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G'day strangers. It's been ages since I've posted any images here. Well, I'm about to make up for it by posting some of my favourite photos from my recent trip to Italy. Many thanks to Craig for the loan of his 18-200VR with which most of the photos were taken.

I'd love to hear your thoughts about my photos, especially how to improve them. One thing I've noticed is that the colours are slightly different compared to what I'm looking at in Lightroom 2. The black point is also not as dark (most notable in the photo of the Parthenon below). All the photos were saved as sRGB when converting to jpeg.

Finally, I'm really keen to make up a photobook for my girlfirend's birthday and would love some recommendations. Not sure if I should make this a new topic. I've never designed one before and don't have InDesign. Nor do I have an ABN for many of the professional services.

Thanks,

St Peter's


The Pantheon


Walls of Rome


Via della Conciliazone


The rest of the photos can be seen http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewsimages/

I'd love to hear your thoughts about my photos,

I really like the last one and for that matter the more I look at #3 and #1 the more I like them too. The last one is a classic 'looking thru the door' shot, the lamp poles really add to the image to lead the viewer thru the image

The first and third images I reckon could be improved with some symmetry, the first would look great with the opening in teh roof and text smack bang in the middle of the frame, but obviously this may have not been possible give the location.

The brick wall has appeal to me, but needs symmetry or the complete inclusion of that door down the bottom to add to it. That said, it looks like a very interesting wall

The Pantheon one does very little for me, but thats just me

would love some recommendations

there was some discussion on these awhile ago but not being interested in them at this point I did not take too much attention, I am sure someone else will pipe in and link to it or comment further!

Oh these bring back fond memories Andrew.
I like the time line shown in #3. Continual building over centuries.
I would like more symetry in #1, but that may just be me.
Perhaps a slight crop? I know you could not get right unerneath for the initial shot

I know you could not get right unerneath for the initial shot

hmmm, yeah that figures

Andrew
WOW! What a trip! And some great photographs to boot. Nice to see you enjoying yourself....that's what life's about.

I am going to buck the trend here...I think all the images are nice...BUT it was #2 that jumped out at me!

I agree that #1 and #3 can be improved in terms of composition, but #1 has a beautiful colour to it.

#4 could do with a straighten but it does convey a bit more of location than the others.

Great work!

Only the last one does it for me. The rest are a bit too abstract, and not enough 'Rome'.

Great photos mate, looking forward to seeing some more. The last one is definitely my favourite of these selection you've just nailed the composition, lighting and the elements within the frame. I also think the first two work really well, I think the first could benefit from a curves tweak, and the second is a tricky exposure but I think you've done well, I'd like to see a bit more detail in the shadows if you can recover it without adding too much noise ? Perhaps a candidate for HDR treatment ?

Andrew

Of this group the first three are standouts IMHO, but #4 doesn't grab me.

#1 - well of course I'd like it wider like this (a fisheye would have been nice), but even with the tight crop there is just so much wonderful detail here and the colour balance is spot on. One to frame extra large.

#2 - a really different image - I like your great use of space in this and the crop is about right. Is there ANY detail in the black? If so it may make the image better so it doesn't look like two circles pasted onto a black background.

#3 - the asymmetry doesn't bother me - it's the layers and detail of the shot that grabs me. Another to print nice and large

#4 - far too dark at the top (is it vignetted or perhaps a grad ND?) the whole image seems dull, lacking in punch. Compositionally it's fine I'd just like to see a different treatment.

I've also checked out your Flickr images and there are a lot of other brilliant shots there. This one particularly stood out:

All are very good images. I really like the composition and "feeling" of number 4, it really makes me feel like I'm there. I agree that maybe the vertical lines could be a tad straighter. Number 3 is crying out for a contrasting element - a person somewhere to add scale and story would make it a ripper.

Ahh, Rome - I'd love to get back there one day and visit my stolen luggage

Frank

I really like the contrast in the last one and the abstract nature of the 3rd. Looks like a great trip.

Alex