My photo's

[Gatepc]

Ok so I am new here so if i am doing something wrong let me know :) now I dont yet, own a DSLR or even a camera for that matter but here are some of my best photos i have taken with a point and shoot tell me what you think in a nice manner :) ( they ware edited in aperture )
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/2852780138_0f9214eea9.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/2787927795_2d0458c358.jpg

[Hallow's Maiden]

I love the turtle pic... I think its great! i am just a newb too but the way the turtle is peeking at you casually strolling out from behind the rock looks like you caught him in his natural habitat (in spotlight) and he's saying Aloha!... or stop spying on me :) i can't tell you anything really technical. I will leave that to the senior members. I am already learning alot from them... enjoy and good luck!

[mindforge]

The visual weight on the bottom picture looks weird because of the open space on the left... it's almost like my eye is drawn to it and not kept dancing around the lines in the image. Instead of vertically centering the shot you should have got low and followed the rule of thirds for the composition of the shot.

The all black background bothers me a little. That is a personal thing though, I like to see environments of subjects even if they are out of focus. Also that thing on the left... it is a visual stop. When you compose the vertical placement of your subject think about the rule of thirds and then move to where you can land the subject following that rule... once you know the rule, you will begin to know when to break it.

Both are good pictures, but it is the small fine details that make pictures really shine.

[Travis]

Nice shots...

IMO... there are distractions in both of these shots and they are both at camera left...

In shot 1 positioning a little more camera right may have gotten a little more of the head in the shot and a little less of the distractive material in the foreground

In shot 2 the light post cut off at the bulb is distracting you could either back up include the full post in the frame or you could move a little more forward to get it out of the frame.. compositionally the strength of this photo is the diagonal paths leading to the subject

good work though.. just some things to think about..

[Marko]

Very good critiques so far!

I'll add to it a bit. The texture on the turtle's shell is excellent. But in any kind of portrait it's almost always about the eyes. This photo would be even stronger if the turtle's right eye was lit and he/she was facing the camera a bit more.

[Gatepc]

thanks for you advice :)

[Gatepc]

that picture of the turtle was taken at a zoo with a 90 dollar point and shoot camera so as you might imagine i didint have much control on anything lol

i really cant wait to get my first DSLR around x-mas when i have enough money :)