Another Photography Thread

[alvarez57]

Thanks, Spiv & Sonia. We do seem to have been placed in a less-traveled area.

 

I've been doing some edits & crops, so here are a couple more. Tell me what you think.

 

 

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6035/5898683634_2edf60ec45_b.jpg

shelter by jon5cents, on Flickr

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5071/5898092549_cf23ec84ba_b.jpg

pagoda forest incense.jpg by jon5cents, on Flickr

 

 

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/5898648920_ea5002f970_b.jpg

Shaolin temple 3.jpg by jon5cents, on Flickr

 

 

Can't find my post where I also make the comment we were sent to a less trafficked area, Sonoran Desert?

 

I like your composition overall. More practice with the exposure. What digital photography program do you have?

 

The stone table with the incense...try getting rid (cropping out) the floor and concentrate more on the table and the incense. Don't put the incense smack in the middle of your picture (regla de tercios)

 

The picture with the purple umbrella...try getting rid of the washed-out sky.

Edited July 4, 2011 by alvarez57

[jon]

Can't find my post where I also make the comment we were sent to a less trafficked area, Sonoran Desert?

 

I like your composition overall. More practice with the exposure. What digital photography program do you have?

 

The stone table with the incense...try getting rid (cropping out) the floor and concentrate more on the table and the incense. Don't put the incense smack in the middle of your picture (regla de tercios)

 

The picture with the purple umbrella...try getting rid of the washed-out sky.

 

Your comment was in the other thread, #839.

 

Thanks for the critiques-I'm working on it. I've been using Digital Photo Professional, the program that came with my camera, but I've also just started experimenting with Photoshop Lightroom 3, trying to decide which I like better. Any other ones I ought to look at? (While we're at it, any advice on an entry-level macro for Canon?)

 

I know the stone table picture needed work, but I can't find a crop I like. I was trying to include the ground because I thought the stone, brick and green was interesting, but I think I'm giving up on that one for now. The other one... here's another try:

 

 

Not meaning to turn this into photo school... (maybe that would be a good thread).

 

Jon

[spiv]

jon

you might want to consider joining one of the "harsh critique" groups on flickr. The most gentle of these is the icebox:

another one which was formed to have both the pull no punches approach with actual helpful critique is DMUTATA - though I can't say if it succeded in it's mission as I dont post or read there, but here is the link:

 

The group I found to be most helpful is Delete Me Uncensored... almost x-rated insulting critiques, NOT for the faint of heart however, most importantly, no kissing of the hindquarters... if everyone tells you "smashing shot old bean" and "awesome capture" and you believe it... you are at the end of your learning curve and you will never improve. These folks will make you think you have a LONG way to go. You really have to sift out the sage advice from bitter retort - usually in the same sentance. If you can take exceeding rude comments then I HIGHLY recommend:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/d_m_u/

 

if you just take pictures of flower macros, kittens and babies with food on them, you might want to skip DMU, they will eat you alive.

 

I will not critique your shots in this form as I don't know your tolerance & I plan to be nice here. I play rough in DMU.

 

[jon]

Thanks, Spiv. To be honest, I think my tolerance for that heat is low, so I'll stay out of that particular kitchen. I don't mind a little advice, but prefer it in a more gentle vein... Very interesting, though. Do you think it has improved you?

[spiv]

@ jon,

once my skin thickened, yes, I found the insulting comments contained little grains of wisdom, well worth the sift. It made me more demanding of myself. Rules are made to be LEARNED then broken. Photoshop tricks and cropping do not make a poorly composed picture a lot better... (lipstick on a pig) there is always something MORE in the viewfinder than your subject.. etc... so many hard-won lessons. trial by fire makes me remember the lessons so much better than just reading about it.

 

I became quite adept at dishing it out too. HDR is a good tool that is wielded very poorly by many photographers, usually resulting in the most un-natural haloes around objects. This is how I tell the person that their HDR is a little heavy handed.

 

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b388/itspiv/jbc04.jpg

 

I was worried the first person I used it on would be really insulted, instead we chatted for quite awhile about how I made the insulting image.

[spiv]

One other thing about a group of nasties... when they actually LIKE something, you really believe them.

When they LIKE something you shot & almost deleted... it makes you pay attention. One of the shots i like the least in my photostream was requested for use at a charity art auction. My piece sold before those of better photographers than I - infact mine was the only piece to sell during the show - the others were sold off later...

 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2322/2488725230_6b2b8655db_z.jpg?zz=1

hazely bay from forest park by itspiv, on Flickr

 

I really don't like that shot... but someone does, several someones. And because they are SO caustic, I believe them. (and it made a charity some money!)

[alvarez57]

Spiv, what you don't like about that shot?

[alvarez57]

Thanks, Spiv. To be honest, I think my tolerance for that heat is low, so I'll stay out of that particular kitchen. I don't mind a little advice, but prefer it in a more gentle vein... Very interesting, though. Do you think it has improved you?

 

I grew out of the sadistic criticism. I'm pretty demanding myself and very competitive too, but I've learned that you can give constructive advice without becoming vicious. That is uncalled for. I can tell you I don't like your work, whatever but won't humiliate you like I have been done in the past (Associate degree in Film at NYU and then Medical School). Peolple can learn through firm but positive feedback. I don't know, it just goes with my personality. I just immerse myself looking at other people's pictures (Nat Geo, for example) and get here and there ideas.

Jon, they let us be here in the photography area, so why not take advantage of it? I don't mind at all and being us respectful, I don't see why we should not discuss photography in this thread.

