Yarrow Valley Country park, Chorley, Lancs

[chriskey]

This is my 1st post and I have recently purchased a Canon 500D DSLR that I am struggling to adapt to!! Pleae give your feedback on the attached picture, if I have attached it correctly. Is it focussed ok, composition, etc, etc. Good and bad criticism are both fine with me!!

5679539085_961ea726b3[1].jpg

[chriskey]

Forgot to say it was taken with a Canon 500D
Shutter - 1/125
Aperture - f13
Focal length - 27mm
Landscape shooting mode

[SwissJon]

Hi Chris

Congratulations on your purchase.

I have to say, you've made a classic newbie mistake, you've forgotten to include a subject in your picture. As with most people who are learning, thy're so glad when this complicated beast gets everything in focus and it looks ok, they forget the reason why we take photos.

You need a point of interest here, be it reflections (On a calmer day) or an interesting tree in the foreground, maybe some boats.. As it stands you've photographed a lake, and you've inluded a branch in the foreground that doesn't appear to be related to anything.

I'm really sorry if I sound cruel, but really the mistake people make is thinking that it's the camera taking the photo, it's not, it's you, and first of all, before you raise the camera to your eye, you need to decide why you are taking a photograph. When you are somewhere and you think "Ahh, that's pretty", as you did at this lake, you need to decide why it's pretty, and what is it that makes this.. What is the context, and how are you going to capture that context in a photo that can't see round corners or behind you, or reflect the good mood you were in at the time you were taking the photo. You need to think about how you're going to get the photograph to tell that story.. Photography is an artistic activity, not a technical actiity.

[Art]

Welcome Criskey to DPS, as SwissJon already mentioned, there are some things to take into consideration. IMHO, the left side branches distrct me from the panorama maybe less of branches could be better, continue shooting
Thanks Art

[chriskey]

Thank you for your feedback...and I don't think you are being cruel, just honest and I do appreciate that. I'll post another tomorrow and will look forward to further guidance and advice which is very welcome, Thanks again.