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| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 32 |
Jul 18 |
Comment |
Although I suspect that blurring the background a bit as Tom suggested is the better approach, I find sometimes with my images that I don't want to completely lose the context, but that if I will do a bit of selective dodging and burning, I can readjust the emphasis. I've tried some of that here just to demonstrate. Have I lost too much of the background for what you intended? |
Jul 25th |
 |
| 32 |
Jul 18 |
Comment |
It's always interesting to see different ideas about how to approach an image. I like the darker contrast added by Diana, but also like the open window, and I find the sales price and "Rat Rod" lettering to add to the story, as does the rust and corrosion. I also find it funny that the sales price on this old car, which I very much doubt even runs, is more than the cost of my first car, an old Volkswagon that I drove all over half of creation. We still tell stories about our (mis)adventures in it, and looking at this image makes me wonder about the stories associated with this old car. |
Jul 25th |
| 32 |
Jul 18 |
Comment |
You always manage to find interesting people for your photographs. Here, I'm wishing there were video also to hear what he was playing and singing. The blurred effect on the background does better emphasize the musician. I love that that it is possible to change several things after the fact now when I don't notice them while taking a photo. |
Jul 24th |
| 32 |
Jul 18 |
Reply |
I do have a beanbag, but haven't used it yet. Do you use one? I have heard some people recommend filling it with beans, while others say wood chips work better. I'll probably try beans, but am not sure if I need something mid-sized like kidney or pinto beans, or something small like dried peas or black beans. |
Jul 24th |
| 32 |
Jul 18 |
Comment |
I'm not certain that I can add too much to what has already been mentioned. I, too, like the idea of the beautiful bird as a silhouette, and I think it would be interesting to have it look down toward the light, eliminating the bright spots above and behind the subject. Removing the grass on the right was a good idea, and the pose and reflection add interest.
While true that judges may not understand the mood you're trying to convey, I always tell our area camera club members when they arm-twist me into judging that I hope they won't let anything I say about an image discourage them, as those of us who don't do this for a living take photos for our own reasons. If others like and appreciate them, that's a bonus. If not, it really isn't important since the photo wasn't meant for them anyway. |
Jul 24th |
| 32 |
Jul 18 |
Comment |
To me, your elimination of the mask showing through the hair and the bare arms much improved the composition. I find the cropping from the top of the image a bit too tight for my personal tastes, although if you decide to darken the image as Ian suggested, which I also like since it helps emphasize the face, I think it then would work as it is.
I was not familiar with the expression "swings and roundabouts", but got educated about that thanks to Google. Your adjustments do help to better balance the image, as I could see why you needed to space on the left in the original to avoid cutting off the clothing, but it did make the image feel heavily weighted toward the right side. |
Jul 24th |
| 32 |
Jul 18 |
Comment |
This is a wild ibis at the Merced (California) National Wildlife Refuge. It was early May, which is the very end of the annual winter migration on the Pacific Flyway. The ibis and ever prolific coots were about the only birds still around that late in the season, but there were at least a couple hundred ibis that day, far more than I'd seen during my frequent visits earlier in the season. A small dirt road runs counter-clockwise around the edge of some seasonally flooded fields. When I observed several ibis wading and feeding near a small, grass-covered island approximately 50 feet away, I stopped and shut off the car but did not get out, as that would have frightened the birds and is also prohibited in that part of the refuge. They weren't bothered by the parked car or me, so I was able to spend over an hour photographing them hand-held out my open car window before they finally flew to another spot. My 100-400L lens is heavy, and I often feel the effects of holding it and the camera in position for some time waiting for action moments like this one. However, I have been very pleased with the sharpness of the lens, especially since I purchased it used. As you can see, this is a considerable crop of the original image to try to eliminate the distractions. Guess I needed a 600 mm lens, but doubt I could hand hold that! I've been thinking of getting a teleconverter, but fear that may affect the sharpness. Perhaps I'll try renting one some weekend to see what I think.
|
Jul 14th |
 |
| 32 |
Jul 18 |
Comment |
Curiously, the background in this image was brighter and had some remaining detail of grass when I viewed it on the screen of my work computer. Yet, it looks inky black on my home computer monitor. I'm not sure whether that is the result of a calibration issue with my computers or something else. It is making me wonder about projection of my monochrome images in the internationals, though, so I need to investigate further. Meanwhile, I've tried to adjust it again, and added a stroke line. Did that help? |
Jul 12th |
 |
7 comments - 1 reply for Group 32
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7 comments - 1 reply Total
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