|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 2 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
Since I am familiar with the location I believe you did a good job of chosing a foreground that has some interest. I am curious as to whether or not you were able to capture an image before darkness fell. If so, merging it with the one of the darker night sky would allow more detail in the foreground which would add additional interest. If that was not done, I think Mohanan's edit is a good suggestion. The Milky Way stands out and you have done the best that can be expected with the ambient light. Personally, I would not mess with that cloud on the bottom right as I think it could be quite a messy process. Of all the images I have seen from this camera club event you images is the best. |
Aug 5th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 2
|
| 13 |
Aug 19 |
Reply |
I think your edited version is a winner. Nice work. |
Aug 14th |
| 13 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
You have done a nice job of bringing out the detail in the foreground, but for me the "party" is in the upper portion of the image. My suggestion would be to crop away about half of the foreground sand. The sky was not helping you here, in my opinion, but it might be possible to pull more drama out in that area. I think I would consider adding a graduated ND effect in Lightroom or the one in NIK Color Efex Pro and using some control points or brushing in some clarity, as long as it does not add too much graniness in the sky. I am envious of your ability to travel and capture images of places like this. |
Aug 5th |
1 comment - 1 reply for Group 13
|
| 35 |
Aug 19 |
Reply |
Stuart, I definitely understand what all of you are saying about the "business" of the image. What concerns me it that it is a location that is overwhelmed by foliage and ancient trees. The canopy is low as is the light. I think the suggestions about cropping probably make a more artistic image, but do not capture a "sense of place" i.e., what it is actually like to be there. I think that is especially difficult to understand for viewers who are not familiar with the Mississippi Delta region and its swamps and bayous. My hunch is that this or similar color images of this area will have only local appeal. I do appreciate all the feedback though. |
Aug 15th |
| 35 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
In my opinion this is a very nice, simple image. I love the way the lines radiate out from the tree. Your post processing is masterful as always. I wish Iived closer to you so you could teach me.
I can see this image as a large monochomre print. I recently purchased Hahnemuehle Photo Rag 308gsm. I'll be this would really pop on that paper. |
Aug 14th |
| 35 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
As always with your images, the first thing I notice is your excellent use of color. I too have looked at the CLir but haven't taken the leap as yet. Maybe this fall. I wish some of the sheep were more in the foreground...for me it would add to the story, almost a metaphor for "Lamb of God." But we work with what we get. As it is, I think I would remove a few of the sheep that are very close to the edge of the frame on the left. Otherwise, I think this is as lovely as all the other work or yours that I have seen. |
Aug 14th |
| 35 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
I think the backlighting is very nice and the textures are visually appealing. The dark shadows on the left and bottom are for me a barrier to enjoying the rest of the elements you have incorporated. When I come across a subject as good as this one I consider pinching off the parts that complicate the image (I actually carry a little pair of scissors in my backpack). Of course in a formal garden that can get one into trouble if observed! |
Aug 14th |
| 35 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
The minute I saw this I thought how it would be a for sure winner in the Travel Division. I think the tonal range is very good and you have an interesting story here. The only suggestion I would make is to crop on the left eliminating about half of the space from the edge of the frame to the door. This would get you main subject out of the middle and have him looking into the scene. Good luck with this. If you submit it anywhere let us know how it does. |
Aug 14th |
| 35 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
You have a personal style that I admire. Your images are always simple with good lines. For this image, I am wondering about the way the buiding is sitting on the horizon line...I hope I am making myself clear...but what it is for me is the feeling that everything drops off into space behind it. This is not necessarily a criticism. I ask it because I have an image of a lighthouse that has this same look and I have never done anything with it because it seems sort of unrealistic to me. Of course, there is no reason why our art has to be entirely realistic, but still it gives me an uncomfortable feeling. So, have you ever had this image or a similar one in an exhibition, and if, so, what kind of reaction have you gotten from judges?
