lmcinnis37

I loved the colors and the contrasts, but the image seems to offer some unbelievable elements.  The bright lights in or under the bridge are a stark contrast to the darker elements.  Cloning out these light areas with the colors from the left skyline makes it more believable to me.  Additionally, the moon appears full, which means the light should be coming from the camera's rear, but
the sky is brighter from the far side.  If this is the case, the best the moon could be illlumiated is from the far side of the image and it should be only a thin cressent, at best.  Not only does an image have to be beautiful, it has to be acceptable to what one expects to see.  I don't mean to be disrespectful of your skills.  I enjoyed most of your images, so keep up the good work. 

Regards.

Lamar McInnis, Sr.

This image lacks brightness and color saturation in my opinion.  I suggest brightening,  adding a little contrast,  then,  just a touch of color saturation. 

 

 

In my opinion, the Black cat's details are completely lost in your image. Some of that detail may be captured by lightening the cat's coat. Use the magic wand in PS to isolate the black cat and then use brightness and contrast controls to bring out some of the detail that is there but not shown in your image. Nothing else needs to be changed.

 

I like the detail in the snow around their feet, and the fact that one cat has black stripes to match the black in the other cat. This is a very poignant image showing the meeting of two old friends, each inquiring of the other about where they have been (or what they have been eating). It is a good catch and one to be proud of. Cats are not always easy to photograph.

The color seems very subdued, and perhaps that is what you and the camera saw, but I feel the image should be brighter and enriched to show the lines in the face better. Also, I believe a vertical format is a better choice since the top of the head is cropped. Overall, a good image of one who has seen much and whose eyes show the agony of much that he has seen. But, he continues to patiently endure.

This is a beautifully done work which I feel could profit from a little perspective control tweaking to be even better...and without sacrificing the key elements or quality of the image. Making the pillars on the right align with the frame edge seems to me to improve it without really changing it. The lighting is quite exquisite and the tonal quality is excellent. A masterful work. Bravo. (See the altered image.)

Very creative and mesmerizing.

I think you have frost and not snow. Regardless, it is a beautiful image and a delight to view.

Buildings at left and right tend to lean to center. Correcting verticals from side to side improves the image IMHO. See attachment.

Very impressive image, colorful and contrasty, but I wonder why you didn't make the leaning bridge supports to match the vertical factory chimney. It can be done easily unless the leaning bridge support adds some tension that aligning the verticals may not offer. For the other view, see the attachmment.

I find the image soft in focus, too tightly cropped, and generally uninteresting with the head-on frontal view. It would be helpful to know what your objectives were when shooting this particular image and the camera/lens you were using.. It has many attributes of an image shot with a pin-hole camera using the wrong aperture. Other of your portfolio works are also soft,and quite grainy, but at least they show some interesting architectual angles. Check the cleanliness of your lens as well as the camera's focusing scale for accuracy. As for a critique, this image has too many artistic and technical flaws to get a good starting point. Use this as a starting point and learn all about your camera and what makes an interesting image. If you like architecture, go to the local library and view some architectural digest magazine images to get a better feel for what it takes to make good images. This image is one you probably won't see in one of those magazines.

But with a bit of effort, one day you may even make the cover shot! Keep trying.

Deja vu, but nicely done. Good use of toning.

Your image has captured more than what you show in the dark areas underneath the eaves. In PS, you may selectively isolate these areas and work on them individually to raise the levels to match the well-lighted parts on the eaves. You have missed much beauty and enjoyment by allowing these to remain subdued and hidden in the darkened areas. I have recovered them for you to show what can be achieved. And, the nice part is that you may choose the areas you want heightened. Lamar McInnis, Sr.

Having been a part of the oil industry many moons ago, I can say without equivocation that this is one of the best industry photos I have seen. It is simple and yet conveys what we are all looking for ---a little relief at the pump and a little profit for the risk-takers in the industry. As much as I like it, however, I feel the gray hues of the foreground and clouds should be enlivened by a little warming and brightening. The grays could convey the end of the industry with the flowers in requiem rather than announcing a bold, new beginning with warmer colors. I have done that for you as an example of what I would do if it were mine. Anyway, congratulations on such a great capture. I hope your "well comes in" on this image. It has all the potential in the world. Lamar McInnis, Sr.

I enjoyed seeing your image, and I am happy you recorded it in such artistic style. My therapy is taking images I like and seeing if there are some tweaks I can perform to, perhaps, heighten them pictorially but not necessarily historically. Let me say that I believe your image would be better if you made a near square format, cutting out the right side where the other structure is. (It is past any historical or aesthetic interest, it seems.) I found the silo very bright on the lower end. The barn end is pretty dark. I tried to retain all your historical significance and rustic charm with a modified version. But, it is NOT your barn and silo because of my meddling with it, but I think I may have made a better viewing image of it. As the author, you may not agree, so you may exercise your editorial license to delete it with my blessings. Still, I hope some of what I diid gives you ideas you may want to use. Again, it's your image.

Thank you for your response, and I accept your apology. The image was on the open Critique Forum when I found it. How it migrated from the Nude Forum to the Critique Forum is unknown. Something for the Elves to pursue. I will inform them of my displeasure.

