Diagonals
by levyj413

Comment by ambaker:
Critique Club Review:

I really like this photo. Lighting, contrast, focus, and depth of field are all well done. I like the reflections and could see where a starburst filter could have added a "magical" touch to the photo. As is the eye bounces from reflection to reflection. The reflections are well ordered so it is a pleasing journey as opposed to a distracting one.

If you could have staged the piece, the orientation of the handles could have been arrainged so as to provide more of a pattern, and captured the handles in the last two tubes at the top; but I doubt the water park would have been overly thrilled with that process.

I think your decison to go with black and white was a good one. Color here likely would have taken away from the total picture.

I don't see the picture as too dark. Given the subject material, and the reflections, I think any lighter would have really blown things out, and lost the detail of the clear tubes. Any darker, would have been too dark.

Given that no part holds the eye, and yet the eye is guided around the piece by the reflections, as opposed to distracted or confused, I believe you have met the challenge well. Good job!

Day 5: Ultimate Forehand
by levyj413

Comment by acrotide:
Great job on the processing and thanks for the explanation, as I've heard of Ultimate Frisbee, but didn't know quite what was involved.

Day 1: Bike Ride + Pool = Hair Halo
by levyj413

Comment by SJCarter:
Looks like a mug shot. After looking at some of your other SPs, I'd have to say that you shaved off at least 10 years in your triptych. I'm already seeing improvements in your shots too by Day 5.

Day 2: Becoming?
by levyj413

Comment by SJCarter:
Cool shot! Well done with the triptych. (You look better without the beard, BTW.) ;-) Really good job on the composition!

Day 4: Starry, Starry Night Gets 14/679 in Free Study XII
by levyj413

Comment by SJCarter:
Really good emotion captured here! Lots of energy and "fun" passed on to the viewer.

Day 5: Unedited
by levyj413

Comment by SJCarter:
I assume you meant to label the original as the "unedited" version... ;-) I think you really improved the tones in this one, but feel like the composition could be jazzed up a bit by cropping it so that you aren't in the dead center of the shot. Your focus is pretty good, although you might consider another sharpen pass. Still a good shot. :-)

Floating Smiles
by levyj413

Comment by dancerfolk:
I really like this one. Send it on to Rob for posting to the website!
Love, Mom

Starry, Starry Night in the Italian Alps
by levyj413

Comment by dancerfolk:
Congratulations to my son, Jeffrey, on a beautiful photo! You deserve all the praise you get.
Mom

Day 5: Ultimate Forehand
by levyj413

Comment by levyj413:
Oh! THOSE crates! I literally didn't see them until just now, despite all the time I spent trying to find a good background and cloning all the stuff at the top. Heh. :)

Maybe I'll try it cloning the trees and bushes to cover everything behind me.

And another lesson is: don't assume I can get a good background in my back yard!

Day 5: Ultimate Forehand
by levyj413

Comment by chalice:
I would have cloned out the crates or move to another position for a more uniform background. Other than that I'd say you learned a ton on your first portrait.