Some really nice entries this week, you folks have outdone yourselves. But I've procrastinated enough, on to my findings. I'll try and be nice (no promises though, it's late and I'm drinking wine).
@someoldguy - Well done for kicking things off. The tones and mood you've captured are nice, but I've gotta be honest though, on a whole I'm not really feeling it. Too much going on and whilst there's a lot of lines happening I don't feel you've caught them at the best angle.
@kenoh - This shot is absolutely killer. However you giving me **** earlier in the week was always going to bite you. Wonder how this is going to play out for you.
@anotherscotsman - Lovely in it's simplicity. My criticism? You should've done more than just a conversion. Some more detail on that flower would've gone a long way. Still, nice shot.
@deep diver - This is something I could use as a texture to add to some of my portraits. As an image, not digging it. Could just be what the net has done to it with compression, but it doesn't seem to have captured motion well and lacks a bit of sharpness. Those three hotspots could've been burned back a smidge too.
@oblomow - Great framing, great angle, great light, great details. Needs more contrast for this competition, but is a great shot.
@Hughmac - This would be a great shot...if edited in a completely different manner. This shot needs colour and and doesn't suit the treatment it's been given. Would like to see the original image to be honest.
@inkmich - I really like this one. Even though I can't fully work out what's going on (not necessarily a bad thing), but I like it a lot.
@Alexander.Of.Oz - This could be killer but as it is, it's kinda dull. Allow me to explain why. The predominate shapes (in an awesome composition) are grey and therefore coming across as flat. With a bit more tweaking, you could make this work better.
@MacRy - Well, look at you and all your portraits these days. Disclaimer: my partner and I both went through all these entries (she takes photos of food and our dog) and we both loved this shot. Whereas it didn't bother her that your subject was looking off camera, it bothered me.
@pmxperience - Not bad for a cliched shot (we've all done this one...well, besides Apple Fanboy). I see a lot of sharpness (maybe too much), but not a lot of contrast.
@malofx - Great shot. Contrast-wise I'm seeing too much grey in there instead of white, love the pose and wardrobe, but feel the composition could be stronger with the subject closer to the right and cropped tighter.
@Robotti - I like this a lot, but I want to like it even more and am not sure where it's falling. Composition is good, pose is good, lighting works...think it's your post work or the crop.
@Laird Knox - This remind me of myself playing around in the darkroom in college while inebriated on certain hallucinogens.
@jkramerbob - I like it and it reminds me of a shot taken by a famous photographer whose name escapes me, her composition was impeccable and I want to see some whiter whites and blacker blacks in yours.
@Apple fanboy - Mediocre? Look at you being all coy. Everything about this is nice...besides the composition. Subject needs to be dead centre and shot from lower or as is angle wise and pushed to the right.
@splifingate - Either I'm falling down or this is crooked as ****. Shame, as it could've been a really nice shot. If you've got the opportunity, go back and shoot this place again. With a real camera...and a tripod.
@Indydenny - Exceptional portrait, love it. Not sure it grabs me as 'high contrast' however.
@imac wannabe - While there are shadows in the tree trunks and bright whites in the little patches of blown out sky, I don't really think this meets the brief as a high contrast image.
Alright, that as tough. I'm a studio portrait photographer, I don't want to go critiquing your stuff. Hope I didn't make anyone cry. Here's your winners.
Honourable mentions:
@malofx and
@Apple fanboy. Great shots and either could've won, but unfortunately composition let you down.
3rd:
@inkmich - Not sure what it is, but I really like this. Here, have third place.
2nd:
@kenoh - Who knows if calling me a New Zealander cost you first place. Actually, I do and it didn't. MacRy's shot was just better.
1st:
@MacRy - Great candid environmental portrait. Even though I'd prefer eye contact, you've nailed this one.
Self Portrait
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Xian
Mossy