|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 1 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I am a PSA Education instructor and in that capacity I have had several students submit photos of this scene for my review. This is by far the best capture I've seen thus far. You should be proud. |
Apr 10th |
| 1 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
This is a power nature story that is well captured.I think you framed this well and used the proper settings. It must have been quite a rush to be that close and wind the wind at take off. |
Apr 10th |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 1
|
| 2 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
Very imaginative and interesting. It takes an ordinary sunrise and brings it to the next level. |
Apr 1st |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 2
|
| 4 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
You did a good job of getting the bird and shell in an optimum position and with a neutral background as well.
While the face and shell look appropriately sharp---I find the highlights on the wing to be distracting. Perhaps a polarizer would have solved that issue.
|
Apr 10th |
| 4 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
A very interesting and pleasant little scene. I like these sort of intimate, peaceful moments. I find that my eye is drawn to the foreground as most of the scene in shown in cool colors and there are these eye arresting reds and oranges at the bottom. May I suggest crop ping from the bottom and removing the first of the pathway rocks. This eliminates much of the reds, but still retains the tall reeds in the center and a bit of the color on the left edge. But by eliminating some of the reds I feel my eye flows upward through the image a bit better. |
Apr 1st |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 4
|
| 7 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
As a creative type image this truly has strong visual appeal. the white wave acts like a target zeroing the viewer's eye directly on the subject---the surfer. For sheer impact, it would be hard to beat. I might crop some from the left as all my eye wants to see it the and surfer. Nice shot(s) |
Apr 10th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 7
|
| 11 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
While there is a general rule about not cropping feet as you have done I'm going to argue that in this instance I don't mind. The question is what are you trying to show the viewer? Speaking as someone who had photographed many an elk while in Rocky (my favorite NP) I feel you are trying to show the excellent rack. The rack is so huge that if you show the entire length of the legs the rack in the image becomes smaller. Your post work is excellent and shows the rack to advantage. Thus I would opt for Jim's crop. I feel the rack is the subject not the elk, and thus the rack does not need room to move in the image. For me, neither the legs nor room to move into in front of the elk is not necessary. Just my opinion. |
Apr 10th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 11
|
| 14 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
This is a very effective Photojournalistic image. In such an image the story of more important than the composition. This is not to say that the composition can be bad, just that it does not have to be perfect. The cloning work you did (removing the bottle and footprints) is not necessary, they are part of the story. Xiao is correct, that you could improve the image with some better processing work. Still this is a good image. The story is excellent. |
Apr 10th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 14
|
| 16 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I love peak actions shots and this is certainly one. Your post treatments makes it very dramatic. |
Apr 2nd |
| 16 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
Nice job of handling the whites on this shot. You saved all the highlights. |
Apr 2nd |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 16
|
| 19 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I think you did a great job of capturing the owl. Sadly you missed the focus and the owl is soft. Still you have a very memorable moment. |
Apr 10th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 19
|
| 20 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I most creative thought---brought nicely to life. |
Apr 2nd |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 20
|
| 23 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I feel the sky is too grey for the bright light that is falling on the wall. (no pun intended)
It is an interesting image. You might try some Topaz AI sharpening. |
Apr 10th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 23
|
| 24 |
Apr 21 |
Reply |
You put in a great deal of effort---but it was certainly worth it. This looks great. |
Apr 19th |
| 24 |
Apr 21 |
Reply |
Sorry I didn't mention this before. The background of the image you submitted for the month does show a fair amount of noise The background of the Topaz processed image does look much better. |
Apr 3rd |
| 24 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
Hi Jim
I carefully compared the two images but will note that the new image is not as large as the original post.
Checking out your original unprocessed image (the one in the upper corner of your page) the areas under the wing is nearly a black hole. For your monthly image you opened those shadows and displayed a considerable amount of noise---that I previously commented on. The new image (the one you worked on Topaz) has slightly reduced that noise, but it as also seriously softened the image. Which sort of leaves you between a rock and a hard place.
I would suggest that the original eagle shot (the unprocessed image) is not a fair test because the blacks and really, really black and getting anything out of those black holes would be extremely difficult. I would try the Topaz out on something that is not so seriously underexposed in the first place. You are shooting at ISO 2000 (which will introduce noise) so you have that to deal with as well. You also do not mention if this was shot in RAW or jpeg. The RAW would give you a greater chance at some recovery.
