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Photo of the Day September 2017
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Have just caught up on the PotD thread (you guys have been busy!) and wanted to comment on this a few days ago. Life just gets in the way sometimes!
Just so you know where I come from photographically, I take Portraits of Actors and Models to help get them work - think mugshot but hopefully a bit nicer. All other types of photography I have never been paid to do! As such, I can only speak of what my eye likes... So.... Take this as you will...
I really like the concept of this image. I was originally trained as an Architect, and as such one of my favourite past times is 'looking up'. It sounds so silly, but if more people 'looked up' they would have a whole new appreciation for the world. I'm not talking about sky scrapers and wow things only - think of interesting roof details, tree branches, that sort of stuff.
In this image, there is however one thing that distracts for me. I find it distracting how the closest light is cut by the border of the frame. To me, I would look to make it so that the cable was going though the edge. It creates more of a seamless image in my eye.
Another thing to consider is the focus point. As you are into photography, I'm sure you know about the rule of thirds, but consider this - what is it you want the viewer to look at? This is a great rule for all photography. Think - if you shoot a portrait - do I want the viewer staring deeply into crisp, sharp eyes? Or do I want them to see the eyes, but also see focused, detailed hair? The aperture setting allows you to control this. I have some more bookings this week, and if I can I will do 2 shots for you - one with the aperture wide open, and one at f8 (with the studio lighting). You will instantly be able to see the difference in where your eyes are drawn in the photo. Consider this in landscape photography. You have ultimate control on where to direct the viewer to what interests you. Do you love the lights? Or is it the detail where the light is over the wooden pole? Or even, is it the dark sky - with that amazing band running through it, with the out of focus lights in front like little blotches of light?
All of these thoughts and considerations are the difference between a good shot, and a great one. I don't have a tenth of the skill someone like Mark0 does, but I bet if he weighed in on this he would say he started out just taking 'nice' landscape pictures, and now to get the incredible results he does it takes much more time planing the shot than actually pressing the button and waiting for the exposure.
I hope this has provided some sort of encouragement. You are doing well, and I really look forward to seeing how your photos progress. Keep on shooting!
[doublepost=1505382523][/doublepost]Portland (AGAIN!), in some lovely English weather.
While I agree that the framing is what needs the most work here, I'll suggest that what would have really helped is cropping and zooming with your feet. That is, walk around the area and try a more effective framing. I get that it's a bit useless now that you are away from that location, but it's something you can practice anywhere in preparation for when it matters more.
The photo looks a bit bland and the bush together with the wooden railing look distracting. Perhaps the wooden railing could act as a leading line if it was framed differently, but it does not seem effective as shot. Try different and less common points of view. For example, change the vertical position of the camera when you shoot. The most common way to shoot is with camera held at eye or chest level. See what happens if you hold it closer to the ground, or higher. Walk left and right, back and forward, see how that affects the photos you're getting.
You can try it on just a casual walk around your neighborhood. It can make a dramatic difference to your photos.
Then you can do the easy stuff like enhancing the contrast and saturation, and minor cropping in post.
The regular disclaimer applies, I'm not a pro photographer, many of my pictures suck, if your pictures suck after following my advice, I refuse to be held responsible
A flower from the tundra for day. From almost exactly a year ago.
Ok, I'll take a crack at this but keep in mind that I'm not a landscape photographer and shoot primarily wildlife and, as of this morning, dead bugs.
Technically, this photo is good. Composition, exposure and focus are spot-on. What's lacking is the subject and that can be the toughest part of all.
My suggestions:
Patience and an infinite amount of practice are all that you need JakeGRex. Keep shooting and posting as it takes a lot of trial and a ton of error along the way.
- You've got nice leading lines (the path with posts/rail) which are really nice to have in a landscape shot but, they lead to an empty beach. It's a bit of a let-down to draw the viewers eyes into the shot and they don't land on anything of interest. Don't be afraid to stage a shot. In this case, have someone stand on the beach at the bottom of the path gazing out to the ocean. Maybe a couple holding hands and watching the sunset....which leads to my second point.
