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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> Rip it to shreds
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02/20/2015 12:12:36 AM · #1


I spent a decent amount of time planning, shooting and editing this, and it finished just ahead of the on-purpose DNMC snapshots in the Steampunk challenge.

Clearly I am not seeing the horrible, low-vote-worthy attributes of this composite, so please point all of them out to me with extreme prejudice.

No sarcasm here, I really want to know what others are seeing in order to step up my game at both composites and environmental portraits.

For the shot, I had already talked about a tentative date with a model I'd been communicating with on Facebook - we wanted to do a shoot with one of her 1800s style outfits, and then this challenge came up and I figured it'd be a good fit.

It was actually shot there in that courtyard, just had one wireless flash and she had an assistant so she actually stood really still and the assistant held the flash and diffusion panel and I stitched it so she wasn't in either of the frames.

Then I grabbed some passers-by and requested they walk around in the frame while I had my variable ND filter cranked all the way up.

For the textures and what was supposed to be a steampunk surveillance camera, I just shot a bunch of stuff around the house because it looked too clean.

Was it a DNMC? Was it just too light on the styling cues that make up 'steampunk'? Was it just unattractive?

Thanks in advance.
02/20/2015 02:02:07 AM · #2
commented on the image
02/20/2015 02:58:29 AM · #3
I gave this a 6.

My biggest issue was I did not feel the subject looked like a steampunk but I didn't have any major issues with the photo itself.
02/20/2015 04:43:05 AM · #4
I gave this a 4.

I don't think it is Steampunk in any way, the model's pose is offputting and I don't like the look on her face one bit.

The folks moving about are pointless and due to the lighting it looks like you glued her to the background.
02/20/2015 06:23:43 AM · #5
I didn't vote in this challenge but this would be a 5 for me. No visible Steampunk elements and I don't like very much the editing.
02/20/2015 08:07:27 AM · #6
I do appreciate all the critiques.

Here is the composite without the effects and added crap:


What direction would you guys and gals have gone with it from there? In the trash can is a fair and acceptable answer of course.

Regarding the pose: Any suggestions?

Regarding the lighting: That it doesn't look natural is fair enough and I can't argue that, but my question is, what *should* it look like? I mean, most of the stylized composites entered on this site don't look very naturally lit to me, so what key aspects should I be focusing on lighting wise?

Regarding the lack of steampunk elements: That's something I agree I dropped the ball with.
02/20/2015 09:32:01 AM · #7
With composites you need to match the light sources so they should be the same

I'd have chucked it, composition and the ghostly people add nothing

Heavy industry background would have been better or just colour bg

Her sassy what do you want pose isn't great

02/20/2015 10:36:47 AM · #8
I gave it a 6, and it ended up about where I expected. A good shot, but not quite over the top steampunky enough. She looks more medieval or pirate-wenchy than steampunk to me. Maybe could use some more leather and retro-techie metal bits. Maybe a corset instead of the billowy look.

My impression was that perhaps you borrowed an attendee at a comic-con. I didn't even notice the camera looking thing added to the wall.

Again, a good and interesting portrait, just didn't fit my over-the-top idea of what I was expecting to see in this challenge.


02/20/2015 11:05:45 AM · #9
she looks more like she belongs at a renaissance fair than steampunk
02/20/2015 01:13:49 PM · #10
Fair enough.

In the event of Steampunk II, I'll be sure to go overboard with the 'steampunkiness'.

The pose thing is something I'm not quite sure where to begin with though.
02/20/2015 01:45:41 PM · #11
The more specific a theme, the harder it is to deviate from it and get a high score. As others have pointed out, the issue was that voters didn't feel the image met the theme; the processing is secondary.

With regard to composition (whether it be a single shot or a composite), all the elements not only have to look natural (if that's the intent), but they also need to add up to something. And that includes the intent of the model. It is not enough to have them dress up in a costume, they need to be there for a reason. It's about getting specific.

