Stop messing around with processing. That's not, nor ever will be the answer.
i think my main issue is gettign images to "pop" or look deep,
Good photography = good lighting. Being a good photographer is a result of being a good photographer, not good at editing. Looks to me like at the moment, you're just using the the camera as a recording device, and expecting all the good stuff to come from processing.
Learn about lighting, exposure, and learn to think more creatively. Photography is just speaking with pictures.... so start thinking about what you want to say.
iv recently treated myself to a new camera setup, just need a better lens or 2 now which im saving for..
my kit includes,
d7100,
sb-910
Nikon Kit lens 18-105 (from my d90)
nikon 50mm 1.8 with reversal ring for macro
sigma ( i think off hand) 70-300
Nikon 18-35
tripod(s)
and a few other odds and sods
You've got a decent camera and all focal lengths from 18 to 300mm.. why do you need 2 more lenses?
Better gear will not make your photography better. You need practice, study and skill.
If you can't commit to courses, then just read stuff on the internet. You don't really need to pay for a course... everything you need to know is available online for free. The hard part is the dedication and practice, and avoiding the beginner's trap of thinking the most important part is "post processing". It's not... that's bull****. A great photo doesn't need any post processing. It can be improved with careful, and TASTEFUL processing, but it would still be great without any.
Flat lighting.. mid day sun behind you.... boring light. Try lower, softer, warmer evening light. Try diffused light from an overcast day.... try anything, but mid day sun over your shoulder is probably the least flattering, most boring kind of light imaginable. Learn about lighting.. Light is the most important aspect of photography. Photography as a word is a contraction of two Greek words for "light" and "drawing". You are drawing with light.... light is your MOST important tool. Not a computer... and believe it or not... not even your camera.
2 - messing about in ps nothing i really like about it colour wise, may try a B&W version
View attachment 17055
No.. it's boring, and no amount of processing will change that. The lighting is crap, and no amount of processing will change that.
3 - this was just cropped down in PS quite happy with this but please give crit - couple from the wedding we were at
View attachment 17057
So you were going for the whole devil's horns poking out of her head look? Pay attention to the background.. in fact, pay attention to EVERYHING in the frame. Be aware also that cropping reduces quality quite dramatically. Frame images as you intend them to be instead of cropping them post process.
4 - i quite like this but think focusing needs work (seem to have focus issues on alot of my images
)
View attachment 17059
That may not a focus issue... the crop you've given it may be affecting sharpness.(see above). Also.. look at that processing... the centre of her dress is grey. These halo effect you're getting is because you're over processing. What made you think this needs any kind of processing? Great light makes great images, and great locations.. and great composition (which also avoids the need to crop everything). Processing is not the answer.
5
View attachment 17056
i was stood at the back of crowd with camera in the air so didnt think was bad, but again OOF
That's not out of focus, it's motion blur, made worse by the severe crop you've given it. Stop cropping, and learn about shutter speeds and exposure.
Start here....
http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/th...ure-theory-but-were-afraid-to-ask-101.440126/
If you already know, or are aware of all this, then you still need to start thinking about what actually makes a great photograph. Subject, lighting, composition, and emotion.
Look at great images from past masters... look at what makes them so lasting and timeless. It's all of these things.
By far the biggest mistake beginners make in this digital age, is to try and skip the camera skills and rely on post processing. While you say you're not a beginner.. you seem to have already gone down this path. I would suggest that you're still a beginner. Sorry... but your images suggest this is the case. Just stop processing your shots so much.. in fact, while you are learning, try not processing them at all! If the shot is not working in camera, then what do you expect processing to do? It can't change the light; It can't change whether it's sharp; and it certainly can't change the subject matter. You're trying to learn to be a photographer, not a digital artist. From it's invention in 1826 (approx) to the inception of the digital photography age in the 80s and 90s... photographers have been creating amazing, stunning and thought provoking images without computers. Why assume anything has changed?
Leave off with the processing... frames and borders... silly text... all of that... none of this makes your images any better. You're fiddling, and avoiding the fact that you need to do some reading, studying, practising and some hard work. Photography is a skill, and like most skills they are hard won, and there are no short cuts.
Sorry if that's harsh, but you need to hear it, and most in here are far too polite to just say it.
