|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 7 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
I think it's a combination of a special layer in owl's eye combined with flash and probably over-processing on my part somewhere along the way. As I responded to Barbara who first pointed it out, there was mix up in what I submitted but it's corrected now - thanks for asking about it. |
Oct 13th |
| 7 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
My apologies Gaetan - I was reviewing several images at the same time and inadvertently referred to you at Hoshedar - no one likes to be called by the wrong name and I sincerely apologize to you
|
Oct 9th |
| 7 |
Oct 25 |
Reply |
My apologies, my VF loaded then disappeared |
Oct 7th |
 |
| 7 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
|
Oct 5th |
 |
| 7 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Great catch Barbara! - I inadvertently submitted the wrong image - that the shot was taken using a flash is obvious but the flash also likely caught the tapetum lucidum (the reflective layer in nocturnal animals' eyes)and turned it blue - I desaturated and moved the color slider but then submitted the wrong image - I've since deleted this one from my LrC catalog, so thanks, I'll enter the correct one for the annual Share The View competition :-) - Thank goodness for DD study groups... |
Oct 5th |
| 7 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
This is a one-of-a-kind winner and perhaps the most unusual and intriguing image I've seen in DD groups - ever - I'd give it an 11 on a ten-point scale. Wow the way you've presented the subject matter is the story- just excellent. To me this image so spectacular that I wanted to see if I could make it pop a bit more without changing your composition In my VF, I masked the bird and increased the exposure +25, then increased the Shadows slider to +15 and added +7 to the contrast. I then increased the texture to +12 and Clarity to +6. Then re-masked the eye and increased the exposure +15 and the saturation +8. The image is fabulous - kudos Hoshedar. |
Oct 5th |
 |
| 7 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
To begin, you have captured an image with incredible visual interest - we don't often see images of a herd of horses in motion, much less in water - wow! Next, Hollywood couldn't dial up better light, and the rising mist in the morning air is its "pièce de résistance" - Hoshedar, you have such an incredible subject, story and visual interest I thought you should focus on it so in my VR I removed what I consider is eye-grabbing water and replaced it by matching the existing water - this is truly an incredible photo that I'd put that on my wall in a nano-second - your best image yet IMO. |
Oct 5th |
 |
| 7 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Judith - Excellent color harmony (pink and purple work beautifully against the muted backdrop), no technical flaws (no clipping, no harsh shadows, no obvious distractions), clean execution. The light is soft and even but it's not dramatic. For still life, side-light or directional light often adds dimensionality and shadow play. Overall, this is a lovely image but the fallen flower at the base competes with the vase rather than enhancing it - still a beautiful image, but I think it would present better with a central focal point.
|
Oct 5th |
| 7 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Barbara, this is an excellent capture; it's a well-lit, sharp "record shot." Record shots are tough because the photographer has little of no control of the variables, but you captured the subject casting a glance, which adds interest to the image. I'm unsure if I'd prefer the object of her glance included in the frame, but a bit of mystery isn't a bad thing either. Depending upon the crop of your RAW file, you might consider cropping higher and eliminating the dark area at the bottom of the stairs aligning the visual weight more with her head and the implied upward motion of the subject - see my VF - I added canvas with PS Generative Fill. |
Oct 5th |
| 7 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Wow, there's a LOT going on in this image. This image works because it has for lack of a better expression, a "layered texture dialogue," i.e., it has four zones, to wit: The foreground (field and fence) is resigned. The grasses look worn and trampled, the leaning fence posts tired - almost as if they've given up resisting the inevitable. Meanwhile the subject, the house, feels battered but defiant in ruin, the peeling boards, collapsing roofline, and hollow windows feel like scars of a long struggle - it's not standing tall, but it hasn't completely fallen either. The trees (background greenery) are Indifferent but unyielding. Lush and vibrant, they carry on with life, almost mocking the house's decay - nature doesn't care about man's decline, it keeps pressing forward. But what really makes this image is "the angry sky," it almost reads like a four-character play: the storm rages, the land submits, the house resists, and the trees ignore.In my VF I tried to punch it up, not that it really needed it, but I couldn't help myself so I added texture and clarity in LrC and cropped up - would love your thoughts on my edits Tom |
Oct 5th |
 |
9 comments - 1 reply for Group 7
|
| 67 |
Oct 25 |
Reply |
Cindy, that's not a 'nit,' that's an overlooked detail on my part - good eye - and one of the reasons I enjoy this DD group - thank you |
Oct 11th |
| 67 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
David, my initial impression of one of confusion. With so many overlapping zebras, it's hard to identify a single subject. None of the animals are sharply isolated or engaging the viewer with direct eye contact, which leaves the image without a strong focal point. But as you wrote, it was a fun shot so having said that, the image does capture the chaotic beauty of a dazzle of zebras in the wild. Nonetheless, without clear separation or a leading element, the viewer's eye tends to wander. |
Oct 9th |
| 67 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
This is a most interesting image. To begin, it's sharp, has good color, a great depth of field and a carries a lot of energy.
