|
| Group |
Round |
C/R |
Comment |
Date |
Image |
| 3 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
The size of the leaves seems to overpower the rose to me; that's why I experimented with cropping. What do you think?
Maybe the angle at which you positioned the leaf so the bottom shows more than an edge view would look thinner. This is hard to explain. I compare it to portrait photography. When photographing women, we try to position them at an angle for a more slimming appearance. The leaf just seems too dominant in the scene. |
Jul 18th |
| 3 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Thanks, Michael, for your kind words.
I am glad you don't mind me painting leaves in the open sky areas of this photo. We have to experiment and try new and different things as photographers. Not everyone will always like what we do, which is okay because some will enjoy the effort. I learned the technique from a wedding photographer, so her idea to paint over distracting areas is something I wanted to try.
Have a wonderful day! |
Jul 18th |
| 3 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Thanks for your comments, Joan.
No, this was not a staged photo shoot. The bears roam free in the wildlife sanctuary. There is a raised, long, winding wood platform for visitors to view the bears that climb the trees. I was lucky this bear was happy to look me in the eye. The young college students volunteering at the sanctuary walk free in and amongst the bears. They bring 5-gallon buckets with mixed seeds and berries the bears typically find in the wild to platforms, and the bears come in for snacks during the day. They said the bears knew the area was a safe place to be with their cubs, and many cubs were in the trees. I couldn't photograph them because they were backlit that day.
|
Jul 18th |
| 3 |
Jul 23 |
Comment |
I have to agree with Michael that this is a good image. The colors look natural and not overly saturated, compositionally the building and people align well on the rule of thirds, having atmospheric perspective is always a plus and the low clouds over the mountains completes the image.
Good job!
lt |
Jul 17th |
| 3 |
Jul 23 |
Comment |
Hello Joan,
I have to agree; this is a beautiful image. I have never been to Napa Valley, but this looks like an ideal place for drinking wine and doing a bit of photography!
The only thing that stands out is that the yellow row in the center is off-center. Perhaps a step to the left would have straightened that perspective. With this crop, the three posts are not centered in the frame, but maybe that was by choice.
Thanks for sharing this lovely photo this month!
lt |
Jul 16th |
| 3 |
Jul 23 |
Comment |
Hello Ruth,
What a wonderful friend you are to photograph your friend's mother for her. You captured her in her living space with her favorite memory ( her lamp). I had a light like that once.
I think the challenge you had was the placement of your subject within the frame. If you get another opportunity, I suggest using the rule of thirds to align elements within the frame, just like you would with any subject. When photographing people, it is often best to have the eyes on the camera. If they are camera shy, go for a side profile from an angle that gives the subject a slimming look. Typically, straight-on portraits make a person's limbs look more prominent and broad, less feminine.
In contrast, a side profile gives them a slimmer look. You can also capture a head and shoulders view with the shoulder closest to the camera tipped down like they are leaning towards it. There are many examples online for photographing older women for samples so you can be confident next time about how you want to pose your subject.
I hope this helps.
lt |
Jul 16th |
| 3 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Here is one of many videos that explain Saul Leiter's photography.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf5CmEC7EFU&t=357s
lt |
Jul 6th |
| 3 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Hello Mary Ann,
Glad you like the photo. Did you notice the bear's forehead? It looks like an old scar in the form of a half-circle to me above the eyes. I think this was a mama bear. I was in an open wildlife sanctuary where these bears roam free to come and go. I could have walked in amongst the bears, but that fee was expensive, and I am not that brave. I suspect this was a momma bear. The males, they told us, will eat cubs, so there would have been a battle if this was a male with the cubs close by (I never knew this till the staff told us). Moma bears cute cubs climbed to the tops of the trees overhead, but the sun's angle backlit the cubs, and the photos didn't turn out.
Best regards,
lt |
Jul 6th |
| 3 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Hello Michael,
I know you appreciate constructive observations that help you along your photographic journey; I do as well. But sometimes, I believe we have to stop and understand the purpose of an image first and then decide if what we are looking at needs to be changed or left as we see it. When we do photo series, an individual photograph can have less impact than a single hero shot, and not every speck or distraction needs to be removed. When you put these photographs in a series, things change. Now it is a piece of a bigger story, and this is what I believe we overlook when we critique every image that passes before our eyes, and that is why I chose not to suggest alterations to this image. My suggestions would only take away from the story "you" the artist wants to tell, and then it becomes "my" story.
There is a white label in the lower right corner of the image. Even that tiny detail compliments the abandonment you capture in this photo series, so I would leave it. Even the dim light and faded rose behind the window speak of abandonment; why would you change that?
