Photo Critique (March)

[brendanryder]

Carrying on the idea by fett:

A rating out of 5 may be given and then explain why you gave the rating you did. Comment only about the photo nothing personal, if you are going to just give 0/5 don't bother posting that.

Please try and limit yourself to 1 picture per day


Here we go

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/2300928649_bf59e99524.jpg?v=0

[Abstract]

2/5

I don't like photos of random stuff unless there's a real subject in the photo. This could even be something abstract, like cultural significance.

I like the punchiness of the colours though.

[Ryan1524]

I just read the Feb thread, and I love the idea of this. Let's start with this.

I trekked about 3km, drunk and in pitch black, with a tiny flashlight through the forest to find this cliff by the water. Best sunrise ever for me.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1161/1189445950_5822de9900_b.jpg



Thanks. :)

[Abstract]

Unbelievable sky!

You were drunk and brought a decent camera with you? Did you crop it that wide, or did you have a crazy wide-angle lens or something?

[Shacklebolt]

Carrying on the idea by fett:

A rating out of 5 may be given and then explain why you gave the rating you did. Comment only about the photo nothing personal, if you are going to just give 0/5 don't bother posting that.

Please try and limit yourself to 1 picture per day


Here we go

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/2300928649_bf59e99524.jpg?v=0

2/5. I really do understand when you see something that strikes you as out of the ordinary and worthy of photography, but the subject of the photo is just... rather... weak... I suppose the color scheme is the most fascinating part, but in the end, it's just a photo about a dumpster. Also you have the aperture open rather wide, so the depth of field isn't enough to cover the entire dumpster. The part that's most in focus is that bar running through the side, which is just... confusing


I just read the Feb thread, and I love the idea of this. Let's start with this.

I trekked about 3km, drunk and in pitch black, with a tiny flashlight through the forest to find this cliff by the water. Best sunrise ever for me.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1161/1189445950_5822de9900_b.jpg





Thanks. :)

3/5. For some reason it's tough for me to get next to ultra-telephoto shots unless they really are extraordinary. It's a nice shot of a lake, and I'm sure the sunrise was beautiful, but of course you know that it's not the focal point of the photo. Definitely interesting sky - is that HDR?

[Shacklebolt]

Lead singer w/no microphone. He's just screaming.

Nikon D80
Nikkor 50mm f/1.4
Shutter: 1/30
Aperture: 1.4
ISO: 800
no photoshoppery

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2111/2276536185_02c60e2d74_o.jpg

[I3eXa]

Old pic but still one of my favorites:
Olympus C-4000 4.1MP (haha, my OLD camera)
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/I3eXa/TheRoadTrip018-1.jpg

[pdxflint]

While doing a photo project and feature article for a magazine design class at Portland State, I centered on a neighborhood in NW Portland. I shot it with black/white film and a small Konica point 'n shoot with a fixed focal length 35mm f/2.8 lens, so as not to attract too much attention to the camera at first. Usually it was easy to get folks to agree to let me photograph them after a brief chat about my project, or just by being friendly and asking them a few questions about themselves. The little pocket sized camera was very un-intimidating...

This guy was (or still is) a mentally disadvantaged person who lived in a subsidized housing arrangement nearby, and every Saturday afternoon would spend an hour or so at the sidewalk tables of this corner Starbucks. He was one of several interesting characters I encountered who added to the diversity of a rapidly gentrifying area of town.

http://lh4.google.com/pdxflint/R0gUrVpa9tI/AAAAAAAADeA/30k7JEg7Wsw/s800/guy%20by%20starbucks.jpg

Konica Big Mini 35mm
ISO 400
Kodak T-max
scanned from workprint

[Shacklebolt]

To the best of my estimation, you're supposed to comment on previous photos before posting your own. It's slightly rude if you don't.

[pdxflint]

To the best of my estimation, you're supposed to comment on previous photos before posting your own. It's slightly rude if you don't.

I assume you're referring to me... and I won't take it as being rude, although it was somewhat.. the fact is I looked at the pics here so far but haven't had the time to give them much thought yet in order to offer something meaningful or insightful.

If this thread is a continuation of the previous critique thread started by fett, I believe, then there are not really any hard fast rules. Of course the spirit of the thread is to offer feedback, and if you read back over the last thread you might notice that I have offered plenty of feedback, and intend to continue doing the same. But, I didn't comment on all photos, that would be a full-time job, and most folks didn't comment on mine, just a few folks did. So what? It didn't bother me. Those who want to participate in the discussions should just jump right in, but others are free to post if they want to, at least in my opinion. it should be an open and welcoming place for even the shyest folks who want to take a chance.

There wasn't really a 1 pic a day limit in the original critique thread, that was the "picture of the day" thread. The thing is, if we start needing all these rules and enforcers it isn't worth the bother.

Bottom line: You can't command someone to critique your work, you can only offer it up for criticism. Be polite, be constructive, be fair and you'll probably get solid feedback.

Here's all I can offer on your lead singer shot at the moment since it's late, and I'm tired. The shot is not obvious what it's about. It's blurry, but not in a good way to convey action. It looks like something I might expect from an auto setting P/S. My first impression is an outtake from a Geico Insurance commercial with one of the cavemen in a suit throwing a tantrum because he saw a reference to something being so easy a caveman could do it.... honestly. That's what came to my mind. Looking at your exif, it must have been really dark for an f/1.4 lens wide open to still not allow a faster shutter speed at 800 iso. You have to pick your moments when the guy's not moving or screamin like a maniac in order to have at least one thing sharp in the picture, preferably his eyes. No publication would use it, and I don't think the band would buy it. So, it's a throwaway if I'm the photo editor, and you're my photographer sent on assignment. Show me what else you have, because that shot doesn't work. I'm not going to give it a number rating at the moment, but hopefully the feedback, although blunt, was constructive. :)
Cheers.

[Shacklebolt]

No, I wasn't referring to you. I was referring to the two posters who consecutively posted their own photographs while not looking at the others' work. Every photographer wants feedback, but the spirit of this post seems to be critique, and I'd find it rude to post my own without first giving some feedback to others.

As for your commentary, no hard feelings. Not that I am the world's best photographer, but it occurs to me that these boards are not the place for people who know much about action/concert photography. Lottttt of landscapes, lottttttt of macros, lot of "pose-for-me-please?", and a lotttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt of HDR, all of which can really be quite good, but candids/action/photojournalism is not MacRumors' long suit.

As you don't seem to know that dark, indoor concerts with fog machines preclude the use of a flash, demand high ISOs and slower shutter speeds, then I have to take your advice with a grain of salt. Were I able to take a flashless indoor shot in a dark, foggy room at 1/800 with an ISO of 160-200, that would just be awesome, but there is no universe in which that is possible. I chose to go with the downsides of an indoor venue, and not try to minimize them. The shot is not an accident; it an effect. As for no publication using it, tell that to my editor.

[baby duck monge]

As you don't seem to know that dark, indoor concerts with fog machines preclude the use of a flash, demand high ISOs and slower shutter speeds, then I have to take your advice with a grain of salt. Were I able to take a flashless indoor shot in a dark, foggy room at 1/800 with an ISO of 160-200, that would just be awesome, but there is no universe in which that is possible.

I don't think it was a criticism that there was no flash used, just a bit of surprise that even with such a wide open aperture and a high ISO it was still so dark that you couldn't get faster than 1/30". The actual criticism was that when you can't get faster than 1/30" you should perhaps concentrate on finding a shot with less movement, not that you should bring in a flash to make more light.

