The Eagle's Nest - Two Small Updates 1-25 and 1-28

[PygmyBaldEagle]

So I got into photography about 4 or 5 months ago and I'm loving it. These are some of my best shots, unfortunately the rest of them are at home (I'm at college) on my desktop. These 6 are pretty much the cream of my crop. (Edit: Now framed and titled/copyrighted)

Any Cs & Cs are welcome and definetly wanted.

I hope you guys enjoy and I hope that you'll enjoy everything else I post on here.

P.S. Also I'd like to apologize to anyone on a dial-up connection. I am trying to keep my image size below 250kb, not many will be above that.

[PygmyBaldEagle]

These are a couple of pictures I went out and took today...I got out just a little bit later than I had hoped (As the sun was setting rather than just before it started to), but I still love how these two turned out.

[claudeEGYPT]

Man these are absoloute crap!!!

No i am just kidding, First, Welcome to Concept art, I like Narnia, Welcome and Bob..

I think i especially love Bob for its title :)

Here comes the criticism:
Welcome: You should have stood differently to get a better view of the fence rather than having that obstructive 3rd fence spike covered up.(destroys the composition big time). I would have also stood a little higher, because all spikes have been clipped off at the top.. In photography, that's a big NO NO.

Fireflower: This would have been perfect if you had not shaved the bottom and top petals off via tight crop.

Jump: This is too blurry for my liking, usually its better to get the action figure in crisp form rather than motion blur him up too!

From Nothing: This is quite nice, i would have changed where i was shooting, i would have gotten a bit closer to the subject, and closer to the ground to improve composition.

Star burst: Sorry, this really doesnt work.. Doesnt appeal to me at all, i scrolled down as if it wasnt there! Sure it has symmetrical rays, but come on!

Bob: Perfect photo, there's absoloutly nothing to critic about here. I would probably have put a bit more color into it, but that's about it.

Narnia: Another really good photo, i would have changed one thing here, but its a matter of personal taste, i would have kept the contrast on the pole as it is, but reduced the contrast on everything else.

Nightlight: Eh.. Doesnt say very much.

Show more, it seems you have the eye, that's the first best step for a photographer. Hope this was useful.. and not "scathing"

[PygmyBaldEagle]

Thanks for the crits Claude.

Actually all of these but Jump and Narnia are the pictures as they were when I shot them (Jump and Narnia had minor crops to clean around the edges)...So any cropping mistakes or things were cameraman error not editing error.

I'm glad you like Bob's title and that you like the picture itself. It's actually called Bob because that's what we call the chipmunks around the campground that my grandparents host...Bobs. Squirrels are Dougs (Douglass Squirrels). So there you have it, Bob.

Welcome: This was actually my second ever shot (the first was another shot of the same thing but not as good.) so I hadn't really been practicing composition long. Thanks for the advice. The standing higher would've been easy, but that's actually a flowerbox, so not having the third post cut off may have been difficult because there's such a small distance between the two posts. I may go back to it and see if I can practice improvements on it though.

Fireflower: I'm disappointed that I cut off the top and bottom too (raw pic here remember...cameraman's mistake)...should've pulled back just a little bit taking the pic. I didn't notice that it was shaved until after I went in and got the shot on my computer. Agh. This is my favorite picture though regardless.

Jump:...Jumps been kind of hit or miss as to who likes it or not. :P Some really like it, some don't like it at all.

F.N.: Actually...it's a good possibility that if I had been shooting anywhere else the symbolism of this shot would've been totally gone. This was actually just a big shovelfull of gross-looking dirt my father cleared out of another part of the yard a day or two prior...needless to say the dirt splash didn't stretch very far...But thank you for the advice, I'll take it to heart when I'm taking another picture like this.

Starburst: Do you mean to say that sunshots like this never do anything for you...or could I have done something differently to make it better?

Bob: I would've loved more color...but in the forest there's an abundance of green and chipmunks don't really listen when you ask them to go do that same pose by the flowerpot =P. Thanks for the compliment there.

Narnia: Do you mean via photoshop or while actually taking the picture?

Nightlight: It's supposed to be just kind of dark and creepy (I'll tell you it certainly was when I was taking it... bleh what a place at night.). But apparant lack of voice aside, composition-wise is it alright?

Thanks Claude...sorry for the long post, won't have to make another one of these though, now that I've explained everything.

[claudeEGYPT]

Hey!

okay, to answer some of your questions:
About Starburst: this kind of photo does not say much.. All Good photos have a message to send, like.. something you like about the subject. For example, Narnia could be about how textured, rugged or old the lamppost is in comparison to the background trees.. It could be a million other things that the interpreter sees. However, in this case, the photo does not convey any message.. i doubt anyone will find this and put it on their wallpaper.

Narnia:Yes, photoshop, it is impossible to seperate colors on your camera before the shoot.

Nighlight: Eh, composition is okay.

And dont worry about long posts, we concept art dudes like talking about the most boring details, in long long long paragraphs :)

Anyway, ask away if anything pops up in mind. ;)

[PygmyBaldEagle]

Hey guys

I was going to breakfast today and looked down at this leafy plant here and had to turn back to grab my camera.

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/1250/waterslidejq2.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/109/marchingantsdq0.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/5658/bigbrothercn4.jpg

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/5285/hangingoutme2.jpg

[PygmyBaldEagle]

First set of my girlfriend's senior pictures. We've been waiting for weeks for a sunny day to take these. It snowed last night and the clouds broke this morning, exactly what I wanted.

Like I said, first set, I'd love critiques or compliments so I can make the next set better.

