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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> Critical Eyes Wanted - thoughts for a competition
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Showing posts 1 - 13 of 13, (reverse)
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 01/23/2005 05:30:23 PM · #1
Can't let Judy have all the fun. Due to technical difficulties I only took about 15 shots (though I took another twenty of the ground trying to get the flash to function consistently!) but I thought I might enter a couple in our local competition. Not of the sidewalk.

Be critical, please. Thanks.







Message edited by author 2005-01-25 15:42:22.
 01/24/2005 05:41:06 PM · #2
Okay...my eyes must be going. I don't see a difference between the two. Maybe if I could see them side by side I could. I think this is really good. The only problem might be due to the close crop, matting it might loose a bit of the shot. Other than that, I see nothing wrong here. Good focus, composition and nothing seems blown out.

It's really too bad your flash doesn't like the cold!

Edit: Okay, I see the foreground difference. I think I like the lighter version a little better. It's not TOO light, and it seems to set off the piano legs more and it's truer to the reality of what was there I think.

Message edited by author 2005-01-24 17:43:20.
 01/24/2005 05:49:34 PM · #3
I think that the top one works best. On the lower one the ice is so bright from partial overexposion that it distracts from the piano. I'd think something in the middle of these two would be the best.
No dodging and burning allowed? Else I would burn on the bright one and enter that.
 01/24/2005 09:50:32 PM · #4
Thanks both for jumping in.

I can probably zoom out a bit on the crop, and let the mat cover the distractions. Burning is allowed, so I think I will try for a middle ground on the foreground (pun unintended).

Thanks for the insight. I was kind of stuck there.
 01/24/2005 10:02:31 PM · #5
Don't mean to be a left handed virgo here but have you tried doing a straighten on the piano body (top edge) instead of the piano lid. Both very nice shots but for some reason the only square (with borders) point is that small piece of the lid that keeps poking me in the eye. Curious as to see what it would look like with the piano body aligned vertical.

Sorry you said to be picky and this is for comp.

Andy
 01/25/2005 01:09:09 AM · #6
Originally posted by awpollard:
Don't mean to be a left handed virgo here but have you tried doing a straighten on the piano body (top edge) instead of the piano lid. Both very nice shots but for some reason the only square (with borders) point is that small piece of the lid that keeps poking me in the eye. Curious as to see what it would look like with the piano body aligned vertical.

Sorry you said to be picky and this is for comp.

Andy
I was thinknig the same thing. The top one works better, but the tilt is killing my neck.

David
 01/25/2005 05:44:14 AM · #7
Andy and David

Thanks for jumping in. Please don't be sorry; I come from an enviroment where constructively raking something over the coals is normal :). It's how we learn.

I'm at work now, but when I get home I'll try the realignment and post it.
 01/25/2005 05:57:42 AM · #8
Well, if you can reshoot this shot, I'd concider another composition for it. This current composition/crop doesn't give any sense of location or scale. Perhaps a portrait mode shot showing more of the night time sky, or more of the ground in front. Or a landscape shot with more off to the left or right giving it a sense of depth and scale. On the flip side, you could go in tight and just photography parts or areas of this scuplture so that it's more abstract that represenative. Currently the title of the shot, and the tight crop shot a good shot of an object, but for a competition it's more of a documentary shot of an object then it is unique view that will like help in the judging.

Just my thoughts,
-danny
 01/25/2005 08:35:13 AM · #9
Get lower, you need a little more background seperation. And bring your focus back a little, its not sharp at the closest point.

Tim
 01/25/2005 03:55:40 PM · #10
danny

I agree with your analysis. Unfortunately, there were colored lights, cords and wires all around the pieces. It was postioned on the edge a wall, so a portrait shot would have included too many problems, also. With the warm weather today, a reshoot isn't possible. The finer details have melted. If I enter it, it won't be with any great expectations. I learned of the competition after I was out taking casual shots. *sigh*

Tim

Same comment, that a reshoot is not possible. The portion that looks out of focus is an aberration of the reflected colored light. This had red, green and yellow spots surrounding it. I was already kneeling in a semi-frozen puddle of water *grin*. I could probably fake the background separation in PS, but I suspect they don't want too much digital fudging, and they asked us to document everything we did.

All

I posted a third rendition above, addressing the foreground complaints, but found it was not possible to rotate or zoom out on the image further, due to the spotlights.

Again, I appreciate everyone's time.
 01/25/2005 06:13:54 PM · #11
I'm afraid this shot doesn't do it for me. I think my problem is with the ground under the piano - it's a translucent subject, and the ground underneath makes it feel cluttered and confused for me. Also, the crop seems very tight.

Sometimes the conditions just aren't there to get the shot you want - c'est la vie!
 01/25/2005 08:06:11 PM · #12
Sometimes the conditions just aren't there to get the shot you want - c'est la vie!

Ain't it the truth!
 01/26/2005 12:56:12 AM · #13
I have cloned out lights and cords and signs from some of mine. Thank goodness snow is easy to clone :) The main one I'm going to enter, I took out the background entirely - we'll see how that goes over.

It doesn't cost anything to enter (other than your print and materials), so I'd say go for it. Of course (as was discussed in my other thread) there's really no telling what these judges are looking for based on past "winners" (I use the term loosely).

I do like the third edit. It seems to be a good compromise.
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