Hope all that helps.
|
Apr 3rd |
| 24 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
Yes, what you did is allowed as per the current rules. It is still allowed to be entered in the Nature category. It is likely too noisy (just my opinion.) |
Apr 2nd |
2 comments - 2 replies for Group 24
|
| 29 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
The frame within a frame works quite well here. The subject really pops. I feel cropping the branch on the right and then centering the image would make it stronger.
Also the girl looks a bit fake be cause she has no shadows beneath her to blend her into the frame. |
Apr 10th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 29
|
| 32 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I will agree that this is a shot that has to be taken when visiting this site. But let me throw in a slightly different idea.
While this shot shows the sheer number of figures, the only way I know how wonderful these actually are is the seeing the detail. Thus may I suggest that after taking this shot (just about every visitor does) why not shoot a vertical that looks down the length of one row. By using depth of field settings the idea would be to get the first few tack sharp and then get the rest of the row not totally blurred but slowing fading away. Thus the image would show the awesome detail on the first several figures and then the immensity of the numbers in slow fading sharpness getting the best of both possibilities.
Just a thought... |
Apr 10th |
| 32 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I almost feel like a traveled back in time.
The sepia treatment worked well. |
Apr 2nd |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 32
|
| 33 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
This is a nice composition and displays a serene and beautiful scene. I see that it is a smart phone image and if you are not using Snapseed you might give it a try to allow for on the phone editing.
No matter what the gear used composition is still king. Removing distractions will greatly improve the image. I am suggesting two crops. First at the bottom of the image there is a white horizontal object. It serves no purpose and cropping it removes the distraction. In any image the eye is automatically drawn to what is light and bright. In this case the sky. My question is what do you want me to look at? the Sky or the land? If you want me to look at the sky---the current image is fine, if you want me to see the land, then crop off at least 1/3 of the sky. I've provided a quick cropped image as an example. |
Apr 10th |
 |
| 33 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
You put together an excellent composition of a very iconic location. Your courage paid off. The danger in photographing such a well known site is keeping it look realistic. I fell that you have over saturated the colors and this makes them look unnatural. Backing off the post work a bit might give you a much more powerful image. |
Apr 10th |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 33
|
| 36 |
Apr 21 |
Reply |
Maybe not a vertical crop but a more square crop instead? |
Apr 19th |
| 36 |
Apr 21 |
Reply |
This has a haunting beauty that carries me back to an earlier age. I can now almost see the monks on their way to prayer. The simple edition of the light imparts life to the stones. Nicely done. |
Apr 13th |
| 36 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I feel you have a wonderful location and the rocky coastline is certainly the star of the show. While negative space can be a positive thing, I think in this instance it just pulls me always from the coastline that is the best art of the image. Perhaps the light reflection in the water is what pulls me away.
I also wonder why the grasses and even the water seems a bit crunchy. Like maybe it is a bit too sharp. |
Apr 10th |
| 36 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
Thanks for the comment. I would have liked to see more of the Milky Way also, but the clouds rolled in and messed up my plans. I was there for about 4 hours and for most of the blue hours it was just clouds. The Milky Way in Florida is hard to shoot because of our humidity. We just don't get those crisp clear skies with billions of stars. Had to use the dehaze filter to bring out even this much of the MW. |
Apr 10th |
| 36 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I think the title is perfectly appropriate.
I love these types of moody scenes but I have never been able to figure out how you get the boat out in the middle of the lake. You can row it out but then how do you get back to shore? I suppose you could get help from a Leprechaun.
This image has a interesting foreground and a nicely placed framing tree on the left. Together with the low trees in the background it is as if they embrace the little boat. The use of analogous colors contributes to the "serenity" of the scene. You were also fortunate, and skilled enough to make use of the soft and moody light.
I am unable to check your camera settings since you stripped them from your image. You should include them with your write up. The trees and the foreground grasses appear to be a bit blurred but I cannot check the shutter speed I feel like a faster shutter may have solved the problem but I don't know.
|
Apr 6th |
| 36 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I know the feeling of forgetting a tripod but on such occasions I've use the top of the car and use a jacket, my trusty hat and all sorts of rocks and such to prop up the camera. My camera bag also has doubled as an emergency tripod. As for missing the Milky Way--I posted one this month, just for you. :-)
Having driven this very road many times I feel you have captured the "feel" of the Blue Ridge at dawn. I like the golden glow and as you said it almost looks like fall. You have a strong leading line that takes the eye into the frame. All the elements seem to be there yet to my eye it feel a bit odd.
