|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 37 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Exposure & Motion: At 1/320 sec, the bird's body is sharp, but the wings blur - an artistic choice that conveys energy. To freeze wings, you'd need 1/2000 sec or faster (raising ISO accordingly).
Composition: Strong - vibrant magenta flowers contrast beautifully with the green bird. Excellent placement of hummingbird slightly off-center near focal flowers.
Depth of Field: f/7.1 balances bird and flower sharpness while allowing background blur - well judged.
Lens Use: At 105mm, you had to be close; you managed to keep subject sharp despite handheld shooting.
Strengths: Fantastic timing, great color contrast, sharp body and expressive eye. |
Sep 27th |
| 37 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Exposure & Sharpness: Outstanding - fast shutter freezes the panda's motion while chewing. At 400mm f/5, depth of field is shallow enough to isolate the subject but still shows context with bamboo.
Noise: ISO 3600 is high, but the Z8 handles it very well, and Topaz AI processing keeps fine details natural.
Composition: Perfectly centered, sharp focus on eyes/face, with natural framing by bamboo stalks. Excellent eye contact.
Processing: Well balanced - the panda's white fur is exposed correctly without blowing highlights.
Strengths: Engaging portrait, tack-sharp, strong connection with viewer.
|
Sep 27th |
| 37 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Exposure & Motion: The long exposure technique works beautifully to smooth the water, enhancing the contrast between the static wreck and the dynamic sea/sky. The ship silhouette holds enough detail to anchor the viewer's eye.
Composition: Very strong - the horizon is well placed, the golden light and dramatic clouds balance the darker wreckage. The "person-like shape" on the stern adds mystery and human interest.
Post-Processing: Excellent highlight/shadow balance - the golden tones of the sky don't overpower the wreck. Some detail in the shadowed parts of the ship could be gently lifted without breaking mood.
Strengths: Dramatic atmosphere, masterful blending of light and motion.
Tip: Experiment with slightly different shutter times - shorter to retain more texture in the water, or longer for even more surreal smoothing - depending on the mood you want. |
Sep 27th |
| 37 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Exposure & Sharpness: 1/4 sec requires tripod - perfect choice here. f/40 ensures extreme depth, but diffraction reduces crispness; f/11-f/16 would give sharper results while maintaining depth of field.
Lighting: The projection of text is fascinating. However, highlights on the cylinder are a touch hot, while deep shadows in the background lose detail.
Processing: As Joseph noted, the warmth and contrast may be slightly overdriven, flattening tonal subtlety. More restrained post-processing could yield a more natural balance between warmth and shadow detail.
Strengths: Compelling subject, strong symmetry, excellent capture of projected light.
Tip: Re-process with slightly lower contrast and saturation, and lift midtones in the background to recover architectural detail. |
Sep 27th |
| 37 |
Sep 25 |
Comment |
Exposure & Sharpness: The fast shutter captures both actors sharply without blur. Shooting wide open at f/2.8 keeps the background pleasantly soft, though at 44mm there's still enough depth to keep both figures in focus.
Composition: Excellent diagonal flow from butterfly figure (standing) to rabbit (kneeling). The wings form a striking visual anchor. The earthy background tones nicely frame the colorful costumes.
Post-Processing: Smart use of Dehaze and selective lightening on faces and legs improves visibility. Topaz AI processing looks natural - not over-sharpened.
ISO 1600: Good balance - the Z7II handles noise well. You preserved shadow detail without blowing highlights.
Strengths: Strong storytelling, excellent balance of detail, color, and composition.
|
Sep 27th |
| 37 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Thank you, Howard. The perspective was both a challenge and an opportunity here, and I'm pleased the details and colors resonate with you. |
Sep 26th |
| 37 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Thank you, Tom. I'm glad you connected with both the composition and the timing. I tried to write about it in the same spirit I photographed it - capturing not just the stunt, but the atmosphere and intensity of the scene. |
Sep 26th |
| 37 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
I deeply appreciate your thoughtful words, Joseph. My aim was to balance both the technical aspects and the narrative tension of the scene, and I'm glad that came through. The questions you raise about risk, spirit, and persistence are exactly why this moment felt so compelling to document. |
Sep 26th |
| 37 |
Sep 25 |
Reply |
Thank you, Stephen. Yes, the raw intensity of this performance is exactly what struck me while photographing it. Their courage, despite the lack of protection, makes the moment both thrilling and unsettling - and I wanted to capture that duality. |
Sep 26th |
5 comments - 4 replies for Group 37
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5 comments - 4 replies Total
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