BTW, macro shots of flowers

 

http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/23344/2208269530105226730S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/45625/2025464650105226730S600x600Q85.jpg

 

 

http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/4278/2881976900105226730S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb42.webshots.com/10921/2527488920105226730S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/47365/2751415160105226730S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb60.webshots.com/46011/2939760870105226730S600x600Q85.jpg

 

All shot with a poo-poo Canon Point-n-shoot!

 

Ok, shoot me Spiv! I'm ready!

[alvarez57]

JOn:

 

try these links :

 

BH Camera

 

What macro lens is best

 

Macro lenses overview

 

photozone

 

Me? This one: Canon MPE-65mm dedicated macro

 

http://www.lenstip.com/aparaty_image/5789_new_MP-E_65_2.jpg

 

 

 

http://www.lenstip.com/aparaty_image/5794_new_MP-E_65_5.jpg

 

 

http://www.lenstip.com/aparaty_image/5790_new_MP-E_65_3.jpg

 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2011 by alvarez57

[kathleen]

Thanks Jon!

 

http://inlinethumb02.webshots.com/46465/2394694630105226730S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/47295/2851511480105226730S600x600Q85.jpg

 

 

http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/48485/2144282380105226730S600x600Q85.jpg

 

http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/48369/2205285510105226730S600x600Q85.jpg

 

Sonia,

I love the first photo in this group. I have stared and stared at it. It intrigues me. It has a quality almost like that of a tree photographed underwater. I love the way the tree seems to fade into the upper sky. I'm drawn deeper into the photo by the little bit of red in the middle. What is that? I do really like your photos and the "special effects" you achieve. Please tell me more about the first photo in this group.

 

I am the most amateur of all photographers. I have only a very simple Nikon Cool Pix. I know nothing more than point and shoot. I do admire what you and others, who are so much more knowledgeable, can accomplish with your cameras. I will enjoy the sights in this thread, visit it often, and hope to learn a bit to improve my camera skills which, to date, are non existent.

Edited July 5, 2011 by kathleen

[DAYoung]

Here's my small bust of Aristotle, which lives on my philosophy bookcase.

 

http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n5/DAYoung_2006/FilthyAristotle_small.jpg

[jon]

Trying for a different look here...

 

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5112/5903721374_884b46b9bc_b.jpg

Cherry bike by jon5cents, on Flickr

[nigelg]

Road movin.

 

Nice pic......and the pen connection is .......vanishing point

[spiv]

@ sonia

1) re: my shot of the bay & reflection...... that picture has a blown sky, is poorly processed, and all in all looks kinda snapshotty. I have a shot of that spot that is nearly perfect, but I dont have that on flickr. here is a link to a third shot of the area that i feel is more interesting:

it's not black and white - but it's snowing, the kind of snow that makes the world look like Tri-X film -and i think i caught that.

 

2) google mapplethorpe calla lily, make sure "safe search" is on and use ALL THREE terms. now look at your second shot, see the extra "stuff" on the right side & how it ruins the lovely lines of the body of the main subject. you don't need the extra - your image is beautiful, but if you had somehow separated the main bloom from the distracting background it would be stellar.. the background on your pink calla lily is perfect - it is a bit tight on the left, if you sent this out to be printed, they might trim into the body of the flower... i really cant say more as the jpeg artifacts are killing that shot for me... i assume they aren't in the original.

 

...i do like your reflection shots.

 

how's that for non-abusive critique?

[Deirdre]

I love geometric art.

 

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/5890031559_beb8801658_b.jpg

L1003396 by Deirdre Saoirse Moen, on Flickr

[alvarez57]

Whoa! We are getting a good group meeting here!

Lemme go by steps:

 

Deirdre, I DO like the shot of the Arabic art . I'm a fan of geometrical shapes too (and Black and White).

Regarding the reflection shots, they're all taken from my pool in the yard and flipped upside-down (upside up???) .

The red "thing" is an old-style xmas light bulb that I forgot to take out!

You're in the right place with Spiv, penrivers et all. Do not be afraid to experiment even if you have an amateur camera. It's the eye, not the tool.

Do not be afraid to ask. I don't mind sharing because I believe we all have a different style and nobody can really "steal" styles. My ego went beyond that stage (or, I burned that stage away from my ego...)

 

Spiv: Different people, different ways.

 

lemme see if I got it..

 

 

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5071/5906948906_20f29c13a0_b.jpg

 

The artifacts, well, it's a point 'n shoot = NO RAW Can't do any better.

The 5th shot of the Iris, yeah, I can do without.

 

...i do like your reflection shots.

 

 

And yes, there are other shots you have shown here that are much better than the reflection one...ha! my typical question...have you tried it in B&W?

[alvarez57]

Jon, that shot from the bicycle and cherries, can you open it up some more? It's too tight and looks crowded with so much red.

No, I'm not going to ask if you tried it in Black and White

[jon]

Jon, that shot from the bicycle and cherries, can you open it up some more? It's too tight and looks crowded with so much red.

No, I'm not going to ask if you tried it in Black and White

 

This is about what I was thinking before doing the big crop:

 

 

 

I just thought the background on the rest was too distracting-part of the motorcycle looks like an exaggerated microphone for her or something...

[PJohnP]

I took this shot on a recent lengthy business trip looking out the window of my room. As an aside, it's not HDR, but some careful exposure of Akko just after sunset, with the clouds lit from over the Mediterranean and the city lights starting to really illuminate the old walled city for the evening.

 

 

http://www.PhotoShare.co.nz/PhotoShareGallery1/100855/103346/SunsetinAkkosmall_1020190984.jpg

 

 

Sometimes, it pays to just be prepared to take a photo...

 

 

 

John P.

[penrivers]

To post 33: Thanks nigelg, pertinent conection, I never think of it. Greetings from México.