In the case of your image, the elements don't add up to a story, so the viewer is left to make one up for themselves, and that's "too much work". Also, the quirky elements you added are lost in the confusing processing, and seem added in as an afterthought. The camera, for example, is barely visible. IT could have been the coalescing element of the shot, with the model perhaps posing for IT, and engaging in a Steampunk selfie moment.
02/20/2015 02:17:10 PM · #12
Originally posted by tanguera:

The more specific a theme, the harder it is to deviate from it and get a high score. As others have pointed out, the issue was that voters didn't feel the image met the theme; the processing is secondary.

With regard to composition (whether it be a single shot or a composite), all the elements not only have to look natural (if that's the intent), but they also need to add up to something. And that includes the intent of the model. It is not enough to have them dress up in a costume, they need to be there for a reason. It's about getting specific.

In the case of your image, the elements don't add up to a story, so the viewer is left to make one up for themselves, and that's "too much work". Also, the quirky elements you added are lost in the confusing processing, and seem added in as an afterthought. The camera, for example, is barely visible. IT could have been the coalescing element of the shot, with the model perhaps posing for IT, and engaging in a Steampunk selfie moment.


Thanks for the advice. If they looked like afterthoughts, they kinda-sorta were.

My concept was originally for a time traveler, I wanted a fantasy kind of feel with the blurred people around because I thought, time travel isn't something real so why should it look realistic or normal. The challenge came up so I ended up shooting it according to plan and then trying to make use of some objects around the house and bring it into the theme. Didn't do too well obviously, but good learning experience.
02/20/2015 04:25:41 PM · #13
One of the things about doing a complicated composite is that you really have to plan it out. Christophe is the extreme version of that planning, with the attending results. Every detail is plotted, planned, and shot as a comprehensive whole.

I'm not quite that organized, but I don't start shooting until I know what I'm going for. Although I don't create a sketch, I have the completed image in my mind, and shoot all the elements from the corresponding angles. In my entry, for example, the two houses at the "top of the hill" had to be shot from a low angle to get that effect, even though they were at street level.

The details you add must also be carefully selected to support your concept.
02/20/2015 10:04:17 PM · #14
Well... since you ask...

I don't like her pose so much... I'd rather have "caught her off guard"...

The lighting is a bit harsh... and not very "steam punkish". I'm not at all what light IS steam punkish... but I see it when it's missing. Maybe a photo filter of green? (That's what I did)

The composition of her being... not quite centered... not on a "third"... is a a bit awkward.

I think BW would have served your score more highly... or BW with that green filter.

I DO like it... but... I thought it needed a bit to ... "soar"!!

02/20/2015 10:05:38 PM · #15
Oh. And... her hair is modern. That's the FIRST thing I noticed. I wanted a... uhh.... a Steam Punk hairdo... or something steam punkish to cover it up.
02/21/2015 04:33:02 AM · #16
I didn't have a photo in this challenge for lack of time and didn't vote for the same reason. However, I would have given it a 5. The issue with me is the background, which looks like a contemporary mall or commercial location rather than something out of the Victorian era or something very boiler-pipes-clocks-iron horse-ish. I don't think the walking people add to the theme because they are not in period clothes. To me, when I think of steam punk I immediately think of the old computer game "Myst". If you are not aware of it (it is rather dated now) search online for the game by name and you will locate lots of photos.

I am not bothered by the model's posture, or expression, but I do think her period costume is from an older period than the Victorian age.

In my case, my own lack of time was because the things I needed to photograph to make the background I needed were scattered too far apart for the time I could afford to spend. I opted not to try, figuring I would end up with something that would be greeted by the voters similar to the response you received. I've noticed that unless I can nail the subject of the challenge, no matter what I do for a photo will not crack the top ten. I think you need a technically fine image, nailing the subject, and preferably with an uncluttered look (in most instances) to score at or near the top of the challenge scores. Just my 2 cents worth based upon my own success or lack thereof in each challenge.
02/21/2015 05:44:32 PM · #17
Now that I think about it, I definitely agree about the location.

Thanks for the green filter suggestion, usually I try warming or cooling filter but not green, I'll give it a shot sometime.
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