[Flowero4ka]

Old pic but still one of my favorites:
Olympus C-4000 4.1MP (haha, my OLD camera)
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/I3eXa/TheRoadTrip018-1.jpg

mmmm how I miss the sea. I'd prefer to jump even into your picture... aaaaa

[Flowero4ka]

Old pic but still one of my favorites:
Olympus C-4000 4.1MP (haha, my OLD camera)
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/I3eXa/TheRoadTrip018-1.jpg

mmmm how I miss the sea. I'd prefer to jump even into your picture... aaaaa

[brendanryder]

There wasn't really a 1 pic a day limit in the original critique thread, that was the "picture of the day" thread. The thing is, if we start needing all these rules and enforcers it isn't worth the bother.


actually the first post was edited to say it, i just thought we should keep it to 1 per day so people dont spam pictures and not comment on other peoples work :D

Heres my picture for today
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/2295699393_4faa7124c2.jpg?v=0

[Doylem]

actually the first post was edited to say it, i just thought we should keep it to 1 per day so people dont spam pictures and not comment on other peoples work :D

Heres my picture for today
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/2295699393_4faa7124c2.jpg?v=0

Great mood... but there's generally got to be a very good reason for putting the subject of a pic dead centre. Rules are meant to be broken, and, anyway, the 'rule of thirds' is really only a suggestion. Yet it's amazing how many times a pic that 'looks right' conforms to it. If this was my shot, I would have put the boat off-centre and to the right of the pic... leaving some 'psychological space' for the boat to sail into.

[markjewiss]

Heres my picture for today
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/2295699393_4faa7124c2.jpg?v=0

I like it, but... I'm assuming you were standing on a beach when you took this? If so, I think it would look better if you'd crouched down into the water. Personally I find that simple trick can really add a lot to the layout of the final image. Of course, if you were on a boat when you took the photo, fair enough ;))

Mark.

[dllavaneras]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3189/2295699393_4faa7124c2.jpg?v=0

Nice! 4/5 for me. If the sun had been a bit lower, right behind the boat it would have been awesome! I can see why you placed it in the center. ;)

This is mine, a shot of a damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera: Lestidae) ready to take off.

[Ryan1524]

Wops, Sorry. I completely forgot to comment first.

About my photo, yea, it wasn't about the sunset, it was more about the space. It was my first time camping, and in a place with such a view. So that was my goal. I didn't intent it to be an HDR, just punched up the colours and contrast. And yeh, I brought my SLR drunk in the dark. I actually slipped and smacked my lens on the rock when I was trying to get a nice place to shoot by the water much earlier that day. Not a scratch on the lens, and it still works. Love Nikon quality. All of my shots so far were taken with 18-70mm kit Lens with D70s.

I think one of the two below is more about the sunrise.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1058/1178960018_a79738d2b8_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1092/1178950346_d40cf9609a_b.jpg


Paying back, so here's what I think:

@brendanryder - It's interesting colour and angle, but it's hard to find the point. The only thing I can see that might have intriqued you would be the rust, and dirt, grime, and overall filthiness. Combined with the 'WASTE' text that you managed to capture near the bottom left, it definitely makes a 'dirty' impact.

Great photo of that sunset. Very magazine like. I think you could've cropped some of the water though to bring more attention to the sky.

@Shacklebolt - I kinda like this. I think I get an idea of what you were trying to do with the singer; he was just so captured in his own moment, and any artist can probably relate when seeing the picture. But I also feel like the guy was just tripping out and completely being nuts. If I didn't know he was singing, I might have thought it was some random guy you captured on the street. Interesting contrast between the hair and the nicely fitted outfit though. Overall, I think it's too vague, and empty (no points of interest in his surroundings)

@I3eXa - Lovely view of the ocean, but it's too much blue, and seems very pedestrian/touristy. I think I know the feeling you were trying to capture, that wide, open, expansive feel when you're up there looking out towards the horizon. But the only way I would know to communicate that space is by a huge panorama. That's what I did on my picture I posted above. I think if you dropped to the ground, capture something low on the foreground, and finish it off with the peaceful horizon backdrop, it'd work.

@pdxflint - I've always wanted to take something like this. BUt the reflection is actually pretty distracting. I think you were trying to show the nice architecture in front of him, and it's a creative way of doing it. But it takes away from the point of relaxing and just hanging out that you were trying to convey. If you took him more frontally, and get past the Starbucks window, inside, and see some more people chilling inside. It might create an interesting contrast between him sitting alone, and other people with more company inside. Maybe even contrast their age and style.

@dllavaneras - Amazing photo, great detail. I'd use it as my wallpaper.

[Eauboy]

Old pic but still one of my favorites:
Olympus C-4000 4.1MP (haha, my OLD camera)
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/I3eXa/TheRoadTrip018-1.jpg

2/5

While I can see why this photo would be a favorite (I'm sure it brings back some very fond memories) it doesn't have much impact, IMO. I've taken hundreds of shots like this while on travel and while I don't regret taking them, they are almost never the most arresting images. I'm sorry, I wish I could be more helpful.

[Ryan1524]

^I agree. Personal travel photos can have a very strong impact to whomever took them. But it means little to the outsider. I have thousands of photos from events or travel that won't qualify as 'photography' - not by a long shot. But I keep them cause they're memories. :)

[pdxflint]

I don't think it was a criticism that there was no flash used, just a bit of surprise that even with such a wide open aperture and a high ISO it was still so dark that you couldn't get faster than 1/30". The actual criticism was that when you can't get faster than 1/30" you should perhaps concentrate on finding a shot with less movement, not that you should bring in a flash to make more light.

That's exactly what I meant. Thanks. :)

Shaklebolt, thanks for clearing up your intent. I apologize if I misunderstood where you were coming from. I'm honestly happy if you were able to publish you photo - after all that's why there are different viewpoints. I don't know the band, so I can't respond to the picture perhaps the way you or your editor might. To me, my instant reaction was the one I told you. Simply put, because there was nothing at all sharp or in focus in the shot, it didn't work for me. That's why if I was in the position of being your editor, I'd ask to see what else you got, hopefully lots to look through and pick.

As for concert stuff, I agree. There aren't a lot of practicioners of that artform here. Just keep doing it and testing it out on us. I've done some but the situations have varied quite a bit as far as lighting is concerned (and the ability to get in a good place to take compelling shots.) I've had backstage, sidestage, front row, back row, upper balcony type locations. Many blurry shots or blown highlights for spotlit shots, extreme contrast making it very difficult. Also, depending on vantage point, the up close front row shots can tend to have the "looking up their nostrils" effect. I've usually tried to shoot lots of film for concerts (now digital, but it's tougher, believe me) and vary my approaches, including pushing fast b/w film from 3200 to 6400, which yielded grainy, yet sometimes the best shots, moody and contrasty. Tight shots spot metered usually were able to yield acceptable shutter speeds, but not if the subject was flying around. The only way to freeze action with some motion effects was, in fact, by using fill-flash w/ rear-curtain sync, if permitted. If flash (I said, "if") was used, the shot was still metered for avail light and the shutter speed still slow enough to let most available light be used, with flash just to give it that bit of crispness somewhere (eyes, hair, guitar, something sharp for the eye to anchor to in the shot.) There are many creative ways to use flash, from bounce, directional, slaves, etc. If that wasn't one of the options, then I didn't go for the big blur. The thing I like about shooting film was that I wasn't so busy always looking at the results of the last shot on the lcd, and tended to focus more on my viewfinder making note of my shutter speed/aperture settings on the fly. I'd shoot each roll with a different approach just to give myself a better chance of at least something working that I'd find when the film was processed. With digital, try to see through the viewfinder what the shot might turn out like. Of course there are other issues like lesser dynamic range than film, white balance issues, etc..

