Just staring to get into the photo thing

[rosscrazyelk]

So have been taking pictures all my life. I have made it a point not to buy anymore and only hang my own. More satisfaction I guess. how would you grade this one?

[cackle]

I dont know much about photography but thats a cool pic i like it

[M_ray]

Very cool! I love the way those goats deify gravity.

[boneaddict]

Good picture......Subject matter A+
If you could have been just a bit closer as to not have the haze effect the goat, or a clearer image of the goat, with the hazy backdround it would have been incredible.

[Coasthunterjay]

I love taking Pictures, but i keep most to myself.......I like the Picture alot! But it is just a picture a good picture because of the subject matter but there can be more reaction to it, more emotion.....I guess what im trying to say is it could be have more motion as if it was alive, and i think the distance is fine, but a recommendation for next time or things to play with if you get a chance.......

would be to catch the animal in the right side of the picture looking out left out into the scenorie.....As if looking at wether he wants to climb farther into the picture, hich would have lanscape in the rest....

or if the animal is moving have them in the side of the frame as if they are about to walk into the middle of the picture wether they are moving left....have them all the way to the left, with a beautiful background, spring, field, whatever in the background that they are about to walk into.....

you can play with mountain scapes or water, or sky by placing the subject in the top half, middle, or in the bottom of the picture.....

This picture doesnt have any, but i see alot of....Pay attention to roads, powerlines, or things that you can prevent from being in a picture ust by changing the location of where you take a picture....For example(try taking a picture on your Knee instead of standing which would give you a upward shot, which might get a road or bad tree or anything you dont want in the background out of it.....or just change location)

Also as for the Fuzz......the haze......try using a filter.......not sure what type of camera you have or when the picture was takin...

But filters can do alot to a picture that is being takin.......

BUT OVERALL...............GREAT PICTURE!!!!!!

[grandpawrichard]

Wow! I like the photo!
boneaddict is right though, if you could have done away with the haze the photo would have been World Class National Geographic Magazine Cover Quality!

Dick

[popeshawnpaul]

I hope you don't take offense, but I played with your photo a bit and gave it a bit of a different perspective...  I like the picture Ross, but Jay and Bone were right.  The picture wasn't properly exposed for my taste.  What I mean by that is you can't have it both ways...detail in the shadows and a silouette.  I chose the silouette because I think that's the best way for the photo to work here.  The beauty of this photograph is the setting sun and highlights on the goat.  You don't need details in the rock and goat to know what it is. 

The next thing the photo needed was a little composition.  This is what Jay hit on.  Put that goat on a power point instead of centered and your composition gets much stronger.  Additionally, you want him looking into the distance.

The last thing was some cleanup stuff.  When the photo was adjusted for proper silouette exposure, the haze went away.  You want haze in the background, in my opinion because that's what gives the photo a sense of depth and emotion.  This was a really great photo opportunity and you managed to capture that opportunity.  Noise in the background was an issue that was easily cleaned up.  Sometimes a little processing can clean up a photo that isn't so perfect right out of the camera.  Oh, the slight halo around the dark rock is called chromatic abberation I believe.  Some lenses do it more than others.  It could have been cleaned up but I didn't have the time to do it.

Incidently, when we use to shoot film we would have the same issues.  A photo like this in film days would come out great with high gloss paper and exposure/burn/dodge techniques. 

[rosscrazyelk]

Thanks for the advise guys . I am pretty much learning and some of the lingo you used lost me but I will try to keep those things in mind. It was pretty impossible for me to get closer. I should post the picture on how far he actually was. it was around 400 yards away. I have a sony digital with a 12x zoom and 5.1 mp. I got the camera free for a years of service thing. Probably the nicest thing I ever received from work.
Do you guys have any advise on what kind of photo software to use? I really do not have any yet.
Not sure if you noticed but under the goat is her kid laying down.Looks like a snow patch. Funny thing is I did not see that til after I blew up the pic.
once again thanks

[popeshawnpaul]

I highly recommend Adobe Photoshop for those interested in doing photo cleanup.  If there were enough interested, I was thinking we could do an online photo workshop with gotomeeting.com or something.  If we get enough interested I might do it.  I use to teach photoshop years ago.  While I haven't kept up with all the latest in the program, I still know all the basics and some advanced techniques.  The other option would be to do a workshop at one of our meet and greets.  The last option would be that I can have people connect to my computer while I go through photos on an individual basis.  You will need high speed internet, but you can view my screen and watch me go through a few photos.  I did this with Slider a few times and hope it was productive for him.  If you are interested PM me and we'll find a time to do it. 

Not everyone can afford the full version of Adobe Photoshop so I would recommend one start with the Elements version first.  Once you figure out that version, it applies very well to the full version. 

[boneaddict]

Elements is a great beginner and then when you get the other, the two work together pretty well

[Jackjr]

Looks great to me

[Head-shot]

very nice to mee too

[gramps]

Popeshawnpaul.....I would be interested in the class.  Is there more than one photoshop elements program?  ..  if so, which one should a novice start with?

Thanks

[boneaddict]

I believe elements six is hte current version.  Its very easy to use.  It also works well with some of the more advanced ones when you get to that point.  It runs about 98 bones at the local Best buy or approriate store.

[gramps]

Thanks