Critique #35 *Landscape*-5 Participants

[RayPA]

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.
• Please, only join this thread if you are able post an image within 24 hours of joining.
• 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)
• Photos should be standard screen resolution (72~90) and the longest side of the image approximately 10 inches in length.
• 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!



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[RayPA]

Please note the revision to the guidelines—highlighted in RED above.


Thanks!

[raid]

OK. I'm in.

Raid

[raid]

I killed this thread!

Raid

[nico]

I killed this thread!

Raid


Ahaha!! :D ... very funny!
I'm with you, want to be guilty too!! ;)
Count me in.
Bye
Nico

[ampguy]

I'm in.


...................................

[nico]

I'll join you guys. Raid, you'll know the photo already ...

Roland.


Let me guess .... quite near my home? ;)

[raid]

Do we need one more person?

Raid

[nico]

Yes, we're desperatly seeking for one more...

Nico

[nico]

:) Now I'm debating if I should use another one !

Why you should? ;)

[rncamero]

I'll give this one a go! I'm in.

[raid]

Roland: Keep this image. It's a good one for critique.

Raid

[raid]

Great! We can start. This is my image.

[rncamero]

Here's mine:
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[ampguy]

.................................................. .....

I'm in.


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[raid]

OK, like Nico predicted close from his home (San Marino). However,
I am posting two versions of the photo. I would like to print this picture large
(20" on the short side) and, besides general feedback, would love to hear
which one you prefer and why. Hope everybody is OK with this.

Thanks a lot,

Roland.

Roland: This is an excellent idea; we can compare a vertical to a horizontal image and see which is stronger.

Raid

[nico]

Here is mine:
"Darkness on the edge of town"
BessaR+Nok50+IlfordHp5

Bye
Nico

[ampguy]

Raid -- Very nice, the brown textures look like wood grains. I like the high contrast, but the lower third is a little bit soft, and although it looks like a natural valley curve, the edges remind me of vignetting. I also wonder what is above the top of the frame.

Rncamero -- tree 00 nice texture of the tree and the texture of the dirt/soil of the tree. The tree could be sharper I think, and the background a tad more OOF.

Roland -- myst path, very cool, I definitely like the horizontal one better. The vertical one would be nice if you had like a small area between rooms and only a vertical would fit. Is this an unedited photo, or PS'd? Looks like it could be used for Myst or some kind of computer game box.

Nikco -- interesting. The overexposed lights remind me of Stephanie's landcape, but the houses and streets, and black houses look cool. Very interesting with the large amount of black at the top (edge of town). Cool!

[raid]

Here's mine:
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rncamero: The tree trunk is centered in the photo and the background is too clear. I would have used a larger aperture setting to draw the viewer's eyes to the tree. Maybe shooting vertically would make the tree trunk the main focus point without so much background seen.

Raid

[raid]

.................................................. .....

ampguy: The barn/house is not the only point of focus here. There is an area on the left and on the right and also the foreground (grass) is leaving me without a real focus point. Maybe ... shooting vertically, with more shown of the grass and leaving out the other houses would make this image stronger.

Raid

[raid]

Here is mine:
"Darkness on the edge of town"
BessaR+Nok50+IlfordHp5

Bye
Nico


Nico: It took me a while to figure out what the photo was about. I like it. The "light balls" are glowing as if on a Christmas tree, with the village being the tree.


Raid

[raid]

OK, like Nico predicted close from his home (San Marino). However,
I am posting two versions of the photo. I would like to print this picture large
(20" on the short side) and, besides general feedback, would love to hear
which one you prefer and why. Hope everybody is OK with this.

Thanks a lot,

Roland.

Roland: Congratulations on both images. If you had taken a vertical shot of exactly the same spot where you took the horizontal shot, I would have preferred it. There is too much fog in the vertical photo at the top of the image and also the stones on the walkway show better in the horizontal photo. Did you change location and were the two photos taken at the same time with the same lens?

Raid

[rncamero]

raid: I can really walk into this photo, so expansive. The stepped slope of trees really draw me to the center. The features on the side of this mountain/cliff also look like a face (dark grey left eye, light brown right eye, dark mouth in the center). The snow has this really sweet glow that goes great with the rich earth tones on the left. Is this large format?

ferider: this looks beautiful, I hope I can visit this place some time. I like the look of the paved stones on the tall vertical, esp. in b&w, but I feel a bit claustrophobic with it. I like the mix of colors in the other one - really tasty, just like raid's. Definitely feel better "walking" in this photo. Maybe cropping out the blue on the left may lend to the dreamy-ness of this scene? But I'd reserve that call until after the large print is made.

ampguy: I like the barn with it's open door and the dark covered section on the left (not sure what that's called) - I'm curious about what is lying in the grass in the right hand side? I'd like to see this same barn, but maybe taken 20 feet back and more from the right - a nice angle to kind of peer into the barn.

nico: cool arrangement of houses, the contrast adds to their angular shape. I wish I could make out more of the foreground, it seems like the same road I see running through the center. I like this night shot, and there's detail in it that would be nice to see a larger version.

[nico]

Hi,
sorry for posting so late (as usual) my thought about the photos:

Raid,
i like it very much; this landscape would be perfect for movies like "Never ending story", it has a pleasant dreamy mood. I also like the light and the composition. I don't really know how to improve this shot, I like it the way it is. :)

Rmcamero:
interesting shot, you broke the rules of composition (placing the tree in the middle of the shot) and it works well here. I also like the perspective.
I'd only be curious to see a second version with foreground and background focused (with hyperfocal setting if possible).

Ampguy:
the classic american farm landscape is a subject I like but in this one I'd like to see only the main building (without the one on the left) using the dof for the background. :)


Ferider:
if you have to choose wich to print I can't help because i like both! Great fiabesque mood (I've never been there although is just a couple of hours far from Lucca but I think this winter in a rainy afternoon I'll go for a short trip ... i I have to take a photo too!!). It's the castle as it should be in the tales for kids!
Maybe - but it's my taste - i'd print a larger version of the horizontal one which has a more dynamic composition and shows more details of the castle;
in the other the castle is a little bit too far but this makes the shot more mysterious and intriguing and ... I can't make up my mind!! :)

Bye
Nico

[raid]

As for my posted image, I was enjoying the views at Zion National Park, crossing over the pass to Bryce Canyon National Park when I looked up and saw this view. I liked the ruggedness and the powder snow on the cliffs. A 300mm lens was used to isolate the rest of the mountain from this view.

Thanks for a nice discussion and critique session, guys.

Raid

[rncamero]

The Tree is a 5 min. walk at work (college campus) - the comments are great, and one of these breaks I'll revisit. There is constant construction and remodeling going on around the tree, so maybe I'll treat it as a short term 'assignment' :)

Thanks for sharing the great photos and comments!