Lastly, I agree with the others. The jet contrails should be removed in my opinon. |
Aug 14th |
| 35 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
I think the overall tonal range in this image is good; however, the brightest part is the hillside behind the buildings and my eye wants to go there immediately and stay there too long. I think this could be addressed by brightening the main barn, as in my opinion, it is the real center of interest. I also think that a small crop on the left - up to where the tree begins - would give the image a more balanced feel |
Aug 14th |
| 35 |
Aug 19 |
Reply |
You are right about it being busy. We did take a boat out on the lake also, but I was shooting color images on that trip. I had 2 cameras with different lenses & didn't think I could handle IR at the same time.
|
Aug 14th |
| 35 |
Aug 19 |
Reply |
Thanks, Helen. You just quoted one of my favorite lines, "...what to leave in and what to take out..." the photograper's eternal issue. I will try your crop. I hope I get another chance at this location before too long. It is a challenge to photograph. |
Aug 10th |
| 35 |
Aug 19 |
Reply |
Thanks for your comment April. It sounds like I am not the only photographer who finds Caddo Lake enchanting. I had not thought about giving it a fall look, but I will certainly give it it try. You have me wondering what it would look like if I used the Autumn preset in Color Efex Pro. |
Aug 8th |
6 comments - 4 replies for Group 35
|
| 40 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
Andrew, I think this image presents a strong nature story. It appears that the mother is enjoying a meal and also feeding her child, much the way a human mother would so it is easy to make an emotional connection. The detail in the fur of both mother an baby are sharp and I see no signs of excessive noise although you stated that the ISO setting was high. From a compositional standpoint, I like the triangular shape of the subjects. but the two tree trunks are elements that are somewhat problematic for me.
I think that what you do with this image from here on depends on your intended use of it. As a nature image I think it is pretty strong, although I agree with Alison about darkiening those tree trunks. I would also try to add some light in the eyes of the adult. The appear to be sharp but shadowed.
If you are not worried about the rules in the Nature Division, I would clone the tree trunks out. Also, in my opinion, the image might be enhanced by darkening the entire background. I think it is very busy and takes attention away from your center of interest. My thinking is that you want to work to get the orangutans to pop out from that grass. |
Aug 19th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 40
|
| 48 |
Aug 19 |
Reply |
It is the rectangle - 4th one from left at the top of the LR Develop Module. Click on it and you will get a plus sign with 3 horizontal lines that you can manipulate over the sky in your image. You can completley rotate the lines or put them at an angle. This allows you to make local adjustments rather than global ones that would affect your whole image. Let me know if you want me to show you how. I am available until Labor Day then gone for a month. |
Aug 26th |
| 48 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
Red barn, blue sky and green landscape are always elements I find visually pleasing. The dominant lines in this image are horizontal which I always think create a pastoral feeling - one that is also suggested by your title. The detail in the sky adds interest for me, it looks like you have captured good depth of field. My only suggestion would be to crop some off the left as there is not much going on there - perhaps crop up to the metal gate. In my opinon that would bring more focus to your center of interest - the barn. |
Aug 6th |
1 comment - 1 reply for Group 48
|
| 52 |
Aug 19 |
Reply |
Thanks, Carol. I think we all have our favorite color palettes. Making this image cooler would not be true to what the environment was. It is high desert and it was a hot summer morning. I will, however, see what I can do about getting more separation from the background though. Your feedback is appreciated. |
Aug 13th |
| 52 |
Aug 19 |
Reply |
Does your camera allow custom settings? If so, set one of them for these kinds of shots. Then you can just flip over to the custom setting when the need arises and the ISO and shutter speed will be pretty close - you can tweak it from there. |
Aug 13th |
| 52 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
I love the action in this shot. It looks like two of the birds are having a conversation while the rest of the family arrives for a get-together. Like maybe, "I hope we got enough beer." I also find the simplicity and the completley distraction free background visually appealing. In my opinion, the detail extracter preset is too intense for this image. When I look at the original, I think I see why you used it, but for me it does not look as natural as your images usually look. Again, that is just a personal preference. Others may see it differently. |
Aug 13th |
| 52 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
Yep...they are a challenge, one I am always trying for as well. I have captured a few, along with many empty frames! To me, it looks as though there is almost nothing in this image that is sharp. I looked closely at your original and see that the sharpest part of the image is the left side, where - of course - nothing is going on. I find that it is often difficult to get the entire butterfly in focus, but it is really important that the head and eyes are sharp. A single focus point would also be my suggestion. It will be difficult to get it on the eye, but if you can get it on the head I think you will have an image that is much better. |
