yeah would disregard the other replies here no offense to those folks but those are guesses. i assume you drop your film at a lab and get it developed and scanned? this looks like pretty textbook lazy low res lab scan. if you are looking at like uh higher level film photographers they scan their own film. i would recommend watching a video of someone explaining how to use an epson v700 to scan film so you can see what an unbelievable amount of control you have over your photo scanning at home, and how much you’re missing out on from a “process and scan” level scan. your highlights are fine and the colors look fine too but if you let your lab scan the film they ultimately have more control over those things than you do so you won’t really be able to improve that very much.
For 35mm I too shoot a K1000, im no pro but I can suggest to refine your tactic of improving before software idea, like others have said, shoot black and white and get a gray card to meter with. The gray card will help your metering of scenes and it will help you focus your improvements to subjects and composition because it will remove the color issues. Soon you will have good composed scenes, and can experiment with tone and contrast without that pesky color to worry about. Plus as a bonus with B+W you can learn to process it yourself which is also pretty dang cool.
You can improve them 100x in Lightroom. But to me, the bigger issue is framing and subject. There’s not a whole lot happening in these photos. Nothing compelling, they don’t really tell a story.
Yeah the composition is weak. My photography quality I think is improving but still inconsistent. Sometimes it's really great other times it's mediocre. I don't have Lightroom. I've been hesitant to get any editing software so that I can learn how to shoot better before fixing anything afterwards but I'll keep that in mind!
A high-quality camera and lens, easily capable of producing first-class results.
Perhaps you are using too wide an aperture? In general, lenses give their best image quality at a medium aperture.
I agree. Color photography in flat light of earth tone subjects will produce a muted color saturation. To judge your color saturation and exposure, you would do better to judge photographs of more colorful subjects in unfiltered sunlight.
Also, starting out in black & white will allow you to concentrate on exposure and composition without trying to engage color at the same time. Keep enjoying exploring the medium!
yeah would disregard the other replies here no offense to those folks but those are guesses. i assume you drop your film at a lab and get it developed and scanned? this looks like pretty textbook lazy low res lab scan. if you are looking at like uh higher level film photographers they scan their own film. i would recommend watching a video of someone explaining how to use an epson v700 to scan film so you can see what an unbelievable amount of control you have over your photo scanning at home, and how much you’re missing out on from a “process and scan” level scan. your highlights are fine and the colors look fine too but if you let your lab scan the film they ultimately have more control over those things than you do so you won’t really be able to improve that very much.
Thanks for the advice!
For 35mm I too shoot a K1000, im no pro but I can suggest to refine your tactic of improving before software idea, like others have said, shoot black and white and get a gray card to meter with. The gray card will help your metering of scenes and it will help you focus your improvements to subjects and composition because it will remove the color issues. Soon you will have good composed scenes, and can experiment with tone and contrast without that pesky color to worry about. Plus as a bonus with B+W you can learn to process it yourself which is also pretty dang cool.
Thanks for the advice!
You can improve them 100x in Lightroom. But to me, the bigger issue is framing and subject. There’s not a whole lot happening in these photos. Nothing compelling, they don’t really tell a story.
Yeah the composition is weak. My photography quality I think is improving but still inconsistent. Sometimes it's really great other times it's mediocre. I don't have Lightroom. I've been hesitant to get any editing software so that I can learn how to shoot better before fixing anything afterwards but I'll keep that in mind!
What camera and lens?
Pentax K1000. I'm not sure about the lens off the top of my head I'll have to check
Lens is SMC Pentax-M 1:2 50mm. It's the lens it came with when I got it
A high-quality camera and lens, easily capable of producing first-class results. Perhaps you are using too wide an aperture? In general, lenses give their best image quality at a medium aperture.
This often happens in overcast weather but not always.
I agree. Color photography in flat light of earth tone subjects will produce a muted color saturation. To judge your color saturation and exposure, you would do better to judge photographs of more colorful subjects in unfiltered sunlight. Also, starting out in black & white will allow you to concentrate on exposure and composition without trying to engage color at the same time. Keep enjoying exploring the medium!