Beginner Professional Critique

James Blonde

James Blonde

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Scott
Edit My Images
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I'd really like to get a professional critique of my work, but I've got absolutely no idea if people do that?

Basically, I think I've plateaued, and I've got absolutely no idea if my work is any good, how to make it better, where to go from here, or even whether to bother - my motivation is waning! I've entered a few competitions, but one of the problems with this is you never hear how your image did, or why it didn't progress. Friends will never critique work - they'll generally just give you platitudes, and the same goes for a few of the forums I'm part of. It's a bit of a mutual appreciation society, and can be a little bit cliquey.

Ideally, what I'd like to do is find a photographer who's work I like and respect, get them to have a look at a range of what I'd consider my best work, and see what they think - constructive criticism, pointers, next steps, don't give up your day job, etc. Actually, ideally I'd probably be looking for a mentor if they thought I was worth the effort, but I suspect that's asking too much for a lazy hobbyist! :D

Do professionals do that?? Just to be complicated, I mainly do landscapes!
 
James Blonde said:
and the same goes for a few of the forums I'm part of. It's a bit of a mutual appreciation society, and can be a little bit cliquey.
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Not this one, if you really want critique you will get it, you just need to ask. Conversely, lots of people think they want critique when they really don't.

There are some excellent pros who hang out here but there are also some excellent amateurs/hobbyists and their motivations are often different. I travel, for fun, a lot and that is the main source of my photographic mojo, I'll think nothing of dropping stackloads of cash on an adventure that just wouldn't be possible in all but a very few photographers' business plan.

That's not to say I'm a great photographer but I have the luxury of a well paid job to fund my hobbies and indulge myself, most advice I hear from pros is "write a business plan". So, without a clear vision of what you want out of photography it will be difficult to give specific advice.
 
Scott, you forget there is no magic formula for the perfect photograph - everything is subjective!!! ;)

For instance, think of some of really iconic photos... El Capitan by Ansel Adams - if you don't like landscapes, you'll look at it and think 'so what?' and this applies in every genre of photography. It's very subjective and what may appeal to one judge / photographer / mentor may not appeal to another.

Have you had a look at the RPS website? They have a gallery which regularly changes and showcases lots of different styles and genres and they have groups you can join if you are interested in a particular genre. Some camera clubs are also more interested / successful in certain styles than others, and it might be worth finding out what your local ones are like...
 
Nawty said:
Not this one, if you really want critique you will get it, you just need to ask. Conversely, lots of people think they want critique when they really don't.
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Thanks for the reply Ned. I think I do want a critique, but I know what you're saying and I keep asking myself that question.... am I ready for the criticism? Especially if it's anonymous? I don't know, but what am I ever going to learn about my level of photography or what I have to do to improve if I don't? Can you tell I over-analyse? ;) I'd also be conscious that if I did post to the forum, I'd want to post a fair number of photos - I guess a portfolio for want of a better term. Dunno if that's the done thing round here? I guess that's why I'd be after a more tailored level of critique.

In terms of a plan, I guess at the moment it's to be able to submit a photo to a competition and either get it shortlisted, or understand why it wasn't and improve next time. Not sure I'm at a business plan stage, though I do obviously have a website with stuff for sale - which obviously doesn't sell! :) But that's just me trying to be opportunistic - if I wasn't so insecure in my work, I'd probably push it more and not just upload any old rubbish thinking it might sell.

And thanks Maria - I have looked at the RPS in the past and you're absolutely right - I know what I like, I guess I just don't know if people like what I like, or like what I do - or even whether it's even technically any good. I've been taking photos forever, but I do lack a degree of confidence in, or awareness of my ability.
 
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Landscape photography?
Don't quit your day job...

Most professionals don't have the time/motivation to take on a student/protege... unless you pay for it. Best bet is just to post some up for critique... and become "a part of" a forum so you get an idea of just how much "value" you place on what others say. But every opinion has some value, and there is usually something that can be learned.
 
