[GALLERY] ThePlague's Photography

[ThePlague]

Yeah...guess taking pictures is a new trend. Anyhow this is going to be my update thread for all of the pictures I take. So far i'm getting some beautiful shots because i'm in New York visiting, and this place is green to the extreme. Especially coming from a place that's nothing but desert and bushes (Arizona).

My camera is a Canon Powershot S3 IS, completely stock with no additions to it.

Here we go:

http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_04591.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_04701.JPG
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http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0560.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0565.JPG
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http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0590.JPG

New:
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0757.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0758.JPG
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http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0709.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0710.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0711.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0712.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0714.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0717.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0718.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0723.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0725.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0730.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0732.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0733.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0736.JPG
http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0737.JPG

These are my select best i've taken, and this will be updated whenever I see it needed.

Also, if you have any crit, i'll be glad to hear it. Because this is a new thing for me, and i'd like to learn how to get better.

[Corndogman]

Really vibrant and colorful, but the subjects really aren't that interesting. Remember, a picture of something cool, doesn't make a cool picture, so work on composition. Otherwise not bad, some nice ones there.

[ThePlague]

Thanks, i'll take that into consideration. Tomorrow i'm going to a mansion, supposed to be haunted, and it has a huge garden, among other things. So hopefully i'll get some good shots with that.

[SnaFuBAR]

Have Reaper explain the rule of thirds, weights, perspective and entrance/exit. Your work should look much nicer in format.

[Reaper Man]

Really vibrant and colorful, but the subjects really aren't that interesting. Remember, a picture of something cool, doesn't make a cool picture, so work on composition. Otherwise not bad, some nice ones there.
Took the words right out of my mouth.

Have Reaper explain the rule of thirds, weights, perspective and entrance/exit. Your work should look much nicer in format.
Well, to make your shots more successful, you firstly need a subject. If you insist on presenting a bush of leaves, you still need something somewhere to draw your eye to it.

When one considers this, they usually place their subject dead-center. While this may work, it usually results in a bland shot.

When composing a shot, think of it as being cut into thirds. While this may seem weird at first, it soon becomes automatic.

http://photoinf.com/Golden_Mean/Michael_Fodor/Photo_School_-_Rule_of_Thirds/ruleofthirds.jpg

Try avoiding the center of the grid when composing shots. I'm not saying never use it, it does work. The "rules" of photography are just guidelines. Place the subject elsewhere. Cross the lines, don't think of them as discrete cells. Use the rule of thirds loosely. It may help if you enable the grid display on your camera. Personally I find it distracting and only use it for landscapes and architecture, when level lines might be required.

Speaking of guidelines, lines are another thing you should consider. Lines help lead the viewer's eye (usually subconsciously) around the shot. Lines can be anything like a road, the stalk of a plant. They usually work best when cutting across the frame. A great type of line to consider when shooting things with great perspective (landscapes etc) is the S curve. Literally, a line shaped like an S, think, the contour of a hill or a winding road, for example.

http://www.trainnet.org/Libraries/Lib016/SCURVE.GIF

This makes it interesting because it leads the eye in multiple, but natural directions.

I think that your photo of the lamp is the most successful shot. It's got it all. While the lamp is dead center, you have lines just off the center of the image. This is weird, yet it captures your attention and leads you back to the light, confirming it as the subject of the photo, and giving an otherwise uninteresting background something visually interesting.

As for what Snaf said about entrances and exits, well, that's basically what you can imply with lines. Additionally, if you're shooting a moving subject, give it space to "move" i.e. some space in front of it.

Beyond all this technical/theoretical stuff. I recommend you shoot from a more interesting angle. We all see plants top-down, every day. Try lying on the ground, shoot upwards, shoot at the level of the plant.

Consider lighting before you shoot. While the plant may be interesting, the light is almost flat, there's almost no contrast between light and dark. Your lamp photo on the other hand has really interesting light.

Eh, that's all I can think of right now, I'm tired and distracted.

Anyway, keep shooting, learn what works and what doesn't. Alot of this stuff I'm saying went in one ear and out the other when I first started, it only was when I started figuring out these things for myself that I went back to the books. You should make a habit of analyzing your photos - which ones work, which ones don't and why? Before simply uploading a bunch of photos that you think are cool.

"Coolness" means absolutely nothing in the world of art. It's the substance of a photo that makes it interesting, not the fancy colors and extreme editing that I see many people, thankfully not you, do - all because it's "cool"

You've got potential, keep it up.

[ICEE]

^ You live for this don't you?

