View Full Version : Critique Lucky#13 *Open Theme*
Welcome to this critique thread. Please read the purpose statement and the guidelines/ground rules regarding participation.
Purpose
The primary purpose of this thread is to provide a forum where photographers can give and receive constructive criticism on one another's photographs. By setting up some basic guidelines we hope that this thread will provide a forum where the give and take of honest constructive criticism can help us become better photographers.
Guidelines/Ground Rules
The thread has very specific rules regarding participation. The one basic rule is that you cannot provide criticism on an image or comment in a critique thread unless you also have an image posted. To post an image to this thread you must be a participant. Participation in this thread is limited. Here are the guidelines and ground rules for participation:
• Participation in this thread is limited to 5 photographers
• Participants join the thread by posting their intention. You can simply reply with your intent to join by posting something like: "I'm joining," "I'm in," or just state your name
• Joining is on a "first come, first served" basis. The first 5 to reply become the participants
• Once the thread has 5 participants, no other photographers can join or participate in the thread
• Once the thread is full of participants all photographers will upload their image(s)
• Please abide by any thematic requirement (e.g., landscape, portrait, etc.)
•The number of photos for each participant is limited to one
• Photographers attach photos as thumbnails (no inline images or links)
• Photographers post their images supplying titles (if any) and other pertinent information (the amount of information should be minimal)
• Photographers can only comment on their own images and reply to comments only when everyone else in the thread has posted their comments on the image
• Every participant must comment on every photo (except their own—initially)
• Every participant must make at least two comments, one positive comment, and one constructive criticism (which is actually two positive comments)
• Once every photographer has commented then a free flowing discussion begins. It is at this point that every photographer can comment on their own work and reply to comments, ask questions, etc.
• The participants decide when the thread closes.
If you'd like to participate in a critique thread and need some ideas about how to proceed with viewing images critically, you may find this thread helpful:
How do you look at photos (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26459)
You can also provide feedback on critique threads here:
Critique Feedback Thread (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26611)
Remember: Please do not provide criticism on an image or comment in a critique thread unless you also have an image posted.
This thread is now active, please follow the guidelines if you'd like to participate! Have Fun!
.
Todd.Hanz
08-08-2006, 12:55
me too!
Todd
AOI Photo
08-08-2006, 16:01
Count me in
I'll find something. I'm in. We need one more!
.
Warren T.
08-08-2006, 19:42
I'll go again :)
--Warren
Warren T.
08-08-2006, 21:11
Broken Window, Broken Dreams, Broken Promises
stones
asdfghjlk;
i'm in.
qwer
AOI Photo
08-09-2006, 05:20
Cameraman : Desolation
Todd.Hanz
08-09-2006, 05:33
Sorry for the tardiness, I'll have to post in a little bit :)
Todd
Todd.Hanz
08-09-2006, 09:37
Cafe:
M6, 50mm Summicron, Acros
Warren T.
08-09-2006, 10:30
I'm not sure if it's me or RFF, but I'm having problems navigating around. Response is slow. It's hard to do critiques in this kind of situation. I'll try again a little later.
Warren
Todd:
I love these kind of shots, ones where the essence or quality of a place is the subject of the photo. There's a strangeness permeating this image. It seems to come from the oddness of the elements and how they combine. I really like the area of the image where the truck trailer meets the cafe and the sign that points to that general intersection. It's almost dead center and became the entry point of the image for me. I think the truck trailer makes the image. Just having that big rectangle in the middle kind of sets up a nice visual walk through the image. The lack of people presence doesn't bother me at all. This is a very pleasing composition.
Only two distractions for me: the additional information on the right edge, particularly that little horizontal highlight--maybe a slight crop(?). And, the top of the cafe, the part in the sky, it has a strange edge around it (not even a distraction, really--just a comment). The image feels a little heavy, but this is your style, something that marks a todd.hanz image. :) It has a richness of tones.
As usual great work, strong composition.
.
AOI Photo
08-09-2006, 10:50
Not Just You
Warren T.
08-09-2006, 13:48
Ampguy:
It's difficult for me to get an initial feeling from this image. Technically, the image is well exposed, well focused, showing good detail. However, it appears to be simply a group of randomly placed stones, with no recognizable purpose...or maybe that was your point :D ?
It would probably make a great piece of abstract art if blown up to poster size and hung on a wall :)
After all the other comments are posted, I'd love to hear a little background on this one.
