Have succumbed..

[toothycat]

..and started a Flickr account, after spending many an evening drooling at blogs like this. I can't really pretend enough dedication to photography to date for it to even rank as a hobby. But I want to learn more.

So.. *cringe* *whimper* ..crit invited.

Comments

[soundslikebuuu.livejournal.com]

I can't pretend to know much about photography, but...

This image has nice symmetry. Cool!

The colours on this look pale at first, but the subtle balance of it is more appealing. ^__^ Nice!

This is cute but it's a shame that the very top of that roof in the back is cut off. Otherwise, it'd be perfect. ^_^;

Also, don't be afraid to use photo editing software to touch up your photos, if you don't already. Mostly, they're great for colour balance or lighting adjustment. Especially for images like this, adjusting levels a bit can bring out a whole load of colour you wouldn't have expected was there. ^_^

Photography is fun! Do more! XD I hope I wasn't too mean!

[toothycat]

Thank you! I did actually attempt several versions of the one with the roofs at the time, but the colours looked washed out on the one where everything was in shot.. ;_; I'll get there yet! ^_^

[pinkapplejam.livejournal.com]

Totally! Everyone edits ^_^ It's more of a challege to get it right immediatley but it's not cheating and depends what you're aiming for. The dandelion-stalk wispy one is so cute! :3 Go for it!

[dock.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's cool! My favourite one is the one of the roofs! Are you going to start a photo blog?

[toothycat]

That would be cool... certainly I intend to practice lots; when my results are a little more consistently bearable, perhaps!

[kazuhiko04.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think you've got a very good eye for this. I certainly can't claim photographic knowledge myself but I think the composition in Cranes and Dinghy are excellent.

Incidentally, of the photos on the hchalkley blog, I'm amused to see you picked up on the same one I did in your favourites. The picture of 'Rebekka's niece' is stunning.

Practice

[(Anonymous)]

I think the main rules to follow if you want to improve your photography:
1) Take a camera with you everywhere
2) Take lots of photos - some of them might be good
3) Get closer to the subject, crop the image
4) Make full use of the tonal range from shadows to highlights
5) Think about angles and thirds in composition
6) Get some colour in the photo
6) Break the rules occasionally

(A quote: one out-of-focus picture is a mistake; ten out-of-focus pictures are an experiment; one hundred out-of-focus pictures are a style)

I'm pleased people like some of the photos I have selected for the blog. I'm doing it both to highlight some of the great work on flickr and to try to identify my own taste in photography.

Howard Chalkley
http://www.hchalkley.co.uk/blog/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hchalkley/