Full Version: Photo Critique Page

From: photomato (ROBYN) [#16]
 7 Jan 2006
To: Mick [#4] 7 Jan 2006

Hi there Mick!

That certainly is a dynamic sky! The colors are vibrant, rich and well seen. The one suggestion I have is with the crispness and clarity of those distant hills. The focus seems a wee bit soft. Sometimes when hand-holding a shot taken at the beginning or end of the day, the exposure time, in order to reproduce the scene adequately, is long enough to almost guarantee a wee bit of camera movement. A tripod would be a good bet in situations like this, if you are really looking for tack sharp rendering.

Also, the camera, if set on auto, will choose the widest aperture to achieve a reasonable shutter speed unless you set it manually, which is always a good thing to learn how to do to have greater control. That wide aperture is going to cut down on the depth of field or that area of the scene that is in crisp focus. The wider the aperture, the shallower the depth of field. Since it is metering for that fantastic sky, which is pretty much infinity, the mountains in the foreground may appear a bit soft, especially in lenses that are designed for multiple focal lengths or distances. Newer digitals have stabilization features, which do help a bit, but when the light is quickly dimming, one has to call into service all means of assistance possible including changing the ISO setting to a higher speed. At least 400 would be beneficial in these challenging lighting situations.

Nice clean atmosphere out there in Colorado! Reminds me of a line from a Moody Blues song..."Breath deep the gathering gloom, watch light fade from every room." The image isn't at all gloomy, but the lyric seemed appropriate for an end of day shot!

All the best,

Robyn

From: photomato (ROBYN) [#17]
 7 Jan 2006
To: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#8] 7 Jan 2006

Indeed, you have a beautiful capture there. The composition is very well seen and the overall execution is pretty darned perfect. The heron is placed slightly to the left which gives a great sense of assymetry which attracts the eye immediately. The foliage behind (are those Maple trees?) is judiciously and wisely utilized as a background being both supportive while not competing with the subject. Your selective use of Depth of Field really increases the dimensionality of the shot, dividing the areas into successively diffused dimensions, with the heron in the foreground, crisp and proud. His pose is almost regal, each feather and feature crisply caught including all the complex textures. This is a well executed image, illuminated with a nice soft light. The diffused lighting enhances the image and gives it a rich, lush interpretation.

Robyn
Raggio Visivo
www.raggiovisivo.com

From: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#18]
 7 Jan 2006
To: photomato (ROBYN) [#17] 7 Jan 2006

Robyn,

I'm getting all teary eyed, that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me :-) 

And to think I was in a fishing boat at the time....doing two things I like.

From: photomato (ROBYN) [#19]
 7 Jan 2006
To: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#18] 7 Jan 2006

Don't go getting the keyboard all salty, now! It's a great image and it deserves praise. Sometimes there are just days when everything comes together...did you catch any fish?

From: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#20]
 7 Jan 2006
To: photomato (ROBYN) [#19] 7 Jan 2006

Actually,

where we go fishing we catch so many I have to take my camera just to take my mind off fishing.

From: MIKEY (JADEPUTTERS) [#21]
 7 Jan 2006
To: photomato (ROBYN) [#15] 7 Jan 2006

Robyn,

Thanks for your suggestions. Actually that picture was just one I uploaded for an example to see what David was talking about, I hadn't done anything to it. I do alot of adjusting when I engrave photographs to bring out the best look. That picture was literally 1 of a 100. I zoomed in, zoomed out, Panoramic views, head shots (like the one attached). I just know nothing about composition, exposure or alot of the things I should know about. I've heard about the one third rule and use it on occassion but I'm learning.

From: gt350ed [#22]
 7 Jan 2006
To: Mick [#4] 8 Jan 2006

No way, dude!! That sunset was taken off MY deck here in California the other night. B-) 

From: photomato (ROBYN) [#23]
 7 Jan 2006
To: MIKEY (JADEPUTTERS) [#21] 8 Jan 2006

Hi Mike,

When composing in camera, make sure that everything you want in the image is present and everything which may distract is eliminated whenever possible. The horns are a bit chopped off at the top and my eye is looking for that little bit to complete the image. There is plenty of room at the bottom of the image to have tilted the camera angle up just ever so slightly to fit in the tops of those beautifully textured horns. The contrast of this image is greater than the first you posted, and the increased density of the shadows leads to loss of detail in those areas...as they are beginning to fill in. I like the composition, with the white snowy area to the right of the ram (viewer's left) and even though the head is centered the difference in contrasts make it appear to be slightly off to the right. The colors are rich and the detail in the horns is a bit dark, but lightening up the image in PS is not that difficult. Adjusting the levels--specifically the mid-tones about 10 points or so ought to help. Give it a try, you'll see the difference by using the slider and adjusting up till you get it where you want it. The important thing is to keep shooting. You're taking hundreds of shots, which is good. I probably shoot about 800 or so a month. Constantly working on areas where I feel I need improvement. You're off to a good start, Mike...keep up the good work!

Robyn

EDITED: 8 Jan 2006 by DGL

From: gt350ed [#24]
 7 Jan 2006
To: MIKEY (JADEPUTTERS) [#21] 8 Jan 2006

Hey, I gotta idea. Let's send this "sheephead" (the actual animal) to our friends Down Under with a note attached that says "Shear this!"

Nice photo.

From: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#25]
 8 Jan 2006
To: photomato (ROBYN) [#19] 8 Jan 2006

Robyn,

You asked if we caught any fish.....this photo is our morning catch and we did the same thing in the evening. Keep in mind this is just 2 guys.

http://www.pbase.com/conksout/image/44752650

From: Mick [#26]
 8 Jan 2006
To: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#25] 8 Jan 2006

Wow Brian,
It would take me all day to catch that much BAIT :-) 

From: UncleSteve [#27]
 8 Jan 2006
To: Mick [#26] 8 Jan 2006

Yup! I always wondered where sardines and anchovies came from.... (devil) 

From: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#28]
 8 Jan 2006
To: UncleSteve [#27] 8 Jan 2006

Steve and Mick,

You guys laugh but a bluegill is one of the best eating fish around. We spend a week fishing and fill the freezer, enough to last all year.

From: UncleSteve [#29]
 8 Jan 2006
To: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#28] 9 Jan 2006

Brian,

When one lives near the Long Island Sound and is used to pulling that quantity of flounder and baby blues out, boney bait fish just don't do anything for me.... >.< 

From: photomato (ROBYN) [#30]
 8 Jan 2006
To: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#25] 9 Jan 2006

That's a lot o' cleanin! Moving in on those critters with the camera would make an interesting macro shot! When I lived up on the Russian River, I would take my nephew fishing and he'd catch a lot of Blue Gill. What he called "sandwich size"...would take em home in a bucket and put them in his mom's shower and let them swim around because he felt sorry for them. Of course, they eventually ended up in his sandwich.

I like the shot, there's something very down home industrial about it. Gives a nice sense of satisfaction to the viewer, probably much the same as you feel, knowing they're all headed for the deep freeze! Might even try a panorama shot of just that cleaning sink..one long, thin shot of lots and lots of fish.

Congrats on your catch of the day!

Robyn

From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#31]
 8 Jan 2006
To: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#8] 9 Jan 2006

Brian,

From the course of this discussion, I'm hearing a critique page would be nice, but there seems to be even more interest in having a collection of images our members could download for their use.

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