As a new feature here on Digital Photography School, we are going to start a guest panel of DPS writers to critique one photo a month.  The writers for DPS have a wide range of backgrounds and experience and most of have been into digital photography for at least five to seven years.  This is not meant as a scientific, objective review of the photo at hand, but instead is meant to give a wide variety of opinions on a particular piece.  Each critique is simply the opinion of the DPS writers – and of course we’d love you to join us in the review by leaving constructive feedback in comments below.

This month’s photo was sent in by Vasco Casquilho from Portugal.  First the image and then the critiques.

Vasco Casquilho

And now for the critiques from DPS writers:

Barrie Smith – “I feel this is an excellent attempt at the technique but feel, if it were a frame from a burst of shots, that a frame before or after would have been better. I know how difficult these shots are to catch successfully but still think it needs more definition on the bullfighter. One solution is to crop the shot down to the left half of the picture, showing only the bulls head and the bullfighter; the bull’s extended torso spoils the comp.”

Helen Bradley – “I like the motion in this image a lot although I find the area of saturated red at the top of the image a little distracting. I would prefer a tighter crop to remove some of this so the eye is focused more on the centre of the action – the bull’s head and the matador.”

Chas Elliot- “I love it when photographers break out of the mold of needing to have everything sharp and in focus.  Using long shutter speeds and shaking the camera can result in abstract photos full of  interesting shapes and streaks of light.  What I like about this photo is that it’s right on the edge of being abstract or being a traditional action shot.  The colors and shapes are striking, with the added benefit of being able to recognize the action in the scene.  I’d hang it on my wall”

Jim Goldstein – “I am quite impressed with Vasco’s photograph. The longer shutter speed to create the motion blur of the fast moving action is quite captivating. Whether intentional or not I also find the layering of color, light and shadow created by the panning to add a great deal of interest. Some might fret over the lack of detail in the bull, but this is a non-issue for me. The dynamic range of the scene is greater than the ability of the camera sensor or film to capture. One could brighten the shadows when post-processing, but I think that would be a mistake. The motion blur provides an abstract feel that does not need to be weighted down with subject detail. In addition the darker bull provides an anchor to the image and a source of contrast that keeps my eye glued to the scene. While I think this image is quite strong as is I’d hope that Vasco was able to get alternate takes on the action with varying shutter speeds. The matador is a little washed out from his quick movement and might take on a slightly more recognizable form with a quicker shutter speed. Another thing I hope Vasco was able to experiment with is varying focal lengths. While I find the tight crop of this photograph to work quite well it might be nice to have choices as to how much one could crop in on the action. All in all a very appealing photograph that is a pleasure to view.”

Natalie Norton- “For me a photograph is strong when it makes me feel, not think.  When I first saw this photo I wasn’t thinking, about the composition, I wasn’t thinking about the color, I wasn’t thinking about the choice of lens or settings, I was feeling.  When a photo really makes me feel the rest is irrelevant.”

Peter Carey – “I absolutely love the action in this shot.  In particular, the little bit of dirt that is kicked up by the bull and shown on its flank.  While the matador is not clear or really visible in this image, I think it helps to remove that element and reduce him to just color, including the cape.  The timing, for me, was perfect with this shot.  Any later and the horns would be obscured and they play an important role in the shot.  Any earlier and the bull would not be in full stride really showing its strength.  Further, I like that the maroon color at the top and how it is an even third of the image, helping center the bull in a way.  Also, by not including the bulls haunches in the photo, I feel a far greater sense of fluid given to its body, making it flow into the frame from right.   All in all, I love this photo and think it’s a great shot.”

What do you think or feel about Vasco’s photo? Please share your opinion in the comments section below and remember, keep if friendly, please, whether you like the shot or not.

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