The best thing I can say is it's always a learning curve, each situtation is different, but eventually by doing it enough in each of those situations you will be much better at predicting what your results will look like and get a lot more keepers. There are a lot of similarities to shooting sports at night or indoors. Sometimes it's just as effective to wait for the quieter, yet quite telling moments to tell the story. Enough of my blabbing...;)

[fett]

Great to see this thread continue into March. Sorry I've been so busy and haven't had much time to comment lately.

Old pic but still one of my favorites:
Olympus C-4000 4.1MP (haha, my OLD camera)
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/I3eXa/TheRoadTrip018-1.jpg

2/5 I agree with the others it looks like a beautiful place but the photo doesn't really grab me in anyway. Now I'm by no means an expert but I'll see if I can give any advice that might help. Try getting your camera in a different location. You can add a lot to a photo by just taking it from a different perspective than people would normally see it from. Try and get the horizon straight. Maybe include a little more of the land. The part where the ocean comes in I would like to see more land there. I find it leads me out of the photo.


Here is one of mine
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/2303648732_71a657fc88.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinloganphoto/2303648732/)

[pdxflint]

I think one of the two below is more about the sunrise.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1058/1178960018_a79738d2b8_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1092/1178950346_d40cf9609a_b.jpg



The first one is more powerful to me, the sky is much more dramatic and I love the far shore looming in the shadows, yet visible beneath the dark portion of the clouds. The second has good light, nice glow in the sky also reflected in the blue of the lake, but not as interesting overall as the first. I'm a bit distracted by the light horizontal line just below the shoreline. #1 - 3.75, #2 - 2.75

Prior panorama I actually liked quite a bit.


Paying back, so here's what I think:

@pdxflint - I've always wanted to take something like this. BUt the reflection is actually pretty distracting. I think you were trying to show the nice architecture in front of him, and it's a creative way of doing it. But it takes away from the point of relaxing and just hanging out that you were trying to convey. If you took him more frontally, and get past the Starbucks window, inside, and see some more people chilling inside. It might create an interesting contrast between him sitting along, and other people with more company inside. Maybe even contrast their age and style.


You make some good points, and for the record I didn't use this picture precisely because of the relective distractions. I do have other shots of this subject taken during this project, but it's interesting to see if my gut reactions are similar to what other folks may express. Sometimes I'm not sure if maybe it's just me, and I want to test the reaction. It keeps me on my toes. I appreciate the feedback.

[brendanryder]

Great mood... but there's generally got to be a very good reason for putting the subject of a pic dead centre. Rules are meant to be broken, and, anyway, the 'rule of thirds' is really only a suggestion. Yet it's amazing how many times a pic that 'looks right' conforms to it. If this was my shot, I would have put the boat off-centre and to the right of the pic... leaving some 'psychological space' for the boat to sail into.

i know i wish i would have remembered then i could of had 2 great shots.
i was just so focused on my vacation, in Cozumel mexico, i forgot almost everything i knew lol.
if i could of taken another i definitely would of put the boat to the side but i wanted it in the center for this one cus i thought it looked cool with the boat in the center of the glare off the water.

I like it, but... I'm assuming you were standing on a beach when you took this? If so, I think it would look better if you'd crouched down into the water. Personally I find that simple trick can really add a lot to the layout of the final image. Of course, if you were on a boat when you took the photo, fair enough ;))

Mark.

i took it from the beach. i had never thought about crouching down to the level of the water. that would be cool. i'll have to try that next tim, thanks :D

Nice! 4/5 for me. If the sun had been a bit lower, right behind the boat it would have been awesome! I can see why you placed it in the center. ;)

This is mine, a shot of a damselfly (Odonata: Zygoptera: Lestidae) ready to take off.

Thanks ya i wish the sun would of been lower but just after i took the picture it literally vanished.


Thank you all for your comments, im glad you all like it cus i submited it to a Photo contest. (http://www.hereshow.ca/photocontest.asp?navbar)

:d

[OCBC]

[TIMG]http://lh4.google.com/pdxflint/R0gUrVpa9tI/AAAAAAAADeA/30k7JEg7Wsw/s800/guy%20by%20starbucks.jpg[/IMG]

Hey pdxflint, I think this photo is fantastic, and I have to disagree with ryan1524 that the reflection and the way you framed it take away from the photo. On the contrary, I think it is the only way to convey the meaning that you did.

[QUOTE=pdxflint;5084882] He was one of several interesting characters I encountered who added to the diversity of a rapidly gentrifying area of town.

To me this photo is about the way that people cope with rapid changes in the areas they live in and the human brightspots, those ever interesting people, that maintain their identity and individualism in the face of increasingly homogenous landscapes, typified by starbucks, brownstone condo like buildings like in the reflection, etc.

I wouldn't have immediately come to this conclusion had you not said that last bit about the diversity in a rapidly gentrifying are, but i would've gotten there eventually.

Visually it is very interesting, with many exquisite and meaningful details for the eye to focus on. Your subject has wonderful body language and expression that helps convey your theme. Exposure and development seem spot on, nice and contrasty. I can't find too much that i would change so overall, 4/5

i posted this one for last month's critique, but didn't receive any response so i thought i might post it again? thanks for any comments and criticisms.

in new orleans june 2007
1/25 s, handheld, iso 200, 55mm, f5.6

[Ryan1524]

Thanks for the feedback. Yeah, I admit the second one is plainer, but I just love how the colours spread across the spectrum, in that one.

The first one is more powerful to me, the sky is much more dramatic and I love the far shore looming in the shadows, yet visible beneath the dark portion of the clouds. The second has good light, nice glow in the sky also reflected in the blue of the lake, but not as interesting overall as the first. I'm a bit distracted by the light horizontal line just below the shoreline. #1 - 3.75, #2 - 2.75

Prior panorama I actually liked quite a bit.

<snip>

@fett - I love the black and white. You made a relatively dull object pop out, the detail is nicely brought out by the B/W contrast.


Here's another one of mine from that night at the campsite.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1321/1178923020_828e0be5d0_b.jpg

[pdxflint]

Hey pdxflint, I think this photo is fantastic, and I have to disagree with ryan1524 that the reflection and the way you framed it take away from the photo. On the contrary, I think it is the only way to convey the meaning that you did.

http://lh4.google.com/pdxflint/R0gUrVpa9tI/AAAAAAAADeA/30k7JEg7Wsw/s800/guy%20by%20starbucks.jpg He was one of several interesting characters I encountered who added to the diversity of a rapidly gentrifying area of town.

To me this photo is about the way that people cope with rapid changes in the areas they live in and the human brightspots, those ever interesting people, that maintain their identity and individualism in the face of increasingly homogenous landscapes, typified by starbucks, brownstone condo like buildings like in the reflection, etc.

I wouldn't have immediately come to this conclusion had you not said that last bit about the diversity in a rapidly gentrifying are, but i would've gotten there eventually.

Visually it is very interesting, with many exquisite and meaningful details for the eye to focus on. Your subject has wonderful body language and expression that helps convey your theme. Exposure and development seem spot on, nice and contrasty. I can't find too much that i would change so overall, 4/5

Thanks for the in-depth feedback. The appeal to me is the same as you described, but since I had many photos to choose from for this project, this one didn't get chosen and I just wanted to see if it might have worked. So far, 1 against and 1 for... :)


i posted this one for last month's critique, but didn't receive any response so i thought i might post it again? thanks for any comments and criticisms.

in new orleans june 2007
1/25 s, handheld, iso 200, 55mm, f5.6

First, I hope it isn't your car...;)
This shot does a good job of expressing the despair of urban blight. The apartment complex appears unoccupied, but the photo is suggestive of how the blighted neighborhood might look even if folks were living there. The ironic sign in the trunk of the rusted out car seems to be saying "walk, since driving's out of the question," or telling a story of total disregard for the original intent of the sign cautioning drivers about pedestrians crossing the street. Perhaps this car collected a pedestrian or two along the way, and was ditched.

