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NYC Anonymous
I'm relatively new to photography... I took those on a recent trip to New York. I vaguely feel that something is missing to make these photos from good to great, maybe /p/ can help me find out what?
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Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D80Camera SoftwareDxO Optics Pro Standard 4.0 (WIN32) W1BMDDCW2TFW3Maximum Lens Aperturef/3.9Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern3540Focal Length (35mm Equiv)36 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2006:01:26 04:27:05Exposure Time1/8 secF-Numberf/4.5Exposure ProgramAperture PriorityISO Speed Rating500Lens Aperturef/4.5Exposure Bias0 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo FlashFocal Length24.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBRenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlLow Gain UpContrastNormalSharpnessHardSubject Distance RangeUnknownISO Speed Used500Color ModeCOLORImage QualityFINEWhite BalanceAUTOImage SharpeningHIGHFocus ModeAF-SFlash SettingREAR SLOWFlash Compensation41.7 EVISO Speed Requested500Flash Bracket Compensation0.3 EVAE Bracket Compensation0.3 EVTone CompensationAUTOLens TypeNikon D SeriesLens Range18.0 - 135.0 mm; f/3.5 - f/5.6Auto FocusDynamic Area, Center Selected, Top FocusedShooting/Bracketing ModeSingle Frame/OffColor ModeLandscape sRGBLighting TypeNATURALNoise ReductionOFFCamera Actuations3329Image OptimizationCUSTOMSaturation 2ENHANCED
>> Anonymous
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Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D80Camera SoftwareDxO Optics Pro Standard 4.0 (WIN32) W1BMVDDCW2TFW3HRMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern3544Focal Length (35mm Equiv)27 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2006:01:25 21:29:47Exposure Time1/640 secF-Numberf/4.0Exposure ProgramAperture PriorityISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/4.0Exposure Bias-1.3 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo FlashFocal Length18.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBRenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastSoftSharpnessHardSubject Distance RangeUnknownISO Speed Used100Color ModeCOLORImage QualityFINEWhite BalanceAUTOImage SharpeningHIGHFocus ModeAF-SFlash SettingREAR SLOWFlash Compensation41.7 EVISO Speed Requested100Flash Bracket Compensation0.0 EVAE Bracket Compensation0.0 EVTone CompensationAUTOLens TypeNikon D SeriesLens Range18.0 - 135.0 mm; f/3.5 - f/5.6Auto FocusDynamic Area, Center Selected, Top FocusedShooting/Bracketing ModeSingle Frame/OffColor ModeLandscape sRGBLighting TypeNATURALNoise ReductionOFFCamera Actuations3156Image OptimizationCUSTOMSaturation 2ENHANCED
>> Anonymous
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Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D80Camera SoftwareDxO Optics Pro Standard 4.0 (WIN32) W1BMVDDCW2TFW3RMaximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern3542Focal Length (35mm Equiv)27 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2006:01:27 05:51:33Exposure Time1/40 secF-Numberf/3.5Exposure ProgramAperture PriorityISO Speed Rating1000Lens Aperturef/3.5Exposure Bias-2 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo FlashFocal Length18.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBRenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlHigh Gain UpContrastNormalSharpnessHardSubject Distance RangeUnknownISO Speed Used1000Color ModeCOLORImage QualityFINEWhite BalanceAUTOImage SharpeningHIGHFocus ModeAF-SFlash SettingSLOWFlash Compensation0.0 EVISO Speed Requested1000Flash Bracket Compensation42.3 EVAE Bracket Compensation-0.3 EVTone CompensationAUTOLens TypeNikon D SeriesLens Range18.0 - 135.0 mm; f/3.5 - f/5.6Auto FocusDynamic Area, Unknown Selected, Center FocusedShooting/Bracketing ModeSingle Frame/OffColor ModeLandscape sRGBLighting TypeNATURALNoise ReductionOFFCamera Actuations3469Image OptimizationCUSTOMSaturation 2ENHANCED
>> ac
The most noticeable thing missing from this shot is the services of a tripod.

Also, a lens with a wider max aperture could have helped to make the pedestrians a bit less blurry (e.g., Nikon's 50mm f/1.8, although that's a good deal longer than the focal length you used for this shot).

As for composition, the shot kinda lacks direction. My eyes aren't immediately drawn anywhere, so they sort of wander around like punk kids who skipped school but have nothing better to do. Next thing you know, my eyes will fall in with a bad crowd and start doing the mary-juanna. From there, it's just a few short steps to them knocking off liquor stores and getting in some serious trouble with the law. And I *need* my eyes. If my eyes are in jail, how will I look at pornography?

The point I'm trying to make is, the picture needs a more obvious subject. Me, I'd have moved it closer to the ground and right (though still angled to get the building in the upper left corner in the upper left corner). Then it's a shot of the people with the nighttime skyline in the background rather than a shot of nothing in particular.

