Lighting: shadows or darkness made it difficult to see subjects in the photos.
Framing: framing is determined by asking what is the purpose of the photo. Many of the photos did not focus in on the subject, so it was difficult to determine what the point of the picture was.
Background: it was obvious that when many of the photos were taken, the photographer rushed the shot and instead of selecting a nice background like flowers or trees, they settled for what was present at the moment, usually a cement wall or parking lot.
Blur: Either the subject moved or the photographer moved, but many shots were blurred as a result. Not a single shot taken using a tripod was blurred.
Back of Head: Several shots, I could not tell who the subjcet was because I could only see the back of their heads. Sometimes, this is unavoidable because the group may be in a circle, so focus on the individuals whose faces are visible. Note: on some occasions, I noticed a shot from behind is more appealing.
Closed Eyes: Many pictures had individuals with their eyes closed. It was bad luck. They blinked at the moment the camera took the shot. Take several shots. It increases the chance that at least one will come out correctly.
Smiling: All it takes is one person with a frown to lessen the quality of a photo. Ask them to smile - tell a joke - if they refuse...ask them to step out of the photo.
Cut Off Body Parts: photos will be perfect, except the top of a family member's head was cut off. Be attentive that all subjects in the photo are actually in the photo.
Action: It became obvious that the photos that were most enjoyable were the action shots. If you have a choice of taking a picture of a baseball player standing in the outfield waiting, or a picture of a baseball player making a diving catch, the latter is the more enjoyable shot. |
