I decided to go through some photos from a couple of years ago. Even good photogs make errors. This may help some people to learn from the mistakes that I learned from.
Still Country at heart. You can take the bunny out of the country . . . but you can't take the country out of the bunny! Here I learned about proper exposure.
I called this next one Lop Love. Same exposure issues. But for specific reasons, the whites should never be "blown out" (no details at all)!
A THIRD try shows the same basic error! "Still There"?
Here I tried to "soften" the image with aperture settings. The idea was to show scale. Too soft!
More exposure issues! ARRRRGH!
Here, as with all animals . . . movement doesn't help the composition! There's SOME help with the focus as animal photography NEEDS a super good focus on the eye.
Here I tried a far to fancy frame on a bird. I should have concentrated on the reflections.
Baby Parrotlets. NEVER disregard your background!
See that copyright down on the bottom right? NEVER make it compete with the photo!
Again with the BG issues! This Gouldian is done well but the BG makes a person ill. The perch framing works quite well!
Here I replaced the BG which was horrid with jasmine from my yard. The lack of proper feathing gives the Hummer a "halo" that ruins the shot for sales.
Improper exposure, bad BG. This was with a 1.3 MP point & click.
Loverbirds waiting for handfeeding. A point & click shot where the BG was NEVER considered!
Here's a great Lost Opportunity. Notice how this snowy white egret SAYS Heron?? Color ME red. NEVER name an animal unless 100% certain . . . and don't put it ON the image. The crop is FAR too close to that beak too. GAK! What I wouldn't give . . .
Do not EVER distract a great shot . . . or a poor one . . . like I did here. It's NOT an F-ing Heron! And TALK about distracting from the image???
Nice, but poorly cropped in the camera. Can't be saved! A tarp had been placed over the side so these Society finches would be protected from the breeze. Summer sunset provided the BG colors.
Red-eared slider (in water) . . . the framing distracts from the natural BG. What WAS I thinking??
Repeat with me now class: "The Background is NOT an afterthought"! My pet tarantula, Plato.
Our corgis, Darby and Kaylee. Kaylee soaks up a sunbeam "Life is Good" but the exposure does not balance. You need contradt, light AND dark! Still . . . I loves me my Kaylee! Get at eye level with your pets people!
Perfect!! A summer shot at the beach! Umm . . . does Darby HAVE a butt?
A two and a half foot Savannah Monitor. Ok. Half of one!
You can get good shots. Don't settle. Get GREAT shots.
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Comments: 80
*Sigh*
Now I'm depressed. A fine set of rejects.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
No I wouldn't. I never claimed it would be easy. Not everyone wants to put in the needed time. :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
I don't even know how to control the exposure. Maybe my camera doesn't do that.
I don't know how digital behaves.
Sure, some people on Gather get all pissy and comment: "You ruined your work with the watermark."
Ruined, I guess, because he couldn't steal it from me.
Now, if you merely wish to identify your work like the people on Gather who call their photographs So-and-so's creations, I'd not put that on the image at all, but do like they do with fine art lithographs from painter's work, a white box the length of the bottom with title of the piece, name of the photograph and maybe even a short line about the work.
Again, to protect the work on Gather, I'd ruin it with a watermark. Gather Friends are going to praise it anyway.
Love your Corgies! My sister has a two year old female and she is adorable.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
When I got to this point, I realized that I was right -- you aren't even speaking English! Or, I've had a stroke...
You "bad" pictures look WAY better than my "great" pictures. Know why?! I have depth perception issues and I'm about as visually artistic as a skillet.
All cameras do it. Some, though, are built in and automatic so can't be manually selected. :)
"I don't know how digital behaves. "
Similar. However, I shoot in RAW and that allows + or - 2 full F/stops exposure compensation from which you shoot intially. Good points on anti-theft watermarks . . . it wasn't that to which I was referring. THAT I understand.
Thanks Esther & Roy!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
I agree with Pantsy. Were you even speaking English? I think not.
You're too kind. AND . . . at least YOU can spell "feathering" correctly! :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
I still don't know what the hell you're talking about... it's me, though.
You're perfectly right about not being willing to invest the time involved. I sing. I write fiction. I work full time. I have three kids. I make jewelry. Another serious hobby is more than I can afford time-wise. But I admire your work and the work of others who have taken the time to hone their skills.
I'm still working on it. Why not take a break from "waiting" and brush up on sentence construction? :P
"I still don't know what the hell you're talking about... it's me, though. "
No Problem. I can use the Universal PantsTranslatorâ„¢ for you.
