Please give me pointers
/forum/topic/645241/0

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dalgin
Registered: May 02, 2008
Total Posts: 79
Country: N/A

I have shot all these pictures with sigma 17-70 with canon xsi. I am new to photography and I know I have a lot to learn. I just ordered the 70-200F4.

Can you please tell me what I need to do to make these shots better?

Thank you very much for all your comments.

Here is the Flickr Link

Scott Stoness
Registered: Sep 11, 2006
Total Posts: 3232
Country: Canada

Welcome Dalgin. For best feedback post no more than 3, included exif details and ask a specific question. Otherwise it is too much work for others to provide feedback.

I will pick a couple and provide feedback.

?v=0
Is overexposed - watch your histogram and turn down the exposure if areas are blinking
Is too tight - you should leave more space so he does not look pinched
You should leave room in front of him to swim into
Generally you should not centre your subject - put him at 1/3 somewhere. In this case best is left top rule of third intersection. If you have not heard of rule of thirds google it.

This image is copyrighted by the owner

?v=0
is tilted
the top is overexposed - you should not try for such wide variation in lighting
I think you need a slightly longer exposure - up the fstop and put a dark filter or two in the way to make it longer

This image is copyrighted by the owner

?v=0
had lots of potential but you framed too tight on head and feet of goose
I would clone out the thing intruding on right middle
I think you framed too tight - usually frame about 15% more so you have room to crop
It is hard to shoot at high noon - it creates big shadows
This is the nicest of the 3 examples posted.

I will delete links if you ask.

Edited by Scott Stoness on May 10, 2008 at 07:41 AM GMT

dalgin
Registered: May 02, 2008
Total Posts: 79
Country: N/A

Thank you very muc for your comments.

sbeme
Registered: Dec 23, 2003
Total Posts: 3002
Country: United States

Dalgin,
Let me comment on the first, since I have been getting into bird photography.
Framing is a bit tight. Leave some room for the bird/duck to swim or fly into the frame.
Eye contact is a key element in bird photos. First image has used this well.
Whites appear "blown out".
How low can you go? Try to shoot at head level if possible for an image liike this.

Third image:
Cute with the goose and companiion.
Crop is too tight on top and I think you want to keep some space into which they are looking. Distracting object on far right needs to be eliminated.
I suspect you were limited in the angles that you could shoot at. Pairs of birds can work very well. You could use some open water, blurred trees/vegetation as better background, shooting with relatively open aperture to keep the birds in focus (or select one) and soften the background.

I think you will enjoy your new lens.
Lets see more.
Scott G

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