My first post of pics, would like some constructive feedback

[HiRide]

Hey, So I just picked up an XSI and I have the kit lens and a 50f1.8

I dont know anything about photgraphy, scratch that, Rule of Thirds!! but I am enjoying learning and want to get better. Not really trying to make a career or anything out of it, but I also am a hairstylist and somewhat of a makeup artist so I am trying to create a portfolio of the work I have done but also trying to have fun photographing it.

I like shooting the cityscapes and Speedminded has actually helped me out a lot and even came out with me into the wee hours of the morning showing me a few spots at Atlantic station with some decent shots. You can the ones where Jason helped me as the lights actually have 10 point stars (50f1.8 and 30sec. @ f22). The first few cityscapes were a mix of low Fstops and fast shutter speeds and also some high fstops and slow shutter speeds... although I dont remember which is which when I look at the pics. Actually the ones with the stars on the lights will be the slow shutter speed ones...

Basically would like to get some constructive / positive / no need to bash feedback on: camera settings, lighting, composition, lens choices for different types of shooting... day, night, fast, still, indoor, outdoor...etc...

What would you have done differently on some of these pics?

Also, these are myspace pics so quality is lower...

Beauty







Cityscapes


The tagging in this pic is my own artwork I Pshopped in which is why i kept the wall in the pic...




Nature / Still Life








Auto (havent had the chance to really set up a good shot, just what I can get)









I would really like some tips on how to use photoshop to its max potential. All I have is Elements 2 (yeah i know super old... elements 8 is out now and its still not full PS). this is what I have done so far...

I want to say she is in her mid to late 40's, still damn good looking though.

[TougeGTR-33]

Great job!! Very nice.

[Tarzanman]

Where did you find the statue of the ghost face killah?

[umairejaz]

Looks cool. You're much better then I am so I can't give any addvice.

[Mr. Clean]

pic #1 and the 2nd city scape shot are really cool. I wasn't really taken aback by anything else. Be careful and really watch your exposures. I see a lot of shots that are over-exposed. And this is all just personal preference, but creating intense DOF with PS is usually not a good technique with automotive photography; while it is fun... it's just kinda cheesy.

One last thing... also be very careful when doing heavy photoshop on peoples' faces. I like what you did to the portrait of the older woman, but I don't normally like to mess with people THAT much. It's reallllly hard to actually make it appear as though they look that good in actuality so when I see it, I automatically know it's a photoshop and start looking for flaws. People shots are something that you really want to keep looking natural unless you've done some other crazy PP within the shot. When I looked at her I noticed her cheeks were kind of awkward (blown out in attached pic, I think they just need to be smoothed back out with a filter or something). Now I can't really suggest what to do to fix that because I just am not any good at editing people that much lol.

Anyway... the pics are good, but that's my which you did ask for lol. Keep posting pics!

[HiRide]

Where did you find the statue of the ghost face killah?

I work at Mall of GA, so I am walking around there alot when I dont have any clients. The statue is just below the fountain outside the foodcourt in front of a shop called Milano. I would Imagine since he is in their real clothes, they probably take him back inside so I dont know if they will put him out again.

Mr. Clean

Thanks for the advice. How do you enhance faces to bring out all the PS flaws? that really helped.

Any ideas on ways you would have shot some of the pics, maybe you would have used a wider angle lense, maybe a telephoto from a distance, changed the composition, lower angle, higher angle, etc?

Actually, you can see that I favor the monotone backgrouds... I want to get the most out of the content and make sure the subject stands out but I dont want to over edit and right now I feel like I am spending too much time in PS. The Masarati was definitely for fun, I couldnt get any shots I really liked before I got called in for a client.

Oh yeah... Top Tip : If you are ever near the MOG, swing through the Nordstrom parking lot and you may find some exotics parked way out that you can shoot. Like the Masarati Gran Turismo I shot, I have seen GTR's, Lambo Gallardo's, tons of Porsches, Audi R8 (there is a white one that is sooooo clean, but he parks up front with other cars, brave soul).

Thanks again for the advice and any advice is welcome from anyone. I really dont know alot so even others who are new to this as well may have gotten tips that I haven't gotten yet.

[DB4LYFE ™]

G/J

~DB4LYFE

[eViLMunkey]

Some good shots

[boostedb16]

they all look really good for just starting out. on the car shots like the front on shot. raise up alittle so it is a front on shot.

[A.A]

You might appreciate this trick for the head shots you want to take of your models. http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/04...in-corner.html

[HiRide]

You might appreciate this trick for the head shots you want to take of your models. http://strobist.blogspot.com/2006/04...in-corner.html

Very cool, thanks man! Now I just need an umbrella or at least a stand for my flash (it has this nifty slide out diffuser + white reflecting panel. Nissin Di466. That provides lots of diffused light but can be a little overwhelming close up.) The tip about shooting at f5-8 makes sense as well to keep things crisp. I have a habit of shooting @ 1.8 as much as possible for the depth of field effect but I guess that would also lead to anything not in the right spot for focus being less crisp.

boostedb16 - thanks for the tip, makes sense. I seem to have some compulsion to get as low as possible.

[boostedb16]

Very cool, thanks man! Now I just need an umbrella or at least a stand for my flash (it has this nifty slide out diffuser + white reflecting panel. Nissin Di466. That provides lots of diffused light but can be a little overwhelming close up.) The tip about shooting at f5-8 makes sense as well to keep things crisp. I have a habit of shooting @ 1.8 as much as possible for the depth of field effect but I guess that would also lead to anything not in the right spot for focus being less crisp.

boostedb16 - thanks for the tip, makes sense. I seem to have some compulsion to get as low as possible.

your car is the fucking shit also................

[HiRide]

your car is the fucking shit also................

Thanks man, its still got a long way to go!

but isnt that true for all of us... seems like we're never quite done