moon over the bosque
by desertoddity

Comment by desertoddity:

Originally posted by levyj413: Nice composition. :) It definitely looks too sharp. That can happen when you have very small details like in the reeds. Just don't sharpen it as much, or lower the default sharpening setting on your camera. As you can tell from the comments, you can't please everyone on color. Some wanted less red, some wanted more blue. Just do what you like and accept it won't hit home universally. The final aspect of scoring high is nailing the challenge, and you didn't quite get it right with this color combo. The key is to learn when your score reflected missing the challenge vs. not being a great photo. FWIW, I've been in many more challenges, and I still often miss the point voters are looking for.

i thought the 'red' was orange. orange/blue was what i was going for as my comp colors. maybe i saturated it too much.

i don't know how i got the sharpness. this has happened to me before. (i have taken self portraits and my very 'fine' hair has come out looking like those reeds.) the only thing i did to it that had anything to do with sharpness was use the 'unsharp mask' that was suggested in something i read on this site and i don't even know what that does. i've got a lot to figure out and you have been a great help tonight.

My Tarnished Silver Pin
by desertoddity

Comment by quiche:
Try softer lighting to avoid such a hard-edged shadow and such a hotspot in the middle.

Troll Guardian of Hell
by desertoddity

Comment by desertoddity:

Originally posted by levyj413: Hey, I used to live right up the street from this guy. :) I think your score was hurt by a few things. First, the lighting's really constant. Shadows and variations in light and dark add interest. Second, it looks like a quick snapshot that anyone could take without much thought. That works great for what I call a "memory-keeper" photo to help you remember a trip, and those are great to have for yourself. But in a contest, you need to stand out if you want to score high. Here, that might mean climbing up top and looking down, taking a closeup from an odd angle, catching some tiny kid looking straight up at the troll's face, etc. Also, crawl around, jump up, try things other than standing straight up and shooting straight on. Experiment! Finally, there seems to be a blue cast to the shot. If you intended that, that's fine. But if not, search Google for "white balance" to learn how to use this important camera control and look at your D40's manual. Keep shooting and keep entering. :)

he just fascinates me. the size of him...wow. that's the second time i've gone there. the blue cast was purposeful...to make him look 'cold'. as he's under the bridge, are there times when there are shadows?

moon over the bosque
by desertoddity

Comment by levyj413:
Nice composition. :)

It definitely looks too sharp. That can happen when you have very small details like in the reeds. Just don't sharpen it as much, or lower the default sharpening setting on your camera.

As you can tell from the comments, you can't please everyone on color. Some wanted less red, some wanted more blue. Just do what you like and accept it won't hit home universally.

The final aspect of scoring high is nailing the challenge, and you didn't quite get it right with this color combo. The key is to learn when your score reflected missing the challenge vs. not being a great photo. FWIW, I've been in many more challenges, and I still often miss the point voters are looking for.

Troll Guardian of Hell
by desertoddity

Comment by levyj413:
Hey, I used to live right up the street from this guy. :)

I think your score was hurt by a few things. First, the lighting's really constant. Shadows and variations in light and dark add interest. Second, it looks like a quick snapshot that anyone could take without much thought. That works great for what I call a "memory-keeper" photo to help you remember a trip, and those are great to have for yourself. But in a contest, you need to stand out if you want to score high. Here, that might mean climbing up top and looking down, taking a closeup from an odd angle, catching some tiny kid looking straight up at the troll's face, etc. Also, crawl around, jump up, try things other than standing straight up and shooting straight on. Experiment!

Finally, there seems to be a blue cast to the shot. If you intended that, that's fine. But if not, search Google for "white balance" to learn how to use this important camera control and look at your D40's manual.

Keep shooting and keep entering. :)

My Tarnished Silver Pin
by desertoddity

Comment by VictoriaSecretGarden:
A sentimenal thing, very intricate.

Troll Guardian of Hell
by desertoddity

Comment by actnout:
Location, location, location... great shot and definately looks evil... the doorway to hell 9

Troll Guardian of Hell
by desertoddity

Comment by doppelbock:
That poor old vw beetle really must feel like it's trapped in hell! I really like the hue in this photo.

Troll Guardian of Hell
by desertoddity

Comment by bigcheech610:
did u build that yourself cuz it definitley meets the challenge just kidding its a really good pic 10 from me

Troll Guardian of Hell
by desertoddity

Comment by mikaylaraine:
is there now? the statue seems a little flat, maybe a different time of day and more interesting shadows would have improved it. and what's up with the VW bug under his hand?