# Is my photography any good? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 9, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664 "2013-01-09T20:05:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/1 "2013-01-09T20:05:54Z")
About a year and a half ago, I bought a good little travelzoom cam, a Canon SX230. I shot quite a bit with it in a trip across the country and decided I enjoyed photography. It’s a great camera for what it is, but I wanted room to grow, so I searched for a good DSLR. I ended up getting a [Pentax K5](http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk5/), which is still probably the best APS-C camera available. Top notch sensor tech, very rugged, lots of physical controls. My lens loadout is so far very basic - the 18-55 F3.5-5.6 kit lens that came with it which is surprisingly capable in the 24-40mm range at F5.6-8, a 55-300 F4-5.8, and two old manual lenses - a Pentax 50mm F1.7 from the 60s and a 28mm F2.8 from the 70s. My jpegs from the compact were processed with photoshop (or even windows live photo editor if the edits were basic) but I was never really terribly happy with it. With the DSLR I moved onto lightroom and I’m much happier. I shoot all RAW of course. I actually kind of struggle with post processing decisions in a way that’s probably silly. I like to generally tell an honest story with a photograph, to represent a place and moment and time accurately, but I do like to enhance it somewhat with saturation, contrast, exposure tweaks, etc. But I don’t like to alter anything fundamental in a picture - to add or remove things, dramatic tweaks. When editing pictures I almost come up against an ethical argument in my own head, and I realize that’s sort of silly - I mean, who cares really, but there it is. I’ve become more liberal over time with my use of PP - I still don’t like to make major fundamental changes, but I’m more willing to tweak stuff to get the look I want. A few times I made major alterations I noted it on the flickr page. Does anyone else bother to think about these sorts of things? In any case, I think my PP became both better and more aggressive over time. I probably oversaturate and overcontrast my pictures. It looks good to me. But I wonder if it’s sort of like adding sugar, salt, and fat to food - it seems to taste better on some level, but at a certain point you’re sort of overwhelming it. I don’t know. I’d definitely like feedback on my PP. If you’re curious to see what I did with any particular photo, I can post an unedited version. Most of my pictures are of landscapes and wildlife. A few sports/action. (I also have a bunch of tailgating photos towards the end that aren’t artistic at all but that I wanted to share with other fans). I actually don’t have any people pictures posted on my flickr. Maybe I should. I’ll check with my friends first and see if they mind being up there. But landscapes are my primary interest, with wildlife when I come across it. The photostream is roughly backwards chronologically (some skipping around), so ideally the most recent stuff posted there is my best work, and you can kind of see it get rougher around the edges as you go back in time. Everything from 2012 was with the K5, everything from 2011 was the SX230. With flickr you can click “action-\>show exif info” to get more informaton about the picture. Anyway, I’d appreciate if anyone wants to check it out and give me some feedback. Technical, PP, style, composition, subject matter, whatever, I want to hear everything. [Here’s the page](http://www.flickr.com/photos/senorbeef/). The most effective way to look through it is either to hit slideshow in the top right, or click an image, then click it again to bring up the black lightbox view, then hit the right arrow to go through them. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/2 "2013-01-09T20:37:43Z")
Try shooting things off center (Rule of Thirds) and avoid shooting mid-day. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/3 "2013-01-09T20:54:59Z")
Saw a few I’d frame, and your subject matter is right up my alley. I’d like to go with you on your forays, for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/4 "2013-01-09T20:55:53Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > Try shooting things off center (Rule of Thirds) and avoid shooting mid-day. ??? …while you offer good general advice, most of his work does confirm to the rule of thirds, and most of the landscapes appeared not to be shot in the middle of the day. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/5 "2013-01-09T21:15:42Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I actually kind of struggle with post processing decisions in a way that’s probably silly. I like to generally tell an honest story with a photograph, to represent a place and moment and time accurately, but I do like to enhance it somewhat with saturation, contrast, exposure tweaks, etc. But I don’t like to alter anything fundamental in a picture - to add or remove things, dramatic tweaks. When editing pictures I almost come up against an ethical argument in my own head, and I realize that’s sort of silly - I mean, who cares really, but there it is. I’ve become more liberal over time with my use of PP - I still don’t like to make major fundamental changes, but I’m more willing to tweak stuff to get the look I want. A few times I made major alterations I noted it on the flickr page. Does anyone else bother to think about these sorts of things? …have you seen this? [![](http://enticingthelight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Stages-of-a-Photographer.png) ](http://enticingthelight.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Stages-of-a-Photographer.png) Whatever you do: try not to spend too much time in the HDR hole. 😃 I’m not going to offer any critique: however I would reccomend that if you are seriously looking for critique I would pick out a selection of five or six images for people to look at. Arguing with yourself over post processing is normal. We all do it. And it doesn’t ever stop. 