Ontopic: that place is really green and beautiful. Looks nice and cool too. Fuck california. I think your best are the ones with vivid contrast between greens and reds. Thats just my opinion though. Doesn't mean shit in the art world i suppose.

[Reaper Man]

^ You live for this don't you?
Yes, yes I do ;)

[ThePlague]

Took the words right out of my mouth.

Well, to make your shots more successful, you firstly need a subject. If you insist on presenting a bush of leaves, you still need something somewhere to draw your eye to it.

When one considers this, they usually place their subject dead-center. While this may work, it usually results in a bland shot.

When composing a shot, think of it as being cut into thirds. While this may seem weird at first, it soon becomes automatic.

http://photoinf.com/Golden_Mean/Michael_Fodor/Photo_School_-_Rule_of_Thirds/ruleofthirds.jpg

Try avoiding the center of the grid when composing shots. I'm not saying never use it, it does work. The "rules" of photography are just guidelines. Place the subject elsewhere. Cross the lines, don't think of them as discrete cells. Use the rule of thirds loosely. It may help if you enable the grid display on your camera. Personally I find it distracting and only use it for landscapes and architecture, when level lines might be required.

Funny thing about grids, my camera has grids built into it. So whenever you look through the viewfinder you can see a grid. I'll use it now. (I didn't know what it was used for)



Speaking of guidelines, lines are another thing you should consider. Lines help lead the viewer's eye (usually subconsciously) around the shot. Lines can be anything like a road, the stalk of a plant. They usually work best when cutting across the frame. A great type of line to consider when shooting things with great perspective (landscapes etc) is the S curve. Literally, a line shaped like an S, think, the contour of a hill or a winding road, for example.

http://www.trainnet.org/Libraries/Lib016/SCURVE.GIF

This makes it interesting because it leads the eye in multiple, but natural directions.
Alright, that's a really good thing to learn.



I think that your photo of the lamp is the most successful shot. It's got it all. While the lamp is dead center, you have lines just off the center of the image. This is weird, yet it captures your attention and leads you back to the light, confirming it as the subject of the photo, and giving an otherwise uninteresting background something visually interesting.

I was also thinking that (sort of) ,but for another reason of being the best. I thought it was one of the best because of the lighting, it reminded me of a 3ds max render.



As for what Snaf said about entrances and exits, well, that's basically what you can imply with lines. Additionally, if you're shooting a moving subject, give it space to "move" i.e. some space in front of it.
Yeah. I knew about the movement stuff because I have friends that take pictures of karts, which move past you before you can blink.



Beyond all this technical/theoretical stuff. I recommend you shoot from a more interesting angle. We all see plants top-down, every day. Try lying on the ground, shoot upwards, shoot at the level of the plant.
Now that you mention that, I did take a few pictures with different angles. Like the wild strawberries, I was laying down to get that one. A few others I took while kneeling or on my knees. I'll try some not-foreward pics though.



Consider lighting before you shoot. While the plant may be interesting, the light is almost flat, there's almost no contrast between light and dark. Your lamp photo on the other hand has really interesting light.
I learned about the lighting thing today actually, i'll keep it fresh in my mind for tomorrow's pictures.



You should make a habit of analyzing your photos - which ones work, which ones don't and why? Before simply uploading a bunch of photos that you think are cool.
I have been looking at my pictures, but like you said I should look at them more. These photos I picked were the best of the 200 or more I took, so I certainly didn't upload them all :p



"Coolness" means absolutely nothing in the world of art. It's the substance of a photo that makes it interesting, not the fancy colors and extreme editing that I see many people, thankfully not you, do - all because it's "cool"
It's a good thing I didn't edit these. I was going to but natural pictures seem to be better. (I can't edit with photoshop worth a crap)

I do think editing photos is cool when I do it, but with photos of nature or anything like that, there shouldn't be a need to edit it.



You've got potential, keep it up.
Thank you.

I appreciate all of the words of wisdom you gave me, and i'll read over this a few more times to learn everything from it. Thanks for taking the time and making that post for me, I really appreciate it. I hope to get good at this, and all criticism is useful.

[Reaper Man]

I'm glad you appreciate my long post, I always worry that I'll come across as some cocky know-it-all lol.

As for photo editing, it's always been a touchy subject for photographers, but hell, photos have been edited since the age of film, so it's not always a bad thing. It's really about the extent you do it. Personally I try to avoid per-pixel editing. The most I'll usually do is exposure compensation, color correction, black and white conversion and sharpening.

It's worth it to learn how to use curves in Photoshop, it could give your photos an extra pop, if you think it may need one.. and there's no harm in playing around with your photos.

