Candids

[detkhedrick]

First time Ive posted in the critique area...so please be gentle!



Camera Nikon D3100
Exposure 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture f/6.3
Focal Length 55 mm
Focal Length 55.0 mm
ISO Speed 100




Camera Nikon D3100
Exposure 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture f/6.3
Focal Length 55 mm
Focal Length 55.0 mm
ISO Speed 100

[Rentham]

There is a lot going on in the first shot. What or who is the subject? The horse and the people getting off the stage coach are potentially interesting, but they're cut off. The driver could be a cool subject if you shot from a different vantage point, maybe a higher angle with some shallower depth of field.

The second shot has a ton of potential, but you probably should have exposed for the guy. He's going kind of dark with all the bright sunlight behind him. Also, crop out the day-glo orange crap around the tree.

Good start, keep going.

[detkhedrick]

damn, how did i not see that! thanks

[RichardTaylor]

Edit (being written during the above posts)

You may want to have a look at the guidelines for the critique forum.

Critique Forum Rules

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Pic #1.

Technical,
The blown (over exposed) sky is a major distraction. Maybe shooting from a different spot (to the right) and not having any sky in the picture would help.
It looks like you have focussed on the sign and building. I think it would be better to have focused on the coach driver/stage. The lack of sharpness on the major subject doesn't help.

Aesthetic;
Having people and animals cut off on the edge a photograph is usually not a good idea, especially if it appears accidental.
There is a lot going on in this photograph. Probably too much as my eye moves around all over the place.
What is the subject?
The horse, driver coach, or the people getting out?
It looks like a vacation snap shot (and I do take these myself sometimes)

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Pic #2

This works for me a lot better than pic #1

Technical.
Focus looks ok.
High contrast lighting makes getting the correct exposure for the whole scene difficult (the ground and walk way are over exposed).
I would try to fix this when PPing (multiple processing and merging for the final pic)

Aesthetics;
Just a bit too much in this scene
Try cropping a bit of the right (to remove the tree and plastic protection) and some of the left (around the end of the bench) to focus attention on the gun slinger.