Constructive critique

I was pondering on this for a very long time. I have been reading dpreview for just over 6 months, in particular SONY (because I own one) and PRO (because I dream to own a pro camera) sections.

I have been a keep amateur for years and I think what I'm asking is: are my photos good enough not to call them amateur any more? Taking into account the quality of forum members' portfolios I'd like you to have a look at mine and post some comments.

thanks in advance
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webmark
http://thewebmark.com.au/portfolio_photos.php

PS: does any one know of a better flash or java photo viewer that would help protecting the images from being copied and/or saved?

You have some wonderful shots there. It looks to me like your strongest area is portraiture. Your portraits of children are lovely. There are a couple of shots I might lose from the portfolio if I were you. The one of a pelican taking off doesn't look too resolved. It looks like what I get when I use digital zoom. Also, the white on the pelican is a bit blown out. And as nice as the shots of the Indian (?) dancer are, I don't quite think they are clear and well lit enough to compare to your other portraits.

Just MHO. I am by no means an expert and am having to face the same task myself. Weeding out the pictures I love, but that don't meet the critical standards of pro photography.

webmark said:

I was pondering on this for a very long time. I have been reading
dpreview for just over 6 months, in particular SONY (because I own
one) and PRO (because I dream to own a pro camera) sections.

I have been a keep amateur for years and I think what I'm asking
is: are my photos good enough not to call them amateur any more?
Taking into account the quality of forum members' portfolios I'd
like you to have a look at mine and post some comments.

thanks in advance
--
webmark
http://thewebmark.com.au/portfolio_photos.php

PS: does any one know of a better flash or java photo viewer that
would help protecting the images from being copied and/or saved?

Click to expand...

--
LisaFX
http://www.pbase.com/lisafx
Canon S20, Sony S75, F707

webmark said:

is: are my photos good enough not to call them amateur any more?

Click to expand...

I don't know. They're moving by at fifty miles an hour like ducks in a shooting gallery. If you decide to stop them, I might have another look.

Lose the Flash player and I think you will be better received. Image protection is one thing, but accessability is another. Me, and many other dial-up users, won't take (waste?) our time to look. You need to give viewers a reason to come to your site, and options once they are there. Yours is too limited...

Paul

webmark said:

I was pondering on this for a very long time. I have been reading
dpreview for just over 6 months, in particular SONY (because I own
one) and PRO (because I dream to own a pro camera) sections.

I have been a keep amateur for years and I think what I'm asking
is: are my photos good enough not to call them amateur any more?
Taking into account the quality of forum members' portfolios I'd
like you to have a look at mine and post some comments.

thanks in advance
--
webmark
http://thewebmark.com.au/portfolio_photos.php

PS: does any one know of a better flash or java photo viewer that
would help protecting the images from being copied and/or saved?

Click to expand...

If you earn a living with your photograpy you are a pro. If you do it part time, you are a semi-pro if you do it for fun only, you are an amateur. The quality of your images does not make these distinctions. There are many pros that create less than professional looking images and I know plenty of amateurs with great skills but they prefer to remain amateurs.
Hope you like the answer.
Rinus of Calgary