First, I note that you said you cropped some of the bland sky but I would suggest that you crop the rest off as well. That ribbon of white at the top is, as you said not adding anything. In photography, along with Impact, Composition, and Light are the 9 Principles of Design. The first of these principles is Balance. The more I review this image the more I feel that it is balance that seems out of sorts The right side of the image just feels heavy and the image, to me, seems to lean in that direction. Even what is visible to the left of the road appears to be empty contributing to that "out of balance" feeling. Finally, one of my pet peeves is that Leading Lines have to lead to something. I realize that it is possible to have a road, as this road does, turn around a bend making the viewer wonder what is there, but in this image with the lack of balance I just feel that the vanishing road contributes to that lack of balance. |
Apr 6th |
| 36 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I really like the light and the way it produces a soft almost glow to the scene. I also think you did a great job with the diagonals in the composition. To me the bridge and the reflections are the stars of the show, but I feel the blank sky that nearly matches the tone of the bridge is not doing any favors to the scene. The sky is just too bright and draws interest away from the stars.
If there is even a little bit of color in the original that could be brought into play, that might make a big difference. |
Apr 4th |
| 36 |
Apr 21 |
Reply |
You see the same thing I did with the odd light. It looks strange, but still somehow seemed to work. |
Apr 4th |
| 36 |
Apr 21 |
Reply |
For me the image is just too darn tall. It feel awkward. But I rejected cropping from the top because that would either eliminate the shooting star or leave it crowded against the top of the frame. I could crop some from the bottom, and perhaps dim the light on the rocks.
I tried to get a lower camera angle and shoot upward so reduce the space between the tree and the MW but there was just too much water and the camera would have to get wet. |
Apr 4th |
| 36 |
Apr 21 |
Reply |
Thanks. I was frustrated trying to drag more detail out of that core. I'll try that dehaze idea. I used Lightroom and saw that I did use it a little bit but perhaps a more heavy handed push on that slider would help. |
Apr 4th |
| 36 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I do like the ruins quite a bit but I would prefer if something in the image was a bit brighter. It just feels like I'm still in the dark. Now that may be the feel you wanted and if so then what is here is fine. Since you are such a master at the dodge and burn effect I would suggest that the bring up the center row of columns to be more of an eye catcher. Or perhaps create a bit of a pathway to the columns---although I'm not sure that is the best choice. For me the image just seems to have an attention grabbing center piece. |
Apr 4th |
| 36 |
Apr 21 |
Reply |
Thanks Richard.
Thanks for the suggestion about the stars and their reflection in the water. I didn't remove them because I can't clone out something if the image is to be entered in a reality based competition. Still, it is a good idea. |
Apr 3rd |
| 36 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
OK, just take the prize for this stunning image!!
One of the most impressive attributes of the image is the separation you achieved between the reflection and the grasses in the foreground. Had you allowed them to merge it would have greatly reduced the quality of the image. You have great light, and adequate sharpness throughout but especially in the foreground which really comes alive. Using the 16mm lens really added to the connection between the viewer and the foreground. While the mountains are most interesting, I'm mesmerized by the foreground.
If I had to make a suggestion it would be to tone down the sky just a bit. It is the brightest part of the frame and is certainly not what you want the viewer to look at. |
Apr 3rd |
7 comments - 6 replies for Group 36
|
| 45 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
A marvelous capture of a very interesting piece of art. i do like the nighttime shot with the black background. I wonder if bringing down the highlights and slightly underexposing the image would reduce the impact of the bright light on the upper whale. I just find that bright white area a bit distracting |
Apr 1st |
| 45 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
For certain Wakodahatchee is being taken over by these militant birds. You have created an interesting shot of them defending their turf.
Personally I would prefer greater depth of field as too many are blurred. |
Apr 1st |
2 comments - 0 replies for Group 45
|
| 47 |
Apr 21 |
Reply |
See, I told you this was an impactful image! nice work. |
Apr 2nd |
0 comments - 1 reply for Group 47
|
| 67 |
Apr 21 |
Reply |
OK---I'm ready and waiting for next month's treat. In you case, images are due on the 1st of the month. :-) |
Apr 18th |
| 67 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
Forgot to mention---good editing work on the eye. |
Apr 12th |
| 67 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
This is a fine Nature image with a simple but powerful nature story. The "angry" glare on the hawk's face adds immense power to the image. The diagonal line of the branch
adds action and power to the scene as does the downward angle of the hawk make it seem to both dominate and hover over the kill. The little bit of red meat helps to arrest the eye of the viewer. Your background is perfect---enough said.
