elenaexisting

Thanks for the feedback, Alon!

I will try my best, but you will have to be patient as I am not really clear all the time on how to describe what I am doing (I still haven't entirely figured out photography jargon). The only lighting in the room was natural light coming in from the window. I used automatic flash for the photo to get the reflections, but I also adjusted the exposure compensation by -1. I'm using a Canon PS SD500 and don't really understand all of the technical terms. I've pretty much just memorized what adjustments work for different situations. When I shoot water and want surface reflections, I do as above. When I want to be able to shoot through the water, I do the opposite -- no flash and increase the exposure compensation for a crisper image. :-)

and thank you for taking the time to share more about your process and methods...much appreciated!

Need suggestions on how to improve -- thanks!

This is my favorite of your "shephard series. Posture, expression, and perspective all come together much better here. Maybe just a touch more contrast?

The perspective on this one worked much better for me than on the previous that I viewed.

I really like the expression here, but the hand doesn't quite work for me. I'm sure the perspective is intentional, and I think it COULD work well, but I think with the fingers flopping down it seems awkward. Maybe the same shot, same perspective, but a firmer grip on the staff?

From an aesthetic stanpoint, yes, there are so many minor distractions -- but they do seem to help tell the story of the photo. Those are downed powerlines the girls are navigating through, yes? For this particular photo, I think I would have placed it in the "documentary" category.

I think this shot could work if you experimented with the angles and perspective a bit. I do like the lighting of the cafe immensely, but the Tabac sign drags my eyes off into the empty sky and leaves me wondering why the sky is still so light and blue when the street seems so much more dusky.

Some of the things that really stand out in this photo for me: The first thing that really struck me about this composition was the darkness in the background that manages to come up from behind and above to cloak the hairline of the subject. She appears to be wearing an invisible bonnet/shroud/headscarf and the long wispy bangs covering the eys and trailing the cheekbones emphasize the idea of a metaphoric head covering. Although her facial features and shoulders are well-lit, the inwardly-clenched shoulders reinforce the idea of being covered or encircled. You can easily believe her to be crouching inside a real and heavy garment that yourself as the viewer simply fails to see. The upper half of the photo held me for quite a while, but after I took the time to follow the lines of the arms down towards the hands, I realised that the hands in and of themselves speak volumes and demand the viewers attention, even if on first glance, they might be passed over. Whatever is clutched between her fingers, I'm unable to tell, but for all her apparent youth and beauty those hands are taut with reined-in agitation. The thumb of her left hand is almost painfully jammed backwards. The tight pressure and clenching are completely disproportionate to and unexplained by the small, light object obscured out of frame. Those hands completely defy any illusion of naivety or weakness suggested by her lacy garments and exposed glowing skin. Interesting tonal qualities in the tiled countertop as well. After studying the hands, my eyes played tricks on me and the darker tiles began to look almost grimy until I became completely uncomfortable with her bare arms planted so firmly on their surface -- irrational as I knew the "dirt" of the tiles was -- a product of my own imagination and interpretation. If time and inclination allow, I'd be curious to hear your own thoughts about composing this photograph and your reations to the photo itself.

M.H. -- Thank you for taking the time to explain your thought processes and composition choices. Truly, I did not mean to offend, and apologize if my comments seemed unduly critical. My intention was merely to offer the courtesy of explaining my ratings as you requested -- based on my own personal reactions to the photo. Thanks again for the opportunity to dialogue and learn. :-)

The bottom image is important to convey the documentary aspect...the top photo alone doesn't give enough context. my personal opinion is that some of the detail objects on the bathrub in the bottom picture (soapdish I think and vase?) are a little too bright and busy. I'm not sure if I'm communicating my thoughts well at all but I would say the 2nd picture gives me mixed messages. On the one hand, I think you are providing insight into realism for the subject matter -- on the other hand, the bright almost candy like objects reinforce the larger-than-life "un"-real stereotype of the model? Sorry for being so wordy.

I love the animation and personality you capture in inanimate objects. Beautiful clean details here and vibrant colours. Quite the gaping mouth!

The textural contrasts here are very nice. I love the headlamp. I'm also fascinated trying to peer back in the distance at what appears to be a wall? Very abstract and somewhat eerie shadows lurking there. Adds some nice complex psychological undertones.

I really like the natural expressiveness of this group -- the girls are especially well captured. The angle of the car directly behind the man in the foreground is a little jarring...draws attention away from the group interaction.

I really like the warmth of the stone. Good details and lighting. I think the angle is a good choice as well...extends the railing(?) into infinity.

I like the juxtaposition of classical archways with the contemporary lines of the escalator. I agree with the cropping suggestion, although I would go the opposite route and do a centered crop with equal light dark column amounts showing on either side.

straddles (ahem) the line between fashion and documentary in interesting ways.

I love the composition, but the lighting balance seems a little awkward to me. Interesting reflection.

It is most definitely amphibian!

Wonderful rich use of colour. Supports the mood perfectly!

Very expressive and good capture of genuine emotion and personality. I like the spontaneous quality here.

I will admit that I haven't spent a lot of time around horses -- but I really loved the amazingly plush velvety texture of that coat -- rear flank though it may be!

I like the third ship barely emerging from the mist. Changes the whole mood of the photo.

Such a somber expression! Works very well with the costume!