Well a good start would be posting a link to your website ;)

As Maria says above, art is subjective and having a particular aim of winning a specific competition means you need to know what that judge likes so the first thing to is to look at that. However, that is a step down a road of unfulfilment, the best artists find what they love and shoot that and it is their passion that shows through as great photography.

By the way, have you ever asked a judge why you didn't do better?
 
It is indeed on my profile page, but...

www.scott-rae.com

Flickr might be better in that it's more up to date and probably easier to view, though there is more chaff in there:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/scottierae/

Oh I know I'm never going to be able to give up my day job if I stick with Landscapes, it's always going to be a hobby, but it's a degree of seriousness of the hobby, and an element of answering the question of whether to invest / upgrade / try a bit harder, or am I wasting my time. As for the competitions, they were the "In at the Deep End" competitions like LPOTY - the ones you'd never hear back from even if you asked. Don't know enough about other competitions to know what to enter? Naive or what! ;)

Steven - In terms of a critique, you're probably (almost certainly) right about needing to take part to understand the value of what I'm getting back. I used to spend a lot of time on forums, so know the value of them, but just haven't had the time to invest since I joined on here. There is definitely an element of trepidation and - dare I say it - fear about going public though. Poor excuse I know, but that's partly why I thought professional critique - it's a quick, easy, vaguely anonymous option, that yes, I'd have to pay for. Mentoring wouldn't be so easy I suspect.
 
not much in the way of critique from me I'm afraid other than really beautiful work, and you might want to charge a wee bit more for your smaller prints, and maybe even consider not featuring the giant sizes in normal circumstances
 
I wouldn't be concerned about "going public." We all sucked at some point, and to some extent we all still do... at least in some ways/some areas.

There *will* be those who offer more "critique" than "constructive," and there *will* be those whose criticism/advice isn't terribly well founded... but I'd rather get the truth than have someone blow smoke...

And in the end, it's all just "opinion" and the only one that *really* matters is yours.
 
I'm a member of an organisation that offers mentoring and portfolio reviews, so they do exist.

In your case, I'd probably ask what you actually want to achieve, because I think that the first step towards a goal is knowing what it is. You say that you don't know if your work is any good. Have you actively compared it with other photographers, or sat down and worked out exactly why you think a particular photograph is good or better than another? To make your work better, you need to decide where it's failing to achieve your aims. Another person can tell you how to make a photograph their way, but not how to make it your way. Your own style is important, and that comes from knowing yourself; how you see things, how you relate to things, what you want to say through your photographs. Get the feeling into your photographs and you're more than halfway there.

As to viewing your website etc., personally I hate the way flickr "arranges" photographs with zero breathing space and relies on impact rather than merit to attract attention. When they went over to this style, I deleted my flickr account and don't look at flickr. Others doubtless are less prejudiced/jaundiced.
 
I quickly looked at your flickr... my one main comment is that it seems you are frequently relying on heavy processing (fake IR, heavy B&W, HDR, etc) rather than exceptional scenes/compositions/exposure.

That's why I don't do much landscape work... it takes a whole lot of time/effort/luck for all of those things to come together.

But I did also see some images I thought quite nice, and I didn't look that hard.
 
Thanks for engaging with me in this, it's appreciated!

Thanks Dave - pricing and sizing were things I really struggled with when I set up. I looked at a few sites and thought I'd plonked myself in the middle, but maybe I've gone too low? If I sell something once every 6 months I feel lucky, but I'm not pushing the site and there are some rubbish images on there which I really need to remove. Not entirely happy with the site either - a bit clunky and doesn't show off the pics so well, but dunno how to better change it given the templates.