- It looks to me like the shot was taken around mid morning or mid afternoon when the sun is too strong, hot and harsh. A shot like this, as with just about any landscape shot, will benefit from the dynamic light and shadows of the golden hours of sunrise or sunset.
Cheers,
Peter
Thank you, but I still make silly mistakes; for example, by forgetting to return settings to my norms then wondering why things look wrong the next shot I take.
That's very complimentary of you; nowhere near a pro but I admit to having improved over the last few months
You're very welcome, and already doing well. Keep at it, keep submitting. It's taken me 3½ years to get as far as I have, and if I remember well enough AFB is about a year ahead of me.
Walking forward one step and maybe one to the left would have given the similar results as my quick edit.
Cheers
Hugh
Again thank you all for the critique/help it is really appreciated, also "Themumu" when i have the opportunity to i will try this, walk around my area and take a few pictures of the same thing but from multiple different viewpoints/areas to try "zooming with my feet," also i will definitely try to use contrast, saturation & cropping for my photos, i already have a little experience from my GCSE photography course on photoshop so at least I some idea what i'm doing when editing my photos. And most importantly if my pictures now suck its now to late to say you are not responsible haha!
also i have not actually entered this weeks competition so that will be something ill look into, thanks.
I agree with everything you are saying here "Cheese&Apple" I could have done with walking possibly an extra 2 metres and then crouching down to get the leading lines/fences to line up with the green background, also when i get the chance to i will definitely practice haha!
Thank you all for your critique/help once again it is a very much appreciated.
How about another tundra shot?
Sylvia Grinnell river in the background.
Sylvia Grinnell river in the background.
You guys are great.
I cannot thank you all enough for taking the time to help my son, he is really appreciative too. The comments have been fair and balanced and have had a real impact on him, we have spent quite some time discussing them, hopefully his appreciation comes across in his comment above.
I am really proud of how he is trying to learn. Taking photos, getting critique, taking more photos, learning and listening, hopefully, one day, he'll reach the standard of some of you, you never know, give him a few years and you and he might be in competition for jobs!
Foogoofish, I (and my son) would love to see the direct comparison of small/larger aperture on one of your portraits, i will look forward to those (i'm sure the one post a day rule can be overlooked for those)
Thank you all so much. if i could i'd send you a box of Roses, but, alas, a picture of a rose will have to do....
Thanks again
I cannot thank you all enough for taking the time to help my son, he is really appreciative too. The comments have been fair and balanced and have had a real impact on him, we have spent quite some time discussing them, hopefully his appreciation comes across in his comment above.
I am really proud of how he is trying to learn. Taking photos, getting critique, taking more photos, learning and listening, hopefully, one day, he'll reach the standard of some of you, you never know, give him a few years and you and he might be in competition for jobs!
Foogoofish, I (and my son) would love to see the direct comparison of small/larger aperture on one of your portraits, i will look forward to those (i'm sure the one post a day rule can be overlooked for those)
Thank you all so much. if i could i'd send you a box of Roses, but, alas, a picture of a rose will have to do....
Thanks again
Attachments
Hopefully , that's not the late Sylvia in the foregroundHow about another tundra shot?
Sylvia Grinnell river in the background.
Chocolate? I'd rather see more of his and your photo's.
(Reformed fatty, doesn't eat chocolate any more!).
I agree with AFB. The framing (crop if you cropped) seems off to me. If your subject is the sign above the door, a tighter perspective would help. If the entire scene is your subject then a wider angle that includes all of the A frame sign and all of the entrance door might help.
ModistThink of it in terms of framing a shot of a person...tight on the face for a portrait or the entire body to include action and or environment. A shot of a person from the knees up rarely works.
~ Peter
This was an interesting piece to try and capture. In essence it is a giant zoetrope machine. The wheel contains a number of skeletons with a pole. As people pull the ropes on each side (they have to work in unison) the wheel will start to spin. Once it get going fast enough some strobe lights will kick in and you can see the motion.
