yves_jalbert

I like the composition, I especially like the angle and I like the over exposed effect you are giving to this photo. However if you're going in that direction, my personnal taste (just a personal preference) is that it would look even better in black and white. My final suggestion/comment is that a pulled out white card from an external flash on-camera, or a softbox would have given nice catch lights in the eyes, making the photographer less noticeable and giving more dept and contrast to the eyes. But that's just a very very small thing. It's a good shot and I like it. The subject looks relaxed and there are no forced expressions, very natural.

A very very nice photograph. You captured the perfect moment when the small bird had it's beak open and when the mother had the two berries at the end of her beak, just before she gave it to the baby.

 

You could have captured this shot at any other time and it would have not been as good. This is excellent, congratulations.

I simply love this photograph. Like a painting taken on camera. The beauty of simplicity. This is something I would hang on my wall. Very original.

All that's missing is the steam that comes out of manholes during cold winters and that would have been a mind blowing photograph.

 

I find it very original and interesting. A photograph that anybody would be proud to have in their portfolio. Congratulations. Very well executed.

To me this would go in the "Cars and Vehicules" category. If you look into the categories on the right of the Critique forum page, you'll see that most fighter planes, trains, motorcycles and of course cars are in there. I think it's good that you ask, as some people put these photographs in the sport category. I don't think that a fighting vehicule of such technological precision and advancement fits into the sports category.

 

This is a really good photograph. I love the rich blue sky with no clouds and the underneath view of the fighter is absolutely excellent. Very sharp photograph. The subject is very placed in the frame. Thanks for sharing.

Suggestions? I don't think there are any suggestions to make here, this is perfection :)

 

Everything from the colors, light, framing, background is just absolutely beautiful. Images of flowers don't usually interest me at all. This one does... a lot. Congratulations.

Wow! amazing. What else can I say? I had a quick look at your excellent portfolio and at first glance this is my favorite of them all, especially because of this special moment you captured. It shows just how much emotion, affection and life there is in these animals. Absolutely beautiful photograph and thanks for showing it to us.

I just love these types of shots. There are many and almost identical alleys in old Montreal and they sure make good photographs. It think it's well executed and a good photo.

Very funny. I think he watched too much television and got his "I'm going to rule the universe" look from Marvin the Martian (Bugs Bunny). He's just missing the big hat falling above his eyes and could pass for him. (laughs).

Nice shot, very sharp, and the natural light is coming from the right direction.

 

If any recommendations on something else to try, it would be to use a different blocking position on the person protecting himself from the kick so his face is not hihdden. I would like to see the expression and the effort on his face as he's blocking the incoming kick.

 

To maximize the focus on the action that is present, I would try to frame it tighter so these two fill the frame more, and are isolated from the others by opening up to about f/4 or easily f/3. This way you would still see the others in the back but they wouldn't have such an important presence as the main subjects are in my opinion these two in front as this is where the action is happening.

 

For an additional punch, I would make sure to be on a tripod and do a few tests at slow speeds if possible to see that kick in action as it arrives towards the opponent's body.

 

Just a few suggestions but this is not bad at all as I like the way each group is placed in the frame.

This is very very nice. Close crop, the action fills the frame. Face is positionned correctly. Nothing bad to say. Excellent.

I'm wondering if the saturation is just not a >>little<< bit too much in this one. That orange is quite powerful, but I do like it a lot. I tend to push the saturation as well on sports and action (either with polarizer or in-camera settings). And the little boy does have his place in this shot. Quite nice. The distances chosen, framing and orientation of the light are all right.

great idea!

Very original file edition. Just beautiful.

 

However, I'd be more interested to see the original photograph as the Rafferty's balloon in the background seems awfully sharp when compared to the depth of field of the land. Same with the balloon above it. It is possible also that the light on the Rafferty's balloon is coming from the front/right handside where it's the opposite on the others. It seems to me this is a file assembled from at least five photographs instead of a photo with a main subject. The light on the face of the girl also doesn't seem to match the light in the landscape as if they were shot at different times of the day and coming from different directions. Maybe I'm wrong on this last one.

 

It's a very beautiful and original concept which shows a good handling of image edition skills (something to be used for a tourism agency) but I don't actually see an actual photograph here where depth of field, lighting, choice of lense, and camera can be discussed and commented as the elements seem to be from different photographs.

 

Really an excellent shot. I think the choice of black and white is most appropriate for this photograph.

I think it's the first time I ever see the photo of a colubris shot in the air from behind. Very original and a very good photo.

This one led me to your portfolio and I have to say that it's really, really nice. Excellent shots and a lot of originality.

 

What I really like about this photo, is just how natural it is and the expression. If I'm right, you didn't plan this one, it just happened and you had your camera ready. If it wasn't planned, you were quite fortunate to have all the right conditions at the worst time of the day for natural light photography (hard direct light). Seems to me this was taken in a bright summer day, early afternoon.

 

What makes this photo really good is the fact that the subject is not under the the sun that appears in the background but, in some shaded area. And you still have the essential light bounced from a patch of blue sky onto the subject. And not only that, it's perfectly positionned in relation to your subject (the light). The DOF is excellent; distractions are eliminated to the point where the subject is literally coming out of the photo.

 

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(I've removed a portion that might confuse or mislead other readers as it's no longer needed since Frank explains below the context and the environnement during that day).

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Yves Jalbert

 

 

This is my favorite of the seasons folder. There is something special about old Quebec. There is something even more special about old Quebec in winter. Make it in black and white and you've got majic.

 

I think the composition here is right on.

Thanks for sharing, this is exactly how I remember some winter evenings in Quebec (although this was taken in Spain). It's just the same.

 

Sometimes at the end of the day just before it gets dark, when there is no wind and no noise, the sky and your whole surroundings take this kind of blue shade. If you are alone in the woods it makes it very disorienting and yet very peaceful. All you hear is yourself breathing as there is usually no wind after these storms. You can't see far and you don't hear anything else. There is no horizon, no sky. Everything is this blue. Very special.

 

Anyways, really good shot. I like the color and the trees. It's good you were able to capture it before people or animals left tracks in the snow.

 

Yves.

I remember reading about a serious study that was done regarding eyes and the iris that dilate when people feel attraction to another one. I don't remember all the details about it but anyways, most people are usually attracted to eyes that show a large iris, no joke. You have done a very good job here. I would be surprised that her eyes are always like that. I'm wondering how you acheived this effect. Could it be that there was only little light in the studio before the flash fired?

 

Anyways, this is truly an excellent portrait. Amazing work.

Jayesh, to answer your question, such a picture is usually done (unless altered in Photoshop) by zooming in or out while you press on the shutter to take the picture.

 

The best way to do this is to make sure that your camera is steady on a tripod (suggestion but not necessary) and you start zooming out just before pressing the camera shutter (and you continue to do so until the exposure is taken). If you're set to 1/100 for example, then the faster you zoom out (careful you don't want to break your zoom here, be gentle) the more of the effect you'll record on film.