The Critique "Wading Pool"

[IABoomer]

I'm lifting the essence of this idea from another forum where I saw the idea presented.

Consider this a chance to get your feet wet critiquing images and being critiqued.

Everyone likes to have something said about their images, but sometimes the critique threads are a little strict about the rules or maybe don't get viewed quite as much as people might like. The idea behind this thread is, critique the last image posted, then post one of your own. You're guaranteed one comment on your image. If you want to get into further discussion with the person who critiqued your image, maybe take it to private messages between the two of you.

If you remember to post EXIF, that's a big plus. If you have something specific you'd like addressed, that's good. The more you put into explaining your image and what you wanted out of it, the more you should expect to get as a critique.

Unlike the other sections where there's a certain theme, anything that's allowed to be posted in the main forums could be posted here for critique (nothing not-safe-for-work, please). Also, to keep the content somewhat fresh, it would be nice if people posted images that aren't already in a critique section of the forum, although after posting and getting a response here, you might want to further discussion in one of the critique sections.

I'll kick things off with this image.


Pilates and Panninis by IABoomerFlickr, on Flickr

Camera Nikon D5000
Exposure 0.1 sec (1/10)
Aperture f/1.8
Focal Length 35 mm
ISO Speed 1250
Flash No Flash

What I like: the juxtaposition of a restaurant down below and a fitness studio above.
What I question: maybe this is a bit too clever and thus doesn't strike a chord with the viewer

Please post a critique of this image, then post an image of yours to be critiqued.

[IABoomer]

I might be insane, but I swear there was a response here before. Either way, it appears I have failed at an epic level. Yay, me.

[NgaiHill]

Great idea Boomer. Lets see if I can critique your pic for you....
I think you are right that the contrast between gym and restaurant may be a little to clever for the viewer. I didn't immediately spot that contrast although it is the sort of thing I would notice in person.
I find the scene a little too busy and think that may distract the viewer from the contrast of the two industries. Love all the colours though.

Now for my one.....


Exposure 0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 51 mm
ISO Speed 100

What I like: the combination of letterbox, flax, gate and power pole. And in a scene that we don't normally see here, this snowfall was the biggest in over 15 years.
What I don't: Not sure if that power pole is distracting there as it appears as just a line up through the middle of the photo. Does the B & W look OK?

Anyone????

[mudskipper1]

While it is an interesting subject for sure, it seems a little flat to me. I am not sure if it was the B&W conversion or something else, but the foreground really fades into the sky, which for me, isn't ideal. I know that is a result of the gray snow clouds, but I had to look at it more carefully to see the snow in the image.

That said, I think the pole with the snow plastered to the side adds to the image, I might have tried to get more of the end of the building to make the lines in that stand out more, putting the pole slightly off to the right, depending on landscape/portrait and how wide.

Here's mine:


Camera Nikon D3000
Exposure 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture f/6.3
Focal Length 35 mm
Focal Length 35.6 mm
ISO Speed 200

I had to do significant PP to get the color back out of the sky, as I had to overexpose it in order to keep the level of detail I had in the foreground (which still isn't great).

Does the processing distract, and how is the composition?

[TNH]

I think it's a great image, but in my opinion, the large rock on the far left kind of distracts from the rest of the landscape. I really like everything else, though!

Here's mine! Ok, Critiques, have fun. I'm sure there's a lot wrong with it...

[IABoomer]

I like the color to the grass and the way the sunlight glows off the waves on the water. I might crop it slightly on the bottom, or clone out the little bit of grass in the lower right corner.

Obviously, you've hit the wall when it comes to dynamic range and something in this shot had to give, and in this case, it's the sky. This might have worked better shot from lower to the water and just letting the trees touch the top of the frame. I'm also a bit of a contrast junkie, so I'd like to see more contrast to the water surface, which might then necessitate pulling back on the saturation/greens to keep the grass from going radioactive.

Here's my next go-around.


Do not enter University of Iowa by IABoomerFlickr, on Flickr

Camera Nikon D5000
Exposure 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture f/1.8
Focal Length 35 mm
ISO Speed 1250

It's another one of my "possibly too clever for my own good" shots.

What I like: If you get the play off the "Do not enter" and "University of Iowa" signs, it's a bit funny. I also like the rigid geometry of the building itself with the more curved flowing geometry and color of the artwork inside.

What I don't like: If you don't get the play between the signs, then there's a big ugly pole and a sign blocking an otherwise interesting architectural/cityscape photo. I could have possibly framed this a little differently, with the curb closer to the bottom and thus getting the top of the building in the shot as well. I was trying to avoid tilting up and inducing perspective distortion since I'm nowhere near "needing" a tilt-shift lens.

[IABoomer]

Don't be shy, folks. You don't have to be a pro to critique someone's work. Plus, learning how to talk about other peoples' work helps you understand what to look for in your own work.

I never thought I'd drown in a wading pool.

[TNH]

If no one else will post, then I will!

I really like this picture, but the building doesn't look like it's straight to me. Maybe you had your camera tilted to the right a little when you took it. (Unless I'm seeing things! ) You could try straightening it in your photo editing program.

Here's mine:

[Pinkribbons24]

ok i'll play! I am still new to this site, so hopefully I get it right

Critique: I actually really like this, and sun flare is the new in thing these days so it works. I like that you can see a little bit of detail in your person too and she is not a complete silhouette. The tree to the right of the photo (behind you person's head) is distracting, it has the same small amount of detail that the person does so it kind of looks like the tree is coming out of her head.

here is my go at it...

[IABoomer]

First, cute kid. I like where she's positioned in the frame. I like that she's looking to the left and there's more open space there. I like the color contrast between the silo (?) behind her and the grass. I don't know if the angle is intentional or maybe just a bit tilted by accident.

I'm jumping in the wayback machine for this one of mine.


Serious conversation by IABoomerFlickr, on Flickr

Camera Olympus FE210,X775 P&S (POS)
Exposure 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture f/5.9
Focal Length 18.9 mm
ISO Speed 125

What I like: I captured what I think is an interesting candid moment between two men who I can only assume have both served in the military.

What I don't like: I couldn't see it when I took it, but there's a bit of slow-shutter motion blur that led to some softness. The backlight of the window behind the guy on the left leads to a weird glow.