I'm a Newbie - Handle with Care

[Murray]

Hi all at the Pentax Forums. I have only recently discovered them so thought I had better start to use them.

I have been out and about taking some shots at night and also some with an R72 IR filter (processed in Photoshop)

The DSLR's that I own are the istD L2 and the K100D Super.

The lens used on all shots below was the Pentax DA 18 to 55mm. The camera was the istD L2. ISO was set to 200 for all shots. A tripod was used.

Number 1 - The Pub and Church.

30s @ f13 on AV with a FL of 18mm




Number 2 - Speed Camera

20s @f22 on AV with a FL of 23mm




Number 3 - The Tweed

10s @ f8 on M with R72 IR filter and a FL of 28mm




Number 4 - The Bench

10s @ f8 on M with R72 IR filter and a FL of 28mm




Number 5 - Hay Lodge in Autumn (Fall)

10secs @f8 on M with R72 IR filter and a FL of 18mm




Number 6 - Hay Lodge again - Just panned to the left.

10s @ f8 on M with R72 IR filter and a FL of 18mm




I eagerly await your comments.

[Adam]

Hi Murray,

Welcome to the forum! As this is your first post here, I'd just like to let you know that there's a 5-image limit per thread in the critique section, and in fact, we recommend that you only post one photo per thread so that it receives maximum attention. You may post more photos in the regular "post your photos" section if you'd like.

As for these photos...

I really like the composition in the first shot. However, the hotspots, shadows, and lights around the church are really distracting IMO, and they greatly degrade the overall appeal of the photo. I'd suggest taking two exposures for this one- one to get the light stripe effect, and one to get the church and buildings properly exposed.

Number 2 could have a bit more detail/sharpness, but overall, it works quite well! Some flare is visible around the headlights of one of the cars.

I also like the compositions in numbers 3 & 4, but I'm not a big fan of the IR effect on digital. Number 3 might look much better in plain B/W or color.

I don't care for the last two shots and that purple hue, though. Also, I'd kill the frames

[Murray]

Hi Mo,

Thank you for the advice and the critique. It is always nice to learn from your own mistakes.

I will kill the frames and remember the photo count.

Cheers

Murray

[carpents]

As for the 'Handle With Care' part, that is also what the 'Post Your Photos' section is all about. You'll get polite, friendly comments on you pictures, and maybe even some helpful tips to make them better.

The Photo Critique section is for just that, a critique, without reservation or concern for feelings. We most likely won't insult you personally, but if you're not willing to hear unbridled criticism about a particular photo, this is the wrong sub-forum for it.

[foxglove]

Welcome, Murray! Not a bad selection of images for a newbie, a darn sight better than my new-to-DSLR (but not to SLR) efforts.

There's nothing deeply wrong with your photos, but I find only The Tweed really grabs me, which is funny, because I've never really taken to IR. But this has such a dreamy, ethereal look, and it suits the subject. The only major distraction (other than the frame and copyright, but Mo already mentioned that!) is the fence on the left. It's so much darker than the rest of the image, I keep looking at it. I just tried holding my hand up and covering it, and it works much better for me - the river draws my eye in to the bridge. Maybe try cropping it and see what you think.

Happy shooting!

Julie

[smf]

Thanks for posting these very interesting images.

Re The Pub and The Church: If you are after artistic rather than purely documentary photography, I'd consider getting rid of the horizontal gray line that's about halfway up the photo, reducing the intensity of the light on the steeple (above the pub), and perhaps getting rid on the streetlight bulb at right.

All best,
Stu

[sawtooth235]

Murray,

Nice first post.

I think the symbolism of the pub in front of the church is amusing and #4 is interesting as well.

Ray

[lodi781]

I really like the first shot...welcome to the forums!