Photo Critiqing Thread

[Streakerfreak]

How about this one? I got a couple of nice shots yesterday in beautiful Mystic Connecticut.

Damn, you have me missing home even more now. You need to check the Mystic/Stonington area out in the fall and right after a heavy snow storm. Very beautiful and you can find some amazing subjects to shoot.

When we get back in August, I can dig up some free passes to the Seaport so you can get in whenever you want. If you want to try you hand at photographing people and 18th century costumes, check out Mystic on the 4th of July.

 

[Photog]

Thanks Brian, I knew the lighting was too bright but took the shot anyway. I am planning to get back in the evening with a setting sun and again in the fall with the red and oranges in the trees. Besides, I had to get back home to get a shot of this...

I was a little bummed that the Fury was parked next to the rather plain hangar. I tried to get a shot that was interesting that didn't have the hangar in it and this was what I came up with.

I'm glad to hear you felt the same way about the light on the Fireboat. Taking the shot, as you did, knowing it was bad light, needs to be done. You can then look at the image, critique it, and plan your next visit, to get the shot you really want. When there is mid-day light, shoot these good compositions for later planning; but also, get in closer, and work with some of the details. Many of the little parts of a subject (boat) look just fine in strong light. They can add to the story, in a series of images. Then add the dramatic ones later, that you had to work harder to get.

Planes!! I love planes. Both shots work just fine, and in great light. If the owner is around, ask if you can move the red-cones, for a few minutes. I can see you had a hard time working around the stuff in the background.

Good job on eliminating background in the 2nd image. Try cropping it a few different ways, to create some more drama. Use the reflections on the wing, etc. There is a lot in this image.:luxhello:

 

[GaryMc]

Yesterday in Paris...

I dig it, but what would ye say?

 

[7wt]

Planes!! I love planes. Both shots work just fine, and in great light. If the owner is around, ask if you can move the red-cones, for a few minutes. I can see you had a hard time working around the stuff in the background.

Good job on eliminating background in the 2nd image. Try cropping it a few different ways, to create some more drama. Use the reflections on the wing, etc. There is a lot in this image.:luxhello:

I am glad you like my easiest subject to obtain. Being at an airport 10 hours a day gives me a lot to take pictures of. I just need to get a telephoto for some action shots. Anyway, I took your advice on the histogram on the G5 night shot and it came out a LOT better. I hear ya on the cones, that's just lazy on my part. I can move them at will. I don't have a tripod yet and the on I borrowed for the G5 shot is out of town at the moment or I would recreate the shot with the Gulfstream Global Express that is sitting out there right now, heck I might even have moved the cones! Oh well, next week my tripod will come.

I have a bunch of the Fury and some look better the more I look at them. I like the idea of the wing sot but decided that the one focused on the blister at a different angle was better and the same shot but focussing on the cowling instead of the first I posted. I think this is what you mean by a little more drama. The last one here is a picture of the setting sun and the control tower reflected off the fuselage.

Now on the lighting thing, it sucks because there was so much that trip that would have been fantastic if I just stayed until the evening. But like you said, use it to work on composure and go back when the lighting is better. The next one would look pretty good if the sky was golden but the second one uses your suggestion to get detail shots when the lighting is strong. Your help in this thread has given me the motivation to get out and take better pictures. To actually learn what I am doing rather than point and shoot. I am slowly getting where I might have a clue what I am looking for and how to get it. Thank you sir.

 

[Photog]

Yesterday in Paris...

I dig it, but what would ye say?

GaryMc,
This is an interesting door knocker.so much detail, and that weatherd color. I really wish the bright colored goop was not in there. It probably coouldn't be wiped off either. This is where Photoshop can save the day!

This is a tough one to work with. Doors are vereticlal; but the pair of these knockers D ) are horizontal. Decisions, decisions. Did you also create a vertical shot?

The knocker on the left is closer, and iin focus. We will call it the subject. The other one is then part of the background. I don't know if you cropped this image at all; but if there is a little more image to the left, I would us it, to place the subject approximately on the 1/3 line. Then I would vignette the rest of the image, and draw attention to the subject.

If this is the whole image then lets take another approach. Having the subject this close to the edge of the frame, creates mental tension. To enhance this, you could push the contrast past anything realistic, and make the image seem surreal. Maybe even a little red-shift in color. make it ominous. A scary pair of knockers. :yikes:

 

[Photog]

7wt,
You are definitely getting the idea. The selective focus of the wing and cowel are perfect examples of working with the details, and creating drama.

