Photo Critiqing Thread

[7wt]

Thank you very much Brian. Unfortunately I don't have Photoshop so I can't do anything about the stop signs or the light but I like your suggestions. I just can't do any post work because I would rather spend what little money I have on other things right now. Besides I see it as an opportunity to force myself to learn more about the art up front.

 

[Photog]

I see it as an opportunity to force myself to learn more about the art up front.

Excellent point!

If you end up with software later, you can always come back to these images, for a tune up.

Everyone:
Photoshop Elements is very functional software, and less than $100.:wavey:

 

[Clark White]

Some shots of the lightning storm last night. Turned out reasonable for never having taken any pictures of that type.

ISO: 100
Aperture: f/3.5
Exposure: 30sec

 

[nwoods]

Awesome! I've never had any good lightning shots. These are really nice!
BTW, I think you meant "Aperature at F/3.5"

 

[Clark White]

BTW, I think you meant "Aperature at F/3.5"

HAHA! Oops. Fixed now! If anyone is wondering, I said shutter speed: f/3.5.

 

[Photog]

Lightening is fun to work with. It makes for some spectacular images. You did a great job with these shots. Now you will become a storm chaser, and get the really cool shots with lightening in the skies above cities, water towers or maybe in the Grand Canyon. It can be addicting. ENJOY!!

 

[Photog]

GaryMc started this thread, with some cool images taken with his new Canon G9 (check out the 1st post).

This thread has earned a 5 Star rating. Congratulations to everyone that has posted and commented on the images here.

And thanks again to GaryMc for get it started.:bowdown:

 

[PhoenixGSU]

I haven't put anything up yet for this topic so here is my first.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2288/2488607008_234668ded0.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2332/2492408725_f61445d5fc.jpg

 

[Photog]

I haven't put anything up yet for this topic so here is my first.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2288/2488607008_234668ded0.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2332/2492408725_f61445d5fc.jpg

Welcome to this thread, and the forum (only 10 posts so far). Thanks for contributing.

I like the composition and shutter speed selection, for the waterfall. Water is fun to work with. The slower shutter speed allows the water to move through the image, giving you a sense of that movement. Faster shutter speeds tend to freeze the motion of the water, and kills the feeling of movement. Is this a location you can go back to, and work with?

It might just be me; but I'm missing the point of the first image. I'm thinking the scene was really beautiful to look at, and it caught your eye. When you see this photo, it brings back memories for you, of this place. We don't have those memories, and have a much harder time appreciating what we are looking at. I have taken many pictures like this. It happens.

Suggestion for everyone: When you see something that catches your eye, and you want to photograph it, think about what is actually atracting your attention. What is so intriguing about the scene you are looking at? What feeling is it evoking? Then work on camera angle and composition to create that same feeling in a photograph. THIS IS NOT EASY. Thinking is tough, and so is creating the composition. They both get easier, with practice.:ylsmoke:

And never forget: somtimes you just can't capture what you are looking at. Put the camera away, relax, and burn the feelings and images into your brain. It is good to have some memories that are not digitized.

 

[kellymoe]

This thread has inspired me. I'm grabbing my camera and heading out into the 100 degree heat for a hike:arabia: I wont be posting any pictures, I just want to get out and experiment.

 

[PhoenixGSU]

Yea, I'm not sure exactly why I took the first picture. I just happened to have my camera in my hand when I was walking through the yard and saw the light coming through. The waterfall is about an hour away from where I live in North GA. I really like working with water and I use a slow or fast shutter speed depending on what I'm trying to do.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2010/2488688402_495c03d3bd.jpg

When my cousin gets off work for a few days we'll go up to the mountains and ride some of the old roads.

 

[Lost Canadian]

The slower shutter speed allows the water to move through the image, giving you a sense of that movement. Faster shutter speeds tend to freeze the motion of the water, and kills the feeling of movement. Is this a location you can go back to, and work with?

I almost forgot about this thread.

Bri, I wouldn't say it kills the movement, just changes it's feeling. I like fast shutters for action/power, and slow for that calm/tranquil feel, both I feel can portray movement though, if done properly.

