My 1st attemp at a "proper" photograph

andy5452 · 08-08-2006, 15:53

My 1st attempt at a real photo. i.e. I went out for the sole purpose of shooting a horse. Following as many of the online guide lines I could remember, I have kept the main image to one side, plenty of depth of field. I adjusted the saturation as per one member and applied the Virtual photographer filters (as per one of the threads I stumbled across) I am tempted to air brush out the tree behind the head and perhaps a little of the backgound?
Comments please.

**Angela** · 08-08-2006, 16:40

I think this is a lovely picture and the composition is great to my eye - apart from the tree which you mention - but it's quite dark and, even though it's a grey horse, he/she tends to merge into the background a bit and doesn't stand out as much as you might have expected. Would lightning it and sharpening it up a bit get more definition?

But I am no expert and very much a beginner so that is just my very amateur thoughts!

andy5452 · 08-08-2006, 16:55

All comments are welcome... You an Amateur?? This is my 4th week of owning a camera. Yeah I think the tree needs to go, couldn`t help that tho.. Horse would do nothing other than walk towards me (I have lots of shots of his nose just before he licked the camera). I wasn`t sure about HOW much landscape to show, is this too much?? Is the subject a little lost?? I think I may air brush the RH buildings out and crop a little?? Any other thoughts??

Andy

**stepheno** · 08-08-2006, 17:39

Hi Andy - it's a very pleasing shot which IMO has good composition, except for the tree, the horse is walking into the shot (always good) and there is a focal point to catch your eye. The distant buildings give added interest but are so far away so as not to detract from the main subject.

I'm not sure your mono treatment does it justice (Dave will add to this) and it looks rather soft throughout which I don't think sharpening would recover. I would like to know the exif data if possible? Good try, keep going back and re-shoot with different settings (assuming the horse is still there).

***Dave*** · 08-08-2006, 17:39

4 weeks & your producing shots like this

You've obviously got an eye for it Andy & great to see you've taken advice onboard that you've read.

There are some techniques to make the best of Mono conversions & I'll have to stop bleating on about producing a video tutorial & actually do it

.

Be looking forward to more shots then

andy5452 · 08-08-2006, 17:46

EXIF?? err whats that then?

I can stick the original colour up there if anybody wants to have a go and create the B+W shot I`m going for ... (and of course tell me how to do it :-)
Andy

**Angela** · 08-08-2006, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy5452

All comments are welcome... You an Amateur?? This is my 4th week of owning a camera.

I can beat that....I've had my digital SLR for 11 days!!

Although I suppose I have been using my little point and shoot for some time!

Quote:

I wasn`t sure about HOW much landscape to show, is this too much?? Is the subject a little lost?? I think I may air brush the RH buildings out and crop a little?? Any other thoughts??

Andy

Nope, I think it is fine and the buildings in the background give a nice contrast to the "country" feel of the main subject.

***Dave*** · 08-08-2006, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy5452

I can stick the original colour up there if anybody wants to have a go and create the B+W shot I`m going for ... (and of course tell me how to do it :-)
Andy

Go on then

If you post up full shot , some people might share a different crop with you. Try 1000 pixels on longest length & 200K limit. Very kind of you to let us have a go, as this is how we all improve our PhotoShop skills

**Angela** · 08-08-2006, 18:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

, as this is how we all improve our PhotoShop skills

Apart from those of us who don't have Photoshop and have to use the very basic editing facilities provided by Picaso

**Dabhand16** · 08-08-2006, 18:18

I go along with the other comments regarding composition and tones, but I think your 'sitter' threw you a dummy in looking back at the vital moment

I would have liked to have seen him/her with his/her head in front of the body.

Looking forward to seeing the colour version.

andy5452 · 08-08-2006, 18:43

http://www.pixalo.com/gallery/data/5..._in_colour.jpg

Heres the colour one. Hope this is good enough to play with.

Andy

***Dave*** · 08-08-2006, 19:00

Hi Andy, have you got a bigger shot ? eg. nearer 1000 pixels across. Otherwise will struggle to do your shot justice in Photoshop conversion

andy5452 · 08-08-2006, 19:14

Here you go 1000w on the nose

EDIT - LINK removed as photo no longer there (Pixalo)

***Dave*** · 08-08-2006, 19:47

Here ya go Andy, with a quick play in PS. I did try & record actions with video capture to explain what I did, but the Software crashed whilst converting it to Flash

I'll explain steps I did tomorrow, as got to shoot now.

andy5452 · 08-08-2006, 19:54

I`ll look forward to that. Thanks.

