Sounds like a great trip, I'd love to do something like that. There are compositional rules out there that are a good thing to know, but rules are made to be broken. The thing is, there should be a definate reason that you are breaking the rule.
VF really isn't about critiques, but here's a quick one. The first shot is good with composition. It's tight but it shows us the whole bridge (not always a requirement) meaning that you didn't cut a little off that looks accidental, etc. It's also good and level to my eyes. On the second one, I think that maybe a little less sky might help. And the third one maybe angling the camera up a few degrees to show less road and more distance might make give it more depth. Really though, not bad shots. I've been on a lot of road trips and there's never enough time for photography - or for more road trip (I'm not usually ready for it to be over!).
The first one is Oak Creek Canyon, yes? I have been through there a couple of times. Beautiful area. Of course, New Mexico and the Rockys are nothing to sneeze at either
Nice ones!
Walter Rick Long Nikon Samurai, Mamiya Master, Velvia Bandit
Yep, that's Oak Creek Canyon. Was there 2 years ago but in the fall. I actually took a few shots standing under that bridge.
Ray O'Canon Digital Rebel XTi • Digital Rebel • Canonet GIII QL17 • Agfa Parat-1
The liberal, socialist politician's nightmare: "What a comfort to the farmer to be allowed to supply his own wants before he should be liable to pay anything, and then only pay on his surplus." - Jefferson to Madison on Taxes,1784
I often got into this discussion with almost every creative teacher I ever had. Photography, writing, music, art...
I'm always told that as a 'beginer' I'm not allowed to express myself myway because I have to follow all these rules.
I always toss the rule book aside and say 'Rules, Shmules!'
Creativity is about showing others how the world looks like from your eyes, and from your heart and soul. I don't see why I have to copy someone who did a passable job eons ago in order to earn the right to show others what I see.
I'm not difficult or hostel, just individual.
People are often offended by the way I charge into things head first and say with pride 'Look at how bad I did that!'
The first picture was taken with me dangling over a railing with a 500 foot drop. Daring since I have no balance and I had my dog tugging at my arm. I never did find a way to get to the bottom of that canyon.
In the second photo I saw the story of a stone lizard peering over a cliff to gaze at the endless open spaces. If I had given less sky then there would have been too much cliff and if I had cropped it closer it would have lost the essence of the story I was seeing.
The third photo is actually about the road. I was standing on my knees to get more of the road, hoping for a more childish eye level. The picture is about a quaint dirt road that travels across a huge mountain. Less road would give you a tree wall. I didn't see a story in a tree wall.
Like I said, I'm not hostel or difficult, I just believe that if you spend your energy striving for someone elses notion of perfection then you loose sight of what's real.
Ultimately it is you that must be happy with your photography, or any other artful expression you choose. Some of us strive for technical perfection while still portraying the moment captured while others have the attitude of rules be damned. None of us here are trying to tell you which path to follow, we are just making suggestions to you as we all do for each other.
I liked the tough your commentary added to the images. It gave some insight to what the images mean to you.
Thanks for sharing.
Nikon Samurai #3
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true
friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!"