I enjoy these shots, but others don't. Please, help me understand what I am doing wrong. Many thanks for any constructive critiques!
I enjoy these shots, but others don't. Please, help me understand what I am doing wrong. Many thanks for any constructive critiques!
Your 3rd and 4th images are the strongest compositionally.
Your 1st image has a very strong blue in the clouds, maybe WB adjustment would improve it. Compositionally, the railing is obstructing. This type of night shot also benefits from compositing because you can use the lights from earlier in the day (before blue hour) that will appear less aggressive, they are perhaps too powerful in this image, particularly the street lamp.
Your 2nd image is very nice. You do have some pretty strong barrel distortion going on which can be problematic for showcasing architecture.
3rd image is great as well, same problem with strong lights as first image.
The last image is excellent, the only thing I'd consider doing is reducing the blue cast from the architecture, particularly the bridge. Hope this was helpful and not harsh.
Thank you so much! This is the exact sort of feedback I was hoping to get.
What do you think might be the most beneficial right now for my future photos - learning how to do better composition or learning how to do better post processing?
My pleasure. I think shooting architecture/cityscapes is particularly challenging because you have to be aware of distortions in camera that would otherwise be largely irrelevant for other styles of photography.
If you're asking me whats the most valuable way to spend your time, I can only really speak for what I do, which isn't necessarily what you should do. Personally I pay close attention to photographers that influence me, I reference their images and see what they do that I like, as well as follow their tutorials on how they compose and what they do in post.
In addition to always working on your composing, its probably worth your time to read up on architectural photography and understand what distortions can occur in camera, what different lens do at different distances and how they affect the image, and how to correct image distortions with perspective tools in photoshop.
The reality is you want to get your image done right straight out of the camera. At the distance you seem to be shooting you're less susceptible to distortions with photography like cityscapes, but once you start getting closer and framing individual buildings, it can start to get tricky and you'll have to make some compromises, particularly if you dont have a tilt shift lens which will apparently help a lot. I don't have one so I can't speak from experience, but they are expensive specialty lens' that will eliminate most or all of the vertical distortion that you get shooting straight out of camera up close to a building.
This is an interesting architectural photography book ive been reading, worth a look if you're interested in shooting buildings. https://www.amazon.com/Architectural-Photography-3rd-Composition-Process...
Thank you!