Suitable for framming???

[kimbakaye]

I want to hang a couple of my pictures in my bathroom that we are re-doing. They would probably be about an 8X10 size or so. Do you think any of these are suitable for framing? If so, which 2 would be the best do you think? Are there some things I could/should do do make them better? I never think any of my pictures are worthy to hang on a wall but my husband would really like me to. I am just starting to feel I have been staring at them all too long to see them clearly.

Any thoughts are appreciated.



Dates
Taken on July 26, 2011 at 4.25pm PDT (edit)
Posted to Flickr August 1, 2011 at 3.23PM PDT (edit)
Exif data
Camera Canon EOS REBEL T3i
Exposure 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture f/8.0
Focal Length 55 mm
ISO Speed 100

[mwatson]

We need to know what the EXIF data is and what you were going for on the shots. Otherwise, it is tough for us to properly give you our opinion.

Also, to avoid getting your post removed, you should only post one picture at a time.

That being said, I think the first picture has something there, if you level it out.

The second picture has me believe it may have been better in color. It looks like it is winter so you might not have had as much color but it may have given it a little more depth. It feels flat.

The third picture is pretty cool but I feel because the rocks are facing left we have some negative space. I see what you were going for but my eyes are not drawn towards the birds. They almost automatically go for the mud spot just to the right of them.

The fourth picture I really like. I like the choice of BW and the fence takes your eye all throughout the picture. You have a good focal point in the foreground and I think you appropriately broke your rule of thirds. The storm in the background is pretty neat also. Too bad there was no lightening.

[kimbakaye]

Thanks for you thoughts. They were really helpful and made me see things I didn't think about. I took off three of the photos, didn't realize I could only post one at a time. I left the top one because I had questions. What do you mean "level it out"? Won't it look kind of flat if I don't have the contrast there?

[Corey Thompson]

I believe mwatson means to straighten the horizon. When you look at the ocean, the horizon line, it tilts down to the left, it's not level. If you have photoshop or lightroom you can straighten out the horizon very easily. I think this shot would look cool as a canvas print. If you're a member of Costco you can get excellent quality englarged prints for super cheap.

[mwatson]

Yes, I was just talking about squaring the photo up. I think it is a pretty awesome picture.

I didn’t say this in the last post, all the pictures were good, but this one, along with the fourth, were my favorites.

[Doug Sundseth]

I agree that the one you left up is the strongest of the four. If it were mine, I'd increase the tonal range in the shadows, since they seem awfully blocked up here. (It's possible that this would not be true in a print, depending on the type of print and paper you're planning to use.)

I would also say that when you're picking photos for your own walls, the only peoples' opinions that really matter are yours and your family's. You'll be looking at them every day, so choose what works for you, not for a bunch of random people on the internet. In addition to differences in taste, you have an emotional connection with each photo you take (well, the keepers, anyway) that is tied up with your emotions when you took the shot, the memories of the trip that surround the shot, and your intent when taking the photo that nobody else will have.

Those aren't very useful when you're entering your work in a contest or trying to sell to an editor, but when you're printing for yourself they're entirely valid considerations.

[kimbakaye]

Thanks guys. You thoughts and opinions were very helpful to me.

[shruggy63]

Really like the final photo that you chose. I didn't even think the horizon was out, it just seemed to me evocative of the bay.