divo

A conversion of another shot in this folder. Any thoughts? I'm trying

some of the new LR3 functions. (Also figuring out the new

Rating/Critique system here at PN)

Experimenting with negative space, colour and 'motion'. Your thoughts

welcome. Does this work for you?

Thanks for comment Balthazar.  Yeah, that "standard frame" doesn't really help here does it.  Hmmm.

We were all waiting for a traditional 'fireworks' show.  Really more of a launching giant burning logs off a cliff onto the rocks below.  I got bored while waiting and started testing my EF 50mm f/1.2L which I had just purchased used prior to this event.  (Fireworks pics to follow when I get time.)

This one caught my eye while I was commenting on 'Home Sweet Home.'  I really like the power and simplicity of this shot.  Great execution and handling of tones.

Balthazar and I have very different styles, which is totally cool.  I probably would have waited for the bird to fly away and just let the colour and contrast do the talking.  Basically, if you cloned out the bird and recropped a bit, I think this would also make an interesting abstract. FWIW.  On the other hand, that wouldn't be a bird photo anymore.

Not sure if this is HDR or not, but I like the tonal feel of the grain and colours in this shot.  Interesting location, too.  I probably would have set the horizon line where the valley floor meets the large rocks about 2/3 of the way up.  This composition feels a bit 'tilty' to me.  I find my head cocking to the side to compensate.  Not sure if that is a trick of the landscape or intentional on your part.

An experiment in colour and negative space.

Hmm.  From the thumbnail I didn't think I would like this shot much, but it is growing on me the longer I look at it.  It does hint at an interesting story.  The contrast between the slightly awkward position of the legs in the front with the cigarette and the relaxed posture of the legs at the back really makes the shot.  Definitely gets me wondering who they are and what they are talking about.

I think you have captured the late-night closing-time mood quite well, and that is difficult to do.  I especially like the contrast between the moving passerby and the stationary employees inside the shop.

Hey Gail, thanks for another visit.  Your insights are always welcome.

I certainly intended to have a good trip!  And, as it turns out, it was unforgettable.  Sadly, I got really sick while I was there and suffered from stomach issues for the next 6 months!  Oh well!

Now that I have some perspective, I see the beauty in my trip and I'm really happy I went, but at the time I was just wandering through the desert feeling really wretched but determined to bring home some memorable shots.  The trip down to Abu Simbel is probably my best memory of my time there.  Beautiful location and the paintings inside (which you aren't supposed to photograph) are stunning!  There have been a lot of documentaries about this site that might be worth a watch if you have a place in your heart for history.

Oh! Canada!

You've done well in capturing that feel of a Canadian winter.  Life progressing amidst the bleak cold landscapes.  I might saturate the colours of the shack just a tad more, but I'm big on overdoing colour.  Nice shot.

This does have a bit of a composite feel about it, but it is dynamic and it works for me.  There is a really fascinating playfulness here that I don't usually associate with Rhinos: wonderful juxtaposition!

I'd have to say you're doing most things right!  Here and in your other shots in this folder.  You've frozen the water well (just enough with still some motion evident) and managed to get an interesting facial expression moment and even some cleavage for a dash of sexy.  As someone just getting into portraits and people, this is really more of a me-being-able-to-learn-from-you situation rather than the other way around.  Working overtime for something resembling criticism, my brain wonders how this would look with a bit more room around the subject, but that is a really small issue for me.

Hmmm.  This is listed as an "Abstract", which is pretty much all about the juxtaposition of form and colour, so that doesn't really bother me.  Personally, I love shots like this that hint subtlely at a story.  Here the bright colours contrast nicely with the slightly sad feeling I get because nobody is around in the heat of the afternoon.  I can hear the crickets chirping! I might just go take a nap myself!

Ain't that always the way!  You live so close yet never make it there, but people will travel halfway round the world to see it.  My brother is in SA until next year and wants me to come back and visit again.  How can I say No?  Spectacular scenery, wild animals, wine, biltong (not necessarily together)oceans, mountains, deserts and the list goes on....  So, I may email you at some point to pick your brain about locations etc. (you know, being the local pro and all  ;^) ), if it isn't too much trouble.

Yeah, sorry about that.  I was having real problems uploading images along with critiques due to a software conflict.  Fixed now.

