What’s Your Preference?

ddavis · #1 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 02:37 AM

Street scene in Long Beach, California

navcom · #2 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 02:57 AM

Hi there!

Are you posting for a critique or are you just sharing your shot? Do you have any specific question? Any EXIF data? Please read the critique forum rules. If you would just like to share a shot, you can post in one of the "share your shots" sections. Thanks!

ddavis · #3 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 03:07 AM

Sorry - new to this posting game, thought data was linked to photo (which was not the case).

Camera: Kodak Z712IS
focal length: 7.6 mm
Exposure: 1/50 sec
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 64

Any suggestions as to improvment in composition, color, contrast, etc would be greatly apprciated. How could I have made it better?

Sterling · #4 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 04:02 AM

My suggestion to improve it would be to decide what you were trying get a picture of and then get a little more creative in your vantage point. For example, are the cars at the bottom of the frame an important part of what you were trying to capture? Probably not. So try for a vantage point where they aren't visible. I can see a decent shot of the center hotel by stepping out to the rear of the cars, turning the camera to portrait, and either moving or zooming to capture the hotel front and the two palm tress in front. Just some ideas.

navcom · #5 (**permalink**) 03-13-2010, 02:09 PM

I would have to agree with Sterling. Your exposure looks nice but the composition seems to be simply a snapshot. There is no center of interest.

The best way to fix this is to stop and think about what you are shooting before pressing the shutter button. Think to yourself, "what am I taking a picture of"? What's the object that draws me in. How can I isolate that object and make it stand out. Different angle? Different lens? Different lighting or time of day?

Take a look around the forum for "rules of composition". Lines, textures, symmetry, rule of thirds, etc. Try to incorporate some of them in your photos. This will get you thinking more about what you are shooting.

Hope that helps!