In the end since you mentioned New Orleans it becomes clear that the floods decimated the area, and this is some of the lingering detrius of the human condition in this neglected area of our country. There is a somewhat humorous ironic tone to the shot, but the underlying story is grim. Good shot, nice eye to notice this. As far as photographic aesthetics go, it's fairly basic, but that's reality and the picture works for me. 3.25/5

[TimJim]

in new orleans june 2007
1/25 s, handheld, iso 200, 55mm, f5.6

Very cool to still see the litter from Katrina. If that is. 4/5, nice shot.

Heres my picture. Taken in Trinidad, Cuba of some guy.

[HomeingPigeon]

I took this picture walking around Washington D.C. It was in the Georgetown part of D.C.

Shutter Speed 1/100
f/3.5
18 mm
iso 200

[superted666]

Some great Pics guys...

Been a while since i posted in this sub-forum.
Here is mine for today.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2150/2308549652_9400b53dae.jpg

[Ryan1524]

Very cool to still see the litter from Katrina. If that is. 4/5, nice shot.

Heres my picture. Taken in Trinidad, Cuba of some guy.

There's an almost surreal feel to this picture. Did you punch up the colours or was that wall so amazingly bright blue that it threw off the metering in your camera? LOL. Interesting to contrast the guy's expression with all the bright colour around him. It looks almost as if he;s unhappy to be forced in that environment - even his shirt seems to glow.


@superted666 - Interesting idea, but i think you should've diffused the light a little bit. the strong shadows make for a nice dark mood, but it feels forced. If you tone down the light. and have some faint detail on the dark side, I think that'd give the photo an even more ominous feel.

[Lightglance.com]

First of all; pardon my English, its not my native language...

@OCBC - I love signs, they are so cool... But if i was you i would have worked to clean up the setting a little bit, and then when the picture was taken, i would have made the colors more crispy.


Since there has been some discussion about concert photography, i thought i post a concert picture myself:

http://www.lightglance.com/images/20080303213924_2007-07-06%20at%2021-05-20.jpg

Camera: Canon EOS-1D Mark II N(borrowed)
Lens: Canon 85mm f/1.2 :D (borrowed) :mad:
Aperture: f/2
Shutter: 1/400
ISO: 800
(Yes, its cropped, a little to much meaningless room behind him, filled up with a large, attention taking LED screen)

[Ryan1524]

^very nice. Those LED screens go nuts under camera capture because of the way they work, unless you time it just right. I think the way you did, empty space filled with smoke and colours are way more appealing than any screen could have done. 4.5/5

[I3eXa]

Here is one of mine
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/2303648732_71a657fc88.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinloganphoto/2303648732/)

thanks but i was just curious what you guys thought of the photo. it was taken like 4 years ago when I had no clue what I was doing but I do appreciate the help. BTW, I really like yours, love the dusty look of the black and white. The barb wire fence adds to it to. I'm only a newbie at photography, but maybe a shot angled from the ground more??? Or maybe it wasn't possible with the tall grass, who knows.

[pdxflint]

Cinema 21 is an old neighborhood theater in NW Portland that specializes in independent niche films that usually run for a week, sometime just for the weekend. Scanned from b/w workprint.

http://lh6.google.com/pdxflint/R0gU_1pa91I/AAAAAAAADfA/RE0xr1ykIcQ/s800/cinema%2021%20vert.jpg

Konica Big Mini 35mm
ISO 400
Illford Hp5+ film


TimJim: I almost love that shot of the Cuban gentleman. The colors, ambience, expression, even the cigarette, his shirt is amazing... but you cut off his feet. That's my gripe. :) 3/5 (-1 for cutting off his feet)

Superted666: I find my self liking this shot more as I come back to it. I always find extreme side lighting and contrast to be interesting, and project mood and personality, and texture. I like the composition. The tone and color of the wooden blinds softens the overall effect, makes it more organic. I don't know... I just like it. 3.5/5

Lightglance.com: Great example of a concert shot that works. Colors are excellent, sharpness of the performer, especially his face and eyes are spot on. Also, good emotion captured. It's a dynamic shot, and you did a good job cropping/composing the image to do away with unnecessary clutter. 4/5

[liveexpo]

Would be good to get some constructive comments! :)

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/38/mannequinbzj9.jpg

[superted666]

@Ryan1524 - Thanks, i was shooting from a external wireless flash which was literally just out of frame, will try shooting through a home made diffuser to see how it ends up or alternativley i could add more ambient light maybe?

Love the fire shot btw, what is that on the right hand side, a person?

I tried for ages to try get a 'localised' light feel for a photo of me peering through my blinds. I was shooting close to the blinds, quite a tight composition but i couldnt seem to get the effect i was going for. I think it was this experiance which led to this picture....

@pdxflint - Thanks for the comment :)



Forever a student of photography!

[Ryan1524]

Thanks superted666. I think it was somebody's leg. I checked out your gallery, great pictures. I wish my friends were less of camera-phobic. :o :p

@pdxflint - I like this. Feels peaceful, like living in a friendly tight-knit, small community (the b/w might have added to that). Seems like everybody there knew each other, and are just easily chatting away on the street in their old stomping grounds. :)

@liveexpo - Very nice. love the lighting.

[pdxflint]

Another in the series on northwest Portland neighborhood. Scanned from workprint.

http://lh4.google.com/pdxflint/R0gUpVpa9sI/AAAAAAAADd4/WN7HtkPAIyA/s800/dressed%20up%20group.jpg

Konica Big Mini 35mm
ISO 400
Kodak T-max film

[unknown87]

Pdxflint; I love it. The only thing, and this is probably my niggle more than anyone else's, is the tree (?) in the middle of the two couples. It just... breaks up the photo. Its still an excellent frame though.

Here's mine...

http://mt12.quickshareit.com/share/dscf2008_299b38.jpg

Feel free to be brutal, its all learning right!?

[jaysonmc]

http://images.dpchallenge.com/images_portfolio/62318/orig/Copyrighted_Image_Reuse_Prohibited_650332.jpg

[i3iz]

Carrying on the idea by fett:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/2300928649_bf59e99524.jpg?v=0

5/5 for me. love the texture, color and sacred/mundane subject

[pdxflint]

Pdxflint; I love it. The only thing, and this is probably my niggle more than anyone else's, is the tree (?) in the middle of the two couples. It just... breaks up the photo. Its still an excellent frame though.

Thanks. It's actually a utility pole of some kind, with posters plastered on it. I can see what you mean, but it is what it is on the streets. I didn't want to stalk these folks taking their picture all the way, so I just watched my surroundings and seized opportunity by pulling out my little camera at the last moment and grabbing the shot.


Here's mine...

http://mt12.quickshareit.com/share/dscf2008_299b38.jpg

Feel free to be brutal, its all learning right!?

