|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 36 |
Aug 22 |
Comment |
Hi Barbara
So sorry I don't know what happened. I just noticed that my comment on your image was not posted. I always type my comments into a word document so I can save it and then cut and past it into comment box on our group page. Today when I was going back over al the group comments for the month I found mine was missing. So with many apologies my original comment is here by posted again. Sorry
We have so many of these wonderful piers in Florida that photos of them begin (at least for me) to be quite common place. However your has a number of things that make it feel fresh. One of the first things I noticed is the separation between the pier and the skyline. Throughout the length of the pier you have p laced it so that it rises above the horizon line making it stand separate. This seems to be done quite infrequently. Additionally, planning always makes an image better. Here you did a number of things that paid off, using your phone app to get clouds, waiting for the people to position themselves in front of the sun and the the birds and their arrival. All of these elements make this a much above average image. Over processing an image can often ruin it but you have not done this and the plain almost toneless sky makes the birds stand out quite well. |
Aug 28th |
| 36 |
Aug 22 |
Reply |
I'll work on the suggestion you and Barbara have offered. Naturally it can only be a slight nudge. |
Aug 17th |
| 36 |
Aug 22 |
Reply |
Hmmm. The gradient on the road is an interesting idea. That may work nicely. Thanks. |
Aug 17th |
| 36 |
Aug 22 |
Reply |
I would never remove the golden tones in the trees, that to me was the image. I could remove the ones in the road, but what about the grass areas? |
Aug 17th |
| 36 |
Aug 22 |
Reply |
I thought about removing them, but them I would have to remove them from the grass areas as well and thought that changed the scene too much. I couldn't, and still can't decide what to do with them. |
Aug 17th |
| 36 |
Aug 22 |
Comment |
At first glance there is a great big WOW reaction. That red building really grabs the eye. The second factor is to the somewhat stormy sky. Personally I just feel lighthouses, since they are nautical warnings, just need to have a stormy sky or a setting sun to set a scene for their use. This sky works. I agree with others that the boat on the right needs to be sunk so it does not distract. I like the separation of pier, water and sky as it shows on the right and wish that had continued on the left (the fence ruins that effect on the left)
I do not know why, but I feel as it the building is not straight (maybe an optical illusion?) I |
Aug 17th |
| 36 |
Aug 22 |
Comment |
I like the overall concept of this image and find it to be quite creative. I also like how using DOF makes the simple subject pop out with impact.
But after these plus points I'm going to disagree with everyone else. While the subject is simple and powerful I find the three distinct differing tones of the background creates a feeling of distraction. Personally, I would prefer a single type of background (my favorite being the green area, the of forbidding sky might work as well. I feel the black rock and the snow makes the flowers blend in and thus it is not as powerful. |
Aug 17th |
| 36 |
Aug 22 |
Comment |
Like Arne I was immediately taken by the lighting you added. You processing here was quite good and skillfully done. Since you have produced such a captivating image I have a bunch of suggestions. This has such a wonderful "old time" feeling that it might be worth some additional effort. I would remove the wires from the sky area.
Now the lighting---which is really wonderful and as noted makes the image come alive. However there are several apparent reality flaws. The light from the bulb should have a slight yellow orange caste and adjusting the temperature would be quite easy. Second, the light is coming from the top of the building and shining down. It would NOT strike the vertical part of the step of the boardwalk. So I would dim that section of the boardwalk. Finally the Coke sign is not being struck by the light, but it is still quite bright. If you added a gradient moving from the right to the left of the Coke sign and placed it on a slight angle (higher on the right and lower toward the left it would look more realistic. With these changes it would be a good image to submit in a creative competition. As it is a judge would spot the oddities in the light, but they could be easily fixed and the result would be very powerful. I like what you are trying to do and it is nearly perfect.
Glad to see you play ng around with the editing. You did a great job with the pool last month and this is a good effort as well. |
Aug 7th |
4 comments - 4 replies for Group 36
|
| 67 |
Aug 22 |
Comment |
It is seldom that a sky alone an carry an image. While there is some streaking in the clouds that create some potential leading lines I do not feel they lead to anything. The low mountains on the horizon do not have dramatic appeal and so sort of fade into nothing. The land and sea areas lack enough tonal separation to create a dramatic image. While I was able to match Ansel Adam's zone system scale to the image and found almost all the zones covered in the clouds the overall scene feels quite flat and lacking in varied tones and contrast. The image really needs a strong subject. |
Aug 23rd |
| 67 |
Aug 22 |
Reply |
As a PSA judge I really agree with you. When I judge competitions there are so many (actually 100's) that are in violation of the rules. It is a real shame to hve folks spend the money to enter and then just end of being DQed. The three most misunderstood categories are the reality categories: Nature, Photojournalism, and Travel.
The PSA website has the rules for all three posted. |
Aug 17th |
| 67 |
Aug 22 |
Comment |
Cute and cuddly is always a winner These fluffy cubs have it all going for them. The best part is the eyes. The differing looks in the eyes of the two cubs tell a wonderful story and that makes the image work. I also think the soft colors of the cubs and the grass adds to the scene, They are not pastel but have the gentle feel.
My suggestion is, if possible that you add just a bit of space to the left side the cub is not quite so close of the edge of the frame. |
Aug 7th |
| 67 |
Aug 22 |
Comment |
Be grateful!!! I've got a nearby eagle nest like this (same darn tree) by my adults always sit with a branch blocking them!!
Even with the crop this is a solid image and you kept the birds looking sharp and the highlights are well handled--a hard task with this specie. I will offer two suggestions. First I would add a bit of space to the left side of the image. The birds are looking to the left but the space on both the right and the left are about equal. Let the birds have a little room to move into. (you have plenty on the original). The second suggestion is to lighten the breast of the eagle on the left. I mention this because the upper bird has more light on the left side (you can see the white edges of the feathers) and the lower bird is a bit darker. Can you sort of match them? |
Aug 7th |
| 67 |
Aug 22 |
Comment |
In many ways I like this better than last month's entry. The antics of the leaper make this unique. The leading and framing line of the herd set this off quite well. I also like the manner in which the leaper seem to be emerging from the cloud of dust. I have never seen a shot like this and it adds to the originality of the image, something I always look for. My only suggestions, wish, is that the leaper was sharper. You might try running this through Topaz Sharpen. It might take some playing around as you do not want to sharpen the dust. All in all, a nice capture. |
Aug 7th |
| 67 |
Aug 22 |
Comment |
This is quite lovely. It is far from the usual hummer photos usually posted. This carries a moody, dream-like secret feel that makes it quite original. That original concept is what makes this something special. In this case the blurred flower in the lower right,far from being a distraction add to the mood. The vertical line of the flower from which the bird is feeding works to connect the viewer. As has been noted, if you could flawlessly remove that branch point to the bird's head this would be incredible. Minus that branch, as a judge I would vote to move this to an award round.
Really excellent work. |
Aug 7th |
5 comments - 1 reply for Group 67
|
9 comments - 5 replies Total
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