Sun behind icey branches

I've posted some images and am suprised at how tough the critiques

are... I'm willing to hear comments about why... I've seen numbers

but no comments... This is one of my favorite shots. Am I delusional

or is it just not as good as I think it is... I can take good,

constructive critiques... as long as I have useful info. No one (I

think) can be as critical of my work than me.. (at least I thought

so until I started putting my work on photo net.)

Mary: - I'm just commenting, as that's what you asked for. First, this is a view I've seen before, in varying forms, so the originality aspect is a little lost for me. I see an icy tree with the sun glinting through - lots of blue, via Provia. I use a neutral gradient filter against the sky shots to undo that blue a little, as it looks unreal otherwise. But my main question is, did you want to avoid crisp detail? When displayed at largest size, there's a bit too much blurring for my taste. If you handheld this shot, go to a tripod and run some test shots to see if that helps.

I really try to avoid the downside of critique, because only you know the conditions and setup you were facing at that particular moment. I've been so disappointed with my own work so often that it can be hard to accept a full-blown breakdown - I end up telling myself 'I KNEW that, I'm my own worst critic' - just don't take any of it to heart, and keep clicking!

Hi Mary,

I have a couple of pictures quite similar to this one, so I would have to lower the originality score. My monitor is not suritable for aesthetic critique but the image looks ok to me. I agree that the critiques here seem overly harsh, but so far it has helped me think about my pictures a lot more and to see the little things that ruin a picture. So take the critiques for what they are worth and don't get down on yourself. I think I posted 20 pictures here before I got one rated over a 5, so you are doing fine by my standards.

Once again, this is a photograph that is quite graphical in nature. All Backlit shots are this way. (look at sunsets as well). the trouble with them is that lacking detail they need to be real strong and interesting in content. Here you have a tree. There is no doubt that tree was interesting to you for whatever reason you have chosen. And there is nothing wrong with that. Trouble is that most photographers who have some experience unde their belt have been through this stage of sunsets and backlit stuff, and have now moved on to DETAIL and CONTENT. They have seen the tree (or can go out their back door and see one) and they have seen a million sunsets. Again, doesn't mean that they are not important to you. Just that they are not important to them anymore. the main thing is to keep trying. Find something you CARE about, whether it be a tree or an issue, or something, and then find a way to say what you want to say about it. Here you have said to me "cold". Good luck. kevin

Mary, I like the image. But the shot seems lacking in originality and composure. Shooting the subject with backlighting in the middle kind of detracts from the tree, and you could have backed up to get more of the tree's silhouette.

The sun is just at the dead centre.

The tree is just in the middle which simple devides the picture in two parts - left and right.

Secondly I find the sun hidden behind the tree

is distracting because I cannot see it (I can the only flares - in both sides), but as it's the brightest part of the picture my eyes always go there and stick. In this situation I would show the sun partially, either at left or right.

That way the rays and flares of sun can be seen in only one side of tree - not in both sides. Perhaps I would have used star filter to show

the rays too.

Or I would keep the sun somewhere at the top where

tree started branching out (perhaps in between the main tree and the major branch at left which

came out from tree at the bottom of the picture). That would give a feeling of togetherness between sun and tree (I don't know how to express it, only picture can do it). But in this picture this odd location of sun

with the tree doesn't show that.

 

Beautiful blue sky. Good exposure. I have noticed too that this board is critical.

 

Technically it's a nice shot. You seem to have good sharpness and the right exposure. What's lacinng is in the composition. The form isn't necassarily very pleasing. The sun seems to be the main point of interest. That's what my eye goes to first. It's dead center. Not necasarliy bad but being dead center can imply symmetry but the unsymmetrical pattern of the branches contradicts that. There are really no lines to direct attention.

 

It's hard to see the ice. If it wasn't mentioned I wouldn't have been able to distinguish it.

 

I also don't see any type of message here that would ditinguish it from any snapshot.

 

The shots that seem to get higher ratings tend to be nicely composed with interesting and pleasing patterns leading to or framing a main point of interest and that convey some sort of message. At least this is my observation and these are things I'm trying to work on in my own photos. I spend more time analyzing what the entire composition in my view finder before I even think about exposure.

 

I was just looking through your portfolio and you have some really nice shots. I love the wedding dress picture except I wish that the second window was closed because I find the dark inner sash to be distracting. You're self portrait is also very nice. The lighting is spectacular.

 

I know this may sound like a negative critique but I hope it helps you improve. I'm doing the same thing and I'm starting to see the results. I also look back at some of my older work and realzie why myself and others liked that shot and try to learn from it.

 

Good luck and keep snapping :)

Mary--

 

I'm enviosu of you. This is a great shot, and one that can't be taken just anywhere. You did a fine job.

 

The back-lit effect may not be everyone's tastes, but it creates a rather interesting effect with the ice and brings out a unique view of an otherwise plain object.

 

Having tried shooting a variety of subjects from a variety of perspectives--desert, winter, underwater, portraits, etc--I must say that I really envy you for succeeding beautifully with this shot!

 

And if others disagree, so be it. Photography is only part science. The rest is artistry.

I am thick skinned.. but it is also nice to have people see what I saw... I've learned a lot and am grateful for both the pro's and the con's... I've also learned over the years that some people overcritisize and that is just what they do... Others give helpful and useful critisizm and all you can do is take it all in and then filter it through your own self critical mind... I got so much helpful info here and with the Windows shot.... I plan to submit other work from time to time and am ready for the comments to fly -Thanks

As someone who has just started to play with a camera, I am amused at some of the comments and ratings. As an very amatuer "photographer" and I use the word lightly when describing myself, I don't expect high ratings, but I really did get a chuckle after I posted a picture that got a 2 as the highest mark, yet saw a similar one that received rave comments, and sorry if he does own the website, thought it could have been a bit better. Maybe my untrained eye or lack of experience is why I see it that way, but I still think it is just a matter of kissing up.

