Tulips and Taxi and Empire Reflection

maegandougherty

I walked around Central Park and the city for three hours after work yesterday. I'm not thrilled with the shots I got, but these are two that I think turned out pretty cool. And I had fun and got some exercise! Let me know what you think...





Click here for more. Thanks for looking!

maegandougherty

These just don't look as good this big!

Seefutlung

Exercise is always good ... (joking)
1) Tulips & Taxi ... nothing seems sharp. There isn't enough movement for it to seem intentional and artsy ... not enough sharpness to say "Cool Tulips". But, (the big but), I like the idea. I would take the shot again with a tripod and a longer exposure. Hopefully no wind ... and you'd get sharp tulips and blur for background. Also try not to bisect the frame with a horizontal line ... so show more tulips (say 2/3 or so) and less street (1/3) or vice versa. Give the most room to what you feel the viewer should see as their primary focus.

2) I like the reflected image. You may want to crop up from the bottom to the first grid line just to see what it looks like without the clutter. And maybe in from the right to eliminate the vertical grid. I really like this shot.

maegandougherty

Seefutlung wrote:

Exercise is always good ... (joking)
1) Tulips & Taxi ... nothing seems sharp. There isn't enough movement for it to seem intentional and artsy ... not enough sharpness to say "Cool Tulips". But, (the big but), I like the idea. I would take the shot again with a tripod and a longer exposure. Hopefully no wind ... and you'd get sharp tulips and blur for background. Also try not to bisect the frame with a horizontal line ... so show more tulips (say 2/3 or so) and less street (1/3) or vice versa. Give the most room to what you feel the viewer should see as their primary focus.

2) I like the reflected image. You may want to crop up from the bottom to the first grid line just to see what it looks like without the clutter. And maybe in from the right to eliminate the vertical grid. I really like this shot.

Thank you so much for the advise. Tulips & Taxi looks kind of cool small, but at this size it just hurts my eyes. Will try again next time I'm in the area. I agree about the thirds, and I should start carrying my mini tripod (I don't have a regular one).

Art Scott

With the above... and I really like the Empire shot...but would have liked it more if it were more staight on centered.
Is it possible for you to shoot wider on the Tulips....I just felt it was cropped a tad tight also.

Great ideas....keep working on them.

maegandougherty

Art Scott wrote:

With the above... and I really like the Empire shot...but would have liked it more if it were more staight on centered.
Is it possible for you to shoot wider on the Tulips....I just felt it was cropped a tad tight also.

Great ideas....keep working on them.

Thanks Art. The Empire shot was just an effortless one as I was crossing the street, but since you both like the idea, I will definitely work harder on that.

Going wider on the tulips would have included other flowers, so I didn't think that would work. My goal for next time: When I find a shot I think will be interesting, keep trying and make sure I get a good one!

evil eggplant

The tulips shot? Nothing is in focus. This could have been a nice one, but it's flawed technically, and that kind of kills it. Shoot it again of you can, it really has potential.

If you have a tripod you may want to use it. With the camera on the tripod, use a cable release or the self-timer to fire the shutter.

The reflection shot is lovely.

Cheers

maegandougherty wrote:

I walked around Central Park and the city for three hours after work yesterday. I'm not thrilled with the shots I got, but these are two that I think turned out pretty cool. And I had fun and got some exercise! Let me know what you think...





Click here for more. Thanks for looking!

maegandougherty

evil eggplant wrote:

The tulips shot? Nothing is in focus. This could have been a nice one, but it's flawed technically, and that kind of kills it. Shoot it again of you can, it really has potential.

If you have a tripod you may want to use it. With the camera on the tripod, use a cable release or the self-timer to fire the shutter.

The reflection shot is lovely.

Cheers

Thanks for the comments. What I need to do is take some classes to learn all the technical stuff that I don't know. But it's nice to hear that I have potential!

photocat

maegandougherty wrote:

Thanks for the comments. What I need to do is take some classes to learn all the technical stuff that I don't know. But it's nice to hear that I have potential!

Yes, go to school!!!! Really! I had my first student card in my life when I was 48... But boy was it worth it. I have learned more about photography in the last five years then ever before. (Dgrin pushed the wagon too, lots to learn here!)
What works for me is when I am bored (does not happen that often) but if, I just read up on photography sites, read, look, read more, look more...
If I could learn it, everyone can...

maegandougherty

photocat wrote:

Yes, go to school!!!! Really! I had my first student card in my life when I was 48... But boy was it worth it. I have learned more about photography in the last five years then ever before. (Dgrin pushed the wagon too, lots to learn here!)
What works for me is when I am bored (does not happen that often) but if, I just read up on photography sites, read, look, read more, look more...
If I could learn it, everyone can...

Cat - Not sure why I never thought of studying photography while I was actually in school! I have a degree in Finance. I have been looking into classes and think I mught just start with a really basic and inexpensive one. Not sure if I'm ready to commit to working toward another degree. I did start a class once, but ended up dropping out half way through...it was before I went digital and shortly after I finished college and I just wasn't that into it. I do spend a lot of time on the computer reading and trying to teach myself photoshop and stuff and I'm lovin' it!

photocat

maegandougherty wrote:

Cat - Not sure why I never thought of studying photography while I was actually in school! I have a degree in Finance. I have been looking into classes and think I mught just start with a really basic and inexpensive one. Not sure if I'm ready to commit to working toward another degree. I did start a class once, but ended up dropping out half way through...it was before I went digital and shortly after I finished college and I just wasn't that into it. I do spend a lot of time on the computer reading and trying to teach myself photoshop and stuff and I'm lovin' it!

I ask myself the same question over and over again... I left school at 17 (had to, my mom made me) so all I achieved was by self study. Nothing wrong with starting a basic one, or inexpensive. It does not have to cost a lot to be good... See if you keep liking it, and there is lots of people here willing to help!