The image is solid as it is but I might offer two minor suggestions. You might consider doing a bit of selective sharpening of the bird's feathers. Your your aperture has kept the focus on the face (where it should be) so a little sharpening can't hurt. More importantly I suggest you use a brush and darken the highlights on the branch. They are a bit bright and take some attention away from the bird. You actually might solve both suggestions by just slightly lowering the overall exposure.
I love raptors, and I love this shot.
|
Apr 12th |
| 67 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
When shooting birds of prey such as GHO you really have to take what Mother Nature gives you. In this case I feel the fern leaves are a much better foreground that a bunch of sticks so the setting worked our in your favor Because of your camera setting you managed to get quite nice neutral background. Your "stars of the show" seem to have popped up at an opportune moment and you have a fine capture. The subjects are quite nicely separated from the background and you have all four eyes sharp and visible. The diagonal line of the ferns that rises to the right adds a bit of drama to the image. I appreciate the fact that you did not over saturate the colors leaving the image with a cloudy day sort of feeling.
If, and i say if, you were to do anything to the image I might suggest that you slightly darken some of the bright areas in the background. A purest will find them distracting.
Very well done. |
Apr 12th |
| 67 |
Apr 21 |
Reply |
Michael
In answer to your question I posed the original. Other than some cropping and the sinking of a ship on the right horizon there were few adjustments. I increased exposure. Then using a tightly spaced gradient filter, increased the whites to make the stars pop. Added a bit of dehaze to open the clouds. added a tiny bit of saturation to bring out the colors of the Milky Way and then +2 vibrance. I repeated the tight gradient filter on the bottom and added a bit of yellow to the already yellowish coral, and adjusted shadows and reduced highlights caused my my flash light. Finally I took the adjustment brush, and added some exposure to the tree by tracing the branches. Then I used the brush to add an handpainted vignette at the bottom, and did assorted dodging to the clouds and foreground rocks. Nothing heavy handed just some light strokes. |
Apr 10th |
| 67 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
Fall River Road is one of the best drives in the park. You have to travel slow enough that you get to enjoy the entire drive. Although there is that really sharp hairpin turn. . .
I like the way you managed to pin the pair against the light out of focus rocky background. It really makes them pop out while maintaining a strong feeling of environment. Sometimes it is the little things that make an image sing and I feel this is one of those times.
The full frame camera and the limited cropping show off the detail of the plummage to great advantage. |
Apr 4th |
| 67 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I like this composition with the matching verticals and while I'm not a fan of replacing Mother Nature I do like the darker sky.
The large stone spire looks like you applied a great deal of noise reduction or something to give it that smooth look. Perhaps instead try come clarity or texture to keep the rocky feeling. Rocks can generally take a lot of adjusts since they are rough to state with. |
Apr 4th |
| 67 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I've been trying to count the points- but can't decide if that is a 12 or a 14 point bull. That one on the left looks broken and I can't find a match on the right. Do you happen to know?
I agree with the I was here kind of shot, but it does make for a nice environmental capture. The white vertical points help to greatly draw the eye and then you also got the eye to come out sharp. that makes the difference. while you didn't get background separation with the lens--you did make it work with the composition The elks bright coat do certainly make him pop. |
Apr 4th |
| 67 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
Any time you can capture a snowy owl is a time to celebrate. You did well to grab this when things were happening so fast.
As long as replaced the sky did you think about applying something like Topaz AI top sharpen the image? Everything just looks a bit soft.
One thing you might think about when replacing skies is the angle of light. The raised wing of the owl looks like it is catching some backlight but the replaced sky doesn't have enough light to match. Maybe brightening the sky will help match the light. |
Apr 4th |
7 comments - 2 replies for Group 67
|
| 70 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
A very pleasing capture of the lovely building. I especially like the time of day and the sky that you used.
Since you have already cropped this quite heavily may I suggest that you just continue and crop ALL of the building on the left and also the post on the right edge. Doing so would just clean up the composition and remove a few distractions making a cleaner and stronger image. |
Apr 1st |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 70
|
| 88 |
Apr 21 |
Reply |
Thanks for the reply. |
Apr 12th |
| 88 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
I enjoyed reading this discussion. I prefer the square crop as it brings more focus to the "V". My questions, just because I don't understand, why not crop from the top, maybe to the horizontal dark shadow? Wouldn't that also strengthen the "V"? |
Apr 10th |
1 comment - 1 reply for Group 88
|
| 93 |
Apr 21 |
Comment |
Beautiful. One of the better shots I've seen of this location. The light and the camera angle really paid off. |
Apr 1st |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 93
|
39 comments - 12 replies Total
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