Stephen, I'm potentially interested in your organisation, though I think I need to answer those questions (or be able to!) before I actively pursue it? I guess I've got a view of what I think is good and what I don't and I do compare my (comparable) work against both. Sometimes I see exactly why an image works, and I occasionally see it in some of my work. Other times I see an image I don't think works yet it gets far more positive feedback than images I consider better, and sometimes it would be nice to just be able to ask what they see in it that you don't and be re-educated if needs be! :D Don't worry, I do understand that everyone's view is different! I've got some thinking to do about exactly what my aims are. I do have them - maybe I need to write them down. Simple things...

Steven, thanks. I'd be interested in a couple of examples of what you'd consider too much, and a couple you thought nice if you'd be willing? Though there is some rubbish on my Flickr stream - I'm less fussy about it. I have a sneaking suspicion I wouldn't disagree with your assessment! :)
- I keep dabbling with False Colour IR, but I'm never sure whether I like it or not. It almost always gets over processed, I guess to give it a more surreal, dreamy (or nightmarish) touch, but I suspect I should stop it and stick to B&W processing.
- I do tend to process my IR B&W (I very rarely process colour images into B&W... dunno why?) as full contrast and structure, then up the structure (and maybe knock a little off the contrast) as I like the detail, so they are definitely not so subtle.
- In terms of HDR, Hmm... I've only got a few actual genuine multi-shot bracketed HDR photos, most of which are over-done! :D I think I've only got 1 HDR image I really like, which was subtle and could have been processed from a single image (in fact I did later process it from the middle exposure of the 3 just to see). In general though I do possibly lift the shadows and drop the highlights in ACR, possibly add a grad to the sky, and then up the structure a little more, which could give the effect of turning my normal single exposure images into an HDR like image? Does that tally with what you're seeing? Am I just trying to turn a photo into something it's not?

I really need to try some other genres! :D
 
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The one thing you did perfectly was separating the really beautiful pictures from the chaff - and those pictures are really beautiful and very well done!

TBH I wouldn't overdo the HDR aspect - IMO if you can tell it's HDR then it's overdone - but although I can see a few examples of it I think you have got the processing just right - and non photographic people would certainly not notice it.

Frankly I cannot see why you feel that you have plateaued - if you have plateaued then it is only because the quality of your work is so good it can hardly be improved upon in any major way.

One tip I would offer is not to keep looking at your pictures and trying to find problems - when I have become "saturated" with editing my own pics and think I'm going wrong somewhere I simply pack it in for that day - or two - then come back later and look at them again with a fresher eye.

I find that works very well for me.
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I know a good photographer when I see one, and you most certainly are. And FWIW I like your post-processing style, maybe pull it back a bit but, either way it gives your work a personal stamp.

Join a camera club and get stuck in - you get back what you put in. Competitions always play a big part. All camera clubs are affiliated to the The Photographic Alliance of Great Britain http://www.thepagb.org.uk/

Have you tried studio work? IMHO that often sorts the men from the boys ;) One of the problems with landscape and scenics in general is you can only shoot what you find, and that's often directly related to how much time you spend pounding the streets or scouring the landscape. With studio work, you literally start with a blank canvas but have total control and everything you create is yours. Learn about light. It can be very satisfying and a change of direction might pump up your mojo.

New kit always gives you a lift too, so treat yourself to something shiny. Studio flash, or a bunch of speedlites? Then a project, with a theme. A friend of mine shot a load of people at work, in black & white, then put up a mini exhibition in reception. He got plenty of feedback (they were bluddy good) and a few requests too.
 
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James Blonde said:
Does that tally with what you're seeing? Am I just trying to turn a photo into something it's not?
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Yes, that's pretty much it IMO. I think you know the better images... they wind up in your gallery/other site.

FWIW, I'm not "anti" anything... I even like selective color in the (rare) case where it suits the subject/scene/purpose. But when it (or any other processing) is used in an attempt to "create something" after the fact, it seldom ever really works.
IR/B&W work is particularly hard IMO. Because you have to be able to "see" what it is you are going to be capturing/creating if you're going to be creating really great work... or you have to get very lucky. I was never very good at "seeing in B&W," I'm probably worse at it now, and I'm certainly no good with IR as I've never used it.
 
