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08/19/2004 06:33:11 PM |
Originally posted by graphicfunk:
you even did the alchemical wonder of changing absolute white to absolute black with mere camera technique, a feat that I am unable to perform. |
Nothing alchemical about it--I simply placed the subject far enough away from the white paper background, held the light somewhat downward at the subject and away from the background, and fooled the meter by using a -1.7 EV setting. Then I adjusted the levels a bit in photoshop to darken it a bit further.
To paraphrase your words, I envisioned the shot in my mind's eye and did what was necessary to achieve it by making decisions which required knowledge of my camera's manual functions. I proceeded to take 21 shots with varying points of view and lighting arrangements. That doesn't even take into account the hundreds of shots I took of alternate subject matter during that session. My beef with your crit has to do with the blatent disregard that I might have had a clue what I was doing when I made this photo. It is possible to phrase a comment about my choice of shallow DOF from the assumption that I made a choice.
Comments like the following completely disregard the effort I put into my photo.
Originally posted by graphicfunk:
Always envision the shot in your minds eye and then do what ever is technically required. Normal shots and distant scenes differ greatly from the close up. A camera in auto mode, will never make this decision for you, so it is up to you to take care of this matter. The easiest way to do it is to make a test shot, check it in computer and then go back to finish. |
You concede that my image is above average, yet you seem unwilling to concede some amount of competence went into it's production. It's as if you'd rather think I miraculously pulled a quality image out of my ass.
The laughable thing is you send me defensive private messages whenever I make a comment on one of you images during the voting.
Message edited by author 2004-08-19 18:39:39. |
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08/19/2004 05:48:04 PM |
In response to Graphicfunk's comment, so as not to repeat myself, let me just direct the reader here.
I will say that my defensivenes is partially in reaction to the defensive and condescending private messages he has sent me in response to comments I've made during the voting.
Message edited by author 2004-08-19 17:48:43. |
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08/19/2004 02:23:45 AM |
Melissa, I know: you are master that has tricked a poor student like me by altering the zone value in your image to make it look like metal. You then when a step further, as you describe below, you had this entire shot under tight control, you were assured of all your convictions and you even did the alchemical wonder of changing absolute white to absolute black with mere camera technique, a feat that I am unable to perform. The next step is to trick the critique club amateur, because, after all, the unenlightened masses always misunderstand you with their crude sum total of their voting.
In this case I owe you a very hefty apology. You created a masterpiece and requested a critique and you got a terrible student to make an ass of himself by daring to insult the deftly camera technique that is apparent in all the images in your port. Silly me.
Message edited by author 2004-08-19 08:57:55. |
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08/12/2004 04:12:52 PM |
| Oooh now this is just beautiful! Textures are lovely and the composition is just wonderful! I think my preference would be for a slightly sharper image, mainly on the frontal area of the twig, but retaining the beautiful shallow DOF you have used to throw the spiral tip out of focus. This really is very appealing. |
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 Photographer found comment helpful. |
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08/10/2004 12:47:12 AM |
Originally posted by graphicfunk:
From the critique club:
Always envision the shot in your minds eye and then do what ever is technically required. Normal shots and distant scenes differ greatly from the close up. A camera in auto mode, will never make this decision for you, so it is up to you to take care of this matter. The easiest way to do it is to make a test shot, check it in computer and then go back to finish.
dan |
First let me say that I appreciate the in-depth critique very much. I just have to add my own comments that:
a: I didn't really see this as a difficult to identify object---at least in that it is clearly of a fibrous, woody plant material. To me, it is quite obviously a twiggy section of vine. The title "A Natural Twist" would also suggest something of organic origins. I honestly don't see how peeling bark can be mistaken for anything else---certainly not metal, as your comments suggested.
b: I used manual settings to make this shot. I have yet to use the auto function on my camera. Through very careful placement of my lighting sources and exposure control, I intentionally created a black background from what was originally a white one. I have other shots with greater DOF but I thought the shallow depth of field added--well---depth--to the image.
I appreciate all the suggestions that were made for 'improving' this image but in this case, I stand by my guns and respectively disagree. |
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08/09/2004 09:49:14 PM |
From the critique club:
Very nice composition because it starts center bottom, sweeps the left then coils to right and heads back and away to end at top right. This is a universal pattern associated with the serpent, the coil and certain bacteria.
The strenght of this picture is the unindentified article. My wild guess is that its texture appears to be metal. If it is metal I would guess it is the high tech barbed wire...yet I see a varying width which brings me back to first base. So the interesting shape and unknown item make this a very interesting study. It is a nice composition.
The shallow dof is the only major draw back. If we can easily identify the object, then the dof is not critical. If we can't, then the eyes want to examine every inch of the item and the viewers battle is quickly lost the moment they begin to study the image. It is more like a let down. Wow, what a shape? What is it? Let me see...uhmm focus is already gone past the middle coil on the right.
While the image is nice as is, this is an ideal subject which may be enhanced with a minor backlight, this would have added more mystery.
To conlude your idea was very nice, composition above average, but the execution of the quality, mainly the dof is the culprit. Always envision the shot in your minds eye and then do what ever is technically required. Normal shots and distant scenes differ greatly from the close up. A camera in auto mode, will never make this decision for you, so it is up to you to take care of this matter. The easiest way to do it is to make a test shot, check it in computer and then go back to finish.
dan |
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Comments Made During the Challenge  |
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08/08/2004 08:14:22 PM |
| Striking shape (clematis?) and well composed, but this really needed to be sharp with full DOF as the furthest part of the subject is as interesting as the nearest. |
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08/06/2004 02:42:18 AM |
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08/05/2004 04:26:04 PM |
| Black and white works well. Beautiful composition, one of my favorites of this challenge. |
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08/05/2004 02:28:59 PM |
| Nice picture. It kind of looks like my signature. |
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08/04/2004 08:05:51 PM |
| i wish i knew what this was exactly. my first thought was "what a beautiful branch" but this is the macro challenge, so i doubt it's a branch. it's a very nice composition, though. i wish the black had been a little darker to make it have a little more contrast. i still like it, though. |
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08/03/2004 10:33:14 PM |
| wow. This was a great subject. Great photo |
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08/02/2004 10:30:52 PM |
| Cool. I like the subject matter and the comp. Texture captured through the lens is great. Nice use of negative space. |
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08/02/2004 08:03:53 AM |
| Excellent composition, just looks a bit "unfinished' with the blurry upper right and a couple of extra things sticking out |
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| Photographer found comment helpful. |
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