I like the tonal qualities (looks a bit like some "filtration" applied) and the lines of the bridge drawing my eyes into the picture. Overall great composition. Where's the location? And give us some exif info. 3.75/5

Would be good to get some constructive comments! :)

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/38/mannequinbzj9.jpg

The shot is real stylish, has some great thematic and textural qualities, but it would have been better with a real model and some light on the eyes. I really like the monotonal effect with minimal color. Keep working at it! 3/5

http://images.dpchallenge.com/images_portfolio/62318/orig/Copyrighted_Image_Reuse_Prohibited_650332.jpg

I'd like to know a little about the photo to gain some perspective on how to critique it (where, who.. exif info, etc.) But without that I can say I like the tonal qualities and the breadth of the scene, with the people in the foreground giving some sense of scale - makes me wish I were there shooting photographs too. I'm not sure what/who the subject is. It would seem the people are the subject because they are nice and sharp while the rest of the shot is somewhat soft. I'd like to see the whole photo sharp as a tack because the gorgeous mountain scenery beyond the meadow foreground demands it. 3.25/5

[pdxflint]

Just going for more of an abstraction here... not sure if it works...

http://lh4.google.com/pdxflint/R85ZFSaM2cI/AAAAAAAAEWg/qlypOQcOe2Q/s800/DSC_5931.JPG

Model: NIKON D50
ISO: 200
Exposure: 1/500 sec
Aperture: f/9.0
Focal Length: 31mm

[Father Jack]

Sorry, I don't see much abstract content. Perhaps close up's of the patterned sand etc.etc.

[pdxflint]

Sorry, I don't see much abstract content. Perhaps close up's of the patterned sand etc.etc.

Okay, you got me there...:cool: Poor choice of words, perhaps. I meant more of a higher contrast, monotonal picture where texture and shapes take precedence over an obvious subject... actually no close-ups of sand, shooting with 31mm, but I do get your point. Thanks, professor! ;)

[Father Jack]

Okay, you got me there...:cool: Poor choice of words, perhaps. I meant more of a higher contrast, monotonal picture where texture and shapes take precedence over an obvious subject... actually no close-ups of sand, shooting with 31mm, but I do get your point. Thanks, professor! ;)
Sorry, I suppose I was a tad brutal .... :o
There is quite a few abstract parts to this photo, perhaps enlarging a portion of the image to concentrate on the areas of pattern and texture would do the trick.

[Doylem]

Okay, you got me there...:cool: Poor choice of words, perhaps. I meant more of a higher contrast, monotonal picture where texture and shapes take precedence over an obvious subject... actually no close-ups of sand, shooting with 31mm, but I do get your point. Thanks, professor! ;)

Sorry... but if "texture and shapes" are going to "take precedence over an obvious subject"... then there's got to be more shapes... and more texture... ;)

[pdxflint]

Sorry... but if "texture and shapes" are going to "take precedence over an obvious subject"... then there's got to be more shapes... and more texture... ;)
I feel like I'm on American Idol facing two <gasp..! :eek:> Simon Cowell's. <~sniff..~>

FatherJack: thanks for the suggestions. Most likely I'll just move on... and give it up on this one. :)

[Father Jack]

Don't do that !!! There is ample opportunity for some great pattern and texture shots at that location, so if it's close to home, definitely go back .. :)

Good shooting.

FJ .. aka The professor" LOL .. :cool:

[Doylem]

I feel like I'm on American Idol facing two <gasp..! :eek:> Simon Cowell's. <~sniff..~>

FatherJack: thanks for the suggestions. Most likely I'll just move on... and give it up on this one. :)

Well, I gave my TV away a couple of years ago, which means that I have only the haziest idea about American Idol and Simon Cowell (and how good it is to write those words...), though I hear he is a sort of 'pantomime villain' who humiliates the punters. Yawn...

Right, since we've not given your beach pic very good 'style marks', feel free to give this shot of mine the Simon Cowell treatment. The 'point' of it is the dog bounding from master to mistress, across the empty beach, but I appreciate that the dog occupies only about 0.5% of the picture area. The people kinda remind me of brackets - (...) - enclosing the space between them. But, in all honesty, it's probably just a rather featureless pic of three figures who seem too far away. Basically, does it 'work', or is it just a bit dull? :)

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/8365/couplebeachad3.jpg

[markjewiss]

i was just so focused on my vacation, in Cozumel mexico, i forgot almost everything i knew lol.

Cozumel? Great place! I was there in June last year with the family, we stayed in the Iberostar hotel - where did you stay? I'll try and upload one of my Cozumel sunset shots soon...

Mark.

[Stig McNasty]

Well, I gave my TV away a couple of years ago, which means that I have only the haziest idea about American Idol and Simon Cowell (and how good it is to write those words...), though I hear he is a sort of 'pantomime villain' who humiliates the punters. Yawn...

Right, since we've not given your beach pic very good 'style marks', feel free to give this shot of mine the Simon Cowell treatment. The 'point' of it is the dog bounding from master to mistress, across the empty beach, but I appreciate that the dog occupies only about 0.5% of the picture area. The people kinda remind me of brackets - (...) - enclosing the space between them. But, in all honesty, it's probably just a rather featureless pic of three figures who seem too far away. Basically, does it 'work', or is it just a bit dull? :)

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/8365/couplebeachad3.jpg

It's more the coulours, with steely blues and greys overlain with a slight pink tinge that I like. The characters are a distant (no pun intended) second. Maybe it's more of 'alone, together'. Nice tho'. Thanks for putting it up.

[unknown87]

For me Doylem, the fact that the figures are so distant makes the frame. I absolutely adore this photo, probably because it really hits home with a personal story I have. The ONLY thing I maybe dislike is the beach at the very front of the frame; I don't think the textures work with the rest of the picture. Maybe the very top of the sky could be cropped slightly... Aside from that, top notch photography!

4/5

Edit: Tried my version of a crop. I hope that's ok, I know some people hate it.... Personally, this is what I'd have done.... Not sure if it make a 'better' frame, just something I tried. Apologies if it causes offense, its not meant to!

http://mt11.quickshareit.com/share/couplebeachad37dd7a.jpg

[Doylem]

For me Doylem, the fact that the figures are so distant makes the frame. I absolutely adore this photo, probably because it really hits home with a personal story I have. The ONLY thing I maybe dislike is the beach at the very front of the frame; I don't think the textures work with the rest of the picture. Maybe the very top of the sky could be cropped slightly... Aside from that, top notch photography!

4/5

Edit: Tried my version of a crop. I hope that's ok, I know some people hate it.... Personally, this is what I'd have done.... Not sure if it make a 'better' frame, just something I tried. Apologies if it causes offense, its not meant to!

http://mt11.quickshareit.com/share/couplebeachad37dd7a.jpg

Thanks... It's fine to crop. No offense. Yes, there are other possible crops. i thought the dark areas at top and bottom held the pic together, stopping your eye from wandering out of the picture area.But it's all personal taste...

It's an amazing bay (2nd biggest in UK), and so flat that when the tide goes out, it goes out ten miles! So at low tide it's a vast area of sand (and quicksand :eek:), well vast for UK ayway. So people go there who need a bit of space.

It can be a lonely place...

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9287/henry1yc6.jpg

[fett]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2107/2313252509_1f60e950ac_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinloganphoto/2313252509/)

I took this Bull shot while driving around the back country near Calgary scouting new locations for landscapes. A little info on the photo - it's two exposures blended together in photoshop.

I would have liked to get closer and get some different angles but to tell the true I was a little afraid of the bull. He is standing at the gate in the fence and it didn't really look like it would stop him.


No need to critique this one it's just to show what the bull looked like.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2227/2314067094_6ba5ea8943_m.jpg
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinloganphoto/2314067094/)

[Eauboy]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2107/2313252509_1f60e950ac_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinloganphoto/2313252509/)

I took this Bull shot while driving around the back country near Calgary scouting new locations for landscapes. A little info on the photo - it's two exposures blended together in photoshop.



(Insert BullShot/********* joke here)

[Abstract]

4/5

Edit: Tried my version of a crop. I hope that's ok, I know some people hate it.... Personally, this is what I'd have done.... Not sure if it make a 'better' frame, just something I tried. Apologies if it causes offense, its not meant to!

http://mt11.quickshareit.com/share/couplebeachad37dd7a.jpg

Yeah, I like your crop a bit better than the original. I didn't like the top or bottom of the photo, so you kept the best parts.


