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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 36 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Capturing a good image always starts with finding a strong subject. You hve to ask yourself what am I trying to take a picture of? The answer cannot be the whole scene or everything. It MUST be a single something. Then you decide how to make everything else enhance the subject you selected. It may take a lot of looking and thinking to figure it out -- that is called CREATING A COMPOSITION.. BUt that is how you get better images. |
Jun 20th |
| 36 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
I find this image to have a great deal of immediate visual impact and is technically sound. However after the initial viewing, the image feels like more becomes less. The man made structure in the foreground is interesting, but too chopped up an broken to retain my interest and the red object on the far left draws my eye toward the left edge. The light on the mountains and the foggy mist is alluring, gut there is not enough of it to enjoy. Finally, although the sky is mostly empty the star burst is the brightest thing in the image and thus commands my attention. There is a lot to look at but no where to rest. It just does not feel cohesive. I could be happy with the building being the subject if it just wasn't so broken in appearance. Personally, and just my opinion and I have been known to be quite wrong, I would crop do wn from the top and eliminate the starburst because I do not think it is adding anything of substance to the composition. Then I would decide what remaining element is most important and then redesign the composition to make that element I the most important element look its best so it holds the interest of the viewer. |
Jun 14th |
| 36 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Here you go. Resized just for you. |
Jun 6th |
 |
| 36 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Thanks Michael
You are right, I should have cropped some off the bottom. I kept the two trees on the left because, like you, having just the trees on the right felt too constrained. |
Jun 4th |
| 36 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
A nicely framed image. You should thank the park service for setting up those fence posts. I like how your posts have been kept low enough that thou have some clouds in the sky one on the left does not merge with the distant tree line. The separation makes the post stand out more. I also like that you have some clouds in the sky and thus avoid the potential horror of an all white, blank sky. Although it is clearly a gloomy day your colors are rich enough without being over saturated. The dirt path makes for a good leading line and there is even some hint of a trail leading through the golden meadow. All together a tranquil scene. I would not mind walking through that meadow but I do prefer the one further down the road that has the trees and graveyard in the center of the meadow. :-) |
Jun 4th |
| 36 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Such dedication! :-) |
Jun 3rd |
| 36 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
I am mesmerized by those flowing white curves in the flat water. They are simply beautiful. While my eye is drawn to the light and bright and thus the falls should be the big draw, the contrast between the the white and the black water is just too much to ignore. I find myself constantly coming back to that area. I think the shutter speed is about perfect due to the detail it maintains in the water. Overall the colors are rich, yet feel natural.
For me I just abhor large black holes. Therefore that large horizontal black area onthe right annoys me. Personally, I would prefer to see some hint of detail in that area. But i can see with the richness and depth of the colors throughout the scene why you left it there. Guess it is a maker's choice. |
Jun 3rd |
| 36 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
I didn't notice the "blue" until you mentioned it, but it doesn't bother me. My eye is busy elsewhere---read comment below. |
Jun 3rd |
| 36 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
The eye of the viewer is always drawn to the lightest and brightest part of an image. It is an automatic reflex over which we have no control.
First of all, your lens works just fine!
I find the image to be sharp, perhaps too sharp as it seems almost crunchy (the trees). I think the muted reds and the touch of green working as complimentary colors add some life to the scene. This type of image poses a real problem. The large rock forms demand that the be sky above them so they are not cut off but then you are forced to introduce the large area of blank white sky and that bright area just draws the eye away from the scene.
One thing to consider is the issue of shadow. Shadows are part of the real world and just because we have editing programs that can open those shadows does not mean that we have to do so. Since shadows are natural, scenes without them look fall and often flat.
I think I'd like to see these red rocks with green trees. I just thinkthecolors could be quite powerful. Maybe in summer?
For me I'd crop some of the foreground to bring more attention to the trees. You don't need a competing bright foreground to cause a distraction. |
Jun 3rd |
| 36 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
Sometimes a little slice conveys the story better than the entire scene. The crisp sharpness of the scene, at least for me, makes the scene feel more like sharp cutting cold. The imae looks even better when enlarged. The sharp contrast between the cool tone and interjection of the single warm toned tree gives the image a strong subject. I really like the framing and the fact that the "frame" is made of curved and diagonal lines. More important the exposure is just perfect. A simple but powerful image. |
Jun 3rd |
| 36 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
As long as you kept that large over hanging branch in the upper left corner---I'm good with it. :-) |
Jun 3rd |
| 36 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Thanks Grace
While this fog experience did not last particularly long I did capture quite a collection of different images and some of your suggestions are quite similar to some of mine. The fog was drifting and the scene constantly changing. These are magical moments and you have to react quickly. I don't think there is a wrong shot, just many different ones.
Thanks for all the effort you put in. I do like the third one and while I like the first one, I wanted a bit more green---just my personal bias. :-) |
Jun 3rd |
5 comments - 7 replies for Group 36
|
| 67 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Thanks Cindy
I tried it with the "big waders" but their wing speed is not nearly as fast. smaller bird flap faster but I'm not skilled enough to do this with a blue jay or cardinal. (I did think about it and give it a try. but getting close enough to fill the frame with the bird is tough. |
Jun 17th |
| 67 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Thanks Isaac. I may be old, but I can s till dream! Glad to know it worked for someone besides me. |
Jun 17th |
| 67 |
Jun 25 |
Reply |
Thanks Butch. As you know I try to follow PSA processing rules with my nature images. I agree your version of my image is "Pretty" and you got rid of the distractions (thanks) but if I do that, then I cannot enter it. You have been in the group for a few months now and you can see I try to practice what I preach for the Creating Images course.
Thanks for your comment and the extra work. |
Jun 7th |
| 67 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
Just for the record. When ever I look at a shot like this and see the high ISO settings, the increased aperture and a fast shutter I just marvel at how photography has advanced in the last few years. Not so long ago capturing I shot like this would have required the use of a Better Beamer and a flash. It is so much easier now. Just saying. . .
I really like the simplicity of this with the nearly clean background. The bright subject really stands out due to the contrast with the background. The rising diagonal of the branch along with the up lifted head position add a feeling of action to the scene, Really a lovely springtime joyous image. The bird even brought along a picnic lunch. |
Jun 6th |
| 67 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
You have a nice nesting shot with both birds. The exposure is accurate and the birds are quite sharp. I like that there is some detail in the background and the directional light on the wings adds some interest. I do wish there was some extra nest at the bottom just for visual balance. |
Jun 3rd |
| 67 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
This is where you would really need a competent Nature judge to understand what is shown. Yes this is considered interaction between species because each specie is dependent upon the other to survive. For a competition image you certainly should not mention the baiting, but these shots can be captured in nature. I like the diagonal of the crop just because of the line. Both the bat and the flower are in perfect focus. I'm amazed that you got that many shots in only 20 minutes. To put this over the top for competition having some detail in the background would be a huge plus. But even with the solid background this is a most compelling image. Clearly you know how to handle your gear. Mind if I ask what tripped the flash? |
Jun 3rd |
| 67 |
Jun 25 |
Comment |
As a nature photographer who spends hours not just photographing birds but studying and recording their behavior this brooding behavior is a shot you just have to have. This is a unique behavior and your image captures if perfectly. It is well worth the time you spent sitting, waiting and watching. I'm really glad you kept the reflection. You are right in that the morning yawn is a classic touch. The camera angle is perfect and of course the technical aspects are spot on as usual. |
Jun 3rd |
4 comments - 3 replies for Group 67
|
9 comments - 10 replies Total
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