Please C&C my girlfriend, watch and flower photos IS SAFE FOR WORK

[Joshlovesphotos]

Hey Ladies and Gentlemen,

I've been coming to this site for at least 5-6 years now, but I've never registered a user account until today.

Would you mind giving me your honest opinion of these shots? They aren't my best, so I know if you are ok with them, that I am on the right track.

I want to invest in a $4000 full frame and lens setup, but I recently saw some guys shots on flickr and thought to myself, my gosh, this guy kind of sucks, and he probably hasn't had anyone to really tell him he sucks after 15k photos on his flickr account. And well, I just don't want to be that guy.

These were taken with my D5000 and a kit lens 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 VR.

The last two photos, of the flowers, are obviously post processed, which I am not a big fan of, but I did it more than the other photos by far.

Yours,

Josh

 

[Joshlovesphotos]

I litterally don't know any other photographers, so I don't have any outside input. I know they aren't the best photos, but are they as 'ok' as you might guess I think they are for a D5000 and kit lens? I only see one really blown out highlight I think, in the black and white photo of the clouds.

Anyway, any suggestions?

 

[TPLyons]

Very nice pictures you took.. my only critique would be the 1st photo the grass area/ground slopes a little, which to me throws off the horizon..I actually tilted my head to view it......I don't know if that could be fixed in PP..
The watch is good shot, the flowers like nice too!

Thanks for sharing & keep on Shooting

 

[TPLyons]

Very nice pictures you took.. my only critique would be the 1st photo the grass area/ground slopes a little, which to me throws off the horizon..I actually tilted my head to view it......I don't know if that could be fixed in PP..
The watch is good shot, the flowers like nice too!

Thanks for sharing & keep on Shooting

After triple checking these photos, ( the Model is fine ) but notice the tree slanting in the background, that maybe why I think the horizon is a little slanted,, perhaps another will join in and give his/her opinion.

Best,
Tom

 

[Joshlovesphotos]

Thanks for the advice Tom! I think you're right about the angle.

Josh

 

[JIMBO3031NIKON]

Maybe take advantage of fill flash to get rid of the shadows in your girlfriend's face?

My 2 cents

 

[ergoe]

Trees are not reliable indicators of horizon slant. Many grow slanted naturally for a variety of reasons. In the pictures under discussion, one clearly is slanted while another clearly is not.

 

[buckshot]

Josh

Would you mind giving me your honest opinion of these shots? They aren't my best, so I know if you are ok with them, that I am on the right track.

Why not hit us with your best?

I want to invest in a $4000 full frame and lens setup, but I recently saw some guys shots on flickr and thought to myself, my gosh, this guy kind of sucks, and he probably hasn't had anyone to really tell him he sucks after 15k photos on his flickr account. And well, I just don't want to be that guy.

Unless you are trying to sell images it really does not matter what anyone thinks but you. If you are wondering how your images stand up to others I suggest you join some challenges. There is one right now in this forum, there are many hosted by this site and I have done this one for many years at http://www.fujimugs.com (you could enter in the "open") They are all fun and you learn a lot about your images.

--
JB
I am not a photographer, I’m just a guy that takes pictures.
http://buckshotsimageblog.blogspot.com/

 

[Antoine Palade]

The photos look fine to me. There will always be room for critique (e.g. the slope on the grass, the shadow on your gf's face, the blown highlights on one of the b&w pictures, etc...).

I would suggest another comment: take in what people say as a way to improve your technique, but don't let those comments influence what you decide to do with your photography.

Have fun, be creative. If you have and want to invest $4000 in a setup, do it. It's your hobby, and if you enjoy it, you do not need any "veto" from anyone to go ahead.

My suggestion, in order to make your photography maybe more rewarding would be this: prioritise for lenses first, specifically a Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 or a 85mm f1.4G. Then, get yourself a D700 if you have enough money left, otherwise a D7000.

Why?...For me, of all the photos I have taken, the ones that I always look twice, or three times when I look at all my photos, are the ones taken with either of those two lenses. Because they allow you to isolate the background so beautifully, because they're so sharp, and because they render colours so beautifully, it makes photography (for me, anyway) so creative and fun. A photo of your girlfriend will be so much more because of those lenses, a flower will stand out from the background, in short, it helps make art out of the ordinary.

