I am always trying to get this section of the forum a bit more interactive so I would like for everyone to take a second and respond to the poll...and if you would give a comment as to why you voted that way it would be nice as well. The Poll is in regards to receiving Feedback from others on your Photography work. No right or wrong answers, I am just not seeing many posts where people are seeking feedback and tips and I would like to know if it is more because people do not want feedback or is it more that they want it but not sure how to ask.

As for myself: I very much value feedback and find it critical for my personal and professional growth. (assuming the person knows what there are talking about)...but even when they don't I can still appreciate a different perspective.

 

the only truly stupid question is the one unasked. . . . 🤔

 

I appreciate feedback. It is up to me what I do with it so welcome all.

 

Anyone else?

 

Critiques are double edged swords, you ask for it and it might not be what your expect. However, not taking it personal, and you may not agree with what is stated, but understand the spirit it was given. I have always found my inspiration for photography comes from deep inside my soul. Sure I take MANY snapshots, but when I get serious, my work is may soul. I graduation from New England School of Photography, now part of Northeastern University, back in 1972, and have never put a camera down since. I worked some great jobs, and work has been recognized by Kodak , Nikon, and several museums and published. It has been rewarding, frustration, expensive but most of all always challenging. So critiquing is good and bad, all a matter how it is presented and how it is taken. DOUBLE EDGED SWORD. You can never grow without understanding what needs to be improved; improvement only comes from other sources, not your own perspective. Working as a profession a while back, learned this profession you have to be ticked skinned, as some of the most frustrating times has been with bridge and grooms...Wedding Photography pushes you to the extreme. So my favorite is freelancing, doing what I want to shoot, and not depending upon the pay to survive. Hope this helps with some interaction....CHEERS..

Cheers.

 

Since I'm a amateur and like this hobby I'll take any advise I can get to learn and get better.

 

I’m still learning manual mode and different settings so I could definitely use the feedback from anyone. Specifically if those with the knowledge can tell me what to try with my camera to make a correction or enhance the images I post. For example, I was photographing a couple Ferrari race cars while at the Indy golf course. When I took the photos with a fast shutter speed, they came out under exposed. I had to make the adjustments in Lightroom instead of in the fly. I want to learn more about making those on the fly adjustments or tips and tricks for taking those types of photos. Hopefully that makes sense, but either way feedback is good because someone has a different eye for what you’re trying to portray and can get you there.

 

I have some suggestions, but before I say anything, when you are making the exposure (taking the shot) what are you using for you "Exposure Metering Mode" and are you looking at the in camera Meter?

 

Actually I think you need to start off by stating what equipment you're using, that might make all the difference in responses ... just a thought

 

I was using the in camera meter as well as making adjustments on the fly in the viewfinder. I was trying to be quick, part of the problem, because I was golfing and did not want to ruin pace of play.

Camera is a Sony A6000, 55-210 lens. I appreciate the feedback

 

if you have the time this might be of interest and help . . .

https://www.kenrockwell.com/sony/a6000.htm

 

I was referring to what Metering "Mode" you were shooting in? Meaning was it Full Screen, Partial, Spot Metering etc? Also if you put up a photo and let us take a look it might be more obvious on the reason why.

For example If you are in a Full Screen Metering Mode (aka: Evaluative or Matrix Metering) an you are for example photographing a white car but it is really bright behind (or to the sides) the camera meter will take into account and average the exposure for the entire scene. So in that example I gave you would have (2) problem which would make the care really under exposed. Issue #1) is a White Car is supposed to be White and the meter (even when not tricked) is going to try and make that car 18% Grey aka. Middle Grey as per the "normal" metering exposure. #2) issue is the brightness around the car will trick the meter into thing the entire scene is too bright and will bring down the exposure.

 

I'm always open to feedback in any form. I think I have a pretty good eye but I'm not wound up much in the technical end of things. Of course, in the "film" days, you had to be more cognizant of your settings but with digital I usually shoot on Auto and enhance afterwards if needed. In High School we did color and BW enlarging and I even won some awards so I know I'm capable but usually don't spend the time to delve into how I could use my Program mode to shoot better raw.

I do appreciate this part of the forum for sure, so thanks!!

 

I wanted to get several people to respond to check the temperature of the forum. Ironically everyone voted the same exact way...and that is that they like feedback on their photos.

So now the question is how to we make it more interactive where people are sharing information, asking for tips and giving feedback?

I raise that question because it still seems like people are hesitant to start the dialogue. Personally I have posted several times explaining in great detail some of my camera setting and light set ups yet it seems people were not interested in having any discussion (which is fine mind you) I don't consider myself a world class photographer or teacher, but was hoping for a little bit of conversation and/or even some debate. I have been a member of several Photography Feedback Groups/Organization and I actually really enjoy helping others grow....providing they actually want to learn and are open to feedback on their work. I have been doing this long enough to know Photographers get really sensitive and defensive about their work so I always proceed with caution until invited to give critique.

As I mentioned previously I am open to all feedback with two Caveats : #1) Be respectful (I work with a lot of younger females) #2) Be helpful (don't just say "I don't like it", tell me why)

 

I think a good start is to make threads like the understanding depth of field threads stickies. This way people can read and lean and ask questions on the subject.
Members should post pictures they've taken (in separate threads) and ask for feedback. Of course they'd have to post the setting used and what they were trying to accomplish so others can analyze the photo and make suggestions.

