Hello
I've always seen myself as more of a Holiday snapper than a serious amateur photographer - but its something I really enjoy so I have gradually bought better equipment and taken more time with post processing (using Lightroom CC but just don't know where to start with Photoshop.) I've bought various lenses and have began to realise that they don't really make that much difference when you aren't out and about until 10 a.m !
Ok.. first thing to realise is that Lightroom, Photoshop and expensive cameras and lenses will not make you a better photographer. Good processing of images can be important, especially good raw file management, but good photography does not come from sitting at a computer, it comes from being a good photographer. The prime purpose of a photographer is to communicate something to the viewer.
So all thats happened is that I am more critical of my images - I seem to delete more than I keep and much of that is down to having over exposed skies and large areas of shade - or dull images because its overcast. (along with poor composition)
Are there any golden nuggets of advice that you can give in order that I can improve my images ?
I guess this has come about due to the fact that I've been to Oxford for a few days and am really disappointed with the images I've taken.
thanks
The problem is the reason you're taking images. What were you trying to say about Oxford? If you had no idea what you were trying to say, your images will be saying nothing, and to be frank, I agree with you - they are disappointing. It's not for any technical reason though, it's simply because they're shots taken walking aimlessly around Oxford. The subject is just as crucial as the technical aspects. You can take the most technically perfect images but if the subject is boring then then images are boring. Even boring subjects can be interesting if you are doing it for all the right reasons.
The Bechers' industrial typologies are depressing, boring subjects, but as a set, as an idea, they becomes interesting.
Your thread title seems to suggest that you need the golden hour to make good photographs, and this is a myth borne out of the fact that most people's photographs are about nothing, so the ONLY thing that makes them interesting is the lighting, or the "wow factor", but once that wears off... the images are not really very interesting - they're only interesting to other photographers who are also obsessed with eye candy.
Why the golden hour? There's more than one kind of light you know... overcast days can be a great to shoot in as the golden hour. There's fog, rain, snow, wind, night time... all manner of conditions that can yield great images. If all you do is go out during the golden hour, then all your images will just look the same. Seriously.. go on Flickr and search landscape... do you not think they all look the same? Anyone would thing that England is perpetually lit by evening light, and it's always a blue sky with white fluffy clouds. Break out of the mould you're getting yourself into, and discover new things.
Above all though... think of a subject. Develop work around things you are interested in, and passionate about instead of just going out with a camera. You may get the odd good image, but it will be disconnected, alone.. just a "nice" image. Set projects... and I don't mean a silly 52 or 365, or you'll just end up shooting another collection of random crap. Set goals... it could be anything: Taking portraits of dog walkers at the local beach, or truck drivers at service stations... people's homes at night... local fish & chip shops.... even if you DO just want to take pretty "scenes" you can still attach it to a project - it could be images taken in all directions from the highest point in every town you come across... you can still even do it in the golden hour if you want, but at least they'll be purpose and meaning and also something to talk about.
If I ask you why you took these shots of Oxford, could you tell me why?