Speaking of powerful, I love your "Na Pali Coast #81" Bri, well done. Would love to see the uncropped version. If it all possible that shot 'might' be even better using the golden rectangle and having the wave set within it at the proper ratio. I also liked it better than your "Life at the Edge" shot. The "life at the edge" shot is a brilliant shot but I think I'm personally just cooked with sand dunes, everyone seems to have done them. Still, a remarkable picture, looks like an oil painting.

Here's a few recent fast shutter shots. I was looking at wave movement, and attempted to freeze the waves form from perspectives most people don't usually look at them. To get these though both the camera and I got wet (not intentionally) but hey, that's what it's all about right, getting into the environment you're shooting and putting your camera in a different place?

Critique.

This first one I thought was kinda neat, the wave caught an air pocket. What I thought was cool was how, if you look at the base of the wave, the air was pushing back on the water at the base and it left a depression.

 

[Photog]

I almost forgot about this thread.

Bri, I wouldn't say it kills the movement, just changes it's feeling. I like fast shutters for action/power, and slow for that calm/tranquil feel, both I feel can portray movement though, if done properly.

Speaking of powerful, I love your "Na Pali Coast #81" Bri, well done. Would love to see the uncropped version. If it all possible that shot 'might' be even better using the golden rectangle and having the wave set within it at the proper ratio. I also liked it better than your "Life at the Edge" shot. The "life at the edge" shot is a brilliant shot but I think I'm personally just cooked with sand dunes, everyone seems to have done them. Still, a remarkable picture, looks like an oil painting.

Here's a few recent fast shutter shots. I was looking at wave movement, and attempted to freeze the waves form from perspectives most people don't usually look at them. To get these though both the camera and I got wet (not intentionally) but hey, that's what it's all about right, getting into the environment you're shooting and putting your camera in a different place?

Critique.

This first one I thought was kinda neat, the wave caught an air pocket. What I thought was cool was how, if you look at the base of the wave, the air was pushing back on the water at the base and it left a depression.

Trevor,

I like the 1st one the best of the 3. The little wave is just hanging there, and you can see the edges of it collapsing. I like the strong diagonal line of the wave-front. The color (brown) is troubling. Maybe B&W would allow me to think it could be on a tropical beach.

It is interesting, what you say about using the fast shutter to show the power, and slow shutter to create a calm feeling. I definitely agree. You referenced my Na Pali Coast #81; it is a fast shutter speed, to lock the shape of the wave, and give a feeling of its power. With waves, I have noticed that the stationary look of the fast shutter speed, creates the feeling of the wave as it reaches its peak, and is hanging, waiting to crash down.

Na Pali Coast #81

I don't have the full frame at hand right now; I will find it this evening. I did push the cropping around, to find the best piece of this photograph. In other images of these waves, with a wider crop, I placed the wave into a rule of 1/3's and Golden Rule corner. It seemed to minimize the wave, relative to the surroundings. I ended up back on this image, and placed the wave in the Right 1/3 of the image, and maximized it's size. I even did a verticle crop with just the wave; but it looks better with the cliff on the left. I flipped it horizontally, which looked good; but the Na Pali coast is to recognizable to get away with that.

I didn't try the Golden Rectangle approach. That might be interesting. Hmmm. Something to play with.

 

[Photog]

This post is here to show a composition option for photographs. Using cropping, to create an image that is this ratio, and positioning the subject at or within one of the power points or boxes. Using this approach properly will control the actual cropped ratio of the final image (8" X 12.9")

Two versions of Golden Rectangle.

These are actually the same thing. The "Helix" just has the Golden Rectangle (or Golden Ratio) being applied within each successively smaller rectangle.

A different option (not better, just different): The rule of thirds can be applied to any square or rectangular image. Just dividy the x & y dimensions by 3. The intersections are the power points. Click on the image, to go to the source website, for more info.

 

[Lost Canadian]

Didn't dig the dirty water eh? LOL. I tried B&W but felt the color worked better, don't ask me why. Thanks for the feedback.

While were talking composition, here's a great tool. It's the mother of all online comp. tools.

Here's a few more to critique. I took these on tonights walk. Yes I know more beach shots, but living on the lakes shore is as scenic as I can do on a day to day basis.

Self portrait.