It looks like a single skeleton rowing a boat. On this side there is a dove on the boat below the skeleton and on the other side it is a bunch of hands reaching out of the river Styx. It is a really beautiful piece in person.
The challenge was to try and capture that movement in a still image. For this one I drug the shutter just long enough to capture three flashes from the strobes. This results in a triple exposure of the skeletons on the bottom and a blur at the top where the strobes don't reach. It helps to convey the motion and I love the colors. The distant light beam also help to draw you towards the wheel.
Brisbane CBD from the Southbank on our last night in Brisbane. You can see the hotel we stayed in, it's just over there!
Thank you Peter and AFB as well. I have already played around with the cropping and yes, it makes a big difference. Peter, you also made something someone else said hit home about the framing of the bottom of the door and the sandwich board sign. They were not offering critique on my photo, but said something about changing where you take the picture from.
What I should have done is kneel down to get the lower portion, and that also probably would have fixed the top too.
Thanks a bunch to everyone here!
Brisbane CBD from the Southbank on our last night in Brisbane. You can see the hotel we stayed in, it's just over there!
WoW!!!
Duluth Aerial Lift Bridge by Jay Peek, on FlickrAerial lift bridge in Duluth, MN. One of only a handful of this type bridge in existence. This is the UP position, so ships can transit the roadway.
Oyster Point-112-20170416-HDR.jpg by Charles Martorelli, on FlickrThanks, Velkus! It's not too shabby for a single exposure image, however, if I want to nit-pick it, I probably should have taken a frame of it focused on the posts in the foreground and merged them together in post-production.WoW!!!
Nashville, TN by Seth Meece, on FlickrNashville, Tennessee! There's a ramen noodle restaurant that I ate at while I was there, and I haven't been able to get it off my mind lately. It's been months! I gotta go back soon and get some ramen goodness.
I tried to go for a washed out, contrasty, but clean edit on this one.
Thanks, Velkus! It's not too shabby for a single exposure image, however, if I want to nit-pick it, I probably should have taken a frame of it focused on the posts in the foreground and merged them together in post-production.
Its fine buddy !!! I like it!!!
Agree that is an interesting piece. Well captured.
This was an interesting piece to try and capture. In essence it is a giant zoetrope machine. The wheel contains a number of skeletons with a pole. As people pull the ropes on each side (they have to work in unison) the wheel will start to spin. Once it get going fast enough some strobe lights will kick in and you can see the motion.
It looks like a single skeleton rowing a boat. On this side there is a dove on the boat below the skeleton and on the other side it is a bunch of hands reaching out of the river Styx. It is a really beautiful piece in person.
The challenge was to try and capture that movement in a still image. For this one I drug the shutter just long enough to capture three flashes from the strobes. This results in a triple exposure of the skeletons on the bottom and a blur at the top where the strobes don't reach. It helps to convey the motion and I love the colors. The distant light beam also help to draw you towards the wheel.
Cool, windy and generally miserable - autumn is upon us...Kenoh pointed out the owl-face in this one and now that's all I can see Comments always appreciated.
Autumn approaches 2 by another scotsman, on Flickr
Comments always appreciated.
Autumn approaches 2 by another scotsman, on Flickr
Nooooo! I want more summer!Cool, windy and generally miserable - autumn is upon us...Kenoh pointed out the owl-face in this one and now that's all I can see
Autumn approaches 2 by another scotsman, on Flickr
So here is a memory of summer. Walking down the beach in LA this guy yells do you want a cool picture?
Then throws his roll of rope in the air.
_DSC4594 by apple fanboy1, on Flickr
My beach looks more inviting than yours, but your photo is better!
But I like yours, especially the helpful model who made it work so well.
You can't beat waddling around in some nice Medway mud to get the shot, even though yet again I forgot my wellies and ended up soggy
Cheers
Hugh
5D2 , 24-105@45 , f8@20 sec. , ISO 1600