After twenty five years still best friends
by mysticred

Comment by metoecus:
The panoramic format suggests that the background somehow contributes to the shot, but I feel that it detracts from an otherwise decent shot. Maybe if the snow were cleaner (perhaps a few rocks and bare branches peeking through the snow) and free of debris this format would work better.

Off Season at the Docks with JLS.
by mysticred

Comment by trnqlty:
I think an offcenter composition would work better.

Off Season at the Docks with JLS.
by mysticred

Comment by BeingClever:
This is a tough one to comment on. I think I need to just go with my first impression, which was: "What am I supposed to be looking at?" There is not really a point of focus in this image. The dock poles are in focus, but they are sort of divided up, so my eyes go in two directions. Then there is a seagull that is center stage, but not really occupying enough of the picture in comparison to the poles to keep the eye on that spot. I think the idea was there, but maybe a slightly better composition would have upped the wow factor.

Off Season at the Docks with JLS.
by mysticred

Comment by srbrubaker:
I find the composition a little static and the lighting uninteresting - being from behind it leaves everything flat. The gull is interesting, but I find it distracting that the horizon passes right through his abdomen.

Off Season at the Docks with JLS.
by mysticred

Comment by ralph:
looks more like a snapshot
seems to have focus issues

To Late to Play
by mysticred

Comment by michael_p:
A little out of focus and the light is a little distracting on the right

To Late to Play
by mysticred

Comment by puzzled:
Would be nice except it looks way too photoshopped for my taste.

After twenty five years still best friends
by mysticred

Comment by Cutter:
Looks like a "faded" picture. reminds me of pictures from the 1970's. Are they looking at something?

HODGE'S PARK
by mysticred

Comment by graphicfunk:
From the critique club:

My finish in this challenge did not do well. Beset with double vision I was unable to travel and so I did my shot around the corner from where I lived. My mistake was to present a 9th zone study. Too much of any zone, except 5 is boring. However, I took an image similar to yours and discarded it because of the snow in the front. The white is so stark that it creates an inteference with the rest of the view. It is better to reduce this white foreground more because the eye tires quickly.

The first piece of advise is that when shooting such a vast amount of real estate is to close the aperture. By employing say f 16 you then select to focus right at where the snow ends. You may also try for some of the bushes. Several foreground targets are available in this image and bringing back images with different focal targets makes the selection easier.

You must understand that this image is difficult to capture because of the stark white which occupies zones 9+. Your exposure gave the snow or 9th zone the preference because i see a lot of texture. Now, this will have the tendency to lose detail and clarity in the 4 and lower zones.

The white snow will tend to hog the metering sensor. So lets say, the reading is f 9.5 at 1/180. I know I need a smaller aperture. Go on aperture priority and move the f 9.5 to f 16. This reduces the speed accordinly in steps. Now, once at f16, say the speed is 1/50 I will then consider using 1/25 and 1/15. Of course you will need a tripod. It is this concept that rules the zone system. If you want to shoot for the snow, you did it. If you want to shoot for the darker areas then you need to over expose.

Outside of the focus the image is nice and well composed. Remember that scenes like these require a deep dof and that dof increases the more you close your lens.

After twenty five years still best friends
by mysticred

Comment by ecko313cheer:
This is a nice image. I like the snow in the background it makes it a more natural looking picture rather than a snapshot. Nice work.