Critique this photo please

toekramp

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2001
8,426
2
0
I don't typically alter my images (well beyond slight brightness/contrast and USM), however I made an exception on this specific one. I was wondering if it worked for anyone else but myself.


Sewer
Original
edit: and if you don't like it please tell me why? just trying to get better :) no comments are too brutal

edit: added original...just seemed too blah for me
 

chrisms

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2003
6,615
0
0
I'm no photography expert, but I think the effects are overdone and more importantly my eye isn't drawn anywhere except black space.
 

dderidex

Platinum Member
Mar 13, 2001
2,732
0
0
It's.....well, it gets a "second look", which makes it worthy of most art photo galleries I've seen.

It's very....urban, alright.
 

toekramp

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2001
8,426
2
0
Originally posted by: chrisms
I'm no photography expert, but I think the effects are overdone and more importantly my eye isn't drawn anywhere except black space.

thank ya sir :)

edit: while it may not matter since the photo didn't really work for you, i was attempting for your eye to be drawn down the middle of the rings (if that is the black space you are referring to)
 

Epic Fail

Diamond Member
May 10, 2005
6,252
2
0
I don't like the framing of the shot, the closest step is distrating, if you frame it like the small icon it will be good.
 

chowderhead

Platinum Member
Dec 7, 1999
2,633
263
126
I think it looks a bit saturated with sephia tone. There isn't really another focal points of references or dimensions. I actually like the 1/2 thumbnail a lot more than the picture. I don't even want to know the stuff that looks like a "river bed" that is just above the rungs

I like the sideways stair case and the other pictures a lot more. They look less photochopped.
 

Attrox

Golden Member
Aug 24, 2004
1,120
0
0
It looks like something from a horror movie, which is pretty cool.
It's like you are traveling through gates of hell :Q
 

toekramp

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2001
8,426
2
0
Originally posted by: chowderhead
I think it looks a bit saturated with sephia tone. There isn't really another focal points of references or dimensions. I actually like the 1/2 thumbnail a lot more than the picture. I don't even want to know the stuff that looks like a "river bed" that is just above the rungs

I like the sideways stair case and the other pictures a lot more. They look less photochopped.


ya like i said, this photo was out of the norm for me, just wondering what everyone else thought. thanks for the input :) (and it's just water down there....i believe)
 

shilala

Lifer
Oct 5, 2004
11,437
1
76
You could probably get some of the bottom of the hole detail back out by adjusting the levels. It'll add noise, but it might help add some "spark" to the retouched pic.
Plus, you might get to see a brown trout swimming by. (I expect a cookie for the turd reference.)
 

aiex

Senior member
Jul 5, 2001
914
0
0
Hmm interesting, i see where you going with this and like the idea. Only thing i find is that my eye is way too drawn to the black river rather then down the rungs. You could try cropping it and see what happens. I'm bored so think i'll play around with the origional too if you don't mind and see what happens. If it looks good i'll post.

Alex :D
 

toekramp

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2001
8,426
2
0
Originally posted by: aiex
Hmm interesting, i see where you going with this and like the idea. Only thing i find is that my eye is way too drawn to the black river rather then down the rungs. You could try cropping it and see what happens. I'm bored so think i'll play around with the origional too if you don't mind and see what happens. If it looks good i'll post.

Alex :D


you're more than welcome, edit away :)
 

ZOXXO

Golden Member
Feb 1, 2003
1,281
0
76
I think the concrete and cast metal subject matter would work well with the sepia tones you went with but it appears to have to much contrast or maybe just the highlights are overblown.

I too was distracted by the first step in the extreme foreground.

After playing around with the original a bit. I think the crop works but never found a color adjustment I liked.

Pshopping brings out a scatter brained mentality in me, leading me down too many paths at once.

Interesting thread and pic.
 

aiex

Senior member
Jul 5, 2001
914
0
0
I played around a bit and here is my version. I get way too carried away by photoshop though, one of my earlier versions is probably better but i just had to do everything.
Linky

Tell me what u think...

Ai3x :D
 

virtuamike

Diamond Member
Oct 13, 2000
7,845
13
81
I think you went way overboard with the processing. You have huge halos around your rungs from the USM and it's not entirely clear what the subject is supposed to be.
 

toekramp

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2001
8,426
2
0
Originally posted by: virtuamike
I think you went way overboard with the processing. You have huge halos around your rungs from the USM and it's not entirely clear what the subject is supposed to be.

thanks for the comments, great landscape shots on your site :) what gear do you use?