So here ya go critics, blast me for this comment!! :)

His: http://www.photo.net/photo/pcd0313/butterfly-34

 

 

Mine:http://www.photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=199447

If you can't see what makes the other shot better than yours then you'll have a hard time taking better photos. If you can't visualize a good photo in your viewfinder your just taking snapshots and hoping to find something good.

 

There are some major and some minor differences in the following areas: composition, color, saturation, sharpness, lighting. Ask yourself this... Let's assume you took both shots yourself. Which one would you want hanging on your wall and why?

 

Having others review and critique your work is a good way to learn. If you're not comfortable with it then don't submit your photos for rating or critique. Some of us are getting a lot of great input from this and if you can get over the fact that some people may have some negative things to say about your work, you can too.

 

This is supposed to be a friendly and productive forum let's not knock on people because they gave what they felt was an honest review that people happened not to like.

I wouldn't hang either on my wall... To my untrained unprofessional eye, they are both lacking. (maybe my shadow should have been darker and blocked more?) I posted it to prove a point, and never was I knocking anyones work. Just as the rest of you did, I stated an opinion... but opinions are like ass****, everyone has one.

I am sorry you felt that my comments were directed to you.

The reason you haven't gotten good ratings yet is cause I haven't seen it yet. I love the shot even if it isn't totally original. Remember that some photography has specific applications. This might be good as a "generic" photo which would work well for a background for something. That is because it has no real subject to focus your attention on. That is also it's flaw and probably why you are getting low ratings. It is still naked and needs some bright red slogan pasted accross it to make it complete. I see you already know how to do comercial layout. I also think that it would be more interesrting if you cropped it a lot closer. It is a strong geometrical and high contrast image, so you don't really need to see exactly what it is. The ice on the branches in the very middle create a bit of a circle around the sun. If you crop it really close it almost looks like the shadow of a tree accross the reflection of the sun on a broken car windsheild. Anyway, I like it a lot and I hope you keep it up.

Sorry Tom, didn't mean to offend. Comment retracted.

Mary,

I think this is a wonderful photo. You can just look at the number of people who have made comments about it (either positive or negative) to figure out that the photo is better than most. Take all comments as positive ways to get your imagination going next time to take a photo. Good work.

Rene

I really like the colour and composition.

its almost like the tree's branches have cobwebs as the light shines on them

Very nice scene, beautiful color, excellent composition.

I like this. Its simple and the blue color is wonderful especially the way that it graduates out from the sun. I love the dark tree form highlighted at the edges against the sun and blue backgound. The Tree form itself is OK but, yes, it is not exceptional. I imagine that actual prints would show the detail of the ice quite well as compared to the e-images here. In fact I am surprised that there isnt much more banter on Photo.net about all that is lost in the nasty JPG compression that from what I can tell the site puts on the pics. I have a sunset pic that has lost all its sharp edges even though my original looks fine on my screen and my prints are even better. Anyway - great image. D-

wow Mary, i really like this one.... i originally thought it was a nighttime shot with the moon... i love that everything's a bit blurred... it's a wonderful moody effect for me (even if the shot isn't the most original, the asthetics hooked me).... kevin kolosky's comment was interesting to say the least.... what an elitist snob!! i agree that a photographer should strive for excellence and improvement in their work and "message to the world" but i adore this shot.... many "expert" photographers seem to get too hung up by the technical side (which is important of course) but they seem to forget about their creativity since they're so concerned about making "the perfect shot".... neat to see though that just because one individual can get nothing positive out of a shot, another can get a totally different interpretation - i love the diversity of people! that being said, i sure love all these ideas, opinions, and outstanding photos on this website :-) keep clicking away.... Michael

Thank you Michael... This shot was actually chosen as a cover shot for a college catalog but dropped in favor of the money it would save to use student's artwork instead. I don't mind people expressing opinions as long as it is civil and Kevin's wasn't too terrible. Anyway, I'm self taught so there is always something out there I haven't done yet and this was one of them... Although I had been shooting for 8 years professionally, I had never shot directly at the sun and had seen images like this with cactus etc... So, I tried it! I shot about 15 images and one was published in a tourist magazine for which I got paid. Not bad for a first try, I guess.

Hey Mary, I like this photo and I agree with Rene above in that you have received alot of "press" on this one, some negative and some positive. Most of what can be said has been but I'd just like to suggest that you can always try that one again, maybe another tree, another sky. It's just another step in our journey of learning. I've shot photos for over 30 years and now I can really laugh at myself. That's great! Most of all I have more fun now. I like ALL of the comments you received. It shows how serious an art photography is. They really believe in what we do. Seek good work. All the best, Brad Ps: I have a tree shot i'd like you to see. Brad

WOW this image has sure stirred up a lot of attention and to me that is a sign of a good image. Personally I like it a lot. There is a lot of information above that would cause most of what I would want to say to be redundant. Although Ive seen remarks that the sun should not be directly behind the trunk I dont recall anyone pointing out that had you not done just that the entire image would have taken on a totally character. I think this image is about the sun behind the tree and the resultant effects. Hopefully youll diverse more often from your professional line of work and provide a few more of these great pics.

wonderful photo