Need some input *Bandwidth warning*

[FM Arouet666]

I am just an amateur photographer, mostly take pics during vacation. My wife thinks I am nuts. I wonder around taking, what she calls, "random pics." I was reading a photography mag I bought in the airport, very critical reviews of pictures I thought were pretty good. Perhaps my wife is right, I am a hack, so be it, but I still find the hobby to be entertaining.

Here are a few examples, most are with a Nikon 990 or Canon D10, the Canon shots are all with F-Series Canon lenses except the free hand night shot in the chinese market for which I used a Canon 50mm lens. A fast prime is key for free hand, poor lighted shots. I hate flash.

The Eiffel Tower

Trafalgar Square

Night market in Beijing

The Forbidden City

A church outside Prague

Bike Repair in Beijing

Arles, France

[lakemonster11]

1. Hi!

Tell your wife you're not nuts---You have a very good eye. Your "random pics" are much more interesting than regular touristy shots (which, I assume, is what she expects you to take). I wouldn't worry about the level of criticism in a photo magazine---they're going to have incredibly high standards.

Since you asked for input :):
One thing you could do to take your photographs to the next level is to learn some digital post-processing. I used to think that post-processing beyond cropping was "cheating," but then I took some film photo classes in which we worked in the darkroom for more hours than we spent actually out taking photographs. I realized that professional photographers routinely adjust their photographs in post-processing, even quite dramatically.

Here's an example, using your first photo (awesome angle, by the way):



I made the pic black & white since it was really about form, not color. Then I increased the contrast to give it more drama and burned in (darkened) the corners to guide the eye towards the center. Sometimes a few simple adjustments can add a lot to a photo. (I didn't do anything that couldn't be done easily in a traditional darkroom).

Welcome to the group---I look forward to seeing more of your pictures! :hi:

[FM Arouet666]

2. Thanks for the input

You must have read my mind, I was just thinking about the Tower pic. I was posting to another thread regarding B&W, never sure when to use it. I was considering my Tower pic. I see the difference, form is what is key in the photo, emphasized in B&W, and I love the contrast addition.

Thanks for the welcome, I see that I have a long way to go, but I suspect it will be fun.........

I am sitting her looking at my original photo vs your addition. Wow, what a difference. Thanks again....

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. Oh yeah, you are nuts

Welcome to the asylum.
Can we help.
No.
But we understand.

[bvar22]

4. You will fit in well here.

I look foreward to your future posts.
Love the pics, especially the two of the oriental vendors ( I like candid people shots.)

[Blue_In_AK]

5. Beautiful photos...

For what it's worth, my husband laughs at me sometimes, too. He "gets" the landscapes, but he just can't quite understand what I'm doing on my hands and knees taking pictures of a rock. :) These really are great photos you've taken here.

[NV Whino]

6. Great photos!

I love the different point of view. The cathedral is especially nice. Like the pigeons, too--the essence of Trafalgar Square.