Aug 13th |
| 52 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
Ah, the passion flower - one of my photographic passions! Since I shoot them often I know the difficulty of getting all of the flower in sharp focus. In my opinon you have done well - especially since your description seems to indicate that you did it on the fly. I think the bee gets lost in all the detail - I didn't even notice it at first - which is a shame because he is so tack sharp. The image is very contrasty which makes me wonder if toning down the flower would make the bee more prominent. But that may not be the nature story you have in mind. |
Aug 13th |
| 52 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
This is a fun image, John. I wonder what this silly bird has to be screaming about - although you title does give me a clue. I agree that the crop at the bottom is a bit too close. I wish the tidbit in from of him was shown in the entirety. If you do not have more pixels there to change the crop you might want to consider removing it althogher - just a personal preference. |
Aug 13th |
| 52 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
In my opinion, this image has nice color and your crop has removed any distracting elements leaving me to focus on the butterfly. My eye goes right to the head of the butterfly then follows the line of the leading edge of the wing up to the top. I think the head is a tiny bit soft and the softness increases from there to the top. For me, this takes away somewhat from my enjoyment of the image as a whole. I see that the flower is the sharpest part of the image. I assume you were using manual focus since you were on a tripod. I think the softness is a result of the shutter speed being too low. At f/6.3 I would suggest an ISO of 800 and a shutter speed of at least 1/1000 sec. Since the lens appears to be parallel to the butterfly and all parts are pretty close to being on the same plane, I believe that would have gotten everything sharp. |
Aug 13th |
| 52 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
Kudos, Carol! In my opinion the lighting is perfect and the composition is simple with nothing to distract from the subject. I am amazed that you were able to get it so sharp without any fill flash. If this isn't a winning nature image I do not know what is! |
Aug 13th |
| 52 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
Thanks for your feedback, Lisa, I feel that cropping at the bottom would put the bird's feet too close to the edge of the frame; since all the important parts of this image are in focus, I don't think I will worry about that corner. I will, however, try to use your suggestion to make the bird's face pop a bit more. |
Aug 13th |
| 52 |
Aug 19 |
Reply |
Thanks, Mike. My only hesitation about this as a nature image is that apart from the title, it would be difficult for a viewer to construct any kind of story...you know how those nature people are about it always having a story. Ugh! |
Aug 9th |
| 52 |
Aug 19 |
Reply |
Thanks, Judith. I had not really tuned into that darker spot. I am going to try to deal with it without cloning so as to preserve it in a form that will work for the Nature Division (I am determined to earn at least one star in Nature if it takes me the rest of my life - and it may!). I think maybe lightening it and reducing contrast in that area will make it less obvious. I will let you know if it works. |
Aug 9th |
7 comments - 4 replies for Group 52
|
| 55 |
Aug 19 |
Reply |
I like what you have done with it. My eye stays with the rainbow now instead of being pulled down to the white vehicle. I see a tiny artifact at the top right edge. Those sometimes happen as a result of post processing. If you are going to use this image for competition you can just clone it out or do a tiny crop. There is nothing like amazing light to make a great image, is there? |
Aug 14th |
| 55 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
The rainbow is stunning, Kurtis. You captured the whole spectrum I see. Have you considered using the gradient tool in LR to enhance the sky? After you get the gradient where you want it I would suggest moving the exposure slider down and adding a bit of clarity and saturation. No too much though...you have a nice realisitc image here and, in my opinion, it should not be overprocessed. Nice capture! |
Aug 10th |
1 comment - 1 reply for Group 55
|
| 63 |
Aug 19 |
Comment |
First of all, this is a color palette I really love. I also notice that you have captured your subject on a perfect flower specimen - so often withering blooms ruin these images.The pollen on the bee's face is very sharp as is the antenna, so I want to spend some time looking at that. Even the little furry hairs as far back as the end of the yellow are tack sharp in my opinion. After that, however, the focus falls off so the abdomen and most of the wing are very soft. As I see it, the wing and back portion of the bee are in a different plane so you would have needed a much smaller aperture to get it all in focus and probably would have lost what for me is a nice bokeh in the background. The soluntion would be to move around so that the bee would be parallel to your lens and mostly in the same focal plane. I think your post processing is just right. |
Aug 6th |
1 comment - 0 replies for Group 63
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19 comments - 11 replies Total
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