Would love some feedback/critique on some recent images

Hello all,
I'm new here, and have joined because I feel like I've hit a bit of a wall lately. Have been putting in real effort over the last 18 months or so to improve the quality of my photographs. I can see some improvement when I look back through older work, but it feels like I have so, so far still to go. Maybe I've just been looking at too many National Geographic Instagram posts. 

Anyway, here are a few shots I've taken over this past 18 months or so that I'm kind of happy with. I don't think they're perfect, but I like them enough to share. Any feedback, positive or negative, about what looks right throughout this sampling, or what could obviously be improved upon would be appreciated. My general feeling about what I need to do is avoiding overprocessing. I want so badly to have those crystal clear shots every time, and often over sharpen/clarify. If I had to choose one thing I have a little confidence in, it's composition. 

Again, sincere thanks for any constructive criticism.

This is a good set especially the first shot. The second shot need more sky though for a better perspective. I like the symmetry of the third shot and colors of the 4th shot is really cool. 



All the shots are well rendered but the cut off of the
leg in the first… this is hard.

And I don't like the mosquito on the second leaf of the
fifth branch in the last shot!

Well done, Scott! 

ADDENDUM

Maybe you could insert a forced paragraph between the images.

Thanks! I had not considered that. I agree; more sky would make it feel a bit more complete.

Nikon Shooter wrote: 

All the shots are well rendered but the cut off of the
leg in the first… this is hard.

And I don't like the mosquito on the second leaf of the
fifth branch in the last shot!

Well done, Scott! 

Thank you! I think I was so concerned about the bighorn that was looking at me, I never noticed the hacked off leg. Now I will never unsee it   Lesson learned!

Scott McKenzie wrote: Thank you! I think I was so concerned about the bighorn that was looking at me, I never noticed the hacked off leg. Now I will never unsee it   Lesson learned!

You will have to learn what works for you. I don't consider the back leg a problem, since you front ram is fully in the frame.

What bothers me the most are the flowers in the lower left. They stick out, to my eye.

Encourage you to start paying attention to background (i.e. what's happening around your subject, as well as what is behind your subject). Also, shoot with margin. You can always crop a bit in post, but the day you want to turn something into a wrap-around canvas print but don't have enough margin in your photo is the day you realize you could have zoomed out a bit. (Point of reference: a 4K frame is only 8+MP. Your camera captures more detail than you may require.)

+1 on more sky in the second shot. Horizons typically sit at the 1/3 or 1/2 point in the frame.

garyrhook wrote: You will have to learn what works for you. I don't consider the back leg a problem, since you front ram is fully in the frame.

What bothers me the most are the flowers in the lower left. They stick out, to my eye.

Encourage you to start paying attention to background (i.e. what's happening around your subject, as well as what is behind your subject). Also, shoot with margin. You can always crop a bit in post, but the day you want to turn something into a wrap-around canvas print but don't have enough margin in your photo is the day you realize you could have zoomed out a bit. (Point of reference: a 4K frame is only 8+MP. Your camera captures more detail than you may require.)

+1 on more sky in the second shot. Horizons typically sit at the 1/3 or 1/2 point in the frame.

Thanks very much for the feedback. After trying to correct some crooked horizons since taking that photo, I've definitely been more aware of the shooting with margin part. That is good advice. Agreed, even if there was as much sky as there is water in the foreground, it would be much better balanced. Thanks!

These are really good.  The first shot with the Rams is my favorite by far.  I would like to have seen a little more of the grass in the foreground.  I feel it's chopped off.  But still, love the shot, this one and #2 down.  

Rob Cline wrote: These are really good.  The first shot with the Rams is my favorite by far.  I would like to have seen a little more of the grass in the foreground.  I feel it's chopped off.  But still, love the shot, this one and #2 down.  

That makes sense, thank you!

I was going to post similar comments to Rob, that top shot is such a winner.  I wish I could see more grass, that would make that shot a 9/10.  

Prago wrote: I was going to post similar comments to Rob, that top shot is such a winner.  I wish I could see more grass, that would make that shot a 9/10.  

Noted, and thank you!