File :-(, x, )
Changeling Anonymous
So I'm getting into photography (Yeah, another one of those posts,) and snapped this the other day. I didn't give it too much thought, as someone actually just asked me to take a quick picture to print later, but now, even though it isn't too spectacular, it's kind of rekindled my drive to shoot. I like the brilliant yellow. Maybe it would have been nicer set to something dark to contrast.

But like I said, it's not masterpiece, but what tips do you have? If this is my first step, what can I do? I mean both framing the shot and editing. I have PS CS2.

The flower is still alive! Haha, maybe I can take a better pic tomorrow with some input.
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>> Anonymous
I guess I kind of take pictures intuitively, and realize and explore my theme after the fact. I like to paint, and maybe I get it from that. Anyway, I know a lot of people tell me photography is preparation, so maybe I should get out of that habit?

Anyway, here, I was trying to get it mid-bloom, and the way the upper part of the flower curls inward looked very sensitive to me, while the outer rim was vibrant and assertive. But I don't think I framed it very well, right?

And maybe I should have moved my car. >_>
>> Anonymous
yeah, you should've removed your car from the shot. Also, a bigger aperture [depth of focus] would've blurred the background more, so instead of seeing the house we'd just see blurs of the house's colors; drawing more attention to the flower.

Also, since flower photos are so common, I'd recommend you take a bunch of photos at different angles, and then just choose the best few out of that group.
>> Anonymous
I'm not sure what you mean by depth of focus, or at least, I'm not sure how to do it. And what about the framing?
>> Anonymous
>>60605
his aperture was already maxed out. so that wasnt an option. but yeah, definitely shoulda moved the car.
>> Anonymous
>>60606
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depth_of_field

wikipedia is actually pretty good as a primer to get to understand the basics of photography. exposure, iso, aperture, depth of field, etc
>> Liska !!LIVFOETqL8j
>>60604

If you're taking pics intuitively, just keep shooting and see what you can come up with, because you're doing the same thing as me (it's good to think about what's in the background, though). The more you shoot something the more practice you get the more you'll realize how to approach a subject.

For example, you could have zoomed further in on the flower on the yellow and green parts, or even just the green. Looks like you could get a great shot of the petals on the left (as i'm facing my screen) and that green leaf right there. You could've moved over to the left a bit and moved the car out of the picture. Cutting off the right leaf wasn't good either, because it sort of cuts off the composition. In fact, if you had moved, you could've probably set up the flower picture right next to the window in the background for an interesting man vs nature comparision.

Oh, and take more than one photo. Never take just one and walk away, especially if you're digital. Take different angles at different aperatures with different focus points and different compositions. That flower is going to be different each time you go back.
>> elf_man !fBgo7jDjms
That's what I've learned, I did massive amounts of research into how all the technical bits of photography go together, refreshed my memory on composition and art theory, and then figured out that, while it's good to know, you can't be thinking about it while you're shooting. You mostly end up with technically good but boring shots. It's good to study, and it's good when you're reviewing your work because it'll help you improve your process when you're shooting, but for this kind of photography, you really have to be in the moment, you have to pay attention and just be open to what's there. So study the technical stuff, but do what feels right to you when it comes to the actual shooting, and just pay attention.
>> Anonymous
you fuck fail die
>> Anonymous
I appreciate the advice (especially that last comment.) The flower's in full bloom now, so I missed my chance to get a good version of my original picture, but I might try again this evening or tomorrow evening for some different lighting.
>> Anonymous
Well. Someone told me, if your shot looks boring, get in closer.

Here, I think this a good example.