I also wondered if there might be a better crop to show off the subject; so, I added canvas, opened the shadows to get more detail in the subject's dark wings and desaturated and brightened the subject's tail feathers. Compositionally, as presented, the image is dramatic almost like a close-up portrait in flight, but I feel the crop sacrifices some of the grandeur of these majestic animals and thought the image needed more breathing room and a broader canvas to tell the story of freedom and grace.
I think both crops work and if I were making a fine art print for close viewing, the intimacy of the image as you cropped it would be more compelling. However, in a nature competition I think my VF image would score higher for visual interest and storytelling.
|
Oct 7th |
 |
| 67 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
To my eye this image is all about story and texture - the story is obvious a plume of water splashing upwards, but the real interest to me is in the textures - frankly it would not have occurred to me to shoot at a high Tv to freeze the water. But in freezing the water, the maker created textures throughout - the rocks and sand in the foreground, the plume of frozen water but also the ocean and the sky - good eye and good concept Larry, this is one I would have missed. Having said all that, I'm not sure how well it would be in a club competition, which is the world I live in, but I find the "textures" truly interesting. |
Oct 7th |
| 67 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
What a gorgeous leopard! I think the strength of the image is how the subject is looking right into the lens - it makes a connection with the viewer; we don't see many leopards in the wild looking into the camera, so great job capturing this moment. Technically I thought you did very good job as well, exposure, balance, DOF, detail, etc. Plus, you captured the subject with a paw off the ground which helps to animate the image. I think this would likely do well in a PSA competition -that said, if I were to make one suggestion in my VF I darkened both the fore and backgrounds slightly to help this image pop - Beautiful shot Cindy. |
Oct 7th |
| 67 |
Oct 25 |
Reply |
www.LightningTrigger.com - I've shot lightning in the Grand Canyon 4 times, and I'd guess 80% of the shooters used this brand trigger - best of luck :-) |
Oct 6th |
| 67 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Scott, let's start with the fact that the light is gorgeous-soft, directional, and it highlights the plumage texture on both birds beautifully. Additionally, you handled the whites well and did not blow them out in strong sunlight - KUDOS! The bird in the center is in a 'contemplative pose of sorts,' and the rear bird's sideways glance introduces a subtle tension, almost like a conversation. And you did a good job of including the environment.
Your subject is obviously the centered egret with the reflection, but the rear bird pulls my eye away from the subject. Also, I find the out-of-focus reeds cutting across the frame intrusive and weaken the image's impact. Yes, they add environment, but here they distract more than they contribute. And the out of focus reeds on the left are a major distraction taking away from the spectacular light you captured. Lastly, and this happens to me all the time when I have two of the same species in an image, i.e., the spacing is awkward-close enough that they're linked, but no symmetry or dynamic tension. In any event, a technically solid capture of two elegant birds with fabulous light.
I really can't comment on the "blue bird" but I've seen this before and just assumed it goes with the territory and really don't know how to eliminate it; but to tell the truth, instead of eliminating I rather enjoy it :-)
|
Oct 4th |
| 67 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Scott - thanks for your comments - the "knack" you speak of comes from using a lightning trigger, that I evidently forgot to include in my write up - the equipment and settings I used were a Canon R5 on a tripod with a Lightning Trigger brand, lightning trigger - they're handmade in Colorado and many believe the most reliable on the market Canon R5 - Canon 24-70 @ 24mm ISO 50 - f10 - 1/13th second. Having said that, after dark I put the lightning trigger away and use my intervalometer shooting at ISO 100 - f8 - with continuous 20 second exposures - I've included one shot captured that way (attached) and the lighting you see is 60 miles away across the border in Mexico |
Oct 4th |
 |
6 comments - 2 replies for Group 67
|
| 73 |
Oct 25 |
Reply |
Raymond - good pickup - those two lines you cited are wires of some sort. The pole is only accessible via a private dirt road the power company uses, but in broad daylight there are two wires leading into the ground. Unfortunately the area is filled with several species of cacti and scrub brush that hide whatever those wires lead to - my guess is the reason they're only partially visible is a combination of the lightning, being wet and glistening from the rainfall and some ambient light. I saw those wires and assumed they were there for a reason, but to be clear, they are WIRES and not cables used to stabilize the pole itself. It occured to me to take them out in PS, but then decided I wanted to leave the scene as untouched as possible. |
Oct 29th |
| 73 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Thanks for your comments Raymond - a member of another discussion group suggested I submit larger files with more pixels per inch, but still staying with PSA parameters - LMK what you think next month - best, |
Oct 21st |
| 73 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
No particular reason for using BxW except I thought it might be more dramatic, but then you answered that question :-)
