What has DGRIN done for me?

jeffreaux2

This post may not be for those of us with thin skin! However, after seeing my own improvements since I have been a forum member, and seeing improvements in other's work as well I am going to stick my neck out just a tad.

I welcome any, and all of you who have seen improvement in your photography and think that some portion of that improvement has been gleened through interaction in the forum to participate. What I will post is the very first photo that I posted in the forum followed with what I think is a good example of where I am now with my photography.

Anyone else want to play? Post-em-up!

I believe that the value here will be to new members who want to know just what stands to be gained by all the interaction and critique from other photographers.

So....lets go!!!!! Give 'em up!:D

jeffreaux2

My first post....
Below is an image I included in my very first post....along with a link to that post here.

My niece....shot taken 3-3-2007 (soft, overprocessed, dark)




Her baby brother....shot taken 7-23-2008(the light is sweet, off-camera flash for fill, tack sharp in the eyes, nice contrast)

schmoo

Hi Jeff, what a great idea!

Oh goodness I can't even begin to describe the difference in not only how I approach photography and my camera but what I know. And it's safe to say that nearly everything I learned or every resource I have studied has been in some way related to or suggested by someone here in Dgrin.

I couldn't remember the first photo I posted here, so I had to do a search:

First image, just a flower snapshot:


One of my willing models last spring:


Hmm well maybe it's tough to compare a still life with a portrait but one thing Dgrin hasn't done was allow me to settle into a particular type of photography. They're all good!

Travis

Blown highlights, sketchy focus, overprocessed, oversaturated effects.....


Sharp, natural, complimentary lighting, nice catch lights, proper exposure


Credit given to everyone on this forum that has challenged me each week to better my skills in everything from time of capture (composition, lighting,exposure, etc.) to post processing. This has been an incredible community!

Nikolai

I think this was one of my first picture posts here, way back in Nov 2004 (actually, a Challenge 26 entry, no less)
Sony DCS-F828, skewed, off-centered, noisy, blah in general...



One of the recent shots, actually from the exact same room, just an opposite wall;-)
Canon 40D plus a few (gelled) studo strobes:



Thanks, Dgrin!

Richard

Cool idea, Jeff. OK, first pic I ever posted in June, 2005:



Pic I posted just a few days ago:

Awais Yaqub

Started with Sony DSC W1 point and shoot in 2004 joined dgrin in 2005


2007 Exhibition sponsored by Sony , Got DSLR .

Did some commercial photos with Point and Shoot Sony H5 that money sponsored my 1st DSLR .

Here are 2 images i shot with my H5


And here is Portrait improvement



Soon many more dreams will come true thanks to great Dgrin community.

gluwater

One of the first images I posted on Dgrin and a huge reason I bought my first DSLR. From 2005 with an Olympus 750UZ.


Here's one from Iowa this winter:

davev

This is from one of my first posts on Dgrin.



And a couple of somethings that I took lately.
I'm posting these shots because before I got here, I probably wouldn't have taken shots like these.

This is from a trip to door county Wisconsin. (handheld of course):D


From my summer vacation. 30 second shot using a flashlight to light up the tube.


A model shoot.


In the years since I joined Dgrin, I have spent a lot of cash trying to get the right "stuff".
I'm not there yet.

I have joined up with 4 others and have a stake in a studio. (one that I don't use enough)
and have been lucky enough to meet some really great people both in person and on the net.

Travis

Inspiring improvements! Keep them coming!!!!

Ann McRae

Well, dgrin has done lots for me, thats for sure. I followed several grinners over from the sony forum on dpreview, in August 2004 according to my history. The first photo post of mine that I can find is this one
All I can think is 'wow, how much have the kids grown!'. My ability to shoot candid portraits hasn't really gotten much better, but I think most everything else has!

I really treasure this community, all the great advice and helpful people, and am really thankful that I have been able to meet several in the flesh so to speak as well.

ann

AFBlue

gluwater wrote:

One of the first images I posted on Dgrin and a huge reason I bought my first DSLR. From 2005 with an Olympus 750UZ.

WOW! That second shot is breath-taking!

Llywellyn

Very cool idea! I apprently joined in June 2006 but didn't post a photo until a year later. The challenges sucked me in and kept me here.

My first image post:


My most recent image post:


I've learned a heck of a lot about processing.

heatherfeather

Llywellyn wrote:

Very cool idea! I apprently joined in June 2006 but didn't post a photo until a year later. The challenges sucked me in and kept me here.

Ha ha! I remember both of those. I had no idea that was your first (the librarian one) Not bad! And yes your latest is amazing. Loving it!

dkoyanagi

Great thread. I'll play.

The first photo I posted to dgrin.




My latest post

aktse

I find it interesting that even though ice hockey is my main sport, my first photo on dgrin was of actually of the SF 49ers training camp!!! At that time, I had my 20D for about a month and it was my first time ever shoot in under the sun and blew everything out.

August 2006


And this is from my most recent photo post on dgrin; oddly enough, it was also from the training camp.

July 2008

DJ-S1

I'll bite. Dgrin has been a huge help to my knowledge and enjoyment of photography!

Here's my first post -



and from my latest airshow shots -