One last thing to keep in mind, when it comes to plant photography, it's usually better to isolate your subject, with low depth of field or otherwise. Your wild strawberries are hidden behind a bush and there's a distracting, relatively in-focus background. Try using a larger aperture and getting closer next time.

[ThePlague]

I'm glad you appreciate my long post, I always worry that I'll come across as some cocky know-it-all lol.
As long as the long post has important information, i'm glad to read it.



As for photo editing, it's always been a touchy subject for photographers, but hell, photos have been edited since the age of film, so it's not always a bad thing. It's really about the extent you do it. Personally I try to avoid per-pixel editing. The most I'll usually do is exposure compensation, color correction, black and white conversion and sharpening.
I like editing photos, but I don't know enough about photoshop to create something worth looking at. I know the basics, but nothing really above that.



It's worth it to learn how to use curves in Photoshop, it could give your photos an extra pop, if you think it may need one.. and there's no harm in playing around with your photos.
I don't exactly know what you mean by curves. Do you mean parts of photoshop? Or actual curves like a curve in a road? Like I said above, I only know the basics of photoshop, so editing it to make it better isn't really something I can do too well.



One last thing to keep in mind, when it comes to plant photography, it's usually better to isolate your subject, with low depth of field or otherwise. Your wild strawberries are hidden behind a bush and there's a distracting, relatively in-focus background. Try using a larger aperture and getting closer next time.
I thought about moving the bush away, but it wasn't something I saw at that time to be important. I'll bear that in mind next time.

[Reaper Man]

I don't exactly know what you mean by curves. Do you mean parts of photoshop? Or actual curves like a curve in a road? Like I said above, I only know the basics of photoshop, so editing it to make it better isn't really something I can do too well.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/photoshop-curves.htm

[ThePlague]

Wow, that does pretty amazing stuff. I just glanced through it, and it looks very useful. I'll read it tomorrow, thanks for showing me that.

[Reaper Man]

No prob. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

[Timo]

Pretty much what reaper man said, that's some great crit right there.

Using the rule of thirds will eventually become second nature. Nature shots are really benefit by taking a somewhat normal subject, and having it off centre (this (http://fc01.deviantart.com/fs24/f/2008/008/7/4/Dreamy_by_Timo12.jpg) or this (http://fc03.deviantart.com/fs17/f/2007/212/1/9/Random_flower_by_Timo12.jpg)). A shallow depth of field really accentuates the subject of a photo (prev. example's DOF is too shallow imo). Most of your shots have a wide depth of field - finding what you saw as the point of interest in the photo isn't easy, it should be immediate. Using thirds and using a shallower DOF is the first step to better photos (in my opinion).


Learning basic skillls in photoshop of an equivalent program (I use lightroom), will help you to enhance your photos - adding depth and contrast, for example: this (http://timo.modacity.net/pix/desktop/_MG_5600_original.jpg) to this (http://timo.modacity.net/pix/desktop/_MG_5600.jpg). I only use it sparingly, though. You sholdn't rely on post-processing to get a good result.


Make sure you're enjoying taking photos too - it's what keeps me going.

[ThePlague]

Alright, thanks for the information Timo.

[Reaper Man]

Make sure you're enjoying taking photos too - it's what keeps me going.
Definitely this! Photography should never be a purely technical, expressionless thing.

Don't over think the technicalities of photography, that should come as a second priority ater fcapturing the world and expressing yourself.

[ThePlague]

Yeah, I enjoy taking photos. It's something great to enjoy. Only bad thing is when I go back to Arizona, I don't really know where to take pictures, because everything is desert.

[Reaper Man]

Yeah, I enjoy taking photos. It's something great to enjoy. Only bad thing is when I go back to Arizona, I don't really know where to take pictures, because everything is desert.
You're kidding me, seriously. The desert is an awesome place for landscape photos! Find a high vantage point and get there before sunrise/sunset for some epic shots (don't forget a tripod).

Also, long exposures of the night sky against the desert. Get some star trails dude.

Even though it may be strange to read a tourist book about a place you know, you may wanna check out what Lonley Planet has to say about Arizona, I'm sure there's plenty of photo opportunities mentioned.

[ThePlague]

The only good pictures I heard you can take are with cactus' and sunset/sunrise. I will figure out some things, and what you said sounds pretty good. I just have to find the tripod we have (it's supposedly somewhere in our closet).

[Reaper Man]

Awesome, I look forward to seeing what you can find in Arizona!

[Joshflighter]

This thread is full of win. I learned so much. Thanks Reaper!

[Reaper Man]

Haha, no prob. I wonder, should I make a photo 101 thread? Or would that just be pretentious of me?