1)
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/9426/img0681ajr9.jpg
2)
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/4858/img0703adm8.jpg
3)
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/931/img0725any6.jpg
4)
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8457/img0717dm0.jpg
5)
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/3324/img0778azm5.jpg
6)
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/1585/img0665ao5.jpg
7)
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/2616/img0755and5.jpg
8 )
http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/1315/img0754ajc4.jpg


And my two personal favorites...
9)
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/995/img0737ajn8.jpg
10)
http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/6323/img0776arx8.jpg

Side note -- 7 and 8 are actually two different shots, not simply an edit. Also, yes...those are my arms in number 10, but when viewed for the first time they were mistaken for a treebranch. I'm hoping that's enough of a case not to ruin that shot, mainly because it's her favorite and my second favorite.

[claudeEGYPT]

About your last batch:
I think number 3 is your best.

I feel the overall feel of your photos is too snap shoty-ish.

If you want to make it look like a pro model shoot you'd have to do some serious alterations.

But otherwise, keep clicking away, its good practice, good utilization of your camera, and i am sure your girlfreind is thrilled :)

[Nadim]

i like the first two sets with fireflower,narnia and bob as my favs.
the last set of portraits need to be approached as portrait # 4. more to think of compostion,light,posture and... perspective angles i suppose.. yeah. more unusual angles...

truly nice work Eagle.

[PygmyBaldEagle]

Thanks a lot

I liked number four a lot as well, number five is my favorite though. Is there a specific reason number five is not as liked as number four?

[Morbid]

Number five has boring straight on lighting and an ugly shadow in the bottom, so I agree with the others 4 is better. The model shots in sun would definately improve with some kind of reflector, to easy up the shadows. You could try making one yourself out of aluminium foil. I did that and it works okay, just wrap a piece of cardboard with foil. Sunlight is not the most flattering light, it gives pretty bad shadows for portrait shots (note the shadow under the nose). Considering this you did a pretty good job.

You have some nice photos, I liked Narnia and the lady bug pic. Waterslide Horizontal is neat too.

[PygmyBaldEagle]

I have a couple of pictures I've been reluctant to post. I'm not sure they're totally "up to snuff" but I need to know what I did right and wrong and if anyone likes them.

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/5987/waitinginline0ez.jpg

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/9595/writersblock0gu.jpg

I've been busy with school so I haven't had a lot of opportunity to go out and take pictures, the weather's also been pretty bleak. Oh well, I've been trying to get out, I'll have more soon I hope.

Edit: Forgot this one. It was my insignificant submission, I wanted some opinions. Background too noisy? I kind of liked it.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2795/stubborn1wu.jpg

[PygmyBaldEagle]

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4751/secretqp7.jpg

I liked how the light was hitting the trunk of this tree through the branches. It's perhaps a little softer around the edges than I wanted it, but I didn't have my monopod or tripod along and I had to take a 1/20 shot holding the camera at a weird level for my hands to hold something still. Like?

http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/8281/treestarin9.jpg

This is a set of five trees planted at Willamette University as a gift from one of the graduating classes or something way back when...I don't know, I'm not going there. Anyway, I'm really not sure about this one. It's interesting to look at but I'm scared comp is bland...that's why I'm here though, to learn.

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/2200/childrenko1.jpg

My Free-For-All submission. These white flags each represent 6 Iraqi people who have died in the "War on Terror". There are also 3000 red flags representing fallen American troops. (I'm not saying I agree or disagree with the statement, don't want a debate in here). I think the cloudy day works fairly well with the tone of the picture overall, I would've liked a sunbeam on the mother, but this works alright too. Thoughts?

[born_stubborn]

i like all your photos, about these last ones
1. looks kinda crouded and i think it`s cropped a bit too much, i mean i would want to see more tree!
2. i like it overall it`s simple and they form a star :) really nice and the composition is good
3. really great, i think some sunshine would have helped a lot but good shot

[PygmyBaldEagle]

Yeah, I understand what you're saying about Secret, unfortunately that's as is, no crop on that one, I'll keep that in mind for the next shot like that I take.

Thank you for the compliments. Yeah, some sun would've been good for children. Hopefully in the next couple days the sun will be out, I think the flags are still up and there are a bunch of trees around that statue I think would make great effects for the imagry I wanted.

Edit:
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/1386/children1uj2.jpg

It's different, but what do you think?

[Shaneo]

Dude, you’ve some nice photos overall. Think the ‘waterslide’ shot is great, good use of depth of field. The ‘Hanging out’ shot had potential but its just missing that vivid green colour the others have that would bring it to life. I think that’s more to do with the light than you skills (but you could always have lifted the ladybug onto a part of the plant that’s not in shadow….:teeth: ). I think the children (first one) shot is a good idea but I find the flags closest to the camera far to distracting (the big one on the right especially as it breaks from the main mass of flags). The second children shot, although different in composition is no less effective but has a very different feel. I like the way the flags almost frame the statue. Don’t try and decide which one is better, they both deserve to be ‘individuals’, so give em separate names! Hoped this helped some, not so sure if my advice is worth much…

[PygmyBaldEagle]

Thanks for the crits Shaneo =D

The thing that made Hanging Out suffer was that the sun disappeared for the last time that day before I took that shot. There were a few 5 or 6 minute sunbreaks that let me take the water droplet trio, but there wasn't one for the ladybug, so that was just a result of drab lighting.

Thanks for the comments on children. Personally I like the overall feel of the second one better. I've had some useful crits on both shots though, so next time I take shot like that I'll have some stuff to go off of.

Thanks againg =D