Photo critique thread?

[timberghost72]

I've seen these type of threads on other sites so I thought I'd see if there is any interest here. The idea I was thinking is if you have a photo and are not sure about its composition, exposure, DOF, sharpness or post processing outcome you can post it up here and get some advice or feedback on it. One reason I was thinking this is sometimes I am not sure if my post processing is making the photo worse or better. Or how to improve on it. I am not a big fan of post processing only because I'd rather not sit at my computer for hours doing this. My eyes just get fuzzy  so my skills there are not great. So you can post one photo or post a before and after photo. What do you all think? I know there are some great photographers here and getting their ideas along with everyone else's would be beneficial. I'll post up first if there is some interest.

Tony

[Bean Counter]

Tony,

Sign me up. How about a rule? No loose praise or criticism without specific comments. "Great photo" will stroke my ego, but "I like contrast in the foreground" is useful feedback. The biggest fault of threads like these is people begin afraid to hurt someones feelings or everyone wanting to jump in on the backslapping bandwagon.

I also don't think we necessarily need to make a single discussion thread. You can just post a photo and put "C&C" in the subject line, soliciting comments and critique.

[timberghost72]

Tony,

Sign me up. How about a rule? No loose praise or criticism without specific comments. "Great photo" will stroke my ego, but "I like contrast in the foreground" is useful feedback. The biggest fault of threads like these is people begin afraid to hurt someones feelings or everyone wanting to jump in on the backslapping bandwagon.

I also don't think we necessarily need to make a single discussion thread. You can just post a photo and put "C&C" in the subject line, soliciting comments and critique.

Ego stroking is always nice  One other idea is the poster of a photo can ask about a specific element also instead of open feedback if they wanted. Being respectful and tactful will go a long ways to keep from hurting anyone's feelings and to also encourage people to continue as opposed to not posting something up because of negative feedback (different from positive constructive feedback). Either way whether there is a specific thread or a single post works. I was just thinking a thread might make it more fun to keep it organized so people can read through all the ideas put out there. Also the critique could also be positive feedback on the photo with respect to something specific that is done well. Idk, just some thoughts. I can post something up when I get home.

[timberghost72]

Ok I'll throw this one up. I like this photo scenery wise but the time of day made it tough to get a good exposure so I played around with. I use Lightroom 4. Before and after.

[Tree Killer]

timberghost... I think much less foreground would have made a better composition.  Maybe crop some of the foreground up to the dark bush and some off the left side of the frame.  Those clouds would be much more interesting then the dirt and scrub in the foreground.       Did you use a polarizer for this shot? 

[timberghost72]

Yeah, I think that would make the picture much better with the forground cropped out. Unfortunately I didn't have any filters when I went to Utah. I have since bought a circular polarizer but no other filters in the bag. I really should buy some since I like landscape photography. Thanks for the feedback 

[Bean Counter]

PP: I mostly agree with your choices of colors and contrast

Composition: I would have liked to see something in the frame for foreground interest. Maybe a rock or plant or something.

Good start.

[timberghost72]

I agree. Something in the foreground would be ideal.  Thanks

[wapiti hunter2]

Three things. Two of them are easy. One: your horizon line appears tilted a couple of degrees to the right. The second I saw the shot, my head tilted. Two: Utilize the rule of thirds when you compose the shot. I agree with the other comments, the foreground is not the interest. It is the cliffs and clouds are. Put the cliffs on the lower third line. two thirds clouds. Three: Polarizers help emphasize the clouds and make the sky bluer. But really, they are a crutch. In landscape photography, time of day is critical. Hour after sunrise and it is over till evening. But, again, sometimes you can't really control that.

This is a great photo to critique. I like your idea for this thread.

[Bean Counter]

Alright guys, lets have it...

[timberghost72]

BC, cool photo. The moon with the sunlit peak is neat.  Was this taken at high ISO? I'd maybe try and use a bit of noise reduction with adding some black and a little saturation on it. Definitely a keeper 

[wapiti hunter2]

I like this shot. It is hard to capture the pastels of the low light and not overexpose the moon. Because of the pastels, I don't even mind that it is not sharp. Excellent composition too. So my question is. Was this an actual moment in nature or did you need to phptoshop it?

[runamuk]

I am curious if an artist might be allowed to critique?  while I am not a photographer I am pretty educated in art, emphasis in sculpture and photography and visual arts education.  I was taught to critique.  However my own predilection is not even close to what many of the photographers might choose.

Timberghost your first image has a wonderful leading trail on the right if I were to compose the shot I would first use the lightroom straightening feature to set the horizon line correct this is one image where I think it would benefit from that.  Then using that line that draws the eye back to the two rocky outcrops as the focal point of the first third and crop from the left there is an awful lot of extra rock that is unneeded.  The foreground will actually look less excessive once some of that rock and less dynamic sky has been removed. Then crop foreground based on what you feel looks most like how you remember or want people to see the landscape.  The contrast looks better in the second and the color is also more saturated however I think you could possibly tweak some of the areas independently simply warming and cooling a little.  Cool down the sky and foreground and warm up the rocks. Play with it and have fun some of my best work happened when I was willing to totally trash something and screwup in a big way.
Find your eye as well, if lanbdscapes intrigue you I suggest you read about how Ansel Adams created his landscapes nothing he ever shot actually looks how he presented it and its a great thing to learn that he manufactured the landscapes he is so famous for.  Man for the first time ever i wish I was in a live room critiquing in person typing it out is a pain.

I also wont hurt someones feelings I will always try to frame a critique in a positive manner. if someone is hesitant because they dont like being ripped apart I offered before I will privately critique things this is actually what i have been trained to do and oddly I like it, looking at art makes me extremely happy.

[wapiti hunter2]

I think those of us who are going to participate should show some work too. Here is one of my favorite shots.

[JohnVH]

I like these threads, a little critique never hurts.  Biggest thing I see with pictures is they are not sharp with no DOF, and if its an action shot, the shutter is so fast it stops its motion, like airplanes for example, or cars, if they are moving, the back ground should be blurrier than the subject.

looking through my pic gallery, man its been too long since Ive been out shooting...