As you don't seem to know that dark, indoor concerts with fog machines preclude the use of a flash, demand high ISOs and slower shutter speeds, then I have to take your advice with a grain of salt. Were I able to take a flashless indoor shot in a dark, foggy room at 1/800 with an ISO of 160-200, that would just be awesome, but there is no universe in which that is possible. I chose to go with the downsides of an indoor venue, and not try to minimize them. The shot is not an accident; it an effect. As for no publication using it, tell that to my editor.

I'm sorry, but I agreed with pdxflint's assessment. Even at an indoor concert, the photo you took on the 1st page was just a blurry shot of a band taken from someone in the crowd.

And yes, I have shot bands before.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2107/2313252509_1f60e950ac_o.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinloganphoto/2313252509/)

I took this Bull shot while driving around the back country near Calgary scouting new locations for landscapes. A little info on the photo - it's two exposures blended together in photoshop.

I would have liked to get closer and get some different angles but to tell the true I was a little afraid of the bull. He is standing at the gate in the fence and it didn't really look like it would stop him.


No need to critique this one it's just to show what the bull looked like.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2227/2314067094_6ba5ea8943_m.jpg
(http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinloganphoto/2314067094/)

I like it, but I would have liked it more if the cow was slightly better lit. I know that's not your fault, and these sorts of shots are usually unplanned and spontaneous shots, but a bit of flash would have done it, especially if the flash wasn't attached to your camera. ;)


Anyway, here's one. I already have some issues with it. I didn't think the shot would be anything I'd care about, so I didn't do much planning.

EDIT: Wow......looks horrible in Firefox. :o

[Doylem]

I like it, but I would have liked it more if the cow was slightly better lit. I know that's not your fault, and these sorts of shots are usually unplanned and spontaneous shots, but a bit of flash would have done it, especially if the flash wasn't attached to your camera. ;)

Can I just step in here, before there's a tragic accidemt. I'm no expert on flash, and I'm no expert on bulls... but I'm pretty sure of one thing: they don't belong together. The idea of disorientating a bull, with horns THAT big, with a little flash-gun (on or off the camera...) sounds like a death-wish to me. :eek:

By the way, PM me if you need to know the difference between a cow and a bull... ;)

[fett]

Can I just step in here, before there's a tragic accidemt. I'm no expert on flash, and I'm no expert on bulls... but I'm pretty sure of one thing: they don't belong together. The idea of disorientating a bull, with horns THAT big, with a little flash-gun (on or off the camera...) sounds like a death-wish to me. :eek:

By the way, PM me if you need to know the difference between a cow and a bull... ;)

I usually have my flashes with me whenever I go out but this day I just grabbed my camera and went. In fact I had just taken all my lighting gear out of my car the day before which is probably lucky. Like Doylem said the bull and flash probably wouldn't mix well. Also I'm not sure what the farmer would have done if he passed by and some city slicker had a shoot through umbrella setup taking photos of his bull.

[Lightglance.com]

http://mt12.quickshareit.com/share/dscf2008_299b38.jpg



Bridges have cool shapes, and you can take many good pictures of them, but this one i did not like. The background crashes a little to much with the bridge, and there is missing some detail on the bridge. Overexposure? I'm missing some composition... 2/5



http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/8365/couplebeachad3.jpg



Love the picture, the world seems so big. In contrast to this being a landscape picture, you have the running dog witch gives the picture some action. 4/5


Because of the bull picture, i was reminded of this picture i took 2 and a half years ago, 1 week after i got my first DSLR(350D). Technical this picture isn't the greatest, overexposured and so on. But i love how the 3. different colored cows come walking on a single line.

http://www.lightglance.com/shared/jostein/cows.jpg
350D + kit
Aperture: f/5.6
Shutter: 1/800
ISO: 200

[brendanryder]

5/5 for me. love the texture, color and sacred/mundane subject

thank you ;)

Cozumel? Great place! I was there in June last year with the family, we stayed in the Iberostar hotel - where did you stay? I'll try and upload one of my Cozumel sunset shots soon...

Mark.

we didnt stay at the Iberostar, we stayed at the oxidential

[Abstract]

Would bulls get bothered by the flash if it hit them from a diagonal angle? I'm not really sure how much a flash bothers an animal like that.


By the way, PM me if you need to know the difference between a cow and a bull... ;)

You're right, I don't know the difference. I've milked both, but the bull appeared to enjoy it more.

[Doylem]

Would bulls get bothered by the flash if it hit them from a diagonal angle? I'm not really sure how much a flash bothers an animal like that.

Well, there's one way to find out...

[brendanryder]

I took this Bull shot while driving around the back country near Calgary scouting new locations for landscapes. A little info on the photo - it's two exposures blended together in photoshop.


10/5 for being from Calgary

[thinkband]

Hi guys,

I am a newbie so no need to rate me. I went to the beach in San Diego today and took alot of sunsets. The first shot I thought was one of my better pictures and the second one obviously is very bright. Obviously the sun was not as harsh in the first picture. I wondered if there is anything I can do to reduce the extreme light entering the camera. Change the aperture? A certain filter? Change the ISO? Thanks :)

I have no PP'ed btw, as I am not very good. I am able to do simple things though.

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/Trumpett/IMG_5056.jpg
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/Trumpett/IMG_4988.jpg

[Abstract]

I'm not going to rate your 2nd photo because even you acknowledged that it's too bright.

The 1st one is much better. If you want to take more photos like this, then just use a faster shutter speed. If you're already using your fastest shutter speed (depends on your camera, but most DSLRs have a shutter speed of 1/4000 seconds), then change to a higher f-number (eg: f/11). Either way, I recommend you use a shutter of approximately f/8, and whatever shutter speed works for you. This advice will work for a DSLR and some advanced smaller cameras, but not all.
If you don't want to "guess" which shutter speed you need to use, then I suggest setting the exposure compensation to -1 1/3 or something (a setting almost all point and shoot cameras will have), and pointing the camera towards the ground. Don't point the camera at your feet. ;) Just point it at something that's 10 feet away or something, and half-press the shutter button. Most cameras will lock the focus AND the exposure at this object.

Don't worry about the sun being out of focus. It can't be. ;) Focusing your camera on the object that's furthest away is the biggest, most obvious mistake photographers do when taking landscape shots. They think they need to focus on the mountain in the background, when they really should be trying to get things in the foreground to be sharp. In your case, it's the sand, rocks, and water you need to be sharp.

Your 1st photo is a 3/5 in my book. :) I'm using my personal scale, so don't take that as an insult. I always believe that the very middle rating is average (eg: 5/10 means the photo is better than half the photos I see posted here). I'm probably going to give very few photos a 5/5).

[Abstract]

Poor dog. It was old and could barely stand up.

I don't have a name for my photos, so I guess I'll just call it "Poor dog".

[liveexpo]

Thanks for the feeedback. The series wa based on using a mannequin instead of model, as a critique on the state of modern fashion photography - which tends to place an emphasis, not on image content, but how physically perfect the (mainly) female models are. Below is the final shot in the serious which i titled immolaition - self sacrifice, specially through burning. Working on the idea that following high fashion is self destructive n the end...

I liked you're first image of the street series very much, good expressions captured, and your composition offers the viewer much to 'read' around the image. The second (double dating) didn't have as much of an impact - personally, i wouldn't have waited until the group formed a better shape between them..Still nice to see some film stuff. I have a 120 roll of Ilford PanF of the shots below which i can't wait to get printed!

