A storm is brewingby
firefighter271Comment by docpjv:
GOOD DAY FROM YOUR DPCHALLENGE CRITIQUE CLUB!
Dear Ken,
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Thanks for allowing us to have a closer look at your photograph. It is a fact that on average people look and evaluate an image presented to them in 5 seconds. When we are given the opportunity to really look and interpret the image, that is when we appreciate people like you. And thanks to you, we hope to learn much together.
The process I deploy is first of all to look at your previous work and then look at the currents comments made. I want to have a 'feel' for the person who entrusted me with this responsibility. Only then do I spend time with the image for a critique.
The critique can be both Applied (To the image self) and Theoretical (Attempt to philosophy and theorise about the work). It is important for me to be able to describe, to interpret, to evaluate and even to theorize about it. If I can encourage discourse about your work I will be happy.
In the final analysis, I hope you can learn something from this, take something of it and improve both your skill and self confidence.
So, here goes for your image.
CRITIQUE
For me first of all is to say that you must not allow a low score to demotivate you. It happens to us all, especially me.
What I see is a very good idea for the challenge. Sure, there are a few suggestions to improve the image, but you must know it is NOT a bad image.
Your one comment pointed out 2 things; over saturation and negative space. I agree on both. The saturation is a little unnatural. The clouds, more about it later, is attempted as negative space and it just does not work in this case. The clouds are just too dynamic for this kind of crop I agree.
First I think a different crop would have had a better impact. The plain grey clouds on top is more distracting than contributing. BTW, you have a sensor dust spot in the right grey cloud and the grey just above and to the right of the horse. That is a little unforgiving, never submit something with sensor spots. Clean the sensor/clone out or do something but do not allow any of your images to be displayed like that.
Second, you have, apart from the top grey cloud line, very nice dynamic clouds. That is special and worth showing off. A little more contrast would help to improve it.
Finally, the person at the bottom and the horse is just not sharp enough.
Ken, do not give up, you will improve. Participate in as many challenges as you can for now. Look at as many images you can, ask yourself what is great about them and what not. That is how most of us learned to improve. DPC is a great family for learning. I am looking forward to see your next images.
Best luck,
Peter
