Here is a few from last sunday at north landing and Bridlington

1.on the nest
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii269/johnowls/DSC02343.jpg
2.cave
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii269/johnowls/DSC02348.jpg

3.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii269/johnowls/DSC02440.jpg
4.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii269/johnowls/DSC02474.jpg
5.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii269/johnowls/DSC02506.jpg
and two strange ones that i like
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii269/johnowls/DSC02302.jpg
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii269/johnowls/DSC02281.jpg

Favourite images are no2 and the close up of the orb. I would go so far as to say that this image could be a potentially prizewinner and is certainly at the very least up to exhibition quality. Please feel free to offer your opinion on my own work.

The orb is my new wallpaper. Is that ok?

Haha fine.It was only a quick snap too:D

I like the orb.
What happened to pic 2 and 3? Why are they so grainy? High ISO setting? May I ask what camera you used?
Thanks

I like the orb.
What happened to pic 2 and 3? Why are they so grainy? High ISO setting? May I ask what camera you used?
Thanks
2 is ok isn't it? And 3 is noisy because it is cropped and zoomed but not sure if the sun made it worse but because i am new to photography im not sure.

Oh sorry its taken on a sony a200.
The cave one was taken with pitch black inside the cave and very bright sunshine outside,If you are talking about the slight noise on the dark parts on pic 2 this may have contributed but i don't know.

I'm sorry, I cant agree that these are prizewinners nor exhibition quality. I just don't understand that comment. The orb shots could be achieved by anyone with one of those orbs and a camera. The others are noisy, badly cropped, you've shadows of people standing behind you in the shot and none of them have a point of focus. You've stuck things dead centre of the frame in at least 3 of them which normally shows that you can see something interesting but you don't know what to do with it.
A good camera a photo does not make.
I'm being super picky here, but this is a photography forum and I would love to see some really great stuff on here... This is basic, elementary photographic skills that I'm talking about here, nothing flashy....rule of thirds, interesting lighting, point of focus, leading lines, correct exposure etc etc...

I'm sorry, I cant agree that these are prizewinners nor exhibition quality. I just don't understand that comment. The orb shots could be achieved by anyone with one of those orbs and a camera. The others are noisy, badly cropped, you've shadows of people standing behind you in the shot and none of them have a point of focus. You've stuck things dead centre of the frame in at least 3 of them which normally shows that you can see something interesting but you don't know what to do with it.
A good camera a photo does not make.
I'm being super picky here, but this is a photography forum and I would love to see some really great stuff on here... This is basic, elementary photographic skills that I'm talking about here, nothing flashy....rule of thirds, interesting lighting, point of focus, leading lines, correct exposure etc etc...
For one lets not forget that despite i welcome criticism i am a absolute novice and if i am mistaken this section of the forum is open to not just professionals.And for your information your missing the point on the shadow one the shadows are a group of people i was with as i just snapped it as i was walking with the camera down by my side,It was intentional to get the shadows in.The cave,So you think it would be better not in centre of frame?
Again i welcome criticism but i have only had my dslr or any camera for that matter a few months and you seem to forget ALL skill levels are welcomed.

Brid is great for gulls if your AF is fast enough, I've spent a good while on the pier with people looking "gone out" at me whilst I follow gulls around, motor on the lens going ten to the dozen.

Using a long focal length not only "zooms in" on the birds but also gives a tighter depth of field, reducing background distraction

Example: (not the best photo, taken from one of my discarded ones, but shows the effect of a longer focal length on the background in this situation)
http://i40.tinypic.com/4kchdz.jpg

Hope this helps

Brid is great for gulls if your AF is fast enough, I've spent a good while on the pier with people looking "gone out" at me whilst I follow gulls around, motor on the lens going ten to the dozen.

