Pink Flower/Gloomy Day

[IamBKeith]

Nikon D3100
ISO 100
35mm
1EV
F/5
1/160

This is my first week practicing photography. In general how is the pic? What could I have done better?

[RichardTaylor]

Technical evaluation:
Only the leaf is sharp The out focus flowers are very distracting.
(Shooting at a smaller aperture may help).
The bottom right hand corner of the photograph appears to be under exposed.

Aesthetic evaluation.
The messy background is very distracting. Shoot from a different POV or move the plant so you have a clean background.
There is a lot of dead space on the bottom of the picture which contributes nothing. Try cropping it out.
The cut of leaves and blossoms also are a distraction. Just move back a little to get it all in or shoot close up detail

In line with the lighting comment above - The lighting whilst ok on the top left hand side of the pic ok and I feel it would be better if all of the plant had this light on it. Try moving the plant or light, or use a reflector (or flash) to bounce some light into it so all of it is well lit.

[docxnoel]

Totally agree with Richard, for me you need to practice on better composition, in your photo, i just saw the backside of the plant.

[IamBKeith]

I really appreciate the critiques guys. This is really becoming fun to me. It helping me! I funny to be because the background in this image was my favorite part, because I been trying hard to get the soft focused background. What confused me was why would it be considered messy? Oh I should have shoot it from another point of view.

[docxnoel]

I want to share with you what i've learned here in DPS in taking photos, simple yet so useful.
1. Ask yourself, what is the subject to be shoot...have a creative imagination how will you going to shoot that particular subject and what do you want your subject to be look like.

2. If you already know the subject, get there on the location and evaluate, where is the light coming, where you find a good background in positioning your subject, move around and have some test shots.

3.Click your shutter as your creative imagination dictates you but try to experiment, sometimes the best shots is not the one you have planned.

4. Of course do not forget about shutter speed, aperture and ISO.

5. Shoot, Review and Repeat.

[RichardTaylor]

You may find these two posts, on composition,. helpful.
They are on this site.

General Composition Tips

How To Compose More Effective Backgrounds

You may find this one of mine, "working a subject handy".

Working a subject (1)

[RichardTaylor]

As docxnoel says.
"what is the subject"

If it is the background, or plant, then focus on that. (both literaly & figuratively).

If you want to show both than it can be done by having both in focus (this may be camera/lens dependant) or even a bit out of focus. However I feel they both should be complimentary unless you are trying to create a contrast.

With your permission I can post a couple of examples of waht I am talking about..

[IamBKeith]

The more I read and look back at this photo. I have figured that I am "snap happy", meaning I'm just happy to have a Camera in hand. Just a few day ago I had to use the auto setting just to get any shot. Now I that I am getting a shot, I'm just happy to get something in focus. My goal for the next couple of days will be focusing on my subjects, and getting them in focus.
Who am I, and what am I doing.