Wow, thankyou both! :D

Peter, I guess I've never asked for a meanigful critique or feedback before, even after all these years of taking photos. It's only been in the last few years that I decided my pics belonged somewhere other than my hard drive, and that justified my camera upgrade. As I said, I've not pushed my photos, website or Flickr, and I really should have got out there a bit more and actively sought feedback - maybe I would have been a bit more secure in my work before now! Thanks for the advice too - I do try to be conscious about getting too engrossed in what I'm doing - usually about 1am by which point it's too late...! :)

Thanks Richard! I've moved to Scotland in the last 6 months, and it looks like the local camera club starts up again next week, so I think I'll go along. I've also been doing a 52 week challenge with a new subject every week, and I've been using that to experiment a bit and I think that's been the one thing that's kept me going when I've felt a bit demotivated and flat this year. Studio or outdoor portrait work does interest me I have to say - I've never done it, but I'm definitely curious! In fact, I've generally avoided taking staged photos of people - maybe I need to experiment a bit more! Hmm there's a cheap set of studio lights for sale on a local Facebook sales and wants page.... As for shiny kit in general, you're right, in the past it has tended to reinvigorate my photography (and motivation), though as with last time I upgraded anything major, it does seem to prompt an all or nothing, "am I good enough or should I just quit" mentality in me, which might have partly prompted me to get feedback.

Thanks again Steven - yep I think you're right :) and yes, there probably is a temptation in some cases to try to rescue an image, especially some of the "forced" ones I've been doing for the weekly challenge.
 
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The first photo to load on your slideshow when I went onto your site was no where near one of your better efforts. In fact, it was one of the worst I came across.

I disagree with whoever said you've done a good job sorting the wheat from the chaff. You have some lovely stuff on your site as well, almost like they were taken by different people!

Sorry couldn't offer more but I'm on my phone.
 
I suspect any Pro you like enough to approach will be happy to give you indepth crit - for money - possibly quite a lot of money!

In my role as camera club judge I always try to not only give a mark but pointers to improve, as far as I see it of course, but the hardest part of giving useful crit is that I wasn't there when the shot was taken; not being there at capture takes away a huge element of understanding, so for me, rather than crit what you've already done I'd say go shoot with someone you admire and compare results at the time and in PP too

Dave
 
Thanks Adam, you've offered a definitely useful insight! Was that the ivy covered shed in false colour infrared?

There is definitely chaff (or padding as it would have been when I first set the site up) on my website, which I do need to fix. I've tended to add photos, but not remove. There is a lot more chaff on Flickr though! :D. The first few images that displays on the slideshow are from my Lake District gallery, which was just after I upgraded my camera and had my old one converted to IR. It was also the first set of photos I decided to upload to a public site. I will agree, some of them are definitely weak and old! I think maybe a trip to the Lakes is in order again! :D It would be interesting to see how I approached them now...

It's interesting that you say it's almost as if some have been taken by different people - that's an insight I'd not heard before, but now you say it, I bet I could point some out...

and thanks Dave, that's definitely something I need to do as I've always been out on my own, so maybe I do need to look at a workshop or something
 
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Speaking of feedback, and getting out what you put in, how much crit do you offer on these forums? By your recent posts, not much ;)

Some good advice coming through here. As for my studio suggestion, people as a main subject are clearly missing from your Flickr. If you fancy changing that, you will probably find it challenging on a number of levels - and all the more satisfying as a result. People as a subject doesn't have to be studio though; tons of scope in a more environmental approach. But I do urge you to get to grips with lighting, maybe more strobist style with speedlites, it will take you into a whole new area of subject, technique and knowledge (y) Check out Joe McNally, master of the hot-shoe, as just one of the big names that springs to mind, maybe buy his book The Hot-shoe Diaries - it's a great read, very informative and more than a little inspirational.
 
