welcome,

The thumb is good. I sort of laughed when I saw it because you never know what artists will come up with. It is a straightforward shot and very appropriate for the subject.

The globe has been commented on already, but I'm scratching my head thinking of what better angle there'd be? There's only so many ways to shoot a subject like this in such an environment and the sky is the sk, but I do believe that if the sky was blue with a lot of pretty white clouds that it would be more of "this is the Earth" type shot and would work. Guess it calls for a reshoot.

GB

The globe came out the way it did for 2 reasons......
1. It was sundown, and lighting was poor. I felt as though I took the best shot possible with only a camera in hand and low sunlight to work with.

2. Also, that angle was the only "good" angle as the other side of the globe wasn't as attractive for a photograph.

I am still trying to grasp the basic idea of photography. I kind of went out and spent the money on a good setup in hope to gain some motivation to learn how to shoot proper photographs. I basically need to practice a lot more.....time is the only constraint.

Thanks for the replies.

Andy