Critical opinions

Hi

we use a nikon coolpix 4100 in a nikon WP CP1 case with no external lamps or strobes (we don't have any). I would like to load up three pic's too see what you think about them.

pic1 Bubbles,Red Sea.

pic2 Bluefish,Red Sea

pic3 Moray eel, La Palma

Thanks Elli and Ted

Pic2 Blue fish in Red Sea

Pic 3 Fangtooth Moray eel (Enchelycore anatina)

I like #3 more. Numbers 1 and 2 look too "digital" to me, I think photoshop tried too hard to bring out detail from possibly underexposed images because you had no strobe. But this can be due to very high JPG compression or cropping. Do the full size originals look different? I also think that #1 and 2 lack a clear subject.

As many here would say, if you get closer to your subject you will have better results. A strobe would help too!

Luiz

I think you have a good eye for just starting, even pic 1 has a diagnal composition to it although it does not do much for me. A non diver might enjoy though. Pic two at least shows a nice composition with the right upper edge of blue water giving some nice negative space, it would be a throw away pic as there is no subject and thus no impact. The eel is good but looks very processed and saturated but still nice. Keep at it - and start looking for an SLR set up I think you have an eye and will outgrow the coolpix.

I'm going to be brutal , but bear with me, I mean no harm.

Before reading my reply, I will let you know that I'm fully aware that:

A) I'm a realitive beginner who still has much to learn

B) I'm still pretty new here, so how do I dare make a reply like this ...

we have a saying in the netherlands which translates to something like "throwing the cudgel into the henhouse".

So, in short, let's do so.

1 looks too photoshopped, I fell for the same thing when I started ou as well.

The bubbles are, how should we say, whiter than white and therefore unnatural.

2 seems slightly out of focus to me and I have no clear idea what you're trying to show me. Is it the fish or the coral?

3 is nice, but a maybe a bit overprocessed on the colors as the colours start looking unrealistic to me.

Again, I may sound harsh, but I wouldn't have it any other way when you critique my pics, because there are few better ways of learning...

And in the end, we all would like to become better photographers

(or phototaker as I prefer to call myself