For instance I photograph both my sons sports. This was my son taking a face-off as a senior in high school (he's a rising Jr. that plays D1 lacrosse for Cleveland State now).
I used my zoom lens from the stands on a tripod. At that time I did not have my remote shutter controller so my finger was on the camera body shutter button.





I was in continuous shooting mode to capture the entire face-off action.
What could I've done to make this picture better as I want to become a better sports photographer. Also a lot of their games are either under the lights or in Cleveland States case in a bubble that is not very well lit. Under those conditions are there better settings to use?

 

Nitro, I think you've clearly identified the potential issues with critique and input. Some folks are more open than others to advice, and some advice givers are more diplomatic than others so it will certainly be bit of a balancing act. I like the idea of tutorial posts but that also faces issues of relevance based upon just how sophisticated your camera is! For budget and bulk purposes, I just have a Nikon Coolpix B700 super-zoom with the articulated view screen......not real complex but I also kind of like that as I don't venture much into all its capabilities.

I think one thing that EVERYONE can relate to is ideas around composition, cropping, and using enhancement programs for final results. Composition being at the top of the list.....oh....and lighting. These topics don't pertain to how much you spent on the camera.

Good luck,.....and thanks.....and love your work.
G

 

Thank you for inquiring. I always have to preference my critique into (2) separate types of comments. 1) Are you getting the absolute best you can given the EQUIPMENT you are using or 2) Could there be improvements if someone more experienced picked up your camera and lens.

So my honest feedback on that particular shot is mostly do to the lens and body you are using....meaning you are "pretty much" hitting the limits of the types of images you can create with that set up. Note...that is NOT a bad thing, but more of honest critique of your gear. f5.6 is a pretty slow lens for Sports Photography even in the daytime and would be basically unusable under low light sports at night to try and freeze action. I say pretty much only because there are always variables in the types of shots you are trying to achieve, speed of movement, types of field lighting etc... Now, that being said there are always exceptions to most "rules", one of those would be that under low light you are going to Max out the Aperture on a "slower" lens pretty quickly...though you could try doing panning shots. That said you need to be Parallel to the subject matter when panning as it does not work if the subject is moving towards or away from you. You can get away with some pretty slow Panning shots...if your technique is good and the subject is pretty predictable. One thing about Panning shots is that they are definitely going to look unique. Below is a shot I took for a magazine I work for. The exposure setting was 1/200th f7.1 at ISO 400 at 155mm ...Handheld Pan using a Canon 5DIV and a 70-200mm f 2.8L lens. 1/200th of a second is a slow shutter at something moving ~150mph at the time. Note: The exposure is so sensitive at that speed that the second bike looks blurry only because is was doing ~4 mph less in speed at that time.

That said in regards to you specific shot looking at the EXIF Data, the shutter is fast enough to freeze motion, the lens is being used wide open, the ISO is acceptable and doesn't appear to be a lot of grain, the metering mode looks good, the overall exposure is good, the timing of the shoot looks good....my honest feedback is really only (2) things and I'm not sure if the photos would be any "better" but may give you some variety is I see you shot it at 200mm, I think a tighter zoom may make a little stronger image an allow the viewer to really focus on the subject matter (getting them abit closer to the action) and along that same line perhaps try and Vignette in Post Production to further guide the viewer eyes into the main subject matter of the image.

 

I just learned a little bit more! My camera has been in spot metering mode. Other options are multi or center.

 

I think that maybe there's a difference in vocabulary that can make it a little more difficult. Theres definitely a difference between those who are either professionals or really good versus those who are hobbyists or beginning. Threads like the recent depth of field and that advice you have given me in this thread alone are bridging that gap. More importantly, this section of the forum has the chance to help a lot of people just because of the web traffic Corvette Forum gets and it seems that people enjoy taking photos of cars and more. Maybe we could have a sticky critique thread that gets reset/updated to new yearly or every 6 months. Threads like the random photo one seem to wreak havoc on the iOS devices when they get too large. Another idea is maybe a tip of the month or technique of the month sticky. Here we could focus on aperture or focus or shutter speeds to photograph in different styles. Within those threads we could upload a photo or two for critique or assistance to get better with it(almost like homework). I realize that this is relying more on those who know more or tend to do photography at a high or professional level but its an idea.

I will add that this section of the forum pushed me to ditch the auto mode and dive into manual mode. I do not think it is a failure by any means.

 

Yes Yes and Yes. This is exactly the kind of feedback from the pros that I want. I'm kind of glad you say one of my biggest limits is my equipment and that I'm pushing it to that limit. That makes me feel that I'm using what I have "correctly". I do have to say one thing about that, being an amateur I'd love to have a 2.8 fast zoom lens but I can't justify the price-tag of those expensive lens so unfortunately I'll probably never own one.

I didn't zoom in all the way because I wanted to get the wing players in a few of the shots along with the ref. I do many shots of him zoomed in all the way. I used a fast shutter speed to try and freeze the ball which I think I captured pretty well in that shot. I don't do a lot of post production on most of my shots but when I find a shot that would look good blown up and printed I'll do some editing that makes it look better to my untrained eye. I do shoot in RAW and .jpeg so if I happen to catch that 1:1 million shot I have the RAW image with all the information.

One day I'll find a nice used full frame body and hopefully a faster zoom lens but I also have to convince the wife too......lol.

Thanks for the feedback.