I am currently setting up a new website but wanted to go ahead and use my low quality images in my photobucket account to get some feedback.

Currently I am shooting with Oly equipment only. A few of the photos were taken with 2 and 3 MP point/shoots...hence the low quality. I am more interested in your opinions on composition , color, etc. I have thick skin so lay it on. And thanks ahead of time.

Image 1: This is a pair of hibernating big brown bats. I like this shot but have always wondered if I could have framed it better.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/aquadoc/?action=view&current=BrownBats.jpg

Image 2: This photo was taken in an old cabin that was full of spiders. This cabin is located in the middle of a wilderness area and is not used but for the spiders and other sundry critters that have taken up residence. I hate the background of this shot...it is an old enameled appliance...but I really had no choice...and no light. This is a common house spider that has caught a ringnecked snake and then laid its egg sacs around it so that the newly hatched spiders have adequate food...

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/aquadoc/?action=view&current=snake11.jpg

Image 3: This is simply a simple cactus image. I wish I had opened the aperture more for better bokeh...but alas, it is what it is. Took this photo with a Nikon 5400.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v228/aquadoc/Arizona/?action=view&current=Ocatillo1.jpg

Any comments are greatly appreciated.

Thanks much,
C

I apologize for posting more than one image. I should have read Roman's post a little more closely. Please just review the first image if you have time.

Thanks

Hi Chas,

Welcome aboard. I am always impressed when a first person's post is in the Critique forum. I hope that you feel that this is valuable, and I look forward to your feedback later.

Composition/use of frame space - 2 - This is a tough shot to take, I think, and I have no idea what the conditions were like when you took it. However, I see a straight on photograph of the bats sitting right in the middle of the frame. There is nothing wrong with the subject being front and center, but part of me says that this does not translate well. When stuck with a shot like this - and I imagine VERY difficult working conditions - I would strive to zoom in closer if at all possible. Get as close and personal as safely possible without causing anxiety to the beastie.

Colors/White Balance - 3- The colors are rich and saturated, and the white balance looks like it is probably correct given the heavy light landing on the bats.

Exposure - 3.5 to 4 - The exposure looks right on. The shadow tones in this shot look muddied - but again, I don't know if I could have done any better.

Creative use of Aperture/Shutter - 3 - pretty standard. Given the view, my guess is that you were shooting pretty wide given the DOF...and that you had no choice but to do so.

Perspective - 3- There are no lines in the image that really draw my eye. If anything, my eyes are drawn to how strong the detail is above the bat.

Creativity - 3 - To me the subject is quite creative - and you must have done some work to see them (it is just possible that I also know NOTHING about bats, LOL). I don't think that the image captures my imagination though. Given the heavy light that you were using, it might have been interesting to see what you could do in terms of playing with it to give a greater shadow off of the large bat...hey wait..they did that in a movie. LOL.

Emotion - 2 to 3 - The shot does not capture my emotion in any way. While it is quite servicable - well exposed, in focus, etc., it does not make me go reach out and hug (or any other action, LOL) them.

Forethought/Visualization - 3 - This must have been very thought out prior to photographing.

Post processing - 3 - you could do some work with pp. As I was mentioning, the shadow tones seem to be a bit muddied. A careful use of the shadow/highlights tool might be helpful.

Thank you so much for posting your shot. Please take the time to critique someone else's work.

James

Thanks very much. I agree with your assessment. For the record, this shot was taken by holding the camera above my head while attempting to not fall down into a crevice. The conditions were very harsh. We were about 200 feet underground, doing a hibernating bat survey. The one thing cool about this shot is that the smaller, younger bat has released its grip and is sleeping almost entirely with its weight being supported by the bat underneath. This shot was not planned at all.

Again, thank you.