Advice on photos taken!

[kanjar]

Ok I was pretending to be paparazzi today.. took some shots with my sigma 17-70 at an film awards launch over in leeds.. in total I took around 400 shots, most came out decent enough.. but would like some advice to know if im heading the right way.. remember im crap at photography really.. so be nice!!

http://www.desimalai.co.uk/images/iifa_yorkshire/launch/iifa_launch_138.jpg

http://www.desimalai.co.uk/images/iifa_yorkshire/launch/iifa_launch_208.jpg

[John C]

I like the second - the first seems a bit busy to me- I'd crop out on the left, and use a wider aperture to blur more of the background (unless this is a paid job, in which case you might upset the sponsors, I guess).

[Ragnarak]

Agree completely with John and is what I'd have said as well.

You'd improve the composition on the first a lot by cropping out most of the stuff to the left of the guy. The background is out of focus but not out of focus enough to not be a distraction.

[ps2user]

1st photo is a bit soft in focus.

2nd photo much better but i think it be better to crop the guy's face on the right of Amidabuchin(sp? hopefully its him) out would be nicer as his 1/2 a head is grabbing a bit of attention.

[still average joe]

Surely the second would be much better if the subject was looking at us. Some interaction. At the moment there is no connection.

[Wishy]

in total I took around 400 shots

I'm not commenting on the pictures as such, but that strikes me as a lot of shots. When you do the same again, don't spray and pray, take time, make sure the focus is perfect and take time out to thnk about the composition and wait for "The moment" where you either get eye contact or a great expression.

Different Scenario I know, but if you wait, the right eye contact will come http://www.flickr.com/photos/thewishy/241809221/ (Manual focus film camera, although in fairness the hi-mat doesn't give you the slightest moment of delay when you press the release, nor do you get mirror blackout)

[kanjar]

thanks for all the comments.. it turns out i have 250 photos not 400.. as for eye contact, it was really difficult to get any sort of eye contact from the guy, especially with him moving quickly to get away from the screaming fans! Thing is I will be going along to the main IIFA even in june, so this was a good testing ground to get used to taking photos in a paparazzi style way!!

so thanks for all your comments.. but any more advice would be appreciated...

[John C]

Surely the second would be much better if the subject was looking at us. Some interaction. At the moment there is no connection.

I disagree Joe - he's signing an autograph, and to me, it's natural that his attention is focussed there. To me, it would look a bit fake were he looking at the camera.

[Radiohead]

I disagree Joe - he's signing an autograph, and to me, it's natural that his attention is focussed there. To me, it would look a bit fake were he looking at the camera.

Yep - it would look too staged.