how can i improve my pictures/my website

mattr888

http://reevesphotography.weebly.com
is my website can you please look at the picks and tell me how i could improve the we website and how i could take better pictures.




thanks,
matt

Sam

Hi Mat,

Welcome, don't get discouraged if you don't get a lot of responses. It's pretty normal to have a lot of views but very few responses.

Also I would suggest you frame your questions better. Be more specific and less wide open. Ask, how high is the stratosphere, not how high is high.

We are all trying to "take better pictures". But an open ended question is very difficult to impossible to answer.

Try to determine what it is about your images that you want to improve on. For example: My images are soft and out of focus, here is an example, what do you think I am doing wrong? Or my images seem flat, is there anything I can do to make them pop?

Sam

kd2

Aloha Matt,

Welcome! I took a look at your galleries and you've got some interesting images. Keep at it.

One of the first things I would recommend is to work on your composition. Don't put everything right in the middle. Here's a link to the "rule of thirds" (or just do your own google search for more info on this). Just remember that rules can be broken, but this is a good starting point.

http://www.digital-photography-school.com/rule-of-thirds

mattr888

thanks
thanks you two and i know about the rule of thirds and i try to use it but sometimes i forget but i will just need to hammer it in to my head lol

BradfordBenn

You have some nice looking shots in there. As one who is constantly learning about new and cool things in Photography if not life, I would recommend taking the project in small pieces as Kathy said. The cliche of eating an elephant continues to apply, one bite at a time. The composition and rules of thirds is something that has helped me a lot. I found that in addition to framing the image in the viewfinder spending time in front of the computer screen framing an image I have already taken has been helpful. I would adjust the crop to see the changes in the composition. It has helped me learn to see it a little more.

Also as Sam alluded to this question can be fairly open. There are some great tutorials here on DGrin and SmugMug about processing if that is what you are looking to do. I would recommend that you not try to do everything at once.

Keep at it and keep shooting you have some good pics.

digismile

Matt,

Pretty good for 15! You're off to a great start.

I think you show a lot of creativity in your photos, but still need some practice on the execution. How about posting one or two shots that you are most proud of, and let's see if we can help make them even better?

regards,

chrisjohnson

I enjoyed looking at the photos and they show lots of promise. Taking the step to exhibit and seek feedback is good too. The other guys give a general steer in the direction of composition and this makes sense to me too. I look forward to seeing a shot that you would like a more detailed opinion about.

mattr888

thanks
how can i upload photos to here, im quite new to this

chrisjohnson

mattr888 wrote: »

how can i upload photos to here, im quite new to this

I use the insert image icon and the url of the image I want, in my case a link to an image on Smugmug. Smugmug has an easy way to get the link url and then it is cut and paste.

Perhaps there are easier ways ...

There is a full explanation on http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/1083138 There is eg a quick way to resize your image.

mattr888

I uploaded one which i think is one of my best

Sam

mattr888 wrote: »

I uploaded one which i think is one of my best

Personally I think this is a nice flower image. Good composition, color, and depth of field.

Sam

DsrtVW

Matt you are off to a good start. AS with everything practice and determination is key.
Also places on the dgrin site can help with technique
http://www.dgrin.com/forumdisplay.php?f=42
in the technique forum read research and practice.

mattr888

thanks

deb22

mattr888 wrote: »

I uploaded one which i think is one of my best

nice job Matt! I wish i could have started so young, you are off to a great start and keep learning all you can and try to better your best photo which will keep you shooting. i really like the flower shot and like Sam the depth is nice, i do seem to not like the upper left corner as my eye goes to that dull section instead of staying around the flower and really good background on the right. keep up the good work and I look forward to seeing your stuff as you post more.

mattr888

deb22 wrote: »

i do seem to not like the upper left corner as my eye goes to that dull section instead of staying around the flower.

is this better or should it be less cropped on the right

Chris H

Matthew,

Firstly well done for having the ware-with-all to practice photography and put a website together at the age of 15. Most impressive.

On the flower shot I think you've improved it greatly with your second crop. You might want to look at using curves adjustment in photoshop to add a touch of contrast, this is what will add the real pop to the photo. Be careful not to over do it though, small adjustments are the key.

The only thing I would strongly recommend is fading down or losing your watermark, it is quite distracting.

Keep it up!

Chris

mattr888

Chris H wrote: »

You might want to look at using curves adjustment in photoshop to add a touch of contrast, this is what will add the real pop to the photo.

i have done the contrast but im not shore if it is too much or not. also how do you use the curves adjustment and were can i find it

i have photoshop elements 6.0.

and thanks for the advice. Is there any improvements i could do on my website? taking photos of or changing some?

ThatCanonGuy

You have a great site with some great images
I do think the watermark is a lot less distracting faded a little

also how do you use the curves adjustment and were can i find it

I don't know about Elements 6, but in CS2 it's Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Curves...

mattr888

ThatCanonGuy wrote: »

I don't know about Elements 6, but in CS2 it's Layer>New Adjustment Layer>Curves...

nop its not there