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What makes a great picture?

Did some minor tweaks in Graphic Converter, then good old Preview. OP may or may not prefer it to the image his camera spit out. I gave it 2 minutes then posted mainly to show how some minor post image tweaks might be worth pursuing. Not sure if he shot at 3 MP or if that is just the resolution the website chooses for images that are downloaded. I reduced the size a bit further as it is just being posted on the web.

IMG_0115.JPG
 
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OldMacs4Me said:
Did some minor tweaks in Graphic Converter, then good old Preview. OP may or may not prefer it to the image his camera spit out. I gave it 2 minutes then posted mainly to show how some minor post image tweaks might be worth pursuing. Not sure if he shot at 3 MP or if that is just the resolution the website chooses for images that are downloaded. I reduced the size a bit further as it is just being posted on the web.

View attachment 1831209
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See that image catches my eye.
 
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The OP has zero interest in learning editing or even moving out of jpeg. Editing his photo does little to further the conversation. Even though I suspect he is not reading my replies, I still stand by my reasoning on why the lion photo is better than the frog photo. I realize you all aren't disagreeing with me, but since he is going to work within the parameters of his gear, let's talk about things he can change within the frame and how he approaches composition.

Or for others who might be in a similar position, or too new to editing to even understand how to add contrast.
 
This thread is a lost cause, but I am going to stay quiet and not say that "this thread is a lost cause," since I don't want to be placed in the troll list...once again, BUT... :)

A good thing about this thread is that those who were willing to listen to plenty of good advice relating to "what makes a great photo" benefitted from it. A very good photo is something that is out of the ordinary, one that if posted at a critique forum is highly praised by the responders. A great photo is quite superior that a good photo, however. The yellow frog and the lion aren't impressive by any means. There, I said it! Now I can rest a little as I watch TV sitting on my troll chair (I hope that I won't be shot on the spot by the "macrummors" thought and speech police) :)

Oh yes, I like Canon, but don't hate any other camera brands. Also, I don't hate PhotoShop, nor DXO, nor Graphic Converter, nor Affinity Photo, not even Photos.
 
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AlaskaMoose said:
This thread is a lost cause, but I am going to stay quiet and not say that, "this thread is a lost cause" since I don't want to be placed in the troll list...once again, BUT :)

A good thing about this thread is that those who were willing to listen to plenty of good advice relating to "what makes a great photo" benefitted from it. A very good photo is something that is out of the ordinary, one that if posted at a critique forum is highly praised by the responders. A great photo is quite superior that a good photo, however. The yellow frog and the lion aren't impressive by any means. There, I said it! Now I can rest a little as I watch TV sitting on my troll chair :)
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So what should I do given I am not using pro equipment?
 
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jwolf6589 said:
So what should I do given I am not using pro equipment?
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A good photo has nothing to do with the camera and lenses you use. It is up to the person using the camera at hand to take a photo. You don't even have to know about editing your photos, nor about photography...other than using existing light and shadow to your advantage. As you practice with the camera, learn how to make the best of it by reading the books relating to how to take good photos with it. Or just learn all the tricks to take advantage of your camera listening to advise others may offer.

Just look at the photos of photographers using pinhole, or P&S cameras, or iPhones (some which are are older models.) There are a lot of kids out there using all kinds of cameras (phones too), that take photos that are impressive if compared to mine (more interesting than mine). Look into wildlife photography from long ago when DSLR didn't exist.

If you listen to the "free" advise provided by posters in this forum, without being offended or from a non-defensive stand, you can very well become a better photographer. Pro cameras and lenses are not the issue, since a good photographer can take a "better" photo with what one would consider a piece of junk, than a bad photographer using a professional camera. Believe what I am going to tell you: the gear is not going to make you a better photographer. All it can do for you is to make it easy, like driving an old automobile with a manual transmission versus a fully automatic automobile. If you are a bad driver, it isn't going to make you a better driver.
 
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In addition to the advice above, there are numerous videos on "youtube" relating to how to take better photos with his camera. Also, there are several books about Powershot cameras that can be purchased at Amazon.
 
jwolf6589 said:
What book? I looked? Canon Powershot SX740HS
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Well there are a few books out there, including this one (don't forget to 'click" on all formats and editions):
www.amazon.com

Canon PowerShot Digital Field Guide

With this book and your Canon PowerShot, taking pictures becomes a lot more fun! The Quick Tour gets you familiar with all the settings and menus on your G, S, TX, A, or SD-series camera, so you can start shooting. Then spend some time exploring tips for getting super shots in dozens of situation...
www.amazon.com

The instructions do not have to be for your specific camera model, but for all Powershot cameras. Just see if yours is included in the books you intend to purchase (also check Barns & Noble). My recommendation would be to watch all videos relating to Canon Powershot cameras, since a lot of them have similar settings and features, and are free at "youtube."
 
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Go to the public library and take a look what they have on the shelves about learning photography......check out a couple that look interesting to you, bring them home and read them, study them, try out the exercises offered (if there are any). Some books suggest "assignments" one can do in order to actually have a hands-on experience with whatever has just been taught, and for the reader to learn by doing, by engaging in the process. There are also classic, standard textbooks often used in classes, which teach the basics and guide the reader in learning how to best use the techniques to achieve whatever goal is in mind.

Go online and see if there are any free or reasonably-priced online courses or workshops that would be helpful to you as well -- beginners' guides to photography, not something specialized. The more in-depth specialization when one learns more about and explores a specific genre comes later after the student has gotten a grasp of the basics.

Learning about the process of photography itself first is going to be of more value to anyone than specifics about a particular camera, as camera bodies come-and-go, new models come out nearly every year.
 