RayPA:
This is a nice street shot, and very cleverly composed. Nice! I like how the main subject (the man reading the paper) is contrasted by the bright walkway. It really makes the subject stand out. I like how your own shadow in the background balances out the main subject. There are many enjoyable details going on here, including the face looking back at you from the front page of the newspaper, and your image repeated again in a reflection at the far end of the shot.
At first, I was going to mention the empty space in the foreground, but then i decided that removing any of it would upset the balance of the shot.
AOI Photo:
This is an interesting shot. Viewing it automatically makes me wonder what the heck happened to that restaurant and what the rest of the block looks like. I also noticed the weird name: "Mex Mex" hmmm... :)
The large brick wall on the upper part of the picture, I feel, does not really add to the subject, and it somehows looks artificial (I'm not sure why, maybe because of telephoto compression?). Just my suggestion, but perhaps moving or cropping closer so that the frame is filled from the top of the restaurant building to the first horizontal sidewalk line on the bottom (right around the photographer's knees).
Todd.hanz
I really like this composition. The fact that no people are visible here serves to show the loneliness of the trucker's life. The converging lines of the building and the whimsical "U Drop In" sign points to, and frame the truck trailers. The imposing "Cafe" tower makes it tricky to incorporate into the composition, but you positioned it very well within this image.
An alternative viewpoint would have been to try and showcase the unusual architecture of the cafe, but that would change the "feeling" of the shot.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to comment on your great pictures, everyone.
--Warren
Cameraman : Desolation
An interesting shot with a strong reportage feel to it. I've never subscribed to the theory that good street phtography should not have shots of people from behind. There are too many good/famous photos that debunk that theory, and some of my favorite classic images by reknown photogs feature prominently the backs of their subjects. I don't think we need to see the face of this person to get the sense of photographer surveying a disaster. Even though the scope of the disaster is unknown and doesn't look too bad (as pictured here) the feeling is of resignation and defeat. The photogs posture seems to convey this, and I get this feeling more than the one implied by the title.
I love the frame-within-the-frame (the storefront window). It works against the portrait format, but it still works. I think a horizontal format would have worked better and highlighted the storefront. It also would have lessened the dominance of the large black structure, which for the life of me I can't figure out what it is. It almost looks like a giant rod or something responsible for the devastation. I think identification is important here to help the viewer grasp some sense of the event, especially if we don't see a face. It all comes across really well though, but I think it would have come across even more in a landscape format.
It's a gritty shot with lots of interest and lots to look at. Well done!
:)
Broken Window, Broken Dreams, Broken Promises
A simple image with a lot of impact and a message. This is really well done. The title helps to convey your intentions (at least as I read it), but the message comes across without the title (definitely keep the title, though!). The reflection is wonderful and seems like a distant memory. The window isn't just broken it's horribly and dangerously smashed open, brutally. Again works well with the message.
I'm reading the window as belonging to a car. Initially I thought this was a weak point (that it was a car), but I think that can work into the message as a secondary theme. The window/backgorund highlights are somewhat distracting and I gotta wonder what a crop--that minimizes them--would end up looking like.
This is a very good image that shows how photos can create an impact using the simplest of elements. Great story-telling. Thought-provoking. Well done!
.
stones
Ted, this is a fine image, a study of texture and tone. It's difficult to critique beyond the technical, really. You've got some great patterns working here, and you've subtly worked them quite well into an easy, viewable image.
Beyond a bump in contrast, some USM (tiny bit) and maybe finding a good overall density (I'd like to see it darker), all it lacks is finishing and presentation. Meaning, this is a prime candidate for a PS frame--maybe a thin black border on a white frame (?)--if displaying online, or finishing out to hardcopy and ready for hanging. :)
Nice work. :)
Warren T. -- Broken Window
This close up is striking, in content, and in contrast. It's not pretty and conjures images of violence or mischief. In the reflection, it appears there are teepees, so one wonders where this is. The pure blackness inside the broken glass makes one wonder if this was manipulated or if the photo was actually taken like this. Either way is fine, it just makes one wonder.
I would consider taking the right of the photo out, the texture of the string or whatever makes for a wierd border IMHO. Very interesting.
RayPA -- man reading paper
The frame and alignment work great for this photo, but there are several elements that confuse me. It is not clear what is in the background. Could it be another train? What is the shadow that looks like a large head, kind of a fish head? or a keyhole?
Because of the detail in the Chronicle, one almost wishes they could read the headline. The texture of the foreground is nice, but maybe could be cropped.
It has many abstract elements, with few hints, which make it an interesting photo.
AOI Photo -- Cameraman : Desolation
Somehow I think this might have worked better as a horizontal photo.