The "Rivits" imige: Try this one again. get closer to the body, and capture more airplane body, vanishing in the distance. I undrstand the idea, about capturing the reflection of the ATC tower; but I'm not sure anyone would recognize it in this shot. maybe the skin on the vertical-fin, would get the reflection you are looking for. Hmmmm. Place the joint for the rudder, at the 1/3 line, and the ATC tower reflection at the other 1/3 line; all in a nice morning or evening light. OOoooo!

Now that you have this image in mind, draw a quick sketch, and see if you can create it in the camera. This is how Art Wolfe does a lot of his work. It is another way to push your creative skills, along with the technical skills.

This one turned out much better, adjusted this way.!

Did I mention: I am jealous of your work location!!:drool:

The clam image worked out well, even in the hard sunlight. Nice. Did you happen to get close enough to get a shot of just 3 or 5 clams? I know, I'm pushing it. :wavey:

 

[Photog]

Working with boats along the shore can be hard work. The image you have in mind, like this one; but in better light:

may look completely different, when the light is good; because the tide came in, or went out, or the boat is gone. If it's not one thing it's the mother.:smilies27

 

[Photog]

Superu,
Pleasing family photos are hard to create, especially while on vacation.

This was a good location, and the light wasn't bad; but it is hard to compose a good image, press the timer, then run over and jump in. Then try to get the kids to keep looking at the camera, and not laughing at your antics.:jump:

They are fine for the vacation photo album or slide show; but it takes a lot of work to make nice wall portraits of families.

The Superu looks like it just got rescued from a Borg ship. Look at all those enhancements. "Resistance is futile!!":luxhello:

 

[Photog]

Here is a family photo I created, on a recent trip to Utah. It still has issues; but it will work for a desktop photo (framed 8x10). Me on the right end, after pushing the timer, and running to get in the photo. Quite the poser, eh?
Half the folks are standing on rocks, to correct for height, and position in the group.
And the rock wall in the background is not level; but I couldn't convince eveyone to lean to their right, so I could make it look level.

 

[sleeoffroad]

These are some photo's I took in Namibia while on a trip years ago. Any comments

 

[Photog]

These look like they were probably scanned from film. I'm sure the film is fine; but the scanned images need some help. This can usually be done with the scanner software. There is too much contrast, and the blacks have shifted to blue.

I really like the tree and moon image. With a high quality scan, and some print-prep, this would look great printed at 20"x30" framed. URL="http://www.theslideprinter.com/"]Slide Printer[/URL] can do this for you. They are in Denver. The foreground nrrds to be tonrd down, and the moon brightened a little. Very nice.

These are some photo's I took in Namibia while on a trip years ago. Any comments

The title of this is "You call this a bridge. Glad I'm in the Cruiser today".
This image tells a great story. The posts creat a vanishing point, aiming right at the Cruiser. I like to place the subject further off center than this. The Cruiser is almost dead-center (bullseye). The background trees help this image. If there were no trees, I would have placed the Cruiser higher in the frame, and had more road at the bottom of the frame. That would even make this image a little better. Step to the right side, place the Cruiser in the upper right 1/3, and show the wooden road, and some of the dry swamp to the left. It helps tell why this road was paved with wood.

This is a nice piece of work too. The car is well placed in the frame. The dramatic sky is retained, without cutting off the mointains or roof tops. The light pole is great; a roughly cleand up tree, with paint. Power lines have always bugged me. If I were going to print this image, I would edit out the two power lines, since they are distractions to the image. Again, reduce the contrast, and retreive some of the details in the dark areas.

I know all our photos don't turn out like this; but these are really good. :26_7_2:

 

[sleeoffroad]

Thanks, these were scanned from slides. I have the RAW files at home. I played a little with editing on the computer, and probably messed them up more than anything.

I do have the first one printed and framed in the house. Thanks for the comments on the rest. I have some more from the same trip I can post. I will not change any of the setting and then see what you can come up with. I am not a pro at editing on the computer at all, but I know how to push buttons.

 

[pismo62]

Hi Brian,
I just got back in town and saw that you looked over the photo's. THANKS.

I don't know what the growth is around the base of the tree. But it made for an interesting shot.

Keep up the critiqing, and thanks again. :luxhello:

Christo---Thanks for the rear bumper for my 100, it worked great this last week on our trip..

 

[7wt]

I have been a very busy boy as of late. I have been having a hard time with helicopters because of the shutter speed being too fast and stopping the rotors. Well I finally got a decent shot with some rotor blur.

Ever since I got a tripod I have been messing around with night stuff and last night's fog was just too good.

I may not get the best shots but I certainly have some of the best subjects!

 

[nwoods]

Very nice!