😃 I look back at my early work and it is terrible. I look at work I did a couple of months ago and think why did I do that? You will go through many different phases. You will alternatively love and hate your work, often in the same minute. And then you die. ☹ Photography is a journey, a train ride, and one that many of us will never get off. Some people say it takes at least five years to “start developing a style.” Just keep shooting. Don’t stop writing your notes. You might find that noone will ever read them: but that doesn’t matter. Those notes aren’t really there for other people, they are there for you. What I do like from your photostream is that your images have “heart”. You care about your subject, the process, and I can see that in the images. You can also see your development as a photographer as you move through the stream: and you can see where you start to use new and different techniques. I’m really looking forward to coming back to your work in a few years and seeing in which direction you have taken your work. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/6 "2013-01-09T21:25:18Z")
I’m very impressed. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/7 "2013-01-09T23:05:54Z")
Are you sure you’re not a pro? Amazing work for someone who’s been at it for less than two years. I might have re-framed some of the scenics a bit differently, and the horizon on some of the water shots needs to be leveled before the water spills out. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/8 "2013-01-09T23:30:06Z")
I know nothing about photography. I just wanted to say I really liked looking at your pretty pictures. I think you are very talented and there are definitely a few pieces that would go nicely on someone’s wall. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/9 "2013-01-10T00:02:26Z")
I’ve seen your shots in previous threads before and I’ve always been impressed. I generally really like your processing and your subjects are usually very nice. I say this as someone who is currently stuck in the HDR hole, so take that into account 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jharvey963](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/54ee81/32.png) [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/10 "2013-01-10T00:35:34Z")
They are very nice pretty pictures. They seem technically well done. Quite a few of them I wouldn’t mind have hanging on my wall at home. That said, I didn’t really see any where the composition blew me away. Go look at Ansel Adam’s pictures and see how the elements are laid out on the page. There’s tension and there are balancing elements. Some things wouldn’t fit at all, except for other things on the image that relate to other things. Sometimes very small elements make the picture. Try using your feelings. Why do you like this picture? what elements are attractive to you? What’s the center of attention? Where does your eye get drawn when you first see it? All this isn’t criticism. You’re quite good. J. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/11 "2013-01-10T01:12:53Z")
Fav = Raven in flight !!! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/12 "2013-01-10T01:17:03Z")
I love your butterflies! ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/13 "2013-01-10T01:53:22Z")
I like the super saturation. Your 55-300mm lens provided fine macro service in your butterfly shots. ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/14 "2013-01-10T02:25:04Z")
I think the photos are great, but \*too \*saturated. ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/15 "2013-01-10T03:25:07Z")
I liked your insect pics with the bokeh - and disagreeing with the above (at time of post) poster, I like the super saturation of a lot of the photos. Once I read that the slideshow is chronologically backwards, I can definitely tell you are learning and improving. Keep shooting. Piggyback on **jharvey963** - some of the photos left me cold, they were definitely better than the average joe with a camera, but I didn’t _feel_ anything, and that is what separates knowing how to properly operate a camera and being a really good photographer. But I think you are on the right track for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Alexathegirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Alexathegirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alexathegirl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/16 "2013-01-10T03:27:17Z")
You are REALLY good. Don’t doubt yourself! Keep on going and you’ll go far! You caught the bird EXACTLY in the precise, perfect moment. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/17 "2013-01-10T03:43:23Z")
You need to learn more about composition. So many have the subject right in the middle of the frame. And the fireworks photos: I spent a long times learning to shoot fireworks, and you need longer exposures, and even multiple exposures. And when there’s a body of water in the frame, you need to straighten the water line. ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/18 "2013-01-10T03:54:26Z")
I like a lot, and composition is one of those things where I struggle with photography, as it at times has so many ‘rules’ that risks ending up as a dead art in my view. Same with things like saturation. I would say you’re hitting the limits of your lenses, many of your more recent shots are either macro or wide angle, but taken with lenses that arent. Otara ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/19 "2013-01-10T09:02:56Z")
After viewing the pics, my first thought was “professional”! ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2013, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664/20 "2013-01-10T10:13:06Z")
I think your pictures look really professional. Maybe not super creative, but definitely beautiful. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-my-photography-any-good/646664.md?page=2)