newbie1

May 17, 2009

MY POINT:

I AM OPEN FOR HARDCORE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.

I think I will upload for criticism only from now on, maybe I can actually get a critique that way.

May 17, 2009

I, last night uploaded some photos I had shot on the street of San Francisco. These street photos are of "real street" people in their element. I prefer monochrome in the photos. I happen to like the photos; some I think are very good, some so so. I just got hammered today with 3/3's; I mean hammered.

And,,,,,NO CRITIQUES! No explanation about the ratings, just 3/3's.

Then I went to see who had rated them so low. Of the people that were identified 100% of them were fairly new, (not a put down here so do not get me wrong), and 100% of them had average ratings of their own photos in the 3's.

Just for your information. I went from being rated at 5 to now dropping fast to the 3's.

It is not that they do not know what they are doing; they may know better than I. It is as I stated in a prior posting, on Photos.net, a lack of knowledge on how to rate and critique and what to look for.

My photos, as much as I like them, may be 3's. I do not know. I just have received no critiques telling me why I deserve that 3.

May 17, 2009

I HATE, 3/3'S. I hate that I will upload some, in my opinion at the time, very good photos and before I am even finished uploading them I am hit with all of them being rated quickly with 3/3's with NO critique to explain why the person rating them rated them as such. I will look at them, study them to try and find whey they are 3/3. I will then recieve ratings of 6 and 7 on the same photos with critiques to explain such. Makes me wonder who and why I am getting 3's to start with; it takes the wind out of my sails.

If my photos are really a 3/3 then please tell me why. I would not knowlingly purposely upload a photo if I thought it were a 3/3; telling me why will allow me to see what I am not seeing. I am learning and need your support, not your let downs.

May 17, 2009

I have read of this same problem a few times here in the forums. I was once confronted and told I had to put my camera up. I then decided to research this myself. I purchased a few books and read them; studied them actually. I then copied very applicable pages from them and put those pages in my camera case; just in case. I have never had to pull them out. But, the knowledge I learned gave me much more confidence in shooting street photos.

1) The Professional Photographers legal handbook; Nancy Wolfe

2) The law in plain english for photographers; Leonard Duboff

3) Legal Handbook for Photographers; Bert Krages

These will do you alot of good.

May 15, 2009

When I go to San Francisco to shoot street I always carry:

My small back pack in it I carry

1) my 80-400 lens, just in case

2) my shoe flash, I do use it often at times so why not.

3) my extra battery so I do not run low

4) many memory cards as I do not want to run short ever, ( I did once and will not again)

5) a micro cloth for cleaning off my lens in case it gets dirty, (this has happened more than once in the city).

My camera is a Nikon D300. On it I go with my 18-200 VR lens. I will usually go all day with this lens and never remove it. I try to keep it at about 100 MM when I shoot. However, I do at times change to the 80-440 vr lens.

I have just ordered the new Nikon 85mm 1.4 VR lens, I will have to adjust to it. But, the 18-200 seems to work best on the street for me.

May 10, 2009

I think to shoot street one, at least myself, has to blend in with the crowd. I can't go into the skid row area and shoot homeless dressed in a tuxedo. While at the same time I can't go to the ritz dressed as a homeless man. The key here it to blend in with the crowd and they, for the most part will not even see you, man or woman. So, put on your dirty torn sneakers and jeans with holes and rough t-shirt and start shooting.

I am somewhat aprhensive to start. Then I calm down, relax, go with the flow and start shooting, I just become on with the street and it becomes one with me.

I think going out with a fake press pass or Id tag just draws too much attention. You do not want any attention; you want to blend in and be accepted.

May 4, 2009

As of this time I have not; I am at work right now. I will try later one evening this week. Thank you for asking.

May 4, 2009

Herman:

Very nice smooth work flow. The final tree photo is very smooth, flowing; unlike my b&w conversions which appear hard, harsh, sharp lines and shadows; too dark in some areas.

May 3, 2009

Ron, Scubadiver: I like your conversion, the tones.

May 3, 2009

OK,,,, Here is one. This one I used Photoshop and adjusted the Gradiant to BW then adjusted the light. The first one is color. the second it B&W.

Second one is B&W.

Critiques Please?

May 3, 2009

Donald:

Practice makes almost perfect. Copy your photos then work with the copies to learn, never the single original; that is what I do. First step for me is to pull up the photos on my card, copy to a folder on my computer, copy them all to a DVD disk, (which I label and file in a separate case), then copy them also to my 1 terabyte external hard drive which only has my photos on it. I then experiment with copies of the photos, not the photos on my memory card. Anyway when all done I erase the card and it is ready to go again. This may seem like too many steps but if my hard drive fails, I am covered.

If you are going to purchase a new laptop be sure that it has the ATI or NIVIDIA graphics stickers on it. These are the best for photos; ones without will be a little cheaper however the photo quality may not be near as good thus it may not suite your purpose. (I am not a computer man, my computer man preaches this to me and I follow). The are good cards.