Input: [ entire article ]
Output: [ These pictures could be better ]
Problem solved! :P
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
See?! Once again -- you say all of that, and my brain translates it into, "Blah Blah Blah de blah de yadda. Blah Blah width blah blah hummer..."
My kingdom for a functional synapse joint!
I think you mean "Synaptic". :P
[*rustles around for the Universal PantsTranslatorâ„¢ for you.*]
Input: [ bolded feathering quote ]
Output: [ Proper feathering means "Make pretty pictures." ]
Problem solved again! :P
Like I even noticed there IS a background while trying to comprehend the extent of mother parrot love in nurturing such hideous things.
I think you mean: "Disturbed minds want to know. "
Answer . . . Clickity Link!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Pssst. Lainie, Darling's shortcut:
http://upsetwaitress.com/2008/03/23/succulant-seared-easter-bunny-chops/
Ma parrot was fired. These babes were hand-fed by Marny and I. :)
Blah blah de blah. Doyle blah blah wears blah blah de blah pasties blah blah blah yadda.
Input: [ "Blah blah de blah. Doyle blah blah wears blah blah de blah pasties blah blah blah yadda." ]
Output: [ yadda. blah blah blah pasties blah de blah blah wears blah blah Doyle .blah de blah Blah ]
(*Shrugs* Kicks Universal PantsTranslatorâ„¢)
Somehow, I found this last part the most disturbing....the carrots seemed like "overkill", if you know what I mean.
"These babes were hand-fed by Marny and I. "
I am now trying to decide between having newfound respect for your parenting skills and wondering about your overall sanity and mental stability.
Welcome to my world!
Won't you come on in?
Won't you come on in? "
For some odd reason, when I read that I was thrown back into the "It's a Small World" ride at DisneyWorld...and...can't....get...the...song...out...OF...MYYYY...HEEEAAAADDDDD!
So is my therapist. Oh, she SAYS I'm fine but I think she only says it so I'll un-handcuff her from the water pipe in my basement. I don't think she really believes it yet. :P
Won't you come on in? "
Totally different song than "It's A Small World After ALLLL!"
The former doesn't make me want to clean my ears with a pencil and a hammer.
Ooops! Total ooops! I was singing Jim Reeves -- NOT Disney. NEVER Disney.
(of course, I would have to make up the learned jargon but that's entirely beside the point)
"Welcome to my world!
Won't you come on in? "
Sheryl, thanks for the memory. I broke out a sweat, shook, tears came to my eyes, and my heart did a somersault when I saw those words. The absolute most exciting moment in my life (so far) was when Engelbert ran on stage, opened his arms, and sang those words to me. (I know the other thousands of people in the room also thought he was singing to them but they were wrong.) I honestly thought I might die from the excitement.
Made up Jargon can often be MORE fun! :)
Thanks Sandy! Always kind! :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Heh heh heh . . . Sandy said "Engelbert". :P
Doyle ( aka The MAN of the 6 Sixes ) C., Aug 21, 2008, 12:08pm EDT "
I know! Sandy, say it ain't so!
Sheryl said HUMPERDINK ! ! ! !
BWA HAHAHAHAHAhahahaaaa!
No kidding! Clue: Fried rice and cheese on a foot stool.
Thanks for the lessons... I've scrolled up and down so much just to keep looking! Also, I was looking for the Sandy clue.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
I was looking for HOW that was considered any more of a clue then mine was! :P
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
I thought it looked like a dinky little hump. Sorry. But, then, I think feet look like knees, so what do I know.
Yeehaw!
Probably shouldn't surprise me I guess. :P
Thank you too Sarah!! :)
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Now, let's talk about those bird shots you just subjected me to...starting with those creepy naked babies in your hand....
Ahhhh, Ina . . . you really DO love me if you got past the bird shots! I have the photos ONLY to be able to show you that I'm keeping them here . . . FAR away from you!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
I did learn a thing or two from that.
I can't believe it was only 2 years ago!
Are you self taught or did you learn from kind souls like yourself on the internet?
Oh - it was probably the photo site, right?
- Bobbi (who is still learning every day)
Bobbi, I started learning darkroom technicues and developing in the mid 70s (when everything was actual film). I resisted the switch to digital until 2000. And yes, I have learned a LOT from other photographers on several different photo sites.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
(who is also still learning every day).
My mom is still resisting digital. Her camera was a $500 one in the 70s or 80s.
If you think some of your pictures aren't that great you should see mine...they would make a professional cringe.
Thanks Alex and Marge!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~