[pixelpixel]

I have just been looking over my holiday images and have been finding that many of them would have been far better to the eye if I had removed various objects from the front of the images. I was also out this morning and did some images and after having another look at them I have just spotted that once again I have various bits that to me don't work and to clone them out would be rebuilding the image and I would not have the time to do so many.

So either am I just getting to a stage that I am learning more and just being a little bit mean on myself? Or have I lost my composition ability?

Has anyone got any tips? I don’t have any examples, as I tend to not post them? But when I get home I will. Until then does anyone have any advice for me, as I seem to be kicking myself for not getting some images that I have now noticed.

[allymac123]

I think we learn most from our mistakes tbh. I'm beggining to get to a stage where I don't get my camera out unless I have a perfect photo op - which isn't too great and something I'm trying to resolve.

How much time do you spend composing your picture when you have found a suitable spot? I'd say for me it can be a few minutes. Firstly finding the right hight position with just my camera, then setting up my tripod to the suitable position, then fine adjustments of where my camera is pointing and setting the spirit level correct. Then it's picking an aperture and focusing, usually a test shot and then applying filter if need be and/or waiting for the sun to poke out etc.

Of course no matter how carefully you compose there is always times when you get back and wish you'd done something different. Note these mentally and remember not to do so again.

Shooting with a tripod should slow you down enough and may be all you need to fine tune your compositions. Show us some example's though as they may be fine and you might be worrying about nothing.

Remember though that you can have the best exposed and composed picture in the world but if it doesn't have the subject matter or the right timing then the technicalities don't mean a thing.

[pixelpixel]

Originally Posted by allymac123

Remember though that you can have the best exposed and composed picture in the world but if it doesn't have the subject matter or the right timing then the technicalities don't mean a thing.

True so true.

I have a few from this morning that I will post later today. These have a railing running up the side of them on the left hand side and on the right is some nice early morning sun shine.

I have started to use the grid lines that my camera allows me to switch on. These help me work out thirds a little quicker and better. My issue is that a while ago I would notice others that would climb a wall or doing something else and think I would never do that for an image. But now I am thinking yes what a good picture.

I went to a triathlon while on holiday and this was the first time ever that I managed to get a bit close to the action. One major issue is that some of my pictures are wide and that takes in everything, I think that due to the fact I was trying to learn 'burst mode' made me not think about how my images looked. I was just push and hold

So in a way like you said we learn most from our mistakes.

[jont]

Glad you are as fallable as the rest of us pixel !!

Assuming they aren't grab shots I try and take two looks through the viewfinder - one for composition and after looking away another just slowly going specifically around the edges of the frame for intruding items/etc ... then decide if i can move it - do it, if I can't can I recompose, if neither then make a note to retouch when I get home ...

If you end up with multiples of people in a shot there is a nice auto remove feature in CS3 that will auto mask and remove elements from a stack of images as long as there is all of the subject/background visible across the group ...

Jon

[pixelpixel]

Originally Posted by jont

If you end up with multiples of people in a shot there is a nice auto remove feature in CS3 that will auto mask and remove elements from a stack of images as long as there is all of the subject/background visible across the group ...

Jon

Thats handy !

I think its not that, its more me. I will see something and go oh that looks good. Click, image captured. I then get home and go....oh look at that object in the picture that would look even better. But like many times you only get one go at it.

I don't want the best image in the world all I want is an image that I am happy with.

[Tobers]

These days, I look at the foreground and background first before I work out how I'll take a picture of the subject. It's second nature now but it took months before it became automatic.

Looking around a subject for different angles is also great fun and can reveal some very interesting pics.

Still take useless pics far too often though!

[pixelpixel]

This is the image

Should I just have stepped over the railing and removed it.