Photo Critique: Boat Dock
In this post I will talk about the featured photo and I will do a self-critique, outlining the things I did right, things I did wrong, and what I could have done better.
The featured photo in this post was taken in July 12 2013 at 21:16 with the following settings:
2 sec, ISO 100, f 18
88mm, 24-105mm, 6D
The Good
There are a few things that I did correctly in this shot.
1. Low ISO—it was set at the lowest setting the camera has, which is 100. So the noise is at the lowest level.
2. Small Aperture—I set the aperture at f 18, this way everything from the front all the way to the hills in the background are in focus. The aperture could have actually been at f 11 and the photo would still work.
3. Using tripod—because it was getting dark, and the shutter speed was at 2 seconds, in order to get a sharp image, I used the tripod to keep the camera steady.
4. Time of day—this photo was taken just after the sun disappeared behind the horizon, so the light is very soft, and there is a nice color in the sky.
The Bad
"Spray and Pray"--The main thing I did wrong while taking this photo is at the time I took this photo, I also took a bunch of photos in all directions trying to capture the changing light. Instead of focusing on one scene, on one composition, I was shooting everything I saw, and I ended up with a bunch of mediocre shots instead of one amazing shot.
Could Be Better
Here is the original shot:
The thing I could have done better is taking the time to compose the shot better. You can see in the original shot there are bushes sticking up at the bottom of the frame. If this was the only composition I was working, I would have the time to look around and probably be able to find a better spot without the bushes in the shot.
Final thoughts
Taking photos and making photos is a learning process that takes time and effort, and one of the ways to get better is to look over and analyze your own photos and learn from your own mistakes.
I believe that anyone can make the most awesome photos they can imagine! All they have to do is learn a few easy basics. I hope to inspire you to also pick up a camera and develop your own photographic vision.
If you love ths content, subscribe to my Newsletter and follow me on