Photo Critiqing Thread

[Photog]

Trevor,
That is an interesting website, to use for composition comparison techniques.

I don't usually like sunset/sunrise photos; only because there must be 90 billion of them already. I do like the one with you, looking out over the water. It seems to tell a story, and isn't just another sunset image.

They all have proper exposure, and focus. I like the slower shutter speeds, that soften up the shore-break (try an exposure of 30 seconds, and completely hide the shore break, and see what you get). The long diagonal lines are nice, as well as the dramatic perspective view. You had to be working quickly to get 4 good images, before the sun vanished. Kudos.

Be careful to keep the horizon level (pics #1 & #3). And try to keep the horizon line away from the center of the image. The exposure range is good, with these images. This type of work commonly needs to have split-neutral-density filters used, to keep the exposure range within the sensor's abilities (3-5 stops from brightest to darkest details).

If you get a chance, try using the water and shore or shore-break, to fit one of the Golder Rules. I would try the Golden Triangle first. It might be tricky. Something similar to this one.

If I lived near water like you do, I would create some images, to figure out the place and angles to get what I wanted, then I would know exactly where to go, and how to setup, when the weather conditions were starting to look great (like those in your latest images). Get it all figured out ahead of time. Then just go out and shoot it again, when the conditions are right. This can be fun to do, as a series of images, as the seasons change too.

Very nice. :26_7_2:

 

[Lost Canadian]

Cheers Brian, and thanks. I should have mentioned in my post that I used a Singh-Ray 2-stop GND hard on these shots, I used a 2-stop soft with the shot of me. With close inspection you can see the transition with my shirt and my pants. I was going to use the hard GND but trying to line up my waste line with the horizon was tricky without another set of eyes.

Yeah those damn horizons are hard to get straight when you're working fast. I should go back and straighten them out, thanks for pointing that out.

I'm with ya with the overkill on certain types of shots, for some reason however, I never get tired of good sunrise/sunset shots. I think it's because visually, I'm stimulated more by color than by form. It's funny how we all like/dislike different things eh? I guess that's why photography is so subjective.

Again thanks!

 

[Photog]

Trevor,
Although I'm not a fan of the typical sunset photo, I do like the way you use the sunset colors and drama, to light the shoreline. These images tell more about the shoreline than the sunset. Most folks would have zoomed in on the sunset alone. The images you posted are well done, and not the typical sunset pics.:luxhello:

I looked for the transition lines of a split filter, and didn't see any. Again, excellent work. It takes skill to hide that line. I did notice the tonal change in the upper thigh of the pants; but wasn't sure if they were made that way or if it was a split filter. Excellent!:clapsmile

Now, crop the horizon to be level, and post #3 again. Please post the before & after, side-by-side, to show folks what we are talking about.

 

[Lost Canadian]

I'm not typically a people shooter, and I have next to zero experience or practice shooting people but I've been trying to brush up a bit in preperation for our upcoming travels to S.America. I'd love to get some nice "locals" shots when we go away, shots, perhaps not as good as, but in vein with those taken by Oksana Perkins in the last O.J.

So here are a few people shots I've taken over the last couple weeks. My, dad, brother-in-law, and my photogenic little nephew. I'd love to hear what others think, and what it is that you think makes for good people shots.

(1) My dad. I dropped the exposure 1 stop. ISO 100, F5.6 for 1/250.

(2) Brother-in-law. Not much to this one, I just turned around, and it looked like a good shot. Matix metered, ISO 100, F5 for 1/320.

(3) Nephew. Over exposed 2 stops, with bounce flash coming off the wall to the left. Matrix metered, ISO 100, F5.6 for 1/60.

(4)What would people shots be without a few self portraits thrown in for good measure. How's this for a self portrait? LOL. Feel free to hold off on critiqing this one.

 

[sami]

I would love feedback on these photos...

 

[TrikeKid]

Sami, the last shot would have been better minus the truck. I know what you were trying to do there, but it just draws your eye away from an otherwise beautiful picture.

Here are a few of mine if anyone would like to tear into them. Keep in mind that these were all taken with a $90 point and shoot with almost no options.

 

[Ryanmb21]

This is one of my favorite threads.

I recently got my first real camera, a Nikon D60 and I'm excited about the possibilities. Here are some shots from my first month of ownership, and am very interested in critiques and advice. After this, i will be using the "search" to find if there are any good digital photography books recommended.

Buddy skiing in Utah:

Angels Landing, Utah - blocking the morning sun

El Porto Sunset

Fiance at Knapp's Castle - Santa Barbara

 

[nwoods]

Ryan, that is an AWESOME sunset shot. Looks like you are really enjoying the camera and using it well. Let's have some more shots with that good looking model in them

 

[Clark White]

The side of a train car sitting in a scrap yard.

Haven't really played with the purely artistic shots like this much. Any suggestions/comments?

 

[sleeoffroad]

Black Bear Pass - Telluride.

PS,

Brian, would love your comments on this. I need to get back into the photography thing. I really enjoyed it when I did it. Just spent a week in Silverton and it was nice to just travel around and take pictures.

 

[Photog]

Trevor,

These are nice. Not your typical portrait; but people experiencing something. A mood, a thought, a contrast.

"The man enjoying a sunrise, with bottle of water", or swap the water and, "The man enjoying the sunset, with a bottle of scotch".

The man and dog, enjoying the outdoors, with some industry in the background. This photo makes the industry look ominous; but it could be taken in a way to make them just the opposite. Very dramatic.

I like them both, and their imaginary stories.:luxhello:

 

[Photog]

sami,
SAMI,

I really like the story in this photo. Trail-bike riders, looking across a huge canyon, wondering how to get to that trail. Crop the bit of foreground out; so it is jut the bikers on the knob, and the opposite canyon wall. A bit more contrast and saturation would really make this image POP. See what you think, and re-post.

The “Jeep Rest Home” image is great fun. They look like they are all trying to get your attention. Those Jeeps are such hams for the camera.:sombrero:

This is an interesting image. It wouldn’t work as a Toyota promo image, as there isn’t enough truck in there. What I find interesting is the way the horizon lines up with the edge or the truck-bed. Almost as if the mountain transforms into a huge piece of truck. I hope you took some pics with more truck and no truck, too.:truck:

 

[Lost Canadian]

Trevor,
These are nice. Not your typical portrait; but people experiencing something. A mood, a thought, a contrast.

"The man enjoying a sunrise, with bottle of water", or swap the water and, "The man enjoying the sunset, with a bottle of scotch".

The man and dog, enjoying the outdoors, with some industry in the background. This photo makes the industry look ominous; but it could be taken in a way to make them just the opposite. Very dramatic.

I like them both, and their imaginary stories.:luxhello:

Love the imaginary stories! Reality was a little different, and not as emotionally exciting. My brother-in-law was watching my sister bobble around in a canoe, and my dad, who doesn't drink, was listening to my other sister yaking about something.

Thanks for the comments!

 

[Clark White]

Sailing this afternoon, any advice on these 4?

Thanks!
Clark

 

[nwoods]

Clark, I like the first of each of those two series. In the very first (looking past the bow), I would crop out the bottom, so that you only see the foredeck. I would probably tweak the contrasts and temperature a bit to make it warmer/more golden.

The first shot up the mast is really nice. Thinking about it more, I think it would be bit stronger if the top of the mast was farther up in the top right corner of the frame. I like the shape of the Jib in the second photo. If your mast was a littler higher and farther right in the first shot, it would emphasise the billowing shape of the jib, which imparts more power and dynamicism.

You could probably accomplish this by cropping the second photo accordingly.