Critique My Concept! :-D

[Pierre81385]

Canon 5D + 55mm F/1.2 AI (for the skyline)
Canon 5D + 16-35mm F/2.8L (for the jar)

This was one of my first attempts at a composite shot, hopefully trying to create a jar which seems to be a somewhat distorted window onto a scene of New York city. Thanks to my inexperience with lighting, I wasn't able to get a good chunk of glare on the jar to help emphasize it, but I think the results look acceptable for a first try.

What do you think? How could I improve this concept? Anyone have tips on blending two photos in such a way that one photo is visible to some degree both in front of and behind another photo, as I have tried to do here? C&C on any aspect of this photo is welcomed.

[windrider86]

2 things I notice right off the bat.
#1. too much space on either side of the jar
#2, altho you can see the skyline, the rest of the detail is lost.
otherwise really cool concept!

[iffles]

I actually like all the space on either side of the jar - I think it makes the city feel more like it's inside a bubble and so... solitary and inclusive. Or something. I'm not good with words

That being said, I agree that it's hard to see the detail of the city... but I love the concept!

[Trader]

I also like the concept and the background color works well. You just need to improve on the city scape. Don't give up, I think you have something good going here.

[RustySterling]

Great concept shot. It reminds me of the guy in the old Superman comics who collected cities in jars. LOL. I agree with windrider about the space on either side. Otherwise I really like this shot. Nice idea.

[vsa]

I don't mind the space on either side. It could probably use some space on top and bottom of the jar. That doesn't bother me much though. What does is the compo inside the jar. I'd move the skyline down a bit so there's more "sky". I also like the colors. Looks like the jar isn't straight.

What comes to tips with combining the layers it would really help to see the original images. Much easier to give tips for those specific images than in general.

[Pierre81385]

Thanks for all of your comments. I greatly appreciate your input and opinions.

For those who are interested, these are the two photos I began with.





With regard to the skyline, is everyone's monitors calibrated? I found that on an uncalibrated screen I have there is significantly less detail than a properly calibrated one.