So lens or lenses first. You might want to add maybe a macro lens to your setup, as you seem to enjoy macro work (the flower shot points to this). Check out either the micro Nikkor 60mm f2.8 or the 105mm f2.8. FInally, get a Nikkor 50mm f1.8D or G for portability and low-light, and you're set. These lenses, I believe, will give you the most fun, and you should enjoy this great hobby that is photography.

About the camera bodies: D700, obviously. It's nearing the time when a replacement might come out at some point (D800) so the price is right. However, it's still a fantastic camera. I had one for a while and really loved it, until I decided it was just too big for me. But what a camera!....

What about the D7000? You should know that with the D700 comes two things: size/weight and serious money to be spent. 1) Serious money, because you're not going to be satisfied to buy average-quality lenses with such a great camera as the D700. The D700 commands pro lenses. When I had mine, I could not envisage getting anything less that great glass for it - it deserves it. 2) Serious size/weight, because a D700 plus a 70-200mm f2.8 is a hefty piece of gear. Therefore, my recommendation for, possibly, the D7000. Great photo quality and smaller. And still works great with the 70-200mm or the 85mm f1.4.

Please do not let anyone dictate whether you should or not further your interests...Go out and enjoy taking photos of your girlfriend and the world around you! Cheers.

 

[Antoine Palade]

A photo of your girlfriend will be so much more because of those lenses, a flower will stand out from the background, in short, it helps make art out of the ordinary.

...I didn't mean to say that your girlfriend is ordinary. What I meant is, besides taking pictures of your gf, even the ordinary, like a simple common flower can become interesting. Just clarifying, ok?

 

[Joshlovesphotos]

Too shadowy huh? Thanks for the advice Jimbo! Love the shot of Machu Picchu through the window. I heard that you have to basically hike to get up there.

Josh

Maybe take advantage of fill flash to get rid of the shadows in your girlfriend's face?

My 2 cents

 

[Sunshine_boy]

Very nice pictures you took.. my only critique would be the 1st photo the grass area/ground slopes a little, which to me throws off the horizon..I actually tilted my head to view it......I don't know if that could be fixed in PP..
The watch is good shot, the flowers like nice too!

Thanks for sharing & keep on Shooting

After triple checking these photos, ( the Model is fine ) but notice the tree slanting in the background, that maybe why I think the horizon is a little slanted,, perhaps another will join in and give his/her opinion.

Hi Tom,
I am amused by your uncertainty... LOL

I think the shots of the girl are straight enough. You can see that everything else except for the slanted tree is vertical. It is obviously a downhill patch of ground too that may give the wrong impression.

The 3rd shot of the girl is my fav for posture, expression and content. Too bad for the shadows on the girl's face. But, after some PP, I think it can make a lovely keeper.

I am impressed by the last flower shot that looks as if it is made of glass. If only it could have been a little brighter.

Well done to the OP and to the girl too for her graceful looks.


--
Best Regards
Sunshine

ps If you see someone without a smile on, give him one of yours...

 

[Ray Soares]

--
Ray Soares

See my pictures at http://www.pbase.com/raysoares

 

[Joshlovesphotos]

Good point.

 

[Joshlovesphotos]

Very nice pictures you took.. my only critique would be the 1st photo the grass area/ground slopes a little, which to me throws off the horizon..I actually tilted my head to view it......I don't know if that could be fixed in PP..
The watch is good shot, the flowers like nice too!

Thanks for sharing & keep on Shooting

After triple checking these photos, ( the Model is fine ) but notice the tree slanting in the background, that maybe why I think the horizon is a little slanted,, perhaps another will join in and give his/her opinion.

Hi Tom,
I am amused by your uncertainty... LOL

I think the shots of the girl are straight enough. You can see that everything else except for the slanted tree is vertical. It is obviously a downhill patch of ground too that may give the wrong impression.

The 3rd shot of the girl is my fav for posture, expression and content. Too bad for the shadows on the girl's face. But, after some PP, I think it can make a lovely keeper.