The thing coming out of the top is odd. I don't know what it is. The carnage in the restaurant is massive, but it would be interesting to see a little farther away or to understand what that big black thing is coming out of the top of the restaurant.
The tones and shades indicate it's a hot humid day, and the photographer has just begun surveying this destroyed restaurant site.
Todd -- Cafe
I like this one a lot. There is nothing artsy fartsy about it trying to create artificial mystery. It is a photo anyone can relate to, and understand all the elements of it quickly. The Cafe tower seems a little manipulated, perhaps yo did some PS work with the sky and the edges have some artifacts.
I think I would lighten up the image a touch, and maybe increase the contrast between the sidewalk/road and sky a touch. Possibly crop a tad off the right.
AOI Photo
08-09-2006, 18:04
Warren T.
I like this picture, well maybe like is the wrong word, I am affected by it might be better. The smashed windsheild, with the reflected teepees immediatlymakes me think of racially motivated violence. The picture has a lot of power. I might crop in a little bit so the blackness of the whole touches the edge of the frame, then print wiht a white border to define it. But that;s personal taste and some nitpicking
Ray Pa
I really like the composition and placement of subjetc in the frame. I find the eye drawn to him by the blank space below, then drawn up to the gaop in the vertical lines above. I might crop a little bit into the bottom, and the reflection is a bit distracting (but is the curse of those of us with rangefindes polorazirs not being very practical)
Amp Guy.
The abstract nature of this shot is great. I think I would up the contrast a bit, for a small print, but for a large print I'd leave it as it is allowing it to be a bit more abstract. In the smaller size though I think it would need the added pop.
Todd.
Love the composition, I'd just crop in slightly from the right to remove the partial car. I'd also bump the contrast a little. Really love the look of this. Given the neon running up the CAfe sign I"d love to see it at night too.
Todd.Hanz
08-09-2006, 18:31
Warren:
I see it's a car window that is broken, I see the dashboard beyond the glass, I also see the tee pees so my guess is a roadside park? I like the composition with the hole on the upper right side and the safe-T glass splintering off like a spiders web. This image could be used to describe the condition of the reservations we have corraled the American Indian on to, and it could also just be a shot of a broken car window :)
As far as a way to improve this one, leave it as is, it's great!
ampguy:
I like the patterns and the perspective you chose, on my monitor the image has very subdued colors, almost BW. I agree with Ray that this would look good matted. It looks like you git here after a rainshower and the stones are starting to dry which adds to the contrast. I would play with the levels/curves to bring down the highlights a bit and emphasize the color and darker areas, nice work!
Ray:
I see something different everytime I look at it, your reflection repeated is pretty cool. The face on the paper is spooky, then there is a reflection of a baseball player swinging a bat in the upper right corner??? The contrast is great, I have no idea how to improve it, it's really cool like it is, well done.
AOI:
I get the impression the photog is lost or at least saying to himself "where do I begin?" this is a good documentary shot with lots of contrast and grain which adds to the feel. What happened here is what I ask myself when I look at it.
I guess I would like to see a bit more, this might work well in a series where there is another image taken further back to show the area. I am interested in more info on this one, good job!
Thanks agian guys, I appreciate the comments on my photo!
Todd
Todd.Hanz
08-09-2006, 18:42
My photo was one taken on a cross country trip, the kind where everyone has to pee in every town you come into. This place was across the road from where we stopped, it looked frozen in time.
I have cropped it as was suggested , bumped the contrast a bit and feel it looks better, the "artifacts" around the cafe sign is neon tubing, AOI caught it :).
thanks for the suggestions,
Todd
Warren T.
08-09-2006, 18:45
AmpGuy:
I went back and took a 2nd look at "Stones", and I find that the more I look at it, the more I like it :). It does have interesting patterns and contrast between the puddles and the subtle colors of the stones.
As Todd pointed out, it appears to be shot after a rain shower. This image made me think back of those pleasurable times when I was on vacation, walking through the musty, cobbled streets of an old European town.
It really took me back. Nice!
--Warren
thanks all. I feel it has a tad more contrast and depth than what I was able to post with the thumbnail constraints.
If you get a chance and have broadband, check out this 1.3mb file, and tell me if you still think it needs touch up. thanks.
http://www.tedm.com/photos/stones.jpg
AOI Photo
08-09-2006, 19:00
Hmm. Thanks all. I admit it never occured to me to remove the black building. There isn't telephoto making it look close (50mm lens) it just is that close. It is such a part of that well known, in Dallas, neghborhood which burned, so including that part of it made sense to me. Of course if you aren't from Dallas it doesn't mean much. Should have thought of that.
