First time to this forum - thoughts on these images

[drdesigns]

Hi Everyone,

I am fairly new to Smugmug. Been using it for about 3 months.

I purchased a new Rebel XT back in May. I am still learning it. Photography has been a lifelong hobby, mostly shots of family and friends. I am to the point where I would like to spread my wings a little and get some constructive feedback on some photos. So look at the ones below and tell me what you think. Which ones do you like and why? Which ones could be made better and why?

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/32001908-M.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/32104954-M.jpg
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/32104977-M-1.jpg

You are also welcome to look at the this gallery. Some of them are simply snapshots to show family members and are not very good.
Foster Kitten Gallery (http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/727339)

[gus]

G'day & welcome to D/grin drdesigns. #2 is my favorite.

If you like you can put the photo into the thread. As you are typing your post..copy the shot from S/mug as you did but instead of pasting it into the post...left click on the square yellow symbol with the mountain in it & when a box appears above..paste it into that.

Gus

[drdesigns]

Thanks Gus! I was trying to figure it out as you were posting. Being on a Mac makes it more difficult for some reason. But I found the thread that explains how and after a couple of tries it works great!

[Harryb]

Welcome to Dgrin and thanks for sharing your shots.

Cute shots of the dog and kitten with the second shot being the best. The focus seems to be a bit soft on #1 & #3. On 2 & 3 you cut part of the dog off and the pics would have been better if you had the whole dog in frame. On the first shot there is a bit of a tilt to the right I would have tried to correct that in my post processing.

The second shot is a really good capture. :thumb

Looking forward to seeing more of your shots.

[ltdesignphotovideo]

I agree with HarryB. I like the second shot the best. It either needs one extreme or another. Either the whole dog or a tight crop of the dog and kitten as follows. Just a suggestion. I like to feel like I'm there in the midst of whatever is going on. Other than that, your shots are great. Keep spreading those wings.
-t

Again, just a suggestion.

[Steve Cavigliano]

Hiya dr and welcome to Dgrin :wave

These shots are so darn cute :lust Those 2 look like they get along extremely well. Least I didn't see any blood, or flyin fur in your pics....LOL

I agree with Harry about the tilt in the 1st shot. Also I think the kitty is on the edge (exposure-wise).

#2 is priceless. Color, sharpness and exposure are all right on :thumb :thumb I'd suggest maybe cropping a bit off the right side so the kitten and dog face are larger. It's the "nose-to-nose" contact that makes this pic, IMHO. The rest of the dog's body and the steps on the left of the frame add little, if anything to the shot. Very, very nice work on this one :clap

While not as "cute" or sharp as #2, #3 could also benefit from some cropping, IMO. Personally, I'd crop about a 1/3 of the right side out. The dog's face and the kitty's face are aligned so nicely and I like the action of the kitty climbing over the dog's leg.

Nice as they are, cropping tighter may improve them even more. Again, just my opinion.

Thanks for sharing these and I can't wait to get home to show them to my 16yo daughter who is an animal nut. I can already hear her high pitched "Oohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Daddy, they're so cute" comment... :rofl

Steve

[benbo]

Welcome to dgrin. Really loveeeeeee the 2 one. Keep shooting and sending.
BenBo

[drdesigns]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Per your suggestions I have tweaked this shot. Proportionally I used a 5x7 format.
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/32388584-M.jpg

Taking your suggestions into consideration I also modified these two:
http://www.smugmug.com/photos/32389859-L.jpg
Do you think I should photoshop out the black iron rail that is showing up?

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/32394011-L.jpg

[Osprey Whisperer]

Yes...welcome and thanks for sharing your pictures with us. Becareful..Hallmark might be calling soon. Just ask Harry. :D

Cheers

BMP

[justinunger]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Per your suggestions I have tweaked this shot. Proportionally I used a 5x7 format.


Much better! http://dgrin.com/images/smilies/thumb.gif

Animal pictures are much better when you don't cut off the feet!