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/1290/immolationzr2.jpg




Another in the series on northwest Portland neighborhood. Scanned from workprint.

http://lh4.google.com/pdxflint/R0gUpVpa9sI/AAAAAAAADd4/WN7HtkPAIyA/s800/dressed%20up%20group.jpg

Konica Big Mini 35mm
ISO 400
Kodak T-max film

[Father Jack]

Another in the series on northwest Portland neighborhood. Scanned from workprint.

http://lh4.google.com/pdxflint/R0gUpVpa9sI/AAAAAAAADd4/WN7HtkPAIyA/s800/dressed%20up%20group.jpg

Konica Big Mini 35mm
ISO 400
Kodak T-max film

Nice pic, reminds me a little of the work of Lee Freidlander

[pdxflint]

35mm b/w

http://lh3.google.com/pdxflint/R0gWeFpa-SI/AAAAAAAADiw/t_TURCUjfq4/s800/mongolian%20grill.jpg

Canon Eos A2
Canon 28-105
Illford HP5+ 400 b/w
scanned from workprint


Doylem: Concerning your pic of the two people and the dog on the low tide of the bay... I love it! The dynamics of the dog's energy and the emptiness of the space provided with a wonderful sense of scale by the tiny figures... I feel as if I'm actually watching them, and can hear distant shouts of master, and distant yelps of delight from the canine companion. Makes me a bit misty, as it's a scene I can relate to... in a word - good! 4/5

Lightglance and "Professor" FatherJack ;): Thanks for the comments on my street shot. The one thing about these kinds of shots, they're all about opportunity, and seldom is perfection allowed.. ;) and certainly no do-overs. FJ, I appreciate the reference to Friedlander - one of my favorite photogs - and it's nice that the shot would even evoke a mention of him. Cheers!

[Father Jack]

35mm b/w

http://lh3.google.com/pdxflint/R0gWeFpa-SI/AAAAAAAADiw/t_TURCUjfq4/s800/mongolian%20grill.jpg

Canon Eos A2
Canon 28-105
Illford HP5+ 400 b/w
scanned from workprint


Doylem: Concerning your pic of the two people and the dog on the low tide of the bay... I love it! The dynamics of the dog's energy and the emptiness of the space provided with a wonderful sense of scale by the tiny figures... I feel as if I'm actually watching them, and can hear distant shouts of master, and distant yelps of delight from the canine companion. Makes me a bit misty, as it's a scene I can relate to... in a word - good! 4/5

Lightglance and "Professor" FatherJack ;): Thanks for the comments on my street shot. The one thing about these kinds of shots, they're all about opportunity, and seldom is perfection allowed.. ;) and certainly no do-overs. FJ, I appreciate the reference to Friedlander - one of my favorite photogs - and it's nice that the shot would even evoke a mention of him. Cheers!
No problem, great shot.
Sorry about my spelling of Friedlander ... can never remember if it's Frie or Frei ... But anyhow it's the thought that counts.

Regards
The professor LOL .. :cool:

ps
Did you file out the neg carrier on your enlarger or is the hint of a 35MM frame edge from "Photo Frame" software?
Regardless of which, looks great.

[thinkband]

I'm not going to rate your 2nd photo because even you acknowledged that it's too bright.

The 1st one is much better. If you want to take more photos like this, then just use a faster shutter speed. If you're already using your fastest shutter speed (depends on your camera, but most DSLRs have a shutter speed of 1/4000 seconds), then change to a higher f-number (eg: f/11). Either way, I recommend you use a shutter of approximately f/8, and whatever shutter speed works for you. This advice will work for a DSLR and some advanced smaller cameras, but not all.
If you don't want to "guess" which shutter speed you need to use, then I suggest setting the exposure compensation to -1 1/3 or something (a setting almost all point and shoot cameras will have), and pointing the camera towards the ground. Don't point the camera at your feet. ;) Just point it at something that's 10 feet away or something, and half-press the shutter button. Most cameras will lock the focus AND the exposure at this object.

Don't worry about the sun being out of focus. It can't be. ;) Focusing your camera on the object that's furthest away is the biggest, most obvious mistake photographers do when taking landscape shots. They think they need to focus on the mountain in the background, when they really should be trying to get things in the foreground to be sharp. In your case, it's the sand, rocks, and water you need to be sharp.

Your 1st photo is a 3/5 in my book. :) I'm using my personal scale, so don't take that as an insult. I always believe that the very middle rating is average (eg: 5/10 means the photo is better than half the photos I see posted here). I'm probably going to give very few photos a 5/5).

Thanks alot for the great information. I actually did not know about the shutter speed thing. My friend told me that I needed a set of filters for different instances. The UV one would remove glare? Does the ISO I use outside matter that much? Thanks :)

[Lightglance.com]

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/1290/immolationzr2.jpg



I love the contrast in this picture, and the light as well. Love the way you have gotten so much expression from a display doll. Is it on fire? Or what is the motion in the light?


http://www.lightglance.com/images/20080309030333_2007-05-11%20at%2018-47-25.jpg
One handheld RAW // Shutter: 1/1250 // Aperture: f/6.3 // Focal Length: EXIF say 300mm, but i have never owned or used a 300mm lens. So its somewhere between 18-55(Canon kit lens) // ISO 100 // Camera: 400D //

Please critique me...

[juanster]

I absolutely love this picture (three different colored cows walking down), I am new to photography so I do not know as much as others here, i would give it a 3.5/5 i think it could be a lot sharper maybe out of focus a little bit, and the reason its not a 4/5 or me its because it wasn t a picture that stroke me as wow,, still love it nonetheless,,

Doylem I really like the picture of the dog right in the middle of teh shot, seems like it's got a story to it, i dont know, he/she seems so in the middle of nowhere, so many decisions in such an open space, really like it...4.5/5...

here is mine as well...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2045/2292629903_8d14510655_b.jpg

cana lso someone explain to me how i can put my own picture like the one i quoted (size wise) and make the one i quoted smaller please....

[Lightglance.com]

I know the technical assets of the cow picture isn't much to talk about... as i said, taken 2 years ago, one of my first times using an DSLR.

Just press http://www.lightglance.com/shared/jostein/image_button.png in the text editor, and past the URL where the image is located(it already has to be on a web server).:)

[SolracSelbor]

Im posting this in an art gallary March 18 here in Long Beach. Please critique away!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2180/2306217473_5a9f2db4d8_o.jpg

[brendanryder]

Im posting this in an art gallary March 18 here in Long Beach. Please critique away!


WOW
thats awesome i really all the blues
how did you take this picture? was is taken from a pier?
:D

[juanster]

like i ve said many times before, I am no professional at all, I give it a 4.9/5, but i do have a question, i don't know maybe it's my monitor but is it a little bit too blueish...(it is for my liking)

[SolracSelbor]

WOW
thats awesome i really all the blues
how did you take this picture? was is taken from a pier?
:D
It was taken by helicopter ride, i was literally 10 feet above the surfer.

lol, jk

Yes on the pier :)
like i ve said many times before, I am no professional at all, I give it a 4.9/5, but i do have a question, i don't know maybe it's my monitor but is it a little bit too blueish...(it is for my liking)

It is blue but it is not a dark blue. If it looks overly dark, you may have your black point set a little low. anyway here is a website to help you adjust it if necessary:

http://www.photofriday.com/calibrate.php

[juanster]

yup that was it, it was my external monitor, looks way better now....

[liveexpo]

I love the contrast in this picture, and the light as well. Love the way you have gotten so much expression from a display doll. Is it on fire? Or what is the motion in the light?


http://www.lightglance.com/images/20080309030333_2007-05-11%20at%2018-47-25.jpg
One handheld RAW // Shutter: 1/1250 // Aperture: f/6.3 // Focal Length: EXIF say 300mm, but i have never owned or used a 300mm lens. So its somewhere between 18-55(Canon kit lens) // ISO 100 // Camera: 400D //

Please critique me...