BRAD:

How are you? I have not been in the city for a few weeks, sick right now and have been busy. However, I must state that your work is looking great. Your last trip shots are very good, excellent street scenes. I do like your black and whites. I will have to attempt your method also. Great shooting to you.

May 3, 2009

One must accept HONEST criticism for one to learn. One can not accept praise when one does not deserve it. One can not improve when one rejects truth.

May 2, 2009

I wish to thank you Andrew. I may attempt this tomorrow when I have a few moments. I have been sitting at this screen most of the day and my eyes are tired. ( sometimes I get carried away and forget the time). But, I love photography.

May 2, 2009

Lex:

I thank you for your input and your honest critique; I was hoping for that. I honestly would rate the photo a 3/4; honestly, just opposite of your rating. It is NOT Original as many have shot the photo of a rose bud, and some are done very well. I just went out back to shoot this photo for this purpose. Aesthetics is OK, but as you said it is a bit overexposed. I shot this using a flash, which I hardly ever do. I just put the photo up for a ratings and they appear to be equal O and A; as is what we have been chatting about here all along; they are just doing the numbers.

I have had a couple of members who have emailed me stating that if I were to rate their photos they will in turn RATE mine. To this I have not responded. However, review of the portfolios revealed many 7's and 6's?

I as a new photographer CAN NOT LEARN by cheating the ratings and I will not do it. I learn from honesty and knowledge. I have learned so much here and intend on continuing to do so.

Again, thank you Lex for your knowledge and honesty.

May 2, 2009

Thank you all again. Tell me, Andrew, what filter did you use on the background?

May 2, 2009

Lex:

How would you rate this photo of mine? untilizing what we have discussed herein?

And,,,, does this photo qualify for a copyright?

May 2, 2009

Thank you John.

May 2, 2009

I had purchased CS2 and was beginning to get comfortable with it to some degree. Then CS4 came out with the ability to see RAW, so I obtained it. I like it to some degee much better, however I am just learning it. I think that if I am to be consistently good with it I will work with it.

I much prefer and to shoot Black and White. The photo speaks best to me when it can be comfortable with itself. The subjects and subject matter I address compliments Black and white as well as the black and white compliments the subjects.

I have had a digital camera for a little over a year now and while it seems best for me, it is still taking time to get used to. "Baby Steps"

May 2, 2009

mining town homes converted to bw in photoshop

mining town homes color prior to photoshop

Opinions?

May 2, 2009

Ton:

I will take a photo, color, into photoshop and work it. I will then post it here, beginning and end and see what you think.

Jim

May 2, 2009

When I shoot Monochrome and I open the photo is Nikon NX2 it opens B&W. When I open it in Photoshop it opens Color and has to be converted first?

When I compare the photo that was initially opened in NX2 to the photo opened and converted without manipulation in CS4 I personally detect no difference in them?

The contrast is always soft, lighting always needs adjusting and there is always a tint of color, such as blue from the skys or a bit too much in other areas. I am trying to fine tune my abilities so that my photos improve much.

May 2, 2009

Tom:

Would you advise and prefer shooting in color then converting to B&W in Photoshop?

May 2, 2009

Lex:

PS:

I like your photos. You are extreme, but I think that is what makes you and your photography; your photos are a reflection of you and not of others.

May 2, 2009

I normally do prefer to shoot B&W; I love how it looks and speaks to me when the subject is shot. I shoot with a Nikon D300 and normally have it set on Monotone. I then take my photos into photshop and work with them a bit to achieve the final photo.

I am not that great or even "experienced" at photoshop, yet I am learning as I go. I just always thought I could achieve much greater detail than I was achieving.

Yesterday my After Capture Magazine, april may 2009, <a href="http://www.aftercapture.com">www.aftercapture.com</a>, came and I sat down reading it this am over my coffee. There is an article about a fine are photographer in Seattle, Washington, USA. She shoots and prefer B&W photos; (VictoriaBjorklund.com)

The article is basically an instruction which she uses for her B&W photos for shows. It is stated in the article to be a somple, powerful RAW conversion workflow for beautiful black and white photos.

I took the article and posted it next to my computer and utilized it this am. The results were fantastic. I was very happy with them. Please see my workspace on Colorado. there you will find three photos of a small abandonded home along hiway 6; one photo is right out of my camera B&W. One photo is adjusted by photoshop without utilizing Victoria Bjorkland's instructions and the third is my second attempt this am using her instructions in the article. I am impressed; what a difference her method achieves.

ps:

I have along way to go, I am just learning, however, this article and method is helping.

This photo is out of camera:

This photo is adjusted per the article:

May 2, 2009

OOOOOOOHHHHHHH YYYYYYYEEEEEESSSSSS IIIIIII DDDDDDDDOOOOOOOO. Maybe it is from my law school days, (but I am not an attorney).

At least now I know what I am looking at and WHY?

At least now I can look at my photos more objectively and have a better understanding when I critique my own photos, as well as others, and WHY?

At least now if I give a critique or rating I will do so with some kind of understanding and WHY? I will not be just throwing numbers to the wind as I have done in the past and as others do also.

PS: when i lived on the farm years ago we made our own sausage? (and butter)

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