I heard they were letting people near the fire scene the day after it happened, so I went down with what I had in the car. What I had was a roll of hp5 and My Bessa R/ Jupiter 8 combo. I'd have given anything to have my elmar 90 with me that day. As for the comment about Mex Mex. In Texas almost all "mexican" resteraunts are Tex-Mex. This one was actually a more upmarket resteraunt serving more traditional cuisine. I took a number of shots that day. Now that everyones done the critique here are a couple more since people asked.
AOI Photo
08-09-2006, 19:07
Todd,
LOVE it with more contrast and the crop. I'd say print, matte, frame it's done.
Amp guy.
I think it might need a (very little) bit more contrast for a small print. It definately has more contrast than I thought though. On a larger print I'd leave it alone.
My photo was one taken on a cross country trip, the kind where everyone has to pee in every town you come into. This place was across the road from where we stopped, it looked frozen in time.
I have cropped it as was suggested , bumped the contrast a bit and feel it looks better, the "artifacts" around the cafe sign is neon tubing, AOI caught it :).
thanks for the suggestions,
Todd
It looks great, Todd! Bumped up it still has the "Todd" look!
:)
Hmm. Thanks all. I admit it never occured to me to remove the black building. There isn't telephoto making it look close (50mm lens) it just is that close. It is such a part of that well known, in Dallas, neghborhood which burned, so including that part of it made sense to me. Of course if you aren't from Dallas it doesn't mean much. Should have thought of that.
I heard they were letting people near the fire scene the day after it happened, so I went down with what I had in the car. What I had was a roll of hp5 and My Bessa R/ Jupiter 8 combo. I'd have given anything to have my elmar 90 with me that day. As for the comment about Mex Mex. In Texas almost all "mexican" resteraunts are Tex-Mex. This one was actually a more upmarket resteraunt serving more traditional cuisine. I took a number of shots that day. Now that everyones done the critique here are a couple more since people asked.
Quite a fire! Now I see what that black structure is! Thanks.
:)
Warren T.
08-10-2006, 07:08
Hi guys,
Thank you very much for your comments. I really appreciate all the thought and effort that you put into it.
Here is some background info on my picture. I first saw this location on a PBS documentary. It's the Wigwam Hotel in Holbrook, Arizona. My wife and I were on a 3250 mile driving trip through the U.S. southwest. We had to stop in Holbrook to see this place. The Wigwam Hotel was part of a chain of hotels where the cabins were built to resemble Indian Teepees, but the insides were more like a typical motel cabin complete with bed and small bathrooms.
Holbrook is part of historic Route 66, so the owner parked a bunch of vintage cars in the parking lot in front of the Teepee cabins to add the appropriate atmosphere. Many of the cars were just junked old cars that were used as props. So, I took the usual tourist pictures to document the place for my memories of the vacation. Then I spotted this old rusted out Ford with the shattered window, and I thought that I could make a picture that would have some emotional impact, something more than a typical documentary tourist shot.
To answer one of the questions, no, the black area was not digitally manipulated. I knew that the dynamic range of the picture would dictate that this area would be black if I wanted the other areas to turn out the way they did. As for the crop, I wanted the viewer to see that this window belonged to a car. Ray was right, I intended it to be part of the theme. It's actually the rear passeger window, and what looks like the dash is actually the rear deck. I also have a shot of the dash, but it didn't show the reflection of the Teepee cabins that I wanted to include in the shot. A closer crop of just the shattered glass and teepees without the edge information (or background highlights) would have lost some information that I wanted to include.
--Warren
Hi guys,
Thank you very much for your comments. I really appreciate all the thought and effort that you put into it.
Here is some background info on my picture. I first saw this location on a PBS documentary. It's the Wigwam Hotel in Holbrook, Arizona. My wife and I were on a 3250 mile driving trip through the U.S. southwest. We had to stop in Holbrook to see this place. The Wigwam Hotel was part of a chain of hotels where the cabins were built to resemble Indian Teepees, but the insides were more like a typical motel cabin complete with bed and small bathrooms.
Holbrook is part of historic Route 66, so the owner parked a bunch of vintage cars in the parking lot in front of the Teepee cabins to add the appropriate atmosphere. Many of the cars were just junked old cars that were used as props. So, I took the usual tourist pictures to document the place for my memories of the vacation. Then I spotted this old rusted out Ford with the shattered window, and I thought that I could make a picture that would have some emotional impact, something more than a typical documentary tourist shot.