I recently watched a documentary on Saul Leither's photography and how he built his photo series. His work is in museums around the world. How would we critique his work? Thoughts to ponder.
lt
|
Jul 6th |
| 3 |
Jul 23 |
Comment |
Hello Mary Ann,
Your visit to the lavender farm sounds lovely! This dragonfly has such beautiful colors in its wings that contrast nicely with the background. Your camera registered a beautiful image on your camera's sensor.
I know you said you loved the triangle shape, so I did not want to remove it, so I used a 16x9" crop to bring the viewer a bit closer to the insect for viewing. I have been using this crop dimension quite a bit lately. I hope you like it; it's something different and can add uniqueness to an image.
Have a great 4th of July!
lt |
Jul 4th |
 |
| 3 |
Jul 23 |
Comment |
Hello Ruth,
I like this version of the frozen rose. A single rose simplifies the image with three leaves for weight and balance, and the cracks in the ice give the image a unique character, so the background is not distracting.
In my edit, I used a 16x9 crop so the rose is more dominant size-wise over the leaves. I also used a little cooler white balance. Lastly, I used a radial filter on the bloom and slightly brightened the colors.
It was all for fun and something different. What do you think?
lt |
Jul 4th |
 |
| 3 |
Jul 23 |
Comment |
Hello Michael,
I like the creative story you are presenting with this vase of roses. I love the composition and how you shot at an angle; the peeling paint and the window's reflection add interest to this photograph's nostalgia. I also like how you adjusted the color of the roses; this builds on "your" intent for registering the scene on your digital camera's sensor.
This paragraph is typically where I would note how to edit your photograph to improve it via my subjective opinion. But sometimes, we must stop and appreciate the artist's creativity and intent in telling a story through their eyes. I do not think we do this often enough. So bravo, Michael, for presenting a unique photograph that brightens my day!
lt |
Jul 2nd |
6 comments - 6 replies for Group 3
|
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Hello Lance,
Hearing your thoughts and ideas on various photographic topics is always a delight. I agree with you; painting in the bokeh background does not follow the lines of traditions of photography, but it was an attempt to save this photo and to acquire others' opinions on the topic. We never know sometimes until we ask the question.
I agree with your comment about AI. I see AI in photography like a dangling piece of chocolate, if you will. We do not know its future potential or anticipated footprint on our society. So, I must reserve my endorsement until I understand its true purpose. Something makes me feel like it is a stepping stone to something bigger.
Come back for a visit next month. I registered my August photo on my film camera's sensor. If I can figure out reciprocity failure, I will be off and running with my long-term project!
Best regards,
LuAnn |
Jul 29th |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Thanks for your comments, Bob. I appreciate them, as always.
lt |
Jul 19th |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Hi Bunny,
Thanks for your thoughts on my image and your sample edits! I do look for bright spots when I am out and about (adjusting as needed), so it is an excellent point to mention. I am not a nature photographer, though I understand and appreciate their rules; they are too rigid for what I enjoy photographing. I just took a class not too long ago from a wedding photographer who taught a photographic flower painting class (Rosie LaLonde). Her work captured me so much that I used the techniques whenever I could to fill in spaces and remove specular highlights. It all depends on the image. She has some excellent ideas for repairing torn and tattered flowers and petals. I would paint spots in photos before I would gravitate to using AI.
Have a wonderful day!
lt |
Jul 16th |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Hello Mary Ann,
Thanks for the visit! Yes, it was a bad card (very rare for this brand, I was told). I should be set for life now that I got that experience out of the way - haha!
lt |
Jul 16th |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Excellent edit, Emil! Thanks for the tips.
lt |
Jul 16th |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Thank you, Israel, for the edit! Looks good.
lt |
Jul 16th |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Comment |
Hello Israel,
I love your photograph! Jerusalem is the city I want to see one day in person. For me, I love the original image. It has crisp, clean lines and shows the city's color and beauty above the street level. Like Bunny, I am not a fan of sky replacements (sorry), but I like Emil's idea of using whispy clouds; that is a good tip!
There are some interesting diagonal lines in each corner of the frame; not sure I like them. Each one is different, so it must be part of the preset to resemble the bent corners of the photo. I like the original picture best, probably because I do not live where you are, and I am not exposed to the modern-day look of Jerusalem. Perhaps that is why you chose to create the look you did; for something different.
I always look forward to what you have to submit next. You have an excellent teacher, and your access to historic sites is outstanding. Thanks for sharing a beautiful scene with the group.
Shalom,
LuAnn
|
Jul 16th |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Comment |
Hello Bob,
This is one of the best abstract creative art photographs I have seen to date; I love your editing process! I agree, too, that it is very pleasing to look at. Motion is one way to attract the eye of a neutral viewer and hold their attention to your photograph.
I have no suggestions for change; I simply like it as you have presented it!
lt |
Jul 16th |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Comment |
Hello Bunny,
I think your scene is perfect for a black and white conversion. The only thing I wish there were, was a sign in the Icelandic language to give further context to the location of your trip. My eye has lots to see, and I am passionate about vintage places, so I think you did an excellent job with your edit.
