Learning to make better compositions

[Ooitbedacht]

This is my first post so i hope al goes well.

I've been photographing a few years and recently bought myself a digital SLR. Just wanna do more with photo's. I have a background in art and work as a graphic designer so i know the basic principles. So that was the introduction.

I found out the photo's i took weren't that interesting looking @ the comments on my flickr page and reactions i got from collegeas. I recently discovered this site/forum. After reading all the tips (a back 2 school moment for me) i took up my gear and made some photo's. On photo i particurly like. You guessed it, its the one i posted here.



The original photo can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ooitbed...n/photostream/

every photo can get better with a few tweaks and those (big) tweaks and comments i would like to hear. So hunting season is open and target practice has started. What do the you think.

My english can be improved as i'm from holland
Thanx anyway

[ike]

Wow and Welcome.

For a first post, this is amazing in my eyes. The only problem i have is the lone stalk in the middle of the car,

I love how you got low down to take the shot. including such an amazing sky.

Can you give a bit more information on the equipment used.

ike,

[ELAY]

This is a well-thought out and executed photo. Perspective is interesting.

The diagonals are strong, the blur on the car is just right, and the clouds sort of echo and reinforce the lines of the road and car. THey all create a nice convergence.

I think you have to ask your self if the road, car and sky are enough, and whether you need the flowers in the foreground. Apart from the odd stray stalk or two which you can deal with by cloning, I just wonder if your composition is stronger without them. I'm not sure what my own answer is --visually they are very appealing, but it might be a case of too many elements. Maybe this shot needs to be simpler.

I do like the crop where it is in terms of the clouds, but you might also consider giving a bit more space on the right in front of the car to enhance the motion feeling and the diagonals.

Good work; I think the learning will be two-way.

EL

[Ooitbedacht]

Thnx for the kind words ike and ELAY. I was a bit surprised because i had the feeling the foto wasn't that good.

@ ike.
The lone stalk i must remove but thats cloning a healing. Thnx for pointed it out. I must overlooked it.

@ ELAY.
Maybe there it to much detail and things going on. I agree the basics are good. Strong diagonals, blur and the perfect clouds. The problem came with the low perspective (a tip i used from one of the articles of the blog) Because of low perspective and grassy place i took this it was more a compromise. Use the flowers but find elements in them that compliment the composition (red flower -> red tail light -> red glow in the sky) and flowers also work good with te dof.

The equipment and settings i use werent that special:
Nikon d40 with kit lens and a polarisation filter and sunblocker (dont know the actual name)
Settings: Exposure: 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture: f/8
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
Saturation: High saturation

And some tweeking in photoshop to saturate the color and the levels.

Other foto's @ Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ooitbedacht (some good some very bad)

[ELAY]

I was a bit surprised because i had the feeling the foto wasn't that good.

Not to take away from a fine photo, but many (most?) of us posting here are amateurs, and we tend to be encouraging and upbeat as a rule. Most people critiquing will try to find the strengths in a photo first, before moving on to improvements.

EL

[Ooitbedacht]

I thought most people here semi pros or advance amateurs looking @ the breathtaking foto's i saw on some posts or flickr pages of users.

Fidling with the lone stalk now update soon.

Thnx for the new info and kind remarks.

[R.E. Smith]

I like this one too but I realy like your pic in the train station! You should post it here as well!

[uvsub]

Very interesting shot. I love the sky. The foreground and car are dark. Did you consider selecting them and opening those shadows up? I think that would really increase the voltage of this shot and make it exceptional.

[Darren Rowse]

Great first post Ooitbedacht - thanks for sharing it with us and for the feedback on how DPS helped you - this kind of post is what keeps me plugging away with this site - seeing people put the tips into action!

I really appreciate it.

thanks

[xxpinballxx]

Originally Posted by Ooitbedacht

I thought most people here semi pros or advance amateurs looking @ the breathtaking foto's i saw on some posts or flickr pages of users.

Fidling with the lone stalk now update soon.

Thnx for the new info and kind remarks.

We all are not even close to pros...thats what this site will do for you. Coach you through the rough times and get you shooting those eye popping mouth dropping photos.
I really like this except like the one stalk Ike mentioned. And maybe there are a couple other spots in the grasses. I like the motion blur on the car I think I would have jst waited for a more eye catching car to roll by but still a nice idea and good shot.
Great first post.