To answer one of the questions, no, the black area was not digitally manipulated. I knew that the dynamic range of the picture would dictate that this area would be black if I wanted the other areas to turn out the way they did. As for the crop, I wanted the viewer to see that this window belonged to a car. Ray was right, I intended it to be part of the theme. It's actually the rear passeger window, and what looks like the dash is actually the rear deck. I also have a shot of the dash, but it didn't show the reflection of the Teepee cabins that I wanted to include in the shot. A closer crop of just the shattered glass and teepees without the edge information (or background highlights) would have lost some information that I wanted to include.
--Warren
That's a great story, Warren. It adds even more impact to the statement expressed in the photo. I agree that losing the evidence of the car would cause the image to lose some impact. Without the reality behind the broken window showing, it could easily appear to have been a composite image of two separate elements. In fact, it would be nice to somehow include the location into the title, maybe as a subtitle, like: tourist stop Arizona, route 66 . Thanks for the back story!
Warren T.
08-10-2006, 07:57
Ray, I go back and forth on the title thing. I was very interested in hearing everyone's initial impressions while not knowing where my picture was shot, and under what circumstances. If I had included the location (and that it was a tourist stop), knowing it may have caused a totally different emotional reaction. I would love to hear yours and everyone else's opinion on this.
--Warren
Ray, I go back and forth on the title thing. I was very interested in hearing everyone's initial impressions while not knowing where my picture was shot, and under what circumstances. If I had included the location (and that it was a tourist stop), knowing it may have caused a totally different emotional reaction. I would love to hear yours and everyone else's opinion on this.
--Warren
I think that knowing it is a tourist stop works to the advantage of the image and the statement/commentary it makes. I kind of thought it was a tourist stop or exhibit of some kind, originally. I think it also adds to the reality of the image. As Ted alluded to, the image could have been digitally created--that thought crossed my mind originally, too. That it wasn't and that this place exists is pretty cool.
:)
RayPA -- man reading paper
The frame and alignment work great for this photo, but there are several elements that confuse me. It is not clear what is in the background. Could it be another train? What is the shadow that looks like a large head, kind of a fish head? or a keyhole?
Because of the detail in the Chronicle, one almost wishes they could read the headline. The texture of the foreground is nice, but maybe could be cropped.
It has many abstract elements, with few hints, which make it an interesting photo.
Ted, I don't see exactly what it is you're referring to. There is my shadow repeating a couple of times. The headline reads "US Warns North Korea."
:)
Ray, above the guy's head, the top 1/3rd or so, there are some vertical blinds or something in the glass. There are some reflections, or an outline in the blinds of what looks like a big fish head with, with the mouth in the wrong position, kind of football shaped. ??
I have 20/20 vision this close, and can't make out the text without your help, so I would not expect your viewers to see this text, unless you were making it poster size.
Ted, I don't see exactly what it is you're referring to. There is my shadow repeating a couple of times. The headline reads "US Warns North Korea."
:)
Ray, above the guy's head, the top 1/3rd or so, there are some vertical blinds or something in the glass. There are some reflections, or an outline in the blinds of what looks like a big fish head with, with the mouth in the wrong position, kind of football shaped. ??
I have 20/20 vision this close, and can't make out the text without your help, so I would not expect your viewers to see this text, unless you were making it poster size.
LOL! :) That's my reflection. I'm holding the camera up vertically. My elbows are sticking out. The same reflection that is repeated smaller further into the image. My close range eyesight is getting worse and worse and I can read the newspaper, but I think it could do with a dodge to bring it up. :) I get your point. Thanks, Ted. :)
:)
Well ok, now I see it, now that you mention the arms up and elbows. Obviously you don't have a fish head, at least the times I've seen you :p
Nevertheless, I find that top 1/3rd distracting.
LOL! :) That's my reflection. I'm holding the camera up vertically. My elbows are sticking out. The same reflection that is repeated smaller further into the image. My close range eyesight is getting worse and worse and I can read the newspaper, but I think it could do with a dodge to bring it up. :) I get your point. Thanks, Ted. :)
:)
Warren T.
08-11-2006, 09:28
Ted, when you have some time, I'd love to hear the story behind your "Stones" picture (location, etc.).
Thanks,
Warren
It was taken in a Japanese Garden. Each stone was hand placed there in it's exact orientation and depth. It took hundreds of years to select each stone for the proper position.
OK, well the first sentence is true :p
It was taken with a Japanese made camera and a Leica lens.
Ted, when you have some time, I'd love to hear the story behind your "Stones" picture (location, etc.).
Thanks,
Warren
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2010, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.