For a documentary photograph, I would compare your photo to one without a soft border. The added border, for me, takes away from capturing and documenting a historical scene.
lt |
Jul 16th |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Comment |
Hello Mark,
I am drawn to the dark tones in your image. As an instructor for the PSA Image Evaluation course, you are correct about not removing the building on the right due to historical value. People who know the area would see the image and expect the Sears Tower to be in the scene, so it is not distracting.
My only comment is the luminosity levels are a bit dark. Looking at the tone curve, you can move the highlights to the right, which would not add too much brightness to what you see and like in this image. Because of this change, the highlights from the reflection may now be too bright, but you could use a brush on them and lower the highlights in just that area selectively. Luminosity is always a balancing act.
Thanks for sharing a great image this month; I love it!
lt |
Jul 16th |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Thanks for your comments, Mark. I will think about a tighter crop. I am not a nature photographer; this is the first time I have photographed wildlife outside of at the zoo when I first got this camera. So if I was to ever enter the photo it would be an open class.
Question for you. What type of cards do you use? I talked to Mark Galer (Sony Ambassador from Australia) and he thought the problem was when I took a photo I immediately shut the camera off (habit from my Fujifilm camera days). He said the camera should have (and it did) still write files to the card regardless. They just didn't appear when I tried to upload them (card failure). I used 2 Delkin Express Black CFexpress Type A 160 GB cards. Everyone I talked to online said they never ever had a problem with these cards ($325 each). It was a fluke and Delkin sent me a new card within 24-hours (no questions asked) so I couldn't complain with the warrantee. I also had a Lacie backup drive but we were there for an overnight so I didn't try to download them while I was out. Even if I pixel peeped the camera did record JPG so I wouldn't have realized it till I downloaded them and found no RAW files. It's crazy when this stuff happens and it usually happens when you are out of town. Moral of the story is there is usually a way to get the photos off a bad card so that was the saving grace for me. I just asked the right person who told me about recovery software.
Talk soon,
lt
|
Jul 7th |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Comment |
Hello Emil,
Your image this month is full of geometry with lines around the water like an irregular pentagon and organic vertical lines of the plant. What I love about the photograph is the perfectly imperfect geometry, with the half circles at the top edge of the white reflection area generating a curved ripple effect. This composition reminds me of the Japanese aesthetics of Wabi Sabi.
Thank you for sharing a lovely piece this month!
lt |
Jul 2nd |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Comment |
Hello Oliver,
Your creative abilities maze me! Did you use incense to create this smoke effect or a smoke machine? I love the smoke's upward flow and how it makes the effect of a human element that will be as big and bold as the viewer's imagination. I see a cowboy hat or maybe a woman with a bouffant hairdo!
I do not want to give you a subjective opinion on improving this image for fear that it would only do the reverse. I don't want to overlook the artist/photographer's talent and creativity in making this image. So bravo, Oliver; I love your photograph and composition, just how you made it, because it makes me smile!
lt |
Jul 2nd |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Hello Israel,
Yes, card failure can be devastating, that is for sure. The best part is I posed the problem on a blog, and the host told me how to recover the photos. Had I not asked first, I would have formatted the card and never been the wiser.
Thanks for telling me about the highlights in the trees; I will work on fixing them.
Good luck in Alaska. They have salmon runs where you can find many bears within 6 feet of the viewing area. I am sure you will go with a professional photographer and discover beautiful places to photograph bears.
Have a safe day, my friend.
lt
|
Jul 2nd |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Thank you, Bunny, for your thoughts and comments!
So are you saying the bright white space in the upper left corner is not a distraction in this image? I would have left it if the day had clouds or a different sky than overcast (I haven't gotten into doing sky replacements). The eye-to-eye contact with the bear captured my eye to register this scene on my digital camera. The gaze pulled me in, and whatever was around the bear was oblivious to my eye.
I look forward to your thoughts.
lt |
Jul 2nd |
| 62 |
Jul 23 |
Reply |
Hello Oliver,
You created yet another option for editing this image, and I appreciate your efforts. AI has some interesting capabilities.
So as you know, I am not a proponent of using AI in photography. As I define who I want to be as a photographer, I want to stay with the classic traditional styles. I am also signing up to take a class with someone locally to learn how to take long exposures on my film camera (learning about reciprocity failure - an interesting topic though difficult to calculate). I have a box full of film, and if I can figure out metering, I think this will be an exciting journey.
Lastly, I want to learn more about the ultimate intent of using AI (outside of photography) before using it in my work. Creativity is personal and comes from within, and I don't see it being a creative challenge for artists yet. Just my opinion.
Have a wonderful day, my friend,
lt
|
Jul 2nd |
6 comments - 10 replies for Group 62
|
12 comments - 16 replies Total
|
