My first photo post

[siopaopei]

Hello guys. It's my first time here in the forum and I've only been shooting photos for a few weeks. I want to learn new things about photography and hopefully reading and posting here will help me with that. Here's the first photo I want to submit for critique. I'm a point and shoot user, trying to learn basic stuff while I save up for a decent dslr. I took this shot in a zoo in our city at midday.

[s2u.black]

Hi siopaopei - love your elephant - I'm new here too only been posing this week but everyone seems really helpfull and friendly.

[kimspics]

Looks Good To Me. Keep Posting. This Site Is Wonderful And Full Of Great Folks.

[Saralonde]

Hi Siopaopei, welcome to DPS! Smart of you to learn everything you can with your camera before getting a DSLR. Too many people start with one and feel completely lost.

I like the position of your elephant off to the side and not dead center. I do have the feeling you cut him off at the knees though. Was there any reason that made you choose b&w?

[siopaopei]

i'm not sure why i chose black and white. I had to crop off the bottom because there were rails there, i guess that didn't help. thank you for the feedback!

btw. how would you know if black and white is better for a photo or not? thanks.

[sukanta]

Originally Posted by siopaopei

btw. how would you know if black and white is better for a photo or not? thanks.

B&W boost the Dynamic range of your image.. so when you take a snap where you feel that a more contrast is needed.. try b&W..
[BTW I am a newb also so take my experience with a grain of salt]
As for your shot.. I agree with Saralonde.. I also like to see the knee (even with the rails)

[s2u.black]

Originally Posted by siopaopei

btw. how would you know if black and white is better for a photo or not? thanks.

I'm guessing it's a matter of what you like. Some scenes are so beautiful because of their colours, some pics are better without the distraction of colour. I tend to try to look at both versions and just go with whichever grabs me. B&W has a moodier feel, like a minor chord instead of a major one.

[peeperita]

good morning and welcome to the site....you've made a wise choice in coming here as it has increased my satisfaction with my own image taking....

the elephant is well placed....knees and all....because i too, would rather not see the railing....you did fairly well with your depth of field too....the beast is sharp as a tack and the background clutter blurred as to not steal the show....i would, however, should the opportunity present itself again, tighten it up even further so that the bg is all but lost.....

the brightness of midday certainly blew out your sky so, i think the choice to go black and white was a wise one.....

enjoy your point and shoot.....as saralonde said...if you can master it and it's limitations, then you'll be ahead of the game with an slr.....i shot for a million years with my p and s and i wouldn't take back the experience it brought me....

thanks for sharing...

peeper

[siopaopei]

Originally Posted by peeperita

good morning and welcome to the site....you've made a wise choice in coming here as it has increased my satisfaction with my own image taking....

the elephant is well placed....knees and all....because i too, would rather not see the railing....you did fairly well with your depth of field too....the beast is sharp as a tack and the background clutter blurred as to not steal the show....i would, however, should the opportunity present itself again, tighten it up even further so that the bg is all but lost.....

the brightness of midday certainly blew out your sky so, i think the choice to go black and white was a wise one.....

enjoy your point and shoot.....as saralonde said...if you can master it and it's limitations, then you'll be ahead of the game with an slr.....i shot for a million years with my p and s and i wouldn't take back the experience it brought me....

thanks for sharing...

peeper

thank you for your feedback. i'll keep them in mind. i wonder how to take shots of beautiful clouds. whenever i try, it almost always looks washed out.

[jiminyClickit]

siopaopei, Welcome

When the contrast is that strong, with high Sun and deep shadows, you may try taking two photos (one exposed correctly for subject, then a separate correct exposure of sky) on a tripod, then overlay these in a post processing program.

When or if you've learned more about post work, you can replace blown-out sky with another from a different day or location.