Critique #78 *Open Theme* 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.
NOTE: New size limitations restrict attachment sizes to 300kb for jpegs. If you need help sizing your image for the web see THIS pdf.
• 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.
• 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.

What's a Guest?
A guest is a participating member of the thread who does not need to post a picture. The guest is an exception to the guideline that states all participants must post an image. Guests provide criticism just as the other participants do. Guests are also encouraged to act as moderators, to encourage elaboration, to guide discussion and examine latent concepts brought about as a result of the discussion.
Note: Not all threads will have a guest. See the title/subject line for the '+Guest' designation.

Some Resources
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

You can also provide feedback on critique threads here:

Critique Feedback Thread

If you need help sizing your image for the web see:
dcsang's pdf

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!



.

[formal]

I would like to have a go.

David

[RML]

Please, put me in.

[raid]

I'm in too.

[dazedgonebye]

I never met an Open Theme I didn't have a picture for. :-)
I'd like to play too.

[raid]

Good. Now we need one more player to start.

[ibcrewin]

OOOHHh me me me
I'd like in please.

edit: YES!!! I just made it!

[dazedgonebye]

Ok then, that's five.

Fed-2, J9, Kodak 400UC, 1/500th, f2.8, ND filters

[raid]

Here is my friend, Josef.

M6 + Canon 50mm/1.2 @ 1.2~2.0. Kodak UC400.

[formal]

M6 - 24mm - TMax 400

[raid]

We need the remaining two participants to quickly post an image each. Come on ...

[ibcrewin]

I got slammed at work and I didn't get a chance to scan the one I wanted so I'll throw this one up. I'll try to repost a better scan of this tonight.

[raid]

One more to go... this thread is dying.

[raid]

RML : Please contribute a photo here.

Raid

[raid]

Should we get started? RML is nowhere in sight.

Raid

[formal]

.................?

[raid]

I have contacted Ray, and I think that it is OK to start posting our discussions and critique without RML having contributed.

Raid

[dazedgonebye]

Raid
I'm not sure what to say about the look on this guy's face...except that whatever he's seeing, he's seen it before.
The two mugs of dark beer make the shot for me! :-)

Formal,
I like the angle and the intensity of the young man's expression. It makes something intersting of the scene.

ibcrewin,
This is one of those shots that make you wonder what is going on outside of our view. What event caused the little girl to be in her frillies and the woman to be in jeans?

[raid]

Steve: I like how my eyes are first drawn to the candle holders (which I first mistook for shot glasses). There is a "swirl" of the out of focus background plants around the grave. Using B&W film helped this image be more abstract than if it had been in color.

Formal: It is interesting to have the main person looking directly at you, with the rest of the people appearing tilted. The young man's intense look makes this image.


ibcrewin: I can't help but look at the jeans. The sling of a cell phone or key is dangling in red. Then, innocently, stands a little girl in white. It is a well captured image of contrasts.


Raid

[formal]

dazedgoneby
--------------

Steve - I assume this is a picture of a grave? I like the DOF and in particular, the way it picks out the line of candle holders. To nitpick, the in-focus twigs at the top left look out of place and the metal object on the left detracts from the row of candle holders. Good image.

raid
-------

I like Josef's expression and the way the girl is glancing towards him. The fact that she is carrying two beers puts the image in a context and suggests that it is pub or beer garden. Again to nitpick, the white area to the right of Josef's head is distracting.

ibcrewin
-----------

This is an interesting composition. I'm not sure why the young girl is looking through the fence; she could be admiring the flowers, but the ribbons suggest that there might be a birthday party and she has been invited.

[ibcrewin]

Formal: The expression on the guys face just yells "look at me band, mate!" pretty cool. I like how the people in the bg don't seem to be as into the party as your subject.

******

Raid: I love the richness of the color here. One detail I find absolutely hysterical is the two mugs in one hand for the woman. I think she should be the main subject of the shot.

*****

Steve: I think this shot is stellar. It tells a whole story of life, death and religion in one frame. Via con dios! Although I like the black and white, I think a color caputre would have brought just a bit more to it, given these candles are usually of the colorful variety.

[dazedgonebye]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

The subject of my shot is a roadside memorial, a descansos, erected at or near the site of a traffic fatality. I've shot a number of these and they almost always are about a young man in his 20s. Sad, but predictable.
I do feel that the branches in the focal plane on the top left are unfortunate. I could perhaps get rid of them in photoshop, but I'm not sure I could make them look like the other out of focus branches. If I'd noticed them when making the shot, I might have re-composed to eliminate them.
I'm still very pleased that I managed this shot with that J-9 and I'm happy with my choice of f2.8, but I see that with a bit better forethought, this could have moved up a notch or two.

[raid]

Thanks for your comments.
I took the photo of my friend during a recent trip to Germany. We were at a small town brewery, and Josef was looking at his bride, sitting across from him. I used a Canon 50mm/1.2 for this shot. I was sitting close to Josef, and I stretched backwards to get at the minimum focus distance.

Steve nailed it; Josef was looking at someone he knew! I waited for the girl to bring the dark beer before I took this shot.

Raid

[ibcrewin]

Thanks for your comments. I took this picture on Easter Sunday with the 35mm I think it was at f5.8.

I have about a million things running through my head about this. First of all, I took the picture to capture a couple of things. My daughter is like a flower hunter. No matter how off limits they are she wants to touch them, smell them and sometimes pick them. My wife, who by the way is in my book one of the greatest mothers of all time, is always looking after her without hindering her sense of adventure.

What you guys mentioned. I totally left out so much stuff that would answer who, what, when, where, why and how. I guess that is the difference between telling a story in a photograph and preserving a memory for myself. Maybe as a dad, when your subject is your kid, you tend to get tunnel vision.

This excercise has helped tremendously. I have to get in on this more often!

[RML]

Sorry for not participating. I waited a week for people to sign up and lost track and interest. After that, **** hit the fan at work.