Complete beginner looking for honest advice!

[Ginn]

Have spent the last few months experimenting and wanted honest opinions on these, how to improve etc! Both taken with a D200 using a Nikon 18-70mm lens:

Running water in a bathroom sink - completely random shot that (for me) came out better than I expected

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/simple_serendipity/Miscillaneous/runningwater0001.jpg

And this one - experimenting with colour...
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/simple_serendipity/Miscillaneous/4.jpg

Thanks

Gin

[hypnotic]

Best advice I can give is not to post the same thread twice :D

Sorry .... Three times!

[Dalton]

Or three times!

LOL

:lol:

[Ginn]

Im soo sorry, completely new to this!! :o

[Ewan]

It's easily done. I'm sure a mod will come and sort it out soon.

I think the first one is great. Can't think of any way to improve that one, other than try experimenting with different light-sources.

The second is very bright and colourful. Those leaves creeping into the left hand side of the frame are distracting though - you should clone or crop them out.

[Ginn]

Thankyou

[Dalton]

No worries! Site was running slow - guess is easy mistake to make.

As for pictures...

#1 - Like the idea, but is too obviously a sink IMO.

#2 - Fantastic colours - are they real? - Better Shot IMO.

:)

[CT]

I deleted the two duplicate threads. :)

No1 is technically fine, but electronic flash will always freeze water anyway so it's not very demanding. Try adjusting the tap to a single drip and attempt to catch it in free fall or at the moment it enters a glass of water. Try to get level with the action rather than looking down on it.

No2 I'm not sure what's going on there - the colours seem unreal unless there were coloured lights playing on the plants? Colourful shot though! :)

[Ginn]

Thanyou for deleting the duplicates :)

Will have a play around with the water shots as that was just a lucky snappy moment when I was faffing around one evening!

No2 - taken at center parcs in very early january (still had xmas decorations up) and they had illuminated many of the plants in the plaza with pretty colour so although I haven't altered the colours they weren't natural either.

These were the other shots I got then (for comparision):
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/simple_serendipity/Miscillaneous/3-1.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/simple_serendipity/Miscillaneous/1-1.jpg
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/simple_serendipity/Miscillaneous/6.jpg

Like I say I am a total beginner but really enjoy photography and am really wanting to improve so all crit is greatly welcomed - it the only way I'll learn atm!

[CT]

Ah.. it all becomes clear now then! :D

Keep enjoying you photography, that's by far the most important thing. Wanting to improve is the problem for all of us. :lol:

[Ginn]

I think my problem atm is I either go for "pretty" things like the above or action shots (which are, erm, interesting to say the least!)

[antonroland]

Hello Ginn and WELCOME TO TPF!!

Go with CT's advice and share often - if you don't mind some folks (myself included) might not always hold back when giving critique but it is always meant in a good way.

Looking forward to seeing more of your stuff!

[scoff]

Nice Bromeliad, love the colours, regardless how fake they are..
:)