Beginner wanting feedback - Barcelona shots

[xanderd]

Hi,

Im very new to photography and am looking for some honest constructive criticism, especially on composition.

Some pics from Barcelona:

These first few are from Mount Tibidabo:

In this photo I actually took 2 shots, 1 focussed on the landscpae in the background, and this one, focussed ont he stone cross. I much prefer this as I like the middle DOF being the focal point. In my photos I really like using natural frames so here I like the effect of looking through a small space at the landscape beyond:

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm301/xanderd/IMG_0612.jpg

In the next photo I liked the layers of light created by the clouds and sunshine, and placed the tower in the far left third of the photo to try to balance the picture with that dominating object and allow the eye to lead off to the right (slightly crooked but I havent done any editing yet):

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm301/xanderd/IMG_0615.jpg

Here I used the same technique of placing the dominating object on the left intersection of the imaginary rule of thirds grid. I like the feeling that the statue is looking out over the city, protecting it:

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm301/xanderd/IMG_0620.jpg

Finally, I love the light here, and the stark contrast between the background sunset and the poles of the boat sails; I light metered on the sky itself to get that contrast:

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm301/xanderd/IMG_0715.jpg

thankyou for any feedback!

-alex

[oldgit]

The cross in the first would be good if there wasnt a stonking great railing spike in the way and a pylon in the background. ie your composition is out. Nice idea though

The 2nd needs a jolly good straighten (and barrell distortion), plus some sat, level tweaks, a bit more dodge and burn followed by a dose of USM then it'll shine. Its a good shot.

Nowt much wrong with the 3rd, tad dark in the FG perhaps?

The last has far too much dark, lose the stuff at the bottom of the boats (rule of 1/3rds).
Straighten it and lose that god awful tv mast/antenna thing

[CT]

Please resize these images to 800 pixels on the longest side in accordance with TPF rules, or remove the [img] tags and leave the links.

[xanderd]

sorry I wasnt aware or the pixel limit - urls edited.

oldgit - actually I purposely put the railing spike in the foreground! i thought that it might make a natural frame - like poitning to the cross. I agree about the pylon in the background, but would hate to have to edit that out in photoshop - I should have tried to compose it out of the original.

for the 2nd pic, Im not too familiar with how pics can be improved with levels and dodge and burn, straightening is a must though. I will do the suggested edits and repost.

as for the last being too dark, i light metered on the sky. i did another shot metered on the boats but it didnt look as good. i guess I could have put the camera on manual and upped the exposure a bit, but I kind of like the 'shadows' look where the forground is blacked out. Is it just the amount of dark as in photo real estate? As in I should have had more sky in the picture? that makes sense..thanks!

TV mast, yes, i just hate post editing but I will get round to it and repost.

[xanderd]

straightened and saturated:

Before:
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm301/xanderd/IMG_0615-2.jpg

After:
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm301/xanderd/IMG_0615_edited.jpg

it does make a difference thanks! Although not too sure about the dodge and burn and other methods discussed.

[CT]

It looks loads better - and only 2 pixels oversize but I'll run you for 'em. :D

[Lateralus]

my pics are posted to website specs, but continue to get blown up on this forum
= (
not always, but...

[pearce_jj]

had a fiddle with the last one, hope you don't mind!

http://sittingbourne.homeserver.com/downloads/photos/TP_Shared/dock.jpg

[RobertP]

One image only allowed in InDepth critique.

Moving thread....

[xanderd]

One image only allowed in InDepth critique.

Moving thread....

oh sorry didnt realise.

PearceJJ - I like the crop and the stronger shadows in the foreground - however I can notice soe artifacts around the yacht poles - like yellow borders - which I dont like. But its much more powerful - makes the original seem so pale!

[pearce_jj]

Glad you like it :) it was literally a 2-minute, crop, sharpen, levels and I just liked the way the colour popped out. Could do with straightening and a bit of cleaning up in general.