Using a long focal length not only "zooms in" on the birds but also gives a tighter depth of field, reducing background distraction

Example: (not the best photo, taken from one of my discarded ones, but shows the effect of a longer focal length on the background in this situation)
http://i40.tinypic.com/4kchdz.jpg

Hope this helps

Nice,i had just taken the 70-300mm lens off so tried to make do with the 18-70 and zoom/crop when i got home i couldn't change it back because all the kids that were running around me :hihi:Thanks for the advice :thumbsup:

I'm not having a go at anyone here but I'm was shocked to see that someone thought that these were exhibition quality prints. If you're a newbie, you don't need someone blowing smoke up your arse. If your intention was to shoot the shadows, then I'm afraid it was lost. The shadows nor the background formed any sort of frame or focus...It was neither one nor the other.
I've been shooting for a year by the end of this month and I read, and shoot, and learn and try everything and dont submit anything until I think its the best I can produce at the time.
I agree that all photography is welcome, but not all photographs are photography. Show me something exciting, show me a new angle, make me think about something in a new way....
And no, I'm not saying that every photo needs to follow the rules ( the cave DIDN'T have to be in the centre of the shot by the way) but if you're so new, maybe you should endeavour to master the basics by following a few rules before you set out to change the way people look at your photos.
I've seen lots of walls, and lots of seagulls, and lots of beaches...but I've never seen the way that YOU look at beaches. Show us that. :thumbsup:

I'm not having a go at anyone here but I'm was shocked to see that someone thought that these were exhibition quality prints. If you're a newbie, you don't need someone blowing smoke up your arse. If your intention was to shoot the shadows, then I'm afraid it was lost. The shadows nor the background formed any sort of frame or focus...It was neither one nor the other.
I've been shooting for a year by the end of this month and I read, and shoot, and learn and try everything and dont submit anything until I think its the best I can produce at the time.
I agree that all photography is welcome, but not all photographs are photography. Show me something exciting, show me a new angle, make me think about something in a new way....
And no, I'm not saying that every photo needs to follow the rules ( the cave DIDN'T have to be in the centre of the shot by the way) but if you're so new, maybe you should endeavour to master the basics by following a few rules before you set out to change the way people look at your photos.
I've seen lots of walls, and lots of seagulls, and lots of beaches...but I've never seen the way that YOU look at beaches. Show us that. :thumbsup:
I thought the cave was different/unusual and the orb was beyond the norm.I appreciate your explanation for your harshness.

I don't really think starmag was being harsh... just honest. IMO the photographs posted on here should be about learning who the photographer is and what they are about. Far too many of the shots posted lack the creative element that distinguishes one photographer from another.

I personally wish that if someone posts pictures for the feedback comments to be a critique of the shots... both technically and creatively. I believe that someone has mentioned previously that it would be good if each picture could have a description as to what was trying to be achived and why. The feedback that some people give "I loved shot 4" or whatever else it may be do very little other than stroke egos. If someone likes a shot then I wish they would say why they like it... What do they like? What grabs them? What thoughts does it leave them with etc.

I think that we would all benefit from critiques of this nature and rather than having a photography section which turns into "my latest bulk pics" to "I was trying to achieve this... how do you think I went?"

Again IMO in order to improve you must "look beyond the lens" so to speak. This is what deferentiates photography as and art form rather than just a snapshot in time which say for example a speed camera or CCTV etc may have captured.

I don't really think starmag was being harsh... just honest. IMO the photographs posted on here should be about learning who the photographer is and what they are about. Far too many of the shots posted lack the creative element that distinguishes one photographer from another.

I personally wish that if someone posts pictures for the feedback comments to be a critique of the shots... both technically and creatively. I believe that someone has mentioned previously that it would be good if each picture could have a description as to what was trying to be achived and why. The feedback that some people give "I loved shot 4" or whatever else it may be do very little other than stroke egos. If someone likes a shot then I wish they would say why they like it... What do they like? What grabs them? What thoughts does it leave them with etc.

I think that we would all benefit from critiques of this nature and rather than having a photography section which turns into "my latest bulk pics" to "I was trying to achieve this... how do you think I went?"

Again IMO in order to improve you must "look beyond the lens" so to speak. This is what deferentiates photography as and art form rather than just a snapshot in time which say for example a speed camera or CCTV etc may have captured.Thanks well put I'll take all the advice i can get.Thanks livestrong and starmag:thumbsup:
And i will try to explain what i am trying to achieve next time so the feedback can be directed better:thumbsup:

Here are a couple of shots i did last summer while on a family day out at brid.

A box standard brid big wheel shot.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/2707215745_b906388bf7_o.jpg

A not so standard and not to everyone's taste brid church shot taken when this mist came in.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2713954576_63b2c1430c_o.jpg

Cheers, H.