But especially the tripod.
>> Anonymous
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Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeNIKON CORPORATIONCamera ModelNIKON D80Camera SoftwareDxO Optics Pro Standard 4.0 (WIN32) W1BMVDDCW2FW3Maximum Lens Aperturef/3.5Sensing MethodOne-Chip Color AreaColor Filter Array Pattern3540Focal Length (35mm Equiv)27 mmImage-Specific Properties:Image OrientationTop, Left-HandHorizontal Resolution300 dpiVertical Resolution300 dpiImage Created2006:01:27 06:19:17Exposure Time2.5 secF-Numberf/14.0Exposure ProgramAperture PriorityISO Speed Rating200Lens Aperturef/14.0Exposure Bias1.3 EVMetering ModePatternLight SourceUnknownFlashNo FlashFocal Length18.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBRenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardGain ControlNoneContrastNormalSharpnessHardSubject Distance RangeUnknownISO Speed Used200Color ModeCOLORImage QualityFINEWhite BalanceAUTOImage SharpeningHIGHFocus ModeAF-SFlash SettingSLOWFlash Compensation0.0 EVISO Speed Requested200Flash Bracket Compensation0.3 EVAE Bracket Compensation0.3 EVTone CompensationAUTOLens TypeNikon D SeriesLens Range18.0 - 135.0 mm; f/3.5 - f/5.6Auto FocusDynamic Area, Right Selected, Unknown FocusedShooting/Bracketing ModeSingle Frame/OffColor ModeLandscape sRGBLighting TypeNATURALNoise ReductionOFFCamera Actuations3476Image OptimizationCUSTOMSaturation 2ENHANCED
>> ac
>>44463
This one, I quite like.
>>44464
Subject and composition are kinda boring. ISO1000 burns us. The wiggliness of the train platform might could be awesome if properly wielded, but in this shot, it just looks awkward.
>> ac
>>44466
Recommend resizing before posting. Otherwise, we get to choose between seeing only one tiny little portion of the shot or letting the browser resize it, which looks like crap.

As for the picture itself, the converging verticals are kind of annoying. Tilt-shift lens would have been good, but I don't think anyone even makes one for Nikon (but I've never looked, being a Canon fanboy, so don't quote me on that) and even if available, they're expensive as hell.

The main subject in this shot is the no-left-turns sign. Did you want that to be your subject? Because that's what your subject is here. The background's very pretty, and would be a great background for something more exciting than a no-left-turns sign, but the no-left-turns sign is what you've got there in the foreground drawing everyone's eyes.
>> Anonymous
"The most noticeable thing missing from this shot is the services of a tripod."

My tripod was in my hotel room. *hangs head in shame*

but at least I could've cranked it to iso 800, which still would've given me a low noise image. I always make the same damn mistake; thinking shots are sharp because they look so on my camera's LCD.

"The wiggliness of the train platform might could be awesome if properly wielded, but in this shot, it just looks awkward."

What do you think could've made this shot better?

"ISO1000 burns us."

It does.

"The main subject in this shot is the no-left-turns sign. Did you want that to be your subject? Because that's what your subject is here. The background's very pretty, and would be a great background for something more exciting than a no-left-turns sign, but the no-left-turns sign is what you've got there in the foreground drawing everyone's eyes."

I guess you're right, that's a shameful waste of a pretty background. I should've waited for a pretty girl to walk by.

"Recommend resizing before posting. Otherwise, we get to choose between seeing only one tiny little portion of the shot or letting the browser resize it, which looks like crap."

Will keep that in mind, thanks.

Thanks for your input /p/, I'm trying hard to improve.
>> ac
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>>44473
>thinking shots are sharp because they look so on my camera's LCD.
Attached: Image that would have been awesome if I hadn't done that same damn thing. Looks pretty good at 1024x768, looks amazing on my little camera LCD, looks like ass blown up to 8x10. So I feel your pain, brother.

>What do you think could've made this shot better?
Honestly not sure. I think what I would have done is taken the same picture you did, then shrug and throw it away when I viewed it on my computer. :)

Camera-Specific Properties:Equipment MakeCanonCamera ModelCanon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTiFirmware VersionFirmware 1.0.4Owner NameunknownSerial Number0420104373Image-Specific Properties:Image OrientationLeft-Hand, BottomHorizontal Resolution72 dpiVertical Resolution72 dpiImage Created2007:03:16 21:48:03Exposure Time1/2 secF-Numberf/2.0Exposure ProgramAperture PriorityISO Speed Rating100Lens Aperturef/2.0Exposure Bias0.7 EVFlashNo Flash, CompulsoryFocal Length35.00 mmColor Space InformationsRGBImage Width3888Image Height2592RenderingNormalExposure ModeAutoScene Capture TypeStandardExposure ModeAv-PriorityFocus TypeAutoMetering ModeEvaluativeSharpnessUnknownSaturationNormalContrastNormalShooting ModeManualImage SizeLargeFocus ModeOne-ShotDrive ModeSingleFlash ModeOffCompression SettingFineMacro ModeNormalWhite BalanceAutoExposure Compensation5Sensor ISO Speed160Camera Actuations-735248368Color Matrix130
>> Anonymous
>>44465
best explanation ever.