Night Sky Reflections
by MacDonald

Comment by MacDonald:
Thank you very much for your wonderfully indepth critique of my photo.. yes, I did wish I had given it a different title... but the rotation was one I was and still am, pleased with... the decision to remove the detail in the sand was also one I gave a lot of thought to but in the end it created the feeling I wanted... I fully appreciate how confusing it was to many and probably some of my future entries will be as well..... grin.. but that's why I love photography so much, it supports the creative bent in all of us... after viewing your portfolio, I am impressed with your work .. I see that you have a very busy life so taking such care/time as you did in making comments/suggestions on my photo is something I am very thankful for. regards, mac

Night Sky Reflections
by MacDonald

Comment by strangeghost:
Greetings from the Critique Club
by strangeghost

The first three parts of this critique are written based purely on examination of your photo. I don't read your photographer's comments, or your voter comments, until I've finished the first three sections. "Final thoughts" is written with your score, comments, and voter reaction in mind.

TECHNIQUE
I find this a very difficult photo to critique. I studied it for a full minute or two and still couldn't tell exactly what I was looking at, even after reading your description. It wasn't until I copied it to a picture viewer and rotated it 180 deg that I had my "ah ha" moment. I could tell, of course, that those were clouds but couldn't interpret the reflected creek part that was at the top. Technical issues? Well, much of the photo is completely dark, and the illuminated parts have significant overexposure. That's a lot of dramatic contrast in an image that is otherwise difficult to decipher. It makes for a bit of an abstract, which I'm guessing the average voter, like me, was left a bit stymied.

COMPOSITION
Now having had some time to really look at this photo, I can't understand why you rotated it. The instant recognition that it conveys unrotated - it's clearly a small channel of very calm water reflecting a dramatic sky - becomes confusing and unclear upside down. Given that you named your photo "night sky reflections" it seems you might have shot yourself in the foot by rotating it. Maybe others didn't have the difficulty I did recognizing the scene, but I was quite thrown off by it. If your purpose was abstract, than you probably would have chosen a different title, no?

EMOTIONAL IMPACT
As you've probably guessed, my primary response to this photo was more one of confusion than emotion. I had the benefit of studying it for a critique; I wonder if the typical voter gave it enough time to really "see" it. In a challenge of 600 plus, I'd think not.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Let me say first of all that I hugely appreciate the fact that you left a photographer's comment initially, and then came back and left a more detailed "post-mortem" comment after the challenge. Reading your comments now - as well as the voters comments - helps me to understand your motivation. Your original, unrotated and unprocessed image contains significant detail in the sand that was lost in the final edit. In your post-processing (curves??) I would have tried to preserve some of that detail. Clearly your commenters liked the image more if they appreciated its abstract nature, and less if they were confused by the orientation or context. Your final score of 5.4 doubtless reflects that confusion in their minds. I agree with those who thought it would have scored better unrotated. Still, I admire your experimentalism. Keep shooting, this was an interesting photo and I enjoyed studying it for this critique!!

Bee - up front
by MacDonald

Comment by macrothing:

Originally posted by MacClavey: I re-cropped the shot at your suggestion (see the new posting)- tell me what you think if you revisit ...

Left a comment on that one. Hope you didn't misunderstand me - I do like this shot, especially the detail. It was just the grain detracted slightly, 'in my opinion' - but as you said, it is about 'preferences' etc ---> correct. edit:removed temporary note

Message edited by author 2006-03-04 17:58:44.

night-sea
by MacDonald

Comment by macrothing:
I actually like this more than your entry. But as you yourself said, it is all about personal preferences/tastes. This one looks like it has been nudge rotated (compared to the original) up on the right (?), but still looks like it needs a whisker more - but that's really 'nit-picking'. Perhaps this with a little more height for added impact too, not sure. Hypothetically, if interested, I'd have likely given this a '6' as well, possibly '7'.

Night Sky Reflections
by MacDonald

Comment by macrothing:
I gave this a 6. In retrospect, not sure what I was thinking about the 'ground' (but perhaps realized at the time it was flipped - don't remember), but I recall deciphering what I thought was some type of fence railing .. or such - and this taken through that railing. Obviously way off after seeing your comments, etc. Brave first entry (re the flip and abstract etc). Certainly wasn't one of the 'few' I had picked as yours as I was voting. At any rate I liked the perspective, lines, 'texture' and most importantly, the way the toning enhanced the image - hence my score. Good result for your first Challenge, as expected.

night-sea
by MacDonald

Comment by skewsme:
Aw shucks, I dare say this one would have done better for you with dpc voters. Pah, keep following your gut ;-)

Night Sky Reflections
by MacDonald

Comment by MacDonald:
Thanks so much to the people who left comments. and to those who voted..... Yes, I know I could have left it 'right' side up but.... when I was a wee child, I always wanted to walk in the clouds where I thought the angels lived.. this photo gave me that feeling. So here I am, many years later, photographing my childhood dream.
here it is as I photographed it originally


Here it is before I rotated it

I would like to tell all the voters who said it made them feel dizzy or disorientated that I am so sorry....... I just have a deep love of abstracts.

Message edited by author 2006-03-01 00:37:48.

Night Sky Reflections
by MacDonald

Comment by kari1:
What a fantastic first challenge picture ... and what a really good score ... congratulations .. I think this is sharp and well composed.

Night Sky Reflections
by MacDonald

Comment by Rikki:
This image looks upside down. Almost like something you would take when you're lying down and looking up to the heavens. The cloud formations are nice and the touch of blue works but I'm feeling this will suffer from the voters due to it's orientation.

Night Sky Reflections
by MacDonald

Comment by persimon:
Very interesting composition. I think it might be better if it were flipped back around. I love the contrast.