I had no idea how to do it when I first started out either!  I just started with images and asked myself, "how can I make this better?", "what needs changing?", then tried to find info online about how to make it happen.  I started out with ideas about fidelity and accuracy, but working in digital changed that for me.  Once you view an image as an arbitrary collection of pixels, if your goal is artistic rather than journalistic, rules about colour and exposure seem less important than the final image.

These days I use Lightroom 3 a lot.  You can do so much with it these days that going into Photoshop is becoming rarer and rarer for me.  Photoshop still has really important features for heavy processing, obviously; however, I find the many brighten, sharpen and colour fix issues can be handled with brushes in Lightroom 3, and it is way more intuitive and has a lot more photographer specific functionality.  Anyway, good luck on the journey and finding what works for you!

Wonderful abstract.  You have kept the lines straight and clean here.  I always have a hard time with that!

Correct exposure is a question that comes up a lot.  I don't have THE answer, but I do have thoughts.  Is there actually such a thing as correct exposure in a digital sense?  There are certainly shots that have been exposed for maximum effect, but in this day of digital wizzardry you can probably ballance exposure more effectively in Photoshop or Lightroom than you can on scene.  This photo for example is tough.  You want the lights to be rich and vibrant but the people to also stand out.  So, why not have both?  I'm not a Photoshop guru, but my approach to this shot would have been to brighten up the people with an adjustment layer in PS.  Actually, that caused them to be a bit too saturated, so I duplicated the layer mask and used it on a saturation adjustment layer, too.  This is a very rough attempt, but maybe it will help you consider your options.  If you react in visceral horror, I will completely understand!  I most humbly submit for your consideration...

I love the 'action' in this shot.  It is really dynamic.  As a portrait, I think a touch of vignetting would also work well here.  It would focus the eyes even more on the main subject.  With or without its a great shot, but I for your consideration

Thanks Chantelle.  Yeah, I really enjoyed my trip through Lesotho.  Just stunning.  Next time I'm in SA I may try Swaziland.

I agree.  I think it is the sensitive lighting that makes this shot.  Interesting character, but the same shot in broad daylight wouldn't be as intriguing.  The shadows give this scene a touch of sadness that adds depth to the photo.

As Michael Chang pointed out (above) in response to your ratings post, landscape photography is a religion for some and they can be very unforgiving to the beginner.  For those raised with National Geographic and a constant bombardment of amazing shots through TV and film, it is difficult to comment constructively on shots that don't use filtration, time of year and all those other variables he discusses with regard to sunsets.  Landscape photography is tough.  I avoid it!

Take this shot as an example: for you it may hold an emotional resonance, but what does the viewer get?  Does this present the viewer with a new experience of this scene?  Were you there when the light was 'just perfect'? Did you use filters to bring out the best in the colours and geographical elements?  Did this shot just happen, or did you plan it out for weeks in advance?  Just answering those questions honestly to yourself will probably help you improve your photography skill set.

Interesting and unique portrait.  I don't do a lot of nature photography, but I get the sense that competition is pretty tough here on PN.  When you view the pro-level stuff that people submit here, other viewers see stuff that isn't shot with a 600mm + extender and think, "Neh, leaves me cold."  I think shots like this are more the way to go.  You obviously have some chops in getting nice sharp images of birds, which is tough to do: I'll be honest, I usually fail at that stage.  Now, perhaps focus on characteristic or unique actions that you observe.  It's these that are interesting to the viewer.  Some of your other shots here are interesting documentary captures of birds in their habitat, but may not artistically capture a unique moment in the natural kindom.  From what I have observed, it's those shots that get the 7s!  You've got the skills, now try to kick it up a notch.

Of all your flower shots, this is the one that jumped off the screen at me.  I'm a sucker for colour and shallow depth of field, so this one really jumped out at me.  Constructive thoughts.  View the photo with the dark band at the top cut off.  (This happened naturally for me when I scrolled down to add my critique.)  I like it better that way because it keeps my eye moving around the central object.  The darker band at the top breaks up the feel a bit.  See what you think.

As someone already pointed out on the other version of this photo, the focus effect makes it look like a model.  I had the same thought.  There are two sides to that.  Interesting technique, but I'm not sure it is working for this photo for me personally.

Part of my fascination with wrecks and old forgotten modes of transport is the resonating stories of the people that used them.  Reducing it to a model severs that important emotional link.

I think this might have even more impact with some context from the river this boat 'lived' on.  That would get me thinking about what it has been through in its lifetime.