[Roostervier]

I don't see why you shouldn't, do it! It'd probably be really helpful.

[Joshflighter]

I'm with flyinrooster. :)

[ThePlague]

I just got back from a long day of taking pictures and hanging out, i'll upload them sooner or later today, and you'll know when they're up there.

I took pictures of the State park, a waterfall, and some other pretty awesome things.

[ThePlague]

Updated first post, look under New.

[Reaper Man]

http://johnflasser.scifi-frontier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/IMG_0733.JPG
I really like this one, it's well composed, having a foreground, middleground and background (most people only shoot the middleground and background) and it's not composed straight. It seems a little blurred though, since you shot it at 1/15th. Try using a tripod next time, and then taking a longer exposure - you'll get silky smooth water as a result.

I see that you're applying the things I suggested, good stuff! Keep it up!

@flyinrooster/fear1337 alright then. I just needa figure out what to write, otherwise I may end up typing out a book, lol.

[ThePlague]

Thing is, I don't have a tripod here. Once I get one though i'll for sure use it.

[Reaper Man]

Good to hear. A tripod is always a worthwhile investment. You may also want to get a cable release, because that'll further lessen camera shake when shooting on a tripod. Otherwise, just use the self timer. I say this because, even the act of pressing the shutter release may cause camera shake.

[ThePlague]

I made a video of my photography so far, and in the end I have a clip of the waterfall I was at, it's beautiful.
IdBU_cGpCs4

[ThePlague]

Bumpdate. I have tons of photos that i'll throw up sometime, but for now here's some pictures of my animals.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3744531242_071160e07b_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3468/3744531576_8699c05a19_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3500/3744531940_5fb96d954e_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2528/3743736917_0f27fec75a_b.jpg

Pretty much me messing with my black and white filter on the camera.

[Reaper Man]

Not bad, nice and contrasty. If only they'd actually look at the camera, lol.

[Corndogman]

I like the dog, the white patches on the fur give it good contrast with the B&W.

[ThePlague]

Not bad, nice and contrasty. If only they'd actually look at the camera, lol.
My animals are spazzy...

[ThePlague]

Double postin cause i'm hawt...also have some more pics:

Felt like taking some widescreen pictures. These are all from my kart track that I go to.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2436/3751819090_511cb72145_b.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3457/3751030247_717cec78c4_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2674/3751029605_e2bb9e43c2_b.jpg

My camera sucks at night shots...

[Reaper Man]

See if your camera has a second-curtain sync option for the flash, you'll get brighter backgrounds. Of course, you shouldn't really be using the flash, unless you're intentionally going for the flash look, a tripod is a must for night shots.

[ThePlague]

See if your camera has a second-curtain sync option for the flash, you'll get brighter backgrounds. Of course, you shouldn't really be using the flash, unless you're intentionally going for the flash look, a tripod is a must for night shots.
I didn't use the flash, didn't want it to mess up shadows.

And I just got a tripod the other day, just forgot to bring it :(

[killer9856]

The dog photo scared me:p

I love the 2 cats sitting, looking at each other.

[ThePlague]

They get pissed off at eachother a lot, because they're both girls.

[ThePlague]

Holy bumpdate! Haven't updated this shitskie in ages. Taken 1000's of photos, been too lazy to post them up.

Here are some I took today:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2611/4172471231_680a4cbed4_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2511/4172481205_b006715cc4_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4172473905_c7d56a097f_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2519/4173233834_02115b0ff3_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4173238128_6bed79ba37_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/4173236192_2af9bd9b34_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2775/4173240410_25fa76d199_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/4173244634_303f52589b_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2692/4173249690_2a384c617e_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/4172497537_836617a233_b.jpg

Yeah, they're all of the same person, I know. He's my neighbor and best friend, and he wanted some "myspace pics". So I decided to take it to another level (away from my house) and get in some much needed recovery with my camera (haven't used it in awhile). I also learned how to boss bitches around and do poses. It was a learning experience, and a very fun one at that.

Much more pics up on muh Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/39754916@N02/sets/72157622845879649/) if you want to check out the rest, including some pics he took of me (and muh new haircut!)

Maybe if I ever get a better Flickr, or somewhere else to upload the shit ton of pictures i've taken since I last updated this, i'll post in here more.

Crit if you wantz

[Reaper Man]

Alot of your composition is very central and lacks a foreground. You simply have a middleground and background. Also try new angles, low and high, climb up on stuff or lie on the ground. Also, don't shoot during midday, makes your model squint and you get boring shadows. Try late afternoon when the shadows are long and the light is golden :-3