Where to?
by sangeeth

Comment:
hmmm....me thinks I've seen this weather vane before? ;^) I like the clouds...makes the sky look like a blue backdrop. Good composition and lighting. Good luck!

Forever
by khdoss

Comment:
I checked your profile after a forum post (figured you were in Fairfax after the 'large school system' comment)...took a peek at some of your challenge entries. Isn't it interesting how commenters during a challenge say you should change this or that (hat, no hat - lighting on back of neck, etc...) when it's quite obvious this is a candid shot (well captured I might add) and had you tried to 'fix' the pose the candid moment would have been lost. Some validity perhaps to the post-processing comments but overall a very nice job for your what, third challenge? Keep shooting and having fun. Keep 'finding' shots like this one and you'll do well... ;^)

Distinctly Iris
by glad2badad

Comment:
Thanks Matthew/legalbeagle for taking the time for such an in-depth comment on this photo. VERY much appreciated!

I failed to mention I did use a ND grad (grey) filter to add some contrast to the sky...

Message edited by author 2005-05-23 10:45:17.

Distinctly Iris
by glad2badad

Comment:
Thanks David.

Originally posted by Pug-H: Well, I'm surprised that it didn't score higher. It's a silhouette for sure, with interesting negative space and nice gradation of colour in the sky. I gave it 7.

After Hours Romance
by glad2badad

Comment:
EXIF Data:
Make: Konica Minolta Camera, Inc.
Model: DiMAGE Z2
Description: KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA
Date modified: Saturday, April 30, 2005 10:35:38 PM
Orientation: Top / left side
X-Resolution: 72/1
Y-Resolution: 72/1
Resolution unit: Inch
Firmware version: DiMAGE Z2 Ver1.03
YCbCr-Positioning: 2
Comment:
Date taken: Saturday, April 30, 2005 10:35:38 PM
Date digitized: Saturday, April 30, 2005 10:35:38 PM
Exposure time [s]: 1/80
Exposure program: Normal
Exposure mode: Auto
Exposure bias [EV]: 0.0
F-Number: F5.6
Focal length [mm]: 11.1
35mm focal length [mm]: 67
ISO value: 200
Max. aperture: F3.2
Digital zoom: Off
Subj. distance range: Macro
Flash: Fired, auto mode
Metering mode: Spot
Gain control: Low up
Light source: Unknown
White balance: Auto
Contrast: Normal
Saturation: Normal
Sharpness: Normal
Brightness: 4.30
Colour space: sRGB
Subject area: 226
File source: DSC
Custom rendered: Normal
Scene type:
Subject program: Standard
Image width: 2272
Image height: 1704
Components configuration: YCbCr
Average compression ratio: 4/1
EXIF version: 0220
FlashPix version: 0100
Compression: 6
X-Resolution: 72/1
Y-Resolution: 72/1
Resolution unit: Centimeter
JPEG offset: 4084
JPEG size: 5142
Index: R98
Version: 0100

Message edited by author 2005-05-11 10:02:20.

Looking Into a Candy Store
by roonie

Comment:
This would have been perfect with a child peeking in the window!

GLORIOUS........humbled
by glad2badad

Comment:
Thanks Andy. I agree, there were many different ways this image could have been worked. It wasn't perfect - I tried to find an angle that would show the vertical in the cross as you mention, but it was too far distant to move far enough to either side. The clouds and light were changing very rapidly...just wish I could have captured the initial full sky sunray that had me frantically looking for a place to pull over! Again, thanks for the comments.

Originally posted by awpollard: Sorry my friend, only after you pointed it out did the formation near the bottom resemeble what could be a cross to me. Each mind (especially around these parts) sees things differently. You seen a cross in the shot and the photo took on a certain personal meaning for you. Maybe a play on words in the title would have directed the view that area you wished them to see. IMO...The quick viewers (<2 seconds) probably passed this off as an underexposed attempt at a sunset... For me... The formation that you wish us to pick out, takes backseat to Dark Clouds on top, Hot center Point of the Photo, Rays of the Sun and very dark horizon, my eyes are quickly drawn to any of these emphasised areas and I completely over looked what you perceived to be a cross. Now this would have worked for me if the cross was more prominent. My mental image of a Cross is that the vertical needs to be longer on the bottom than top or it becomes a plus "+" sign... I am not seeing that here although the bottom portion of the cross could be hidden by that large tree my minds eye did not put that together. Perhaps a tighter crop on top and less on the bottom would help the illusion that combined with a title that steered us that direction (without telling us what exactly we were looking for) might have helped more see the idea behind your shot. Andy

Message edited by author 2005-05-09 11:59:32.

Civil War Cannon - Will the smoke ever clear?
by glad2badad

Comment:
Yep, should have used a filter, although this is pretty much how it looked. It was raining (light mist) and the clouds were hanging very low with an overall light grey look to the upper ceiling.

Originally posted by hyperfocal: Good composition, but the blown sky lessens the impact of the photo. A graduated neutral density filter would have helped. Good Work.

Originally posted by bhowie: Good lighting for the subject. Wish it wasn't an open challange and you could drop the sky a few stops. If the blow out on the sky was avoided I would have given 2 points higher - I find it too distracting. Otherwise great image.

Originally posted by xonkas: Nice subject and composition. Too bad the sky is blown out and the cannon lacks a little contrast to the bg. Anyway, nice approach of the challenge.

Originally posted by nico_blue: the sky is overexposed imo.

Message edited by author 2005-05-04 10:26:41.

Civil War Cannon - Will the smoke ever clear?
by glad2badad

Comment:
You're right. I didn't see that until you mentioned it. Still learning how to use curves - obviously! It could have been the gamma adjustment also...hmmm. Thanks.

Originally posted by ltsimring: the sky colors have some green cast, i think

Originally posted by autool: Your composition is, so right, that it is almost cliche. Nice job there. On my monitor it has a quite green cast, even in the clouds. If you did thid intentionally,okay, but I don't care for it.

Message edited by author 2005-05-04 10:07:42.

Civil War Cannon - Will the smoke ever clear?
by glad2badad

Comment:
Thanks - I could have walked up on it a bit to do that I think. Couldn't get any higher without some assistance as it was out in the middle of a field.

Originally posted by byoung: generally i like the composition and colors a lot ... i think a slightly higher camera angle which would have placed the dark top part of the canon below the dark bottom part of the tree line would have better isolated and drawn more focus to the canon