Photo Critiqing Thread

[Photog]

So I'm not very good at this yet. I noticed this rock arrangement while in Carlsbad Caverns, and it looked pretty cool, neat 3D kind of perspective.

So, why is this photo just "meh," and not "sweet"?

(Please be gentle) :-)

We are used to seeing objects lit from one direction. Most commonly from a point above the object.

In the case of this photo, the rock is lit from low-right, and the rock behind it is lit from low left. There is a lesser light coming from upper left. This probably looked very interesting, in person; but it is difficult to wrap your head around it, in a 2d photograph.

It also looks like you darkened the edges of the image, and took down some of the light on the upper and lower portion of the rock. This didn't help. It would be better, if the rock did not extend into the shaded area of the image.

If it was lit with colored lights, it may be more interesting to see the color image.

[Mr. Leary]

Thanks for the replies, y'all!

I have another...

I had high hopes for this one, but my impression is...
1) Too over the top... reminds me of some Crysler commercials not so long ago.
2) Too framed. Any ideas on techniques that could have made this work better? (Field with barracks around, but plenty of room to maneuver)

[nwoods]

For me, the modern flagpole apparatus and the old tree are just too starkly in contrast to each other, over exemplified by the color treatment. I can envision a shot from down low, looking up through the tree limbs at about a 45 degree angle, with the flag in the distance but blurred out with a tighter depth of field.

[HumphreyBear]

I like the effect and frame you are going for, but a few (very picky cos of the nature of the thread) thoughts:

- I do like the lighting on the tree, very strong and directional but the shadow detail is retained;
- The tree is a domineering foreground object which overpowers and/or competes with the flag, which is what you want the eye's focal point to be. My eye is torn between the colour of the flag and the bulk of the dead tree;
- The distance between the tree and the flag pole feels too great; and
- The flag feels like it is flying out of screen to the right.

If you are able to reshoot maybe try coming around to your left from this position, back up a bit and use a longer focal length. Then you could hide the distance with the bole of the tree and the longer focal length will help with the depth of field blurring Nathan is referring to. I'd also try shooting/copping in portrait and get the flag pole to the left of shot, or wait for the wind to reverse direction.

Alternatively if I had a realllly long lens I'd get well back and higher to try and force the tree to be truly a foreground object, and bring the flag and tree closer together.

Completely separately that left-most tree in the background with the split trunk near-horizontal .. understory/undercanopy/flat-bit-just-above-your-head-as-you-walk-under-it ... looks like it would be worth a few shots as well.

[john101477]

Mr, Leary, For me the flag pole is the distraction and not the answer, My eye is torn between the obtrusive pole and the potentially great old tree. I doubt I would have included the flag or more importantly the flag pole in the composition, the farm house (?) in the background would have been much more pleasing to the eye and given balance to the image IMO. If you have the chance to shoot this again try this : Using a wide angle lens place the tree base at the right side lower 1/3 point in your camera. Get low!!! like 10 inches off the ground low. You may have to move a few times to get the right composition but keep the flag out of it and fill the right side of the frame with the tree while trying to get the house into the left 1/3 of the frame vertically. This will do 3 things, Make the tree look ominus and give the image depth, as well as giving the image a sence of balance.

[john101477]

i took this the other day at the edge of the swamp. Anything that might have improved the shot?
543330_377388662305792_286300024747990_1205818_294367720_n.jpg

[cruisertoy]

So I posted this in the Artistic thread, but it just doesn't pop for me. Any recomendations?

[IMG][/IMG]

Slot picture info.JPG

[nwoods]

I think maybe if you crop it down, hide some of the black, and then whip out your magic software and crank down the totally blown out sky. You might be able to recover it with some HDR settings, but you might also have to select out the sky, drop the exposure on it separately from the canyon, and so forth.

[GaryMc]

It's also a nice skill to just know when the lighting is all wrong and all the editing in the world won't fix it.

[HB 4X4]