And the reason I hesitated was the significant presence of the hand of man, so thank you for your comments Ian |
Oct 13th |
| 73 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
And interesting and foreground, a sharp and detailed subject with backlight thru the keyhole drawing the eye into and thru the frame complemented by a terrific sky - what can I say - you captured a ton of visual interest - nice job Raymond |
Oct 9th |
| 73 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Curved leading lines always add interest to an image - and here you have a beauty - this technically and compositionally well done! |
Oct 9th |
| 73 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
The Grand Canyon is one of the most photographed landscapes in the world where the subject itself delivers great impact. And here you captured scale, depth, and texture. - but it's also a difficult place to get strong compositions, because the interest is down and the sky is up - and getting both in a frame with strong visual interest isn't easy. Having said that, you've done a great job of stitching and captured nice sidelight adding depth and dimensionality, highlighting ridges and valleys and the golden light on canyon walls is a strong visual asset. While snow always adds to landscape images here, I think the area in the lower right of the image detracts from the rest of the image. BTW- I did Bright Angel Trail once. Never again! :-) |
Oct 7th |
| 73 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Sherry, first and foremost, you image captures a mood of peace and serenity. Judging from your description, it appears your focus was on the rainbow, but to me what makes this scene is the hammock - I do not want to offend because it's your shot, but in my VF I wanted to shift the viewer's attention to the hammock, so I eliminatied the Australian Pines that fill the upper left of the frame then did everything I could - dodging, burning, vignette, exposure, adding vibrance, etc., to focus the eye on the hammock, and allow the rainbow, clouds, and coconut palms to be the supporting cast. But the important thing in my opinion is the mood you created regardless of focal point. |
Oct 7th |
 |
| 73 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Ian, what a terrific project and good choice regarding the image to put into the book. A couple of suggestions - in my VF I cropped in to remove the partial building on the upper left and when I did so it left a sliver of the white fence next to the sidewalk on the lower left. At the same time, I cropped in from the right to remove the partial stairs on the lower right - I kept the 4x6 format which mean cropping a little from both the top and bottom of the frame. I also opened the shadows to bring out a bit more detail in the Hero of Waterloo building and lastly, I added a touch of a vignette - this may sound like a lot but it's really just tweaking. Best of luck with your project. |
Oct 6th |
 |
7 comments - 1 reply for Group 73
|
| 97 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Thank you very much Ernoe, you comments are taken to heart - is this one any better? |
Oct 13th |
 |
| 97 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
For some reason sometimes when I comment and then re-open, what I wrote is gone - I think I'll start making my comments in WORD and then copy/paste - what I wrote that disappeared was I felt the tighter simpler composition ESPECIALLY with that fantastic mist was absolutely boffo! Great job Doc! |
Oct 11th |
| 97 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Not much I can do about PSA rez limits - the RAW was 44.8 MP |
Oct 10th |
| 97 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Excellent capture and love the perspective, which to my eye is worth points in a competition. I thought the background a touch busy so I darkened it and reduced the contrast on the subject itself very slightly and increased the exposure - LMK what you think. |
Oct 10th |
 |
| 97 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Exceedingly sharp! That's what jumps out at me.
Normally I'm not crazy about 'cropped subjects' as I feel most judges like to see the entire animal - however, the perspective and composition in this image make this an exception to the rule - you made a connection between the viewer and the subject - terrific job Roy |
Oct 10th |
| 97 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Julia, this is somewhat of a classic pose for a water bird. And I think you have a great subject and great composition here. That said, your background is inconsistent so I darkened it with special attention to the top half of the frame darkening it more than the lower half. I also brightened the face of the subject - LMK what you think of my edits - but this is a really nice shot! |
Oct 10th |
 |
| 97 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Rim glow is a VERY effective way of composing wildlife images so kudos, it's hats off to you. You said you had the help of two spotlights but you didn't say how you used them, that would have been helpful. I think this shot had real drama so I tried to emphasize it by cropping in tighter and eliminating all the spectral highlights that pull the eye away from the subjects - nice job |
Oct 10th |
 |
| 97 |
Oct 25 |
Comment |
Although you did not describe it in your narrative I'm assuming from the title that this is an image of one gannet killing another. If so, classic shot illustrating the harsh reality of nature - I'm not going to nit-pick because the story is so powerful, but I agree with Roy, the crop is a bit tight |
Oct 10th |
8 comments - 0 replies for Group 97
|
30 comments - 4 replies Total
|
