feedback please!?

Question: What do you think of my photography!? I'd like some advice/feedback please!!?

http://flickr!.com/photos/alisa_m/

How am i doing!? I'm just a novice photographer, a shutterbug if you will! But i've been told i have a keen eye, and i'm wondering if i'm any good!. Any feedback!?
Criticism & advice is welcome as well!.

Thanks so much :]Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Very nice!. I reckon you could be a freelance photoghrapher and sell to magazines like Time and National Geographic!.

Really for a novice im impressed they look professional!.

You got style most definately but for the one of the stone elephant you didn't get a shot of the whole elephant so that would be my only critique!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

These are largely snapshots, taken without much preparation or forethought by the looks of them, on the spur of the moment!. They are variable in quality, and most of them are not well composed!. Some of the Great Wall of China shots in the mist have a certain mysterious attraction, but mainly they are for personal consumption only, and haven't got much in the way of real photographic quality!. You need to learn about composition, exposure, and perhaps think about getting a camera that you have some control over!. It looks like most of these are point and shoot shots!. At least, I hope they are!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Looks like you take pretty good pictures, whether instinctively or purposely!. I like that your subject usually fills most of the frame (but that's not necessary for great pictures) and with outdoor pics, unless you're taking pictures OF the sky, keep the sky to a minimum - which you are doing anyway!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

You have some decent shots and a lot of snaps!. They are better than the average snapshot!. Many of them are in the "I stood here and took a shot" category!. You are doing fine for a shutterbug!. My favorite was the Shanghai commuters, but I would crop it a bit tighter!. Keep learning and practicing and your skill and images will improve!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Excellent!. Keep up the good work!. I'm a novice as well and have found Adobe Lightroom to be an excellent way of playing with my photos!. Being able to side-by-side compare the original with an edited version helps me see how to improve positioning, exposure, etc!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

it dosent look professional!. it looks like a tourist took some pics!. its lacking!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.!.art and culture!. you didnt grasp it!. and you should take some daring photos instead of just the monuments!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

the cat and bird photo is zoomed in too much, the whole cage should be part of the picture and the cat should actually be staring at the bird, not away from it! But otherwise, good pics!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Great Photographs dear, really capturing that moment
i loved that star shaped vegetarian dumplings, really goodWww@QuestionHome@Com

It may just be the weather, but everything looks dark & kind of muted tones!. You could learn how to use photoshop or some other photo edit program just to clear up issues like that!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Some of these shot are excellent! Keep experimenting with different Angles and where your lighting is!. Doing fine so far buddy!. Keep it upWww@QuestionHome@Com

loved your pictures, they took me places and showed me new things!. that is what pics should do!. Only one photo was dark!.!. Good Job! Keep Going!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

wow very nice i want to go on your next trip with you lol you really do have a talent!. i enjoyed looking at your photos!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

very professional!!!!Www@QuestionHome@Com

looks pretty professional!Www@QuestionHome@Com

you're reaaaally good =)Www@QuestionHome@Com

your photographs are really good!Www@QuestionHome@Com

Ooooooh some of this is really good! I should show you some of mine!.!.!. :DWww@QuestionHome@Com

wow, these are gorgeous!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Hey disco, you are off to a good start, let me see if I can help you a bit!.

First, your compositions in general are decent, some are actually really well composed shots!. Here is what I noticed:

1) A lot of your travel shots are what we call "walk up shots!." These are shots that everyone simply walks up to, and snaps away at!. The problem with this is that it shows the same stuff, from the same angle that we have all seen a thousand times!. You will get much more interesting shots if you can shoot from angles that are not so common, like down low, or up high!. A lot of your more casual nature and playful shots, like "wish" are much better at showing a unique angle!.

2) Your shots lack depth of field, or "bokeh!." Almost every shot with the exception of "wish" is virtually completely in focus!. Now, this is ok when everything in the composition needs to be in focus, like for a gorgeous landscape that has so much beautiful detail you don't want to lose!. However, in most of your pictures, you have a particular subject in mind!. Those subjects would pop off the page much more if you controlled the depth of field and blurred out the background!. The only thing is, in order to do this you need to be able to control your aperture!. If you are using a point and shoot, which it looks like you might be, you most likely will not have this option (unless it is an advanced full feature point and shoot)

But anyway, great work, try to keep these things in mind, and keep snapping away!. Only way to get better is to keep shooting and studying!

---
Pye
Los Angeles Wedding Photographer
Lin and Jirsa Photography
http://www!.linandjirsa!.comWww@QuestionHome@Com