08-08-2006, 15:53	#1 (permalink)
andy5452 Quite Chatty Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 81	My 1st attemp at a "proper" photograph My 1st attempt at a real photo. i.e. I went out for the sole purpose of shooting a horse. Following as many of the online guide lines I could remember, I have kept the main image to one side, plenty of depth of field. I adjusted the saturation as per one member and applied the Virtual photographer filters (as per one of the threads I stumbled across) I am tempted to air brush out the tree behind the head and perhaps a little of the backgound? Comments please.

08-08-2006, 16:40	#2 (permalink)
Angela Pixalo Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wimbledon Posts: 5,851	Re: My 1st attemp at a "proper" photograph I think this is a lovely picture and the composition is great to my eye - apart from the tree which you mention - but it's quite dark and, even though it's a grey horse, he/she tends to merge into the background a bit and doesn't stand out as much as you might have expected. Would lightning it and sharpening it up a bit get more definition? But I am no expert and very much a beginner so that is just my very amateur thoughts!

08-08-2006, 16:55	#3 (permalink)
andy5452 Quite Chatty Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 81	Re: My 1st attemp at a "proper" photograph All comments are welcome... You an Amateur?? This is my 4th week of owning a camera. Yeah I think the tree needs to go, couldn`t help that tho.. Horse would do nothing other than walk towards me (I have lots of shots of his nose just before he licked the camera). I wasn`t sure about HOW much landscape to show, is this too much?? Is the subject a little lost?? I think I may air brush the RH buildings out and crop a little?? Any other thoughts?? Andy

08-08-2006, 17:39	#4 (permalink)
stepheno Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,637	Re: My 1st attemp at a "proper" photograph Hi Andy - it's a very pleasing shot which IMO has good composition, except for the tree, the horse is walking into the shot (always good) and there is a focal point to catch your eye. The distant buildings give added interest but are so far away so as not to detract from the main subject. I'm not sure your mono treatment does it justice (Dave will add to this) and it looks rather soft throughout which I don't think sharpening would recover. I would like to know the exif data if possible? Good try, keep going back and re-shoot with different settings (assuming the horse is still there). __________________ "upgrade your ability before upgrading your kit" Some new photographs here.

08-08-2006, 17:39	#5 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,909	Re: My 1st attemp at a "proper" photograph 4 weeks & your producing shots like this You've obviously got an eye for it Andy & great to see you've taken advice onboard that you've read. There are some techniques to make the best of Mono conversions & I'll have to stop bleating on about producing a video tutorial & actually do it . Be looking forward to more shots then

08-08-2006, 17:46	#6 (permalink)
andy5452 Quite Chatty Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 81	Re: My 1st attemp at a "proper" photograph EXIF?? err whats that then? I can stick the original colour up there if anybody wants to have a go and create the B+W shot I`m going for ... (and of course tell me how to do it :-) Andy

08-08-2006, 18:18	#10 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 9,000	Re: My 1st attemp at a "proper" photograph I go along with the other comments regarding composition and tones, but I think your 'sitter' threw you a dummy in looking back at the vital moment I would have liked to have seen him/her with his/her head in front of the body. Looking forward to seeing the colour version.

08-08-2006, 18:43	#11 (permalink)
andy5452 Quite Chatty Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 81	Re: My 1st attemp at a "proper" photograph http://www.pixalo.com/gallery/data/5..._in_colour.jpg Heres the colour one. Hope this is good enough to play with. Andy

08-08-2006, 19:00	#12 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,909	Re: My 1st attemp at a "proper" photograph Hi Andy, have you got a bigger shot ? eg. nearer 1000 pixels across. Otherwise will struggle to do your shot justice in Photoshop conversion

08-08-2006, 19:14	#13 (permalink)
andy5452 Quite Chatty Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 81	Re: My 1st attemp at a "proper" photograph Here you go 1000w on the nose EDIT - LINK removed as photo no longer there (Pixalo)

08-08-2006, 19:47	#14 (permalink)
*Dave* Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 14,909	Re: My 1st attemp at a "proper" photograph Here ya go Andy, with a quick play in PS. I did try & record actions with video capture to explain what I did, but the Software crashed whilst converting it to Flash I'll explain steps I did tomorrow, as got to shoot now.

08-08-2006, 19:54	#15 (permalink)
andy5452 Quite Chatty Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 81	Re: My 1st attemp at a "proper" photograph I`ll look forward to that. Thanks.

08-08-2006, 19:56	#16 (permalink)
stepheno Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,637