Critique my picture!

[AlphaDogg]

I took this photo yesterday, as the weather was changing. The temperature dropped 20 degrees in less than half an hour and the wind picked up from about 5mph to nearly 30mph. I was facing away from the sun and turned around to see this beautiful scene. What do you think? It's HDR, but I have the original also.

It's huge, click it for larger.

Here's the original:

 

[fireman32]

I like it but to me the bench is very distracting. If that was not there and just the retaining wall led my eye up to the bridge and it would be a lot better. but otherwise I like the shot. Just my .02

 

[28Gauge]

I'm no photography expert, but the image seems underexposed in many areas of the photograph.

 

[AlphaDogg]

Well I returned to the scene tonight and shot some more, keeping your suggestions in mind. They are all HDR, but if any of you think that it detracts from the picture, I'll post the originals. I think the iPhone 5's camera is damn capable, but it's no DSLR. Don't be fooled by the sun and the blue sky, today's high temperature was about 45ºF.

And here's one of a nearby scene, but I don't think it's nearly as good.

Two more; which picture of my bike do you prefer?

 

[JodyK]

Taking an interest in photography is great! I like the first pic of the bike better. I am impressed no purple lens flare it the pics that have been documented on the forums in pics with a bright light source.

 

[AlphaDogg]

Taking an interest in photography is great! I like the first pic of the bike better. I am impressed no purple lens flare it the pics that have been documented on the forums in pics with a bright light source.

You just have to properly put the sun inside the frame.

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What do you guys think of these new pictures I took today? I took them while biking up (of course stopping to take the picture) Lookout Mountain in Golden, CO. It was really cold, as you can see by the frozen trees (that's ice, not snow).

Then here's a couple from today that I don't like as much:

 

[avro707]

You just have to properly put the sun inside the frame.

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What do you guys think of these new pictures I took today? I took them while biking up (of course stopping to take the picture) Lookout Mountain in Golden, CO. It was really cold, as you can see by the frozen trees (that's ice, not snow).

HEY - cut that out!! I wish I was there riding there and not in lousy damn Sydney. Green with envy. Nice.

 

[JustForSneaks07]

Crop out the bench in the first photo.

 

[fireman32]

Much better pic without the bench. I like how you kept the leading line coming out of the bottom right corner.

As far as the bike pictures I like the 2nd one as I am not as distracted by the buildings in the background.

The road shot I prefer the top one as I think it was composed a bit better. Nice job!

 

[AlphaDogg]

Thanks everyone for the compliments and suggestions. Here are some more from today. I really should change the title to "critique my pictures"

 

[Ddyracer]

Then here's a couple from today that I don't like as much:

This looks the best, got the sky in top thirds, almost everything is well lit, i would say it's not underexposed except maybe the dirt hill on the right.

Just a little disclaimer: I am no photographer, just saying what i see from my small photography knowledge.

 

[AlphaDogg]

look better

I don't understand. Please elaborate.

 

[Plymouthbreezer]

Makes me sad to think I spent all that money getting my BFA... Should have just posted a thread on MR for free crits.

In all seriousness, pay attention to where lines enter the frame and leave. The bench is a bit distracting, but could be included if you really think about the positioning. I'm always big on a few things:

Make sure little things don't enter the frame if they seem out of place. An example of this would be the foliage from the tree that peaks in the frame in your revised bridge shot.

Composition! Your seem to have a good sense of it, and naturally seem inclinded to frame your photos "properly." Try and do this in the field, rather than post. Of course, sometimes you find a photo looks way better on your screen than you saw it through the viewfinder.

Level horizons and verticle verticles. Not saying you aren't doing this, it's just weird to see the horizon not dead level, or a building not plumb. I find that this is often the biggest novice photography mistake.

 

[plixyloren]

Nice hardwork to make it better

 

[AlphaDogg]

Thanks all for being critics!

I have more pics!