Ansel Adam's trilogy(The Camera, The Negative, The Print) may well be one of the best classic series of books although they can be rather technical. The Negative is still(surprisingly) relevant even in the digital era thanks to its focus on exposure.
 
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jwolf6589 said:
So what should I do given I am not using pro equipment?
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Here we go again. Most of the helpful comments on here have been about framing your shots differently and using your current camera to the best of its ability. That will help you to take better photos. But your comments if I have a great camera or my pictures are already great, come across as someone who doesn’t want to learn.
We don’t offer advice because we are saying your stuff is rubbish. We are trying to help you (and others who read this thread). Look at the comments in the POTD threads. Most people accept they still have more to learn (I know I do). But your are very defensive.
We are genuinely trying to offer you free advice and point you towards free resources. No one has said your camera is rubbish throw it away and buy this or that gear. Your gear does have some limitations, and there are better cameras out there. But if I gave you an R3 and L glass (Canon pro gear), your pictures would not be better, well certainly not on day one. The biggest limitation is the person pushing the shutter. Try taking some of the advice. Set your camera to take the highest resolution it can. Take an image. Then take the same image at your current settings and look at the difference.
Read some of the stuff or watch it in YouTube about composition and taking better images.
My early stuff was rubbish. But by posting on here and listening to advice of others I got better. I’m still not a great photographer or a pro (although I do work in the photography business), but I’m better than I was. I’m not as good as I will be yet either.
 
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AlaskaMoose said:

Well there are a few books out there, including this one (don't forget to 'click" on all formats and editions):
www.amazon.com

Canon PowerShot Digital Field Guide

With this book and your Canon PowerShot, taking pictures becomes a lot more fun! The Quick Tour gets you familiar with all the settings and menus on your G, S, TX, A, or SD-series camera, so you can start shooting. Then spend some time exploring tips for getting super shots in dozens of situation...
www.amazon.com

The instructions do not have to be for your specific camera model, but for all Powershot cameras. Just see if yours is include in the books you intend to purchase (also check Barns & Noble). My recommendation would be to watch all videos relating to Canon Powershot cameras, since a lot of them have similar settings and features, and are free at "youtube."
Click to expand...
This is a good idea. I think I ought to check out Youtube to start to learn more.
 
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Clix Pix said:
Go to the public library and take a look what they have on the shelves about learning photography......check out a couple that look interesting to you, bring them home and read them, study them, try out the exercises offered (if there are any). Some books suggest "assignments" one can do in order to actually have a hands-on experience with whatever has just been taught, and for the reader to learn by doing, by engaging in the process. There are also classic, standard textbooks often used in classes, which teach the basics and guide the reader in learning how to best use the techniques to achieve whatever goal is in mind.

Go online and see if there are any free or reasonably-priced online courses or workshops that would be helpful to you as well -- beginners' guides to photography, not something specialized. The more in-depth specialization when one learns more about and explores a specific genre comes later after the student has gotten a grasp of the basics.

Learning about the process of photography itself first is going to be of more value to anyone than specifics about a particular camera, as camera bodies come-and-go, new models come out nearly every year.
Click to expand...
Would a Youtube video on the Powershot be a good start?
 
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A YT video on the Powershot would be helpful in explaining how a Powershot digital P&S works and what all the dials and buttons and menu items do, and to a certain extent would explain how the camera's particular functions and features would be useful in achieving specific types of shots, but I doubt that it would delve deeply into the actual basic underlying skills and techniques of photography itself.

For instance, when I bought my new camera body recently, I also purchased a couple of guides to it -- not to learn how to use the camera in general or how to shoot flowers or wildlife, but rather how to set up the camera body in different ways in order to optimize its usefulness in shooting flowers or wildlife, because this camera body is rather complex and there are many setting options for the user to choose from. Some can make a minor difference, others can make a significant difference.

Some settings one will establish just once and that's it, but many of them will be settings used in specific situations and the user can fine-tune everything quite nicely and designate customizable buttons in order to quickly access settings as needed rather than needing to dive into the menu in the middle of shooting. (These are settings which go beyond quickly going from single-shot to continuous-shot (Burst) mode or from manual focus to auto focus.).

The books I purchased offer suggestions for settings, and sometimes I've tried one, decided it wasn't working for me, and have tried something else instead -- there is a lot of flexibility built in. I've had this camera a couple of weeks now and am still tweaking settings! LOL! These books, though, don't offer instructions in how to shoot a macro of a flower, insect or small object, or make recommendations on the best settings for shooting wildlife in motion (while they do indicate and explain the settings available on the camera which include eye-focus for animals and birds and the various focus tracking settings which can be used for moving subjects such as BIF). For learning how to actually learn and hone one's skills in shooting macro of flowers or wildlife I have over the years used other resources, other books......

As AFB indicates in his post, it's not about the camera itself, it is about learning to use the various techniques and understanding the concepts behind light, composition, contrast, etc., and these are the elements which create and affect a picture's quality, not so much the camera. People here have been trying to illustrate to you how learning and developing these skills will improve your photography right now with the camera you've got..... You don't need a fancy new camera, you just need to learn to get the most from what you're using right now.
 
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j.wolf, your SX740 HS has 20.3mp, right?

I'd suggest you select this as your default choice.
Always shoot at the full resolution the camera offers.
You can change that later, on the Mac.
 
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jwolf6589 said:
This is a good idea. I think I ought to check out Youtube to start to learn more.
Click to expand...

when I first got my NEX C3 about 10 years ago, this was What I read. https://lifehacker.com/basics-of-photography-the-complete-guide-5815742

and for over a decade, been looking at the daily photos thread watching how people frame their shots, get inspiration on what to shoot, etc until I was confident enough to post my own photos. There are a lot of talented photographers here who are a good resource.
 
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