One of my first shoots.
Criticism and suggestions are always welcome, feel free to say everything. I'm just a beginner.

[Liney]

Nice image, makes you feel sort of sad that whatever had been going on has been spoilt by the rain. Nice balance as your eye is drawn to the can and unfinished orange drink while the rest of the colours appear almost monochromatic (up to the wall in the background.

For a beginner you have a good eye, keep it up!

[flaviopetrone]

Nice image, makes you feel sort of sad that whatever had been going on has been spoilt by the rain. Nice balance as your eye is drawn to the can and unfinished orange drink while the rest of the colours appear almost monochromatic (up to the wall in the background.

For a beginner you have a good eye, keep it up!

I wanted to focus on the drink left there because of the rain. Thank you very much for your words Liney!

[wtlwdwgn]

You've got a good eye Flavio. This is a fine image. I think it might be improved by cropping out the building at the top. Just my $0.02.

[Kerrowdown]

feel free to say everything. I'm just a beginner

The real question is are you happy with image?

Because at the end of the day that's all that really matters, unless you earn you living from your images, then it would appear everyman/woman and their dog matters.

[flaviopetrone]

The real question is are you happy with image?

Because at the end of the day that's all that really matters, unless you earn you living from your images, then it would appear everyman/woman and their dog matters.

I am agree, I like it, the "problem" is that even if I like one of my pictures a lot and I think that I couldn't do better (in that specific situation), then arrive someone with "try with more contrast and a little bit more of light" and the picture looks much better! in this way I am learning a lot of things!

---------- Post added 09-01-14 at 11:05 AM ----------

You've got a good eye Flavio. This is a fine image. I think it might be improved by cropping out the building at the top. Just my $0.02.

I will try to crop it and I will post here. Thank you wtlwdwgn!

[flaviopetrone]

Here there is the cropped version.

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[wtlwdwgn]

I like this better. What do you think?

[flaviopetrone]

I like this better. What do you think?

Definitely better about the composition. The only thing I like less is the ratio, because if I use the original aspect ratio, I need to cut the right part of the pic too. I wanted to keep it, so I needed to cut in a more "rectangular" ratio. Anyway, what I need to do is to learn to take a picture without thinking that I have the chance to crop it later. Thank you for your advice.

[manntax]

Nice atmospheric shot indeed ! I really like the muted colours and that warmth coming from the reflections of that sandy colour. The only advice I would have for the next time is to keep the iso lower and aperture lower. I think the shot didn't need that F22 aperture - F11 or even F8 - would still be good, and that would give you the room to lower the ISO stop or two. THis would improve the detail ( which got reduced from high ISO and diffractions introduced by high aperture setting (above f11 I think it kicks in ).

overall great warm moody shot !

[flaviopetrone]

Nice atmospheric shot indeed ! I really like the muted colours and that warmth coming from the reflections of that sandy colour. The only advice I would have for the next time is to keep the iso lower and aperture lower. I think the shot didn't need that F22 aperture - F11 or even F8 - would still be good, and that would give you the room to lower the ISO stop or two. THis would improve the detail ( which got reduced from high ISO and diffractions introduced by high aperture setting (above f11 I think it kicks in ).

overall great warm moody shot !

Thank you for all the compliments. Yes, now I know but I didn't in that moment. I had automatic ISO and I was testing the aperture about the depth of field, I read about the more you close the aperture the bigger DOF you get, so I was experimenting. Now I try to stay always at 100 ISO, changing it only when I can't change nothing else more.

[wtlwdwgn]

Flavio, every lens has a 'sweet spot' in that it performs best. Usually it's from 2 stops from widest and from the smallest f stop. A lens that has f stops from f/2.8 to f/22 the sweet spot would likely be between f/5.6 and f/11. You were correct that you get more DOF with the smallest f stop but there is a phenomena called diffraction which causes a loss in definition in the smallest f stops in a lens. Also some of the better quality (read expensive) lenses will sometimes perform better than the lower priced lenses but not always. A case in point is the DAL 50mm f/1.8 which is probably as sharp a lens as money can buy.

Don't necessarily limit yourself to ISO 100 especially in poor light. I often use the TAv setting and set my shutter speed and f stop and let the ISO float as needed. ISO 100 would be preferred but sometimes it's just not practical.

Just another of my $0.02.

[flaviopetrone]

Flavio, every lens has a 'sweet spot' in that it performs best. Usually it's from 2 stops from widest and from the smallest f stop. A lens that has f stops from f/2.8 to f/22 the sweet spot would likely be between f/5.6 and f/11.

Just another of my $0.02.

I didn't know about this! Thank you very much... You know, 2 cents by 2 cents your are making me every day richer!

[mole]

Some excellent advice - both the technical details and the compositional tips. Nothing I could add other than keep on shooting - it's obvious you have talent and are skilled in creating an image full of emotion...

[Liney]

I liked the cropped version as well, it removes some of the distractions in the background and keep the image simple. Well done

I tend to find I am the worst critic of my own pictures, while is probably why I constantly strive to do better. There is lot of good reading out there Flavio, just doing a goolge search on a single topic can come up with some good information so if you are still learning try setting up a shot and playing with the settings. Several similar images should show the difference between a narrow and wide depth of field, or a fast or slow shutter speed, and al the combination inbetween! Try searching for the "triangle" of shutter speed, f-stop and ISO and the effects it can have