Miniature - the first shot as well for me, much prefer the composition of the image.
Happy - your wife looks happy in that image and it's nice that she makes you happy.
Very nice - like the clean BG and the angle of the second miniature image, your wife looks happy and is a good photo to cherish
Happy - Very nice and happy the BG really adds to the image
Aaaw, lovely shot of your wife. I would have been inclined to stand further to the left to get more of a lead-in angle from the path and avoid having the tree right behind her.
Miniature - Nice vibrant colours and an unusual model, I also prefer the first one (the head on shot) as the other is cropped a bit to close to the edges.
Happy - That's a lovely natural shot, I wonder what it would look like with a bit cropped of the top and left hand side to put her a bit more prominent in the picture.
Super photo of your wife Sam .... I think it would definitely take a crop, lovely natural shot, perfect for the theme.
Lovely shot of your wife - you captured a great sparkle in her eyes. I think I might prefer it if she wasn't so central in the frame.
Lovely photograph great eye contact/smile. I think there is a better composition/perspective in there, maybe with you photographing more down the path.
Cheers.
Happy for sure, spot on focus and sharp.
Nice photo of your wife, I agree with Andy above as the tree is not in the best place, down the path would have been better
Lovely image of a smiley person, well captured Sam![]()
Hi Sam
If this is your first foray into photography then I think you're doing exceptionally well... talk about learning the ropes instantly!
I also think the TP52 is a brilliant way for you to document your progress as you develop (boom boom) your own style and skills with the camera. It's what a lot of us have done and the combination of the discipline of taking photos each week, critiquing others' (important IMO) and receiving feedback on your own photos should accelerate your learning massively. However, the best bit for me is looking back on those photos you've taken at the early stages and thinking, "yes, I can see what I'd now do differently" and for others, "wow, that really wasn't a bad shot back then!"
Have a great 52, enjoy it and do it your way. As for crit, I'll comment on Happy - a lovely photo with great overcast light which really helps on portraits - and Old - I think this is a very good shot which could be tweaked, but you've done well to get the technicals right and the lighting works, too.
Great start!

Quick off the mark there, certainly fits the theme and I like that you left it in colour, I imagine there will be a lot of B&W conversions coming along for this theme. Prefer the first, just a thought - it might have been good, if possible, to get some of the new houses in as background for contrast.
Abandoned - quick off the mark with that image, the first image works better for me.
Wow, very quick - were you literally waiting camera in hand?
I like number 1 more, although it looks a little wonky and maybe a smidge under exposed. Although the camera is probably being fooled by that flat white sky!
Are both of those shots straight from camera Sam?
Keep it up Sam, the more photos you take and the more experimenting you do - the better you'll get!![]()
Hi Sam
Happy ... in agreement with the others ... uninteresting nothingness top left, best crop-to-zoom. Genuine happy contented smile.
Abandoned ... think I'd concentrate on small areas with good detail. In the first shot to the rear, there's an elevation with 2 arched windows, a gothicy arched doorway, red brick, yellow stone, white paint, black plastic .... I'd fill the frame with that. But I may be wrong
Hi Sam ...I'm with d00d on this one ...so many interesting bits on those photos, it makes me want to zoom in and seek them out. As they stand I think the first one is the best but I think the chimney needs a bit of sky above it. But it's an excellent choice for the theme, well done for finding that one.
First 1 for me I’m glad it’s in colour as you can see the textures in the stone work, but a little lob sided but very nice to look at.![]()
Nice choice for Abandoned Sam. #1 for me - alll it's missing is maybe a conversion to b&w plus a dramatic sky. I fancy taking a shot at the main entrance with that doorway and adjoining windows. Great place.
Yes number 1 for me too. Not something I am any good at capturing really but will have to keep an eye open this week for something like this. Maybe a different time of day may have given some more drama ?
Gaz
First for me, nicely taken.
1st one for me also, nicely captured, but I also agree with the above comments maybe try it in B&W?
Nice image Sam, really like "Abandoned"
Phil
Hi Sam. The image of the whole building for me too. It's sad to see real character buildings like this going to rack and ruin.
Nice shot; definitely feels 'abandoned'
Some real potential there. Not too keen on the compositions, though. Mainly for me, because you've cropped parts of the buildings. I think getting in closer for some detail and maybe a B&W triptych
Cheers.
I'll add my name to the long list of people who prefer number one. I love the plant growing up through the middle. Understand it's out of camera but ideally it could do with closer cropping and a slight rotation to the right.
Abandoned - No 1 for me too
Hi, first one for me but it is a pity you have cut out the chimney, spoils it a little
Hi Sam
This has turned out to be a tricky theme. I'm flat out of inspiration at the moment... I think your pictures capture the theme well. Personally, I prefer the second where you can see the isolated building in its grounds - it adds to the sense of abandonment for me. Our weather has been pretty ghastly so a grey sky was all most of us were going to get - in this context it works!
Hi Sam
Miniature - Despite the lack of scale these still look small although they are large in the frame, Nice bright images and I like the plain background too
Happy - Sorry but the tree's placement is a bit of a b****r, other than that a lovely image of your wife, a great smile, nicely caught happy eyes and a nice brightly lit face, the DoF does set her away from the tree just enough too
Abandoned - The first one for me with the black plastic draping into the roof voids works better, although going by the surroundings it's a tad on the wonk (lamp posts) a real nice building for the theme though![]()
Sam Hi, really like the first image for your Abandoned theme, seems more Abandoned to me. The tree makes it feel old and reclaimed by nature
DSC_0336 by Camouflage, on Flickr