Hey gang,
I'm a new photographer trying to break out of my snapshotty ways. I took these photos at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum the other day and I've shown my friends and coworkers who are much more experienced photographers and all seem to like them, but I'm looking for more impartial criticism. Y'all don't know me and don't care about hurting my feelings, so let me have it. What could have I improved either in the shooting or the editing? These were shot on a Sony RX10 IV (it's actually my first camera and I'm definitely in the market for something more capable) with its 1-inch sensor and built-in 24-600mm f2.8-4 lens.
Overall, I dig the shot. The photo shows great symmetry. The verticals on the pillars aren't straight but that's ok given the perspective of the shot. The details are sharp and overall the color looks good. My couple of small critiques:
The color temp changes a bit on the left from the natural light spilling in from camera right. Shots like this, especially symmetric shots, really benefit from a color palate that doesn't mix in or minimizes the natural light coming in. The interior lighting is warm and really helps bring out the color tones of the subject matter. I'd look into getting rid of the exterior light reflections in the bottom left hallway to match the color and tone of the opposite side of the image.
Going off of the same symmetry angle, the brightness of the dome up top could benefit from a uniform luminosity on the right and left sides. the right side looks like it's lit nicely with what appears to be some cove lighting but it's a little darker on the left side. again, it's a nitpick, but this is the kind of stuff that, in my opinion, takes a good photo to a great photo.
Lastly, the biggest item is the lighting on the centerpiece sculpture. I get that this is a darker marble and it's a material that seems to just absorb light, but it needs to be lit better with some off-camera flash and then blended in, or if you have a multiple exposure set check the longer exposure and see what kind of details come out in the sculpture. you don't want it to be lit from all angles and "flat" - this will really benefit from a strong light/dark contrast to bring out those fine details. Your eye immediately goes to this centerpiece and it then strains to try to make out the details. Light it up more to make those details easier for the viewer to take in.
Overall I think it's a really cool shot and, with a little work, could be absolutely stellar. Thanks for sharing it!
edit: I didn't critique the second photo, it personally doesn't do much for me as you have competing subjects in the frame (window and statue underneath).
I really appreciate your thoughts. Thank you. I didn't even think about blending multiple exposures but that's definitely something to consider going forward.