[trainmaster1989]

I have several shots taken while i was working at the fairplex grr during the fair. How do you like them? Can you give me any suggestions on how to improve them.

I'm using a basic Kodak easyshare camera. Some of the shots have the exposure compensation on (i rarely use flash).


1. http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii75/smckittr/000_3397.jpg
2. http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii75/smckittr/000_3401.jpg

3. http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii75/smckittr/000_3474.jpg

4. http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii75/smckittr/000_3450.jpg

5. http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii75/smckittr/000_3413.jpg

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Torby]

Sure! I'll ridicule critique your photos!

1 & 2: Train streaking by in the dark. These are nice night shots. You can see the camera switched to a really slow shutter to get an exposure. Good that you set it on something to reduce camera shake or the train's path would look like a siezmograph. Nice angle. You shot these at what would be eye height for a scale viewer.

3: The BNSF loco has a bad motion blur. It's easier to shoot still or very slow moving trains. I'll sometimes slow down or even stop for someone to take a picture. Lots of light helps as the camera can use a faster shutter. I think I'd crop this so the dark building frames the right side and there's less foreground.

However, this brings the blurred loco to the focus of attention. Maybe it would work better to focus on the buildings.

4. Nice night shot. All is in focus. The lighting is rather dramatic with the train fading into the darkness. Notice the composition of this image. Your eyes fall on the loco on the left and the firemen on the right. Think of drawing a tic-tac-toe board over the photo. You want to put the main features of the photo on the lines, or even better, where the lines intersect. That's what makes this photo work so well. The foreground is a little over exposed, so I think I'd cut it off. Train pictures tend to be very horizontal.

5. Out in the bright sunlight, you camera was able to get a good exposure, but couldn't figure out what to focus on because the scene is so deep. The caboose is right where you want it, but out of focus. Can't do a lot better with a point-n-shoot. With my old SLR film camera, I'd have used the highest number F stop I could and still have a reasonable shutter speed, and focused on the caboose and let the background go out of focus. The point-n-shoot digitals have a better time if there isn't so much distance between the foreground objects and background. It looks like the viewer might be standing on a platform or something, but usually I'd go for a lower camera position with respect to the caboose.

 

[trainmaster1989]

Thanks for the suggestions Torby. I'll definately keep them in mind when i'm taking my next shots. My AFI teacher always pointed out the tic tac toe concept. But i never really stopped to think that it would apply to photography. []Thanks

In regards to your comments about number 4. I have cropped the image at the top and the bottom. Was this similar to what you had in mind?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[Torby]

That's a great photo. When the photo contest is working, you should submit it

 

[jimtyp]

I like #4 and #5 the best. #5 I thought was real at first. i like the angle you shot it at, makes it look like 1:1 to me. Only think I didn't like was the Bachmann coupler on the caboose, if you cut that out I think it's a contest winner. The people further on down the line I didn't notice until looking at it longer.

 

[trainmaster1989]

Thanks for the comments guys. I'm definately going to use #4 for the contest next month.

Scott

 

[blackburn49]

Posted By trainmaster1989 on 02/20/2008 1:43 PM
Thanks for the comments guys. I'm definately going to use #4 for the contest next month.

Scott
By all means use it. That is a compelling shot you have there.  Go for it ! 

 

[markperr]

My only suggestion (not really a criticism) would be if you could get the 1:1 humans out of the shot, it would give less perception of it being a model.  I know this is heard to do in a public setting but it's something to consider when you have creative control such as in your own yard or the yard of a colleague.

Mark

 

[trainmaster1989]

Mark, blackburn,


Thanks 

I'll definately work on the 1:1 people thing too. Luckily i can take shots from places they can't get to.