What can I change to get this better?

[jventer]

PLease see both pictures. I would like your comments on what I can edit and change to get a better picture?
http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww341/jventer/assignment5partcEDITEDIMAGE.jpg http://i734.photobucket.com/albums/ww341/jventer/assignment5partcoriginalpicture_2.jpg

[kat]

I would have to say the biggest thing for me is your compostition.

In the first photo I would of loved to have seen more of the flower and the little angel inside and be able to read the little sign. There is too much black space. Love the colors ..nothing better than vibrant oranges/reds!

In the second photo, is the flower in the bowl? I'm a little confused to the cut off leaf by the flower and the leaf hanging past the bowl on the bottom right. I really like the idea of this photo but think maybe if it was done vertically (same with the first) to get more of it in. It's hard to see the yellow rose with it being so far away. Oh..and one last tip, the reflection on the bowl. I don't know if you were using a flash or if its just natural, but maybe move the shooting to not face a window.

I hope this helps! In all I think you're off to a start-can't wait to see the next shots!

I should add, I love to shot vertical..it may not be the best thing but give it a shot! I try to shoot both ways when I do shots, just to get different perspective!

:)

[EJC]

I agree with Kat and would add that the background in #1 has a light patch at the bottom left that needs to be darker. Also the background in #2 could be darker to help the flower stand out more. Keep on experimenting because that's how we get better.
cheers
EJC

[Mad Aussie]

The photos are a little small for us to critique any quality issues properly but the shot 2 appears to be a bit over exposed I think.

I think the main thing here is the backgrounds are too extreme for the subjects. In fact I think if shot 1 was on shot 2's background it would be better.
What you've done in shot 1 for example is take a bright contrasted shot and given a dark background which adds even more contrast and steals any ambient light, textures blur etc from adding interest.
In shot 2 you've put a bright background that competes for attention with the light subject.

For shot 2 I'd have looked for a soft coloured background ... something in a peach or apricot colour perhaps so it was dark enough to show the edges of the vase and flower and also blend better wit hthe subjects colours as well.

Shot 1 I guess I would have used a green background or perhaps a medium grey to again isolate the subject but not plain make it look 'cut out' so to speak.

Composition I guess depends what you were going for.

Shot 1 you went for a high angle. I'd say this was fine but how about going a bit higher AND off to one side a little more as well. The idea is try not to be so subtle. Give extremes a go as well and see what works.

Shot 2 is cropped too tight on the bottom ... either cut that sucker right off or leave it in. Maybe even a low angle might look nice here.

In both cases, if you look closely at the shape of your subjects, they are taller than they are wide. Unless there's a great reason to leave them in landscape I'd be shooting those in portrait.

Hope some that makes sense to you :)

[jventer]

Thanks will work on it again