Thanks for the feedback! Yeah, the mannequin is on fire...it was the final piece of my series on the destructive nature of fashion. I poured petrol over her head at 6am in the local park :).

I think you've chose the perfect composition for your shot, and also depth, keeping in focus what you need the viewer to see. Nice. Its got a certain conflict within it which i always like - something I can't pin down...:)

[jalagl]

Im posting this in an art gallary March 18 here in Long Beach. Please critique away!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2180/2306217473_5a9f2db4d8_o.jpg
Loved your picture. I love the pattern in the water.

Hi guys,

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/Trumpett/IMG_5056.jpg


I like this photo. I think the space beneath the sun gives it a nice "lead-in". I would have taken a second shot with the sun a little bit to the right, and see which one was better - don't know if would really improve the composition.

I love sunsets, here is one of mine:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2266/2212984611_7acde1d27b.jpg
1/800, f/5.6, ISO 400. Taken with my Panasonic FX3 P&S. Feel free to critique all you like - I think that's the only way one can improve.

[pdxflint]

Underneath the Morrison Bridge, Portland, OR. Scanned from b/w workprint.

http://lh3.google.com/pdxflint/R0gXKFpa-fI/AAAAAAAADkc/CODt-2UbyfY/s800/water%20rising.jpg

Canon Eos A2
Canon 28-105


Father Jack: Thanks for your comment on the "grill" shot. You guessed right about the negative carrier being filed open enough to allow entire frame to be projected in the enlarger. When I printed my workprints, I did them on an 8 x 10 sheet of Illford RC multicontrast paper, and just projected the full frame, film edges and all, into the space. Being workprints, they were intended for scanning, or test prints, not for mounting and display. I leave the edges to make it obvious that they are full frame in-camera compositions. I always tried to shoot on film as if the shot would not be cropped, but sometimes of course, cropping was necessary. I just did this to remind myself to consider the entire frame while shooting. Cheers! :)

[Father Jack]

Underneath the Morrison Bridge, Portland, OR. Scanned from b/w workprint.

http://lh3.google.com/pdxflint/R0gXKFpa-fI/AAAAAAAADkc/CODt-2UbyfY/s800/water%20rising.jpg

Canon Eos A2
Canon 28-105


Father Jack: Thanks for your comment on the "grill" shot. You guessed right about the negative carrier being filed open enough to allow entire frame to be projected in the enlarger. When I printed my workprints, I did them on an 8 x 10 sheet of Illford RC multicontrast paper, and just projected the full frame, film edges and all, into the space. Being workprints, they were intended for scanning, or test prints, not for mounting and display. I leave the edges to make it obvious that they are full frame in-camera compositions. I always tried to shoot on film as if the shot would not be cropped, but sometimes of course, cropping was necessary. I just did this to remind myself to consider the entire frame while shooting. Cheers! :)
Thanks for letting me know. I wasn't sure if you had modified the neg carrier or used one of the funky neg frames available in Photo Frame software.

One of the tutors in college was sacked for "modifying" about 15 negative carriers. He too was one of the "I must let people know that I used all of the negative" Henri Cartier-Bresson fans.

ps
Another interesting image ..:)

[juanster]

pdxflint, love the picture, must look so amazing in print without all the grain....4/5 (because of the grain).

jalagl, i really liek your pic, but for my own liking, i belive the foreground has a lot to offer, it just can't be seen at all because it's so dark, then again i think taht's a matter of preference.3.5/5

[rjg001]

Here is one I took recently. I am very much still a newb and took the camera out one night looking for some shots and at times using my car as a subject. I kind of like the way this one came out. Only processing after the fact was some cropping.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3254/2305120693_c63a2fc26a.jpg

[iBallz]

Carlos!

Again, Awesome!

[cutsman]

Here's one taken this weekend at Algonquin National Park here in Ontario.

10mm, 1/400sec @ f11, iso 200
http://cman.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p11146194-5.jpg

[unknown87]

Another great shot pdxflint, I can only imagine how nice the print looks.... Plus you've inspired me to go back to my 'local bridge' and look for some more interesting shots.

Cutsman; very nice. Originally I felt a bit... overwhelmed by the trees, possibly because of the 10mm focal length, but looking back, its very nice.

[jalagl]

rjg001: I think that picture would be great for a car advertisement. :D

Here's another one of mine:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/405210288_2bcf1c7167.jpg
1/750, f/4.5, ISO 80

[davinche]

Here is one I took recently. I am very much still a newb and took the camera out one night looking for some shots and at times using my car as a subject. I kind of like the way this one came out. Only processing after the fact was some cropping.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3254/2305120693_c63a2fc26a.jpg

I like it but I think it would look better if the foreground and up to about the car didn't look so orange. It seems to me once you get past the end of the bridge/overpass or whatever it is that the colors look good. Take this with a grain of salt as I am a relative newb myself.

[baby duck monge]

...It seems to me once you get past the end of the bridge/overpass or whatever it is...

Psst... It's the St. Louis Arch.

[jake-g]

It can be a lonely place...

http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/9287/henry1yc6.jpg

I love this shot. In my opinion it is far better than the shot with the dog's owners in it. (Although the colors in that shot still make it very impressive) I really enjoy the emptiness of the pic and the size of the dog is perfect!

edit: I'd really like to visit that place!

[davinche]

Psst... It's the St. Louis Arch.
I was talking about the structure the car is parked on... not the Arch... looking more closely now it looks like it my be a parking structure.

[zdobson]

yous didnt see nuttin

[iTiki]

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/2692/dsc00120001fd6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Nikon D40 w/18-55. Shot at 50mm, F/9, 1/400sec.

I'm a noob at this, so comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.:)

[pdxflint]

I think I'll try to revive this thread... here's a scan from a roll of black and white Agfa film I developed in Rodinol. I'm experimenting with scanning black and white negs, which are trickier to scan well than to print and scan on a flatbed. Also, no Digital ICE4 dust/scratch removal with b/w film.

http://lh5.google.com/pdxflint/R9-GmhpzR0I/AAAAAAAAEr4/6I8lsf6dYYY/s800/SCN0063.jpg

[SubaruNation555]

Took some shots at a near by lake this afternoon:

Canon 1D w/ 28-135mm, ISO 400, f/3.5, 1/500th

[pinktank]

am I the only person who is bored with the attack of the HDR

[Father Jack]

am I the only person who is bored with the attack of the HDR
No you are definitely not alone .. :(

Between HDR images and what appears to be an eagerly fought competition to see who can put the largest signature across their prints, I don't know which is worse.

There are lots of really good images submitted which I think are ruined by either or both of these two things.

I know people don't want their images used by someone else, that's understandable. But surely the way to avoid this is by making the images smaller and at a lower resolution rather than placing a not very tasteful signature across the image. There are a few MR members who do have a small tasteful signature.
IMO this is one case where big is definitely not best .. :(

PS
Most of the HDR images and "mine is bigger than your's'" signature competition relates more to images posted on the "Photo of the day" thread.

[rouxeny]

Any input on this would be appreciated.

I took it at the 2008 Merrie Monarch in Hilo, Hawaii. I did a little work in Aperture, mostly to crop and remove 2 areas of flare. I also removed a highlight on the dancer's cheek and a few marks on the skirts.

No HDR done.

[rouxeny]

This is the original.

Just for sake of comparison. Sometimes it helps me to look at the before and after when thinking about other people's photos. Hope it helps you all.