DG Phototraining said:
Interesting - I got half way through it and gave it away as I was bored by it, the first section was good though

Dave
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TBH, I haven't read it from cover to cover but I like his style and one thing's for sure, he does amazing things with a flashgun (or six) and can take a decent snap :)
 
DG Phototraining said:
Interesting - I got half way through it and gave it away as I was bored by it, the first section was good though

Dave
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You've got the attention span of a gnat though ;)
HoppyUK said:
TBH, I haven't read it from cover to cover but I like his style and one thing's for sure, he does amazing things with a flashgun (or six) and can take a decent snap :)
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The pictures are great, but his writing style grated on me, but I made it to the end (the joys of occasional commuting)

I never got half way through the speedlighters handbook though. That's completely dry and doesn't have the interesting images to keep you reading.
 
HoppyUK said:
Speaking of feedback, and getting out what you put in, how much crit do you offer on these forums? By your recent posts, not much ;)
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I'm sorry to say I can go further than that Richard - I've offered a crit on here once I think, though it was probably just offering an opinion on a preference of a composition! ;) Do I feel qualified to? not especially, and I don't want to be the person who just offers platitudes and blows smoke. People with a far better rep are offering far better and more constructive critique than I could, but maybe that'll change if I can get my mojo back a bit. But if it's a consolation, I've not engaged this much with the site before now, so I think I'm likely become more than the light user I've been.

The advice has been awesome though! You are completely right - I have purposely avoided people as a subject, mostly because I have a belief that there is an instant pressure to get it right and be good at it. The person you've taken the photo of is going to want to see it what you've done! Oh, and to be able to make the subject relax!! But it intrigues me - I need to find a tame and willing volunteer and a studio with lights - wouldn't necessarily want to invest this early, though someone locally is selling some cheap lights if I can find the sale post on facebook! There is a well regarded studio photographer locally who does workshops, I may look into that.
 
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HoppyUK said:
Speaking of feedback, and getting out what you put in, how much crit do you offer on these forums? By your recent posts, not much ;)
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As with most things, doing it makes you better. Critiquing other's images is a very good way to learn about your own work. Seriously considering what you like/dislike, why, what you might do differently, etc, etc, all leads to a much better understanding of photography in general, and your own work in particular. And it has the advantage in that it lacks the personal attachment that often leads one to be a bit less critical (at least initially).
 
My initial response is, why would anyone be interested in what I really think of their pic, but then it's exactly what I'm asking for, isn't it! :P Touche!
 
James Blonde said:
But it intrigues me - I need to find a tame and willing volunteer and a studio with lights -
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Personally I think that rather than spend money on a studio etc have you considered just getting a 50mm 1.8 lens and using the available light - can make for a more interesting look - and much cheaper too!
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Critique is subjective, as is our hobby / profession.

I don't feel qualified to offer critique to others but I do so.

If I like something I say it and give reasons (more often than not).

Equally if I don't like some aspect I say it.

We are all qualified to critique a photograph, as being a subjective medium, photography speaks to us. The trick is to convey those feelings in words.

Also there is a difference in critique between a saleable photo and one for mum's wall.


Just my twopennyworth.
 
James Blonde said:
My initial response is, why would anyone be interested in what I really think of their pic, but then it's exactly what I'm asking for, isn't it! :p Touche!
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You don't have to actually provide your critique all the time...
I frequently don't if I don't have anything constructive to add.
 
I bought the lencarta smart flash 2 set. 1 soft box and 1 brolly.
It's fantastic. (Check my Flickr)
Just need a good model now but the other half's grandson is staying at the end of the month so opportunity beckons
 
James Blonde said:
<snip>
There is a well regarded studio photographer locally who does workshops, I may look into that.
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Sounds like a plan (y) Get some basic technique, gain some confidence, then do your own thing.

