Critique this pic

[ThePresence]

Took this a few minutes ago.

Thanks.

 

[dug777]

Nice, but maybe too contrast-y...

If you could have got the swan on the sun-trail, hot diggety damn that would have been neat

In return, can you critique this one for me?

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dug777/City2.JPG

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: dug777
Nice, but maybe too contrast-y...

If you could have got the swan on the sun-trail, hot diggety damn that would have been neat

Thanks.
I shot a few of those, didn't like them. Too cutesy for my taste.

In return, can you critique this one for me?

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dug777/City2.JPG

I like it, it's slick.
The whites are blowing out, but I guess that's the look you're going for.
Might look strange in print though.

 

[dug777]

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: dug777
Nice, but maybe too contrast-y...

If you could have got the swan on the sun-trail, hot diggety damn that would have been neat

Thanks.
I shot a few of those, didn't like them. Too cutesy for my taste.

In return, can you critique this one for me?

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/dug777/City2.JPG

I like it, it's slick.
The whites are blowing out, but I guess that's the look you're going for.
Might look strange in print though.

I like it better now :thumbsup: Thinking about it, the swan on the trail would be rather hackneyed

The original cityscape as i shot it isn't as stark, but it i think it has a bit more impact that way, starker. I agree that it would look odd in print, and i can't quite bring myself to really like it. Not sure what i missed, i cropped a billion different ways and none of them worked any better

 

[DrPizza]

I don't think it would have looked better with the goose in the sun trail. I debated over the positioning of the sun - centered or 1/3 over as you did. I think it looks best the way you have it composed, however it might have looked even better if you were at a lower elevation when you took it. It just has that taken from the 2nd floor balcony type of look to it; I can't quite explain it exactly, but hopefully you understand what I mean.

 

[virtuamike]

I think you want us to focus on the sunset and the bird. But because of the long focal length, placement, and stark silhouette, the trees/shore share dominance (it's such a strong cut against the rest of the frame). It's a very pretty summer scene and I love the orange into purple contrast, but on a critical level I feel you can be more decisive about how you want to draw our attention.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: virtuamike
I think you want us to focus on the sunset and the bird. But because of the long focal length, placement, and stark silhouette, the trees/shore share dominance (it's such a strong cut against the rest of the frame). It's a very pretty summer scene and I love the orange into purple contrast, but on a critical level I feel you can be more decisive about how you want to draw our attention.

Thanks!
Could you just explain how I could capture both the sunset and the bird without having the trees backlit like that? Or do I just need to find another angle to shoot from?

 

[virtuamike]

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: virtuamike
I think you want us to focus on the sunset and the bird. But because of the long focal length, placement, and stark silhouette, the trees/shore share dominance (it's such a strong cut against the rest of the frame). It's a very pretty summer scene and I love the orange into purple contrast, but on a critical level I feel you can be more decisive about how you want to draw our attention.

Thanks!
Could you just explain how I could capture both the sunset and the bird without having the trees backlit like that? Or do I just need to find another angle to shoot from?

If you went with a wider view then the trees wouldn't be as prominent, but it might take away from the impact of the sunset too.

If you come in at a lower angle as suggester earlier then you could compose the trees lower in the frame, but it might not leave you enough room to place your bird.

It's all about compromise, plenty of different things to try.

 

[gsellis]

I think the swan should have been in the sun on the water. This photo has no subject otherwise. You look at it and go "what am I supposed to be looking at?" If the swan was supposed to be the subject, but hidden in "shadow", it is not hidden enough or trying to hide.

If the sun was the subject, it is not framed well, well out of the thirds, and is framed unusually by the clouds.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: gsellis
I think the swan should have been in the sun on the water. This photo has no subject otherwise. You look at it and go "what am I supposed to be looking at?" If the swan was supposed to be the subject, but hidden in "shadow", it is not hidden enough or trying to hide.

If the sun was the subject, it is not framed well, well out of the thirds, and is framed unusually by the clouds.

I appreciate your input, but I'm going to disagree with you.
I'm looking for criticism, but it has to be justifed.

The goose does not look good in the sun, and throws the whole picture off. I shot a few of those and it didnt work IMO. The goose actually balances out the placement of the sun. Yes, the goose is the subject, and there is nothing wrong IMO of having a backlit object as a subject. The sun is the secondary subject, and it IS in thirds from left to right. Truth is, I feel that the whole rule of thirds is overrated. And as far as the sun being unusually framed by the clouds, well I don't really know what you mean.

Pictures are a form of art and everyone will see things differently and like or dislike different things. Opinions will differ. The above was just my opinion.

 

[GrJohnso]

Nice shot... Like anything, everyone will have their own opinions.. So, here is mine...

I do think the sun is a bit high in the frame. Might have liked a bit more dark cloud showing from above it... Related to the sun, I would have tried a few different aperatures to see if you could control the flaring/sun beams differently. They seem to be a bit distracting as they are...

It would be nice to get a little more detail out of the trees, but not much, since they aren't the subject. Maybe a ND graduated filter to darken the sun/cloud area, and brighten up the foreground? Could also been done in photoshop by taking two exposures and blending them.

For this shot it's hard to tell your focus/depth of field. Since you are looking to have the goose as more of the of focus, I felt I wanted it and the water close to it a bit sharper. Seems a little soft to me.. Not sure what the original looks like, but this one seems like your physical focus point is further out. Once again, an aperature constraint in the given light... Worth thinking about though.

All together I do like the composition and colors... Just some fine tuning could make it a killer shot, instead of just a nice one...

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: GrJohnso
Nice shot... Like anything, everyone will have their own opinions.. So, here is mine...

I do think the sun is a bit high in the frame. Might have liked a bit more dark cloud showing from above it... Related to the sun, I would have tried a few different aperatures to see if you could control the flaring/sun beams differently. They seem to be a bit distracting as they are...

It would be nice to get a little more detail out of the trees, but not much, since they aren't the subject. Maybe a ND graduated filter to darken the sun/cloud area, and brighten up the foreground? Could also been done in photoshop by taking two exposures and blending them.

For this shot it's hard to tell your focus/depth of field. Since you are looking to have the goose as more of the of focus, I felt I wanted it and the water close to it a bit sharper. Seems a little soft to me.. Not sure what the original looks like, but this one seems like your physical focus point is further out. Once again, an aperature constraint in the given light... Worth thinking about though.

All together I do like the composition and colors... Just some fine tuning could make it a killer shot, instead of just a nice one...

Thanks!
This is pretty much the original, I just resized it PS.

 

[gsellis]

If you want justified critique, find the triangles. Any triangle I draw comes out unbalanced and vague on the anchor on the right. Try cropping the bottom to the last glint in the water (maybe even to between the bottom glint and the second to bottom). Crop the right side half way between the goose and the current edge. That might balance it out. You might add more contrast just to the goose and its shadow to make it show more on the frame. The black of the goose will make it stand out more.

Edit - looked at a different monitor ... The black goose may not get too much darker - black sucks on some of these monitors. sigh

Edit2 - In fact... This monitor really sucks. Just checked it on my lappie screen. The CRT I have shows only black in the trees and on the goose. Green and Gray are missing.