I am impressed by the last flower shot that looks as if it is made of glass. If only it could have been a little brighter.

Well done to the OP and to the girl too for her graceful looks.


--
Best Regards
Sunshine

ps If you see someone without a smile on, give him one of yours...

Sunshine Boy,

You're right. The shots of my girlfriend were in a park in Savannah, GA, a bit of a hilly location. There was a canopy of trees above me, and I tried to place her in the open patches of light. Thanks for the complements! I hardly have to tell her how to pose, and she does it, it's our tradeoff for me doing everything else in life, the way she wants it. ha.

It seems that my photos are appearing shadowy.

 

[Bajerunner]

What nice, worthwhile and helpful advice to the OP...and the rest of us.

--
.....Just from an amateur......

 

[Joshlovesphotos]

A photo of your girlfriend will be so much more because of those lenses, a flower will stand out from the background, in short, it helps make art out of the ordinary.

...I didn't mean to say that your girlfriend is ordinary. What I meant is, besides taking pictures of your gf, even the ordinary, like a simple common flower can become interesting. Just clarifying, ok?

Haha. Well played Antoine. And no harm done. Perhaps I could do more to set up the moment. I like your idea, after all, I have the greens in the grass, maybe I should add a blue flower next time.

I'm not sure on the camera yet, except that it's going to be a Nikon, as I've always had and loved Nikon film and now my D5000. Does the viewfinder in the D700 appear brighter than the D7000 in your opinion? I like a bright viewfinder, I know, silly thing to decide on a camera about, but still. As for the lenses, I was thinking the exact same thing. I'll probably get an 85mm 1.4 and 70-200mm 2.8 with a micro 60mm. Based on what people are saying on here, it looks like I'll end up having to get an extra flash, although I dislike flash work, I'm not completely opposed to it.

I shouldn't really let others tell me what they think of my photography, I love it so much, I'd never stop anyway. You're right.

 

[Joshlovesphotos]

Would you mind giving me your honest opinion of these shots? They aren't my best, so I know if you are ok with them, that I am on the right track.

Why not hit us with your best?

You're right. I'm not being fair. Let's consider these my best until I post more.

I want to invest in a $4000 full frame and lens setup, but I recently saw some guys shots on flickr and thought to myself, my gosh, this guy kind of sucks, and he probably hasn't had anyone to really tell him he sucks after 15k photos on his flickr account. And well, I just don't want to be that guy.

Unless you are trying to sell images it really does not matter what anyone thinks but you. If you are wondering how your images stand up to others I suggest you join some challenges. There is one right now in this forum, there are many hosted by this site and I have done this one for many years at http://www.fujimugs.com (you could enter in the "open") They are all fun and you learn a lot about your images.

--
JB
I am not a photographer, I’m just a guy that takes pictures.
http://buckshotsimageblog.blogspot.com/

I do have my first wedding in February that I was pre-paid $200 for. But besides that, I just want to take good photos. I'm so passionate about it, I just don't want to do the scene or the story that God or mother nature tells, an injustice.

PS - The lighthouse shot is awesome on your website/blog. First thing I thought of was, man, I wonder how good the lobster is where those photos were taken. ;-)

 

[winhto]

My favorite shot is the blue flower, I never liked straight down on a flower unless there is a beautiful creature on it such as a colorful bee.

That said, about your girl, unless you want to show what's around it, I suggest you blur out the background and focus just on the girl. And as one person said earlier, using diffuse flash will soften her face as well.

Thanks for sharing

 

[denverco]

Your shots are great, you have a great eye. My suggestion is really what others are saying... if it is your passion, reward it with a new camera and lens. The reality is take more photos to improve and enter a buch of open contests. This will likely make you take photos you are not comfortable taking . . . exactly the point.

To start, reward yourself with a new lens. I would suggest the 1.8 50. My sister in law has the kit lens you have and "borrowed" my 50 (85 on her camera). It opened up a whole new world to her with a $200 ish dollar piece of glass.

Keep shooting and please share with us what you can do with the niffty 50.