I'm no mind reader but it looks like you're maybe getting a bit stale with all those 'safe' scenics (excellent though many of them are), and need to break out of your comfort zone and engage the enemy ;)
 
Yeh, the motivation isn't quite as there as it was perhaps, so maybe I am getting a bit stale? Also, I do think late summer kind of sucks for photography :D The weekly challenge I'm doing has been prompting me to do some new things I wouldn't normally, but I wouldn't have said anything was out of my comfort zone yet. People are definitely the challenge I need to tackle!
 
Scott - I'm not a photographer so I can't critique anything, but I do like so,e of your pictures. If I was able to produce pictures like that I would be very happy.

What I do know about is business, marketing, sales etc. Much more boring than photography, but if I may I'd like to offer you a few comments about your website.

Firstly on a decent iPad with a decent broadband connection (not the best, not the fastest but very average) your site lags when changing images and loading pages.

From the home page I liked clicking the links to the areas of photography at the bottom of the screen. Really think about the words, they can help sell the picture. Then have a price next to it. I'd have maybe two sizes it's available in, and somewhere on the site you can explain that pictures can be produced in other sizes on request. Cut down on the options, don't go for small budget pictures, you choose the size they are available in.

Then I was surprised at the bottom of the page I couldn't go to the next area of pictures. I have to pick a menu item or back out of the page. I would change that. The menu is nice, it shows the area you are currently in and where else you can go, and I like there being just 6 areas. I'd be tempted to drop the 'other images' section though. You are a landscape photographer, right? If so you don't need a macro image of a flower, as nice as it is there is no story wih that and hey can be obtained from many places.

You've probably sat and thought "I really must update the news section on my website" but didn't know what to add, and then as time moves on it gets harder to add something. News sections are rarely a good idea unless they are regularly updated and going to be read. You have a profil page, you can keep that updated (you move around the country now and then, and you travel so you could put little updates about that in there. But the 'news page' just clutters the site.

You have a seperate page to the gallery & store. Surely your website is the gallery and the whole gallery is the store? Don't make people click 'store' - it means 'money', they should be admiring your work because they've gone to the link and when the see a picture they like they see a very reasonable price tag under it. Not a range of prices, your square and standard size pictures have 42 different size and print options, panoramic has 28 options, and that's before we consider the 8 paper types, mounts and more. That is just too much to choose. I think the slightly scary part is that's what you see when you click 'gallery & store', people would read all that before they get to see your wonderful pictures.

I know it may be a challenge to reduce all that to 1 or 2 options, but in my humble opinion I would suggest as the artist you should make the decision. If I go into an art gallery to buy a painting if I asked the artist to paint it again on different paper or a bit smaller I'm pretty sure I'd be asked to leave - unless they were desperate for the money I guess! You are the artist, you decide what to photograph, you edit the picture, you print it and mount it. It's your product, I want to buy your finished art work, I don't want to have to decide what paper you should print it on or how big it should be. Sorry if that sounds rude, but I believe that to be the right way to run an online gallery.

Others may have a ton of success offering so many options, I may well be wrong, but from experience simplicity works, offering a few easy choices is best - medium or large, gloss or matt... People often don't know what they want, and with artwork I'd suggest that is often very likely. People will know they want to buy your picture, but that's about it, if they have a load of choices and don't know which is best I'm confident many would just forget it. In a bricks and mortar shop they may ask the sales advisor, I doubt many would email to ask you though. It might be interesting to have different pictures at slightly different prices, depending on how long it took you to produce it and how far round the world or up a mountain you had to hike. Or it may be easier to have just a couple of prices across the range. I'd be tempted to try selling some images as just available in one size, if you have a subtle note so,ethereal saying 'other sizes are available - just ask' you cover all bases.