Lamar McInnis, Sr

Your image is oversaturated to begin with. It is a normal tendency when getting started in digital photography. The busy background is not really compatible with portraiture and, in this case, the colors are not supportive, either. The white triangular area over her right shoulder only matches the flower,and both are too stark in contrast with the other elements. Lighting appears decent, but the dark ring around her neck is a problem. Is it lighting or somethng else causing it? Your light is coming from the left foreground and is about right, but the left side of her face including her cheek, lower eye, mouth, and chin and neck areas are not illuminated to match. If you don't have Photoshop, get it instead of the next lens you planned to buy. It will save your images far better than a new lens. Also, when you post an image for critique, make the image at least 500x500 pixels in size so it is easier to work with when it is critiqued. This one is about 250x300 which is hard to work with. I did a rough cut at extracting the background, then copied what was left--an outline of your subject. I opened another New, blank image and made my own background colors using a circular graduation of white and blue colors. I pasted the cutout on the New background and proceded to soften the neck shadow, the chin darkness, whiten the teeth, and color the flower, to name a few corrections.

That's a great smile for braces. Most folks don't even try. Anyway, here is my product. Maybe this will help you on your next portrait shoot. Good luck. Lamar McInnis,Sr.

This is one of the most unusual upper cloud formations I have seen, and as an aviator who saw a lot of clouds from the bottom and the top, it is stunning. As for the original image and the critique photo, both are appealing. I took a "middle of the road" view of them and came up with my own variation for your consideration. I hope you enjoy it. Lamar McInnis, Sr.

I take issue with the title, and the image in this venue. The "doll-like" victim appears to be totally naive about the apparent intentions of the seductress who's pawing her, so how can she be "willing?" Further, IMO there should be an adult section of this forum for such images, not in the critique forum which is open to all comers. "Color" me prude, but if you had male and female nudes here in such provocative and suggestive poses, IMO there would be significant and justifiable negative reaction. There are other publications and venues which carry images of this kind which, again, IMO, cater to the prurient interests of their clientele. Yes, I know there is ample precedence in art for this type of image, nevertheless, it still offends my sensbilities and I don't want to look at it nor do I want my grandchildren looking at it. To each his (or her) own. I merely ask that you be respectful of others' sensibilities when posting provocative images where they are likely to offend. Do you think you can handle that?

Like the previous critiquer, I like the portrait, too. However, the face is too dark on his right side and a little redder, as well. The areas under both eyes are far redder than they should be. The right eye is not as visible, too. The background doesn't bother me. It looks like a lace pattern with a blue gel over the light source. Whatever it is, it works well, compliments the shirt, and contrasts well with the skin and hair. Unless the portrait is part of an advertisement, I prefer not to see any writing anywhere in or on it, but the photographer's info is subdued here and not objectionable. I like the straight, bold look directly into the lens without a smile. It is very strong and macho. Despite my complaints, all of which are correctable, it remains one of the best male portraits I have seen, recently. I have corrected some of the issues I pointed out and have a sample for you to compare. Overall excellent. Keep up the good work. Lamar McInnis, Sr.

You have a winner with this image. There are so many subtle ways to alter it to produce a variety of very pleasant, but different moods. Lightening it brings the water grasses into more prominence while darkening it brings the water and stones into play. The reflections are just wonderful. One thing I tried and which may interest you is making the large stone light on top (above water) and the reflection darker. It changes the image again. Great work without a great deal of effort, I would think. Masterful work in capture, however. My compliments. Lamar McInnis, Sr.

I saw this one and thought it needed some repair on colors (as the other one did). I hope you don't mind my meddling. The far cliffs are not as rich as they should be, but I didn't want to do any more. I hope this helps. You have good images but your colors are off in processing and editing. Perhaps this will provide some visual guidance.

Subject is too red, underexposed, (and she has a file in her mouth). Keep her away from sharp objects, please. Anyway, a few tweaks and some lightening of the whites of her eyes and teeth make the portrait look much nicer--except for the file. I could remove it, but why bother? Apparently she wants it there.

The right deer and foreground are too light and need darkening by some method. As an alternative, try cropping out the right deer and using ony the left deer which is more properly exposed. I assume this was taken with a game camera with autoflash which would account for the disparity in lighting. A good image to work with, still. I did a little work on the darkening, and may have improved it somewhat. You be the judge. Regards. Lamar McInnis, Sr.

Ronda, I have taken unilateral license to modify your image with some changes which alter its character. First, it is heavily color-saturated, something that does not always please everyone. And, I have lightened the barn and other storage shed and colored them to add some detail and interest. And, the windmills are gone. Well, there are other things, but see for yourself. It has more of a rustic, painting look rather than a photograph. Forgive me if my modifications offend. It is unintended. My "therapy" is seeing what may be done to an image to (hopefully) improve in in some areas. I am not always successful, so if this offends, hit the "delete" choice and it will be gone. Regards. Lamar

The eyes are not observable in the original. The detail is there if you brighten the image, copy the eyes and paste them back into the original and smooth the edges with the eraser tool at about 50%. Even with this, King's right eye was still dark. I copied the new left eye, and pasted, then transformed and reversed the eye to fit and match. It may not suite the purist, but I like eyes in my portraits.