So if it was me I'd drop the 'gallery & store' and make the whole site the gallery where every image is for sale (no store as such). The other thing about the gallery & store is I really didn't like all the thumbnail images. I really liked to see the large images, and I liked being able to read about them, then suddenly the site took a sharp turn in a different direction when I wanted to see what was for sale. I also noticed many images had a similar image next to them, just slightly different. You choose. It's your picture, which looks best? At that point taking away the similar images you'd reduce the numbers a little, I'd hen cull further taking away pictures that are from a different location but similar, so you end up with a smaller portfolio of really lovely images that you are proud of. You could always have a link to 'further work' that takes me to another gallery with all the pics you've just removed, not thumbnails hopefully, maybe 4, 6 or 8 to a page, easy to navigate.

If each of the pictures you have left has some text about it and is displayed in the relevant section with a price I think the site would look a lot more professional - a gallery. You will have lost 2 links but maybe added another for 'further work'. I'd make the 'contact' button seperate, move it out of the menu, it should be on each page and easy to find still, but you will have a clear clean menu of things people want to click.

Personally I'd work on the 'profile' page, take out all the technical stuff about 'raw' and what camera you use. Sell yourself. Write more about your photos - how long it takes you to find the perfect shot and how you go about it, your travels - where do you want to go next, if people realise these are not just snaps someone has taken on a hike and actually there is a lot of planning, thought and effort plus a lot of work once you get back you give the picture some value.

Be more selective about which picture is displayed where. Change them with the seasons - there is a winter image when the site first loads, as far as I'm aware it's summer. Dare I ask how long that image has been on there loading first? Plan when you will change the images, there is nothing wrong with the same image loading each time but it should be replaced fairly frequently.

It's really important to constantly work on the site. High end stores on the high street will be changing their window displays monthly, if not more often, they will be checking on them daily, it is their advert, the first thing people see. Change yours with the seasons, but have several for each season so they change every few weeks or so. Is is why the news section of the site doesn't work. If you were using it to show off your latest picture and the story behind it that would be great, as long as it was updated monthly. Once the news hasn't been updated for a month it starts to look like the site isn't cared for. There is a trick to this. Get your 'news' for the next few months ready, spend a little while getting it all set, then publish the items on a select date. If your site software allows scheduling you may well find you can set it all up,so every few weeks a new item is published in the news. I wouldn't call it 'news' but it would be an interesting addition to the site.

Sorry for all the words, feel free to ignore everything I said, I just thought I'd give a few pointers from a different perspective. I can't help you with the way you take and edit your pictures - I'll leave that to the photographers!
 
NDevon said:
Scott - I'm not a photographer so I can't critique anything, but I do like so,e of your pictures. If I was able to produce pictures like that I would be very happy.

What I do know about is business, marketing, sales etc. Much more boring than photography, but if I may I'd like to offer you a few comments about your website.
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Thanks Marc, I'm more than happy to take comments on the website! I've never been happy with my site for various reasons. I don't really think it does what I want, and you might have touched on some of the reasons why!

Firstly, in terms of speed, I suspect it's because of the background image, which is probably full size when I should have reduced it. The images weren't there until a few weeks ago when I found the option to do it, The site was a lot simpler, but a lot duller and didn't scream photography! I was playing with the site to start refreshing it, and may have uploaded everything before it was really ready and without checking some of the sizes. I'll have a look at those - that should be a quick fix. I can also look at adding a menu of some kind to each page as you suggested - you're right, going back isn't intuitive.

I'll respond to the rest tomorrow as there is a lot in there to think about and digest, but there are definitely things in what you've said I need to look at - number of print options, number (and names) of menus, text, blog / news, etc. I've spent a lot of time agonising over print options, and I know I've gone OTT on sizes and papers, and the text to try and explain it (which I've done badly!)

Oh, that winter image was actually taken in June on a glorious sunny evening! :D It's my first attempt at false colour infrared, which does make foliage look white - hence looks like winter! However it's not a great shot, so will probably be removed anyway.
 
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