DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Challenge Results >> Simply want reasons- be as vitriolic as you want.
Pages:  
Showing posts 26 - 39 of 39, (reverse)
AuthorThread
04/20/2005 08:52:13 PM · #26
Originally posted by zarniwoop:

Why was this shot so bad? I don't normally do this because I can mostly see why my shot is mediocre/awful, but this time I thought I was onto a good thing.



I dont find the image moving at all, seems dull and lifeless...

The composition is a bit akward with the pipe right in front of your face but by far the biggest problem are the bland, semi-washed out colors. I gave it a 5... apart from meeting the challenge it really didnt do much else for me as a photo.
04/20/2005 11:25:20 PM · #27
Originally posted by nfessel:

Originally posted by e301:

Originally posted by Digital Quixote:

I have asked myself the same question many times. And I've thought specifically about your photo.

It seems to me that a great photo inspires an emotion, positive or negative. A photoshop teacher of mine once said he, "... used 3 criteria to judge a photo: 1) Is there true black in the photo; 2) Is there true white in the photo; and 3) Would I want to be there with my children." Obviously the 3rd gets at a lot of things ... composition, subject, interest or curiosity, and the positive emotion it creates in him.

I think this photo fails the third test. It just isn't an interesting place I'd like to be with my children. Maybe a beter composition would rescue it. Or better colors. Or a more interesting subject. But as it is, I'd pass it by like I'd pass by an uninteresting street corner in a city I was visiting for the first time.

Now I think it is possible to take an exceptional photo where the emotional impact is negative. I have seen photos that were heart wrenching. And photos that were disturbing. But I doubt that was your intention here. And if it were, it did not succeed in creating a negative emotional response in me.

I have no idea if this helped, but it's how I think about it.


So this photo fails on all three counts?


LOL


Yes, but still ... this could be a great photo because it is interesting at a fundamental level mostly because it tells a story and because it creates tension between the subject and the context. It isn't technically perfect. It isn't perfectly exposed. It is probably unintentionally grainy. But in a photojournalistic sense, it tells a story, and begs for the rest of the story to be told. I am sure a newspaper article accompanying the photo would tell "the rest of the story."

Interestingly, many of Marc Ribboud's photos inspire a negative emotional response in me and many of them are very vry good.

[lol]
I am willing to admit there might be a rule set that has more rules than I proposed.
[/lol]

Message edited by author 2005-04-20 23:29:51.
04/21/2005 06:33:47 AM · #28
Well thank you all. No more needs to be said. I think the list goes like this:

Boring(well the whole place was boring I'm sure a better photographer could have made more of it, but hey, I'll learn)

Washed out colours (that was completely deliberate, the photo looked exactly the way I wanted it too, which is a plus for me, but I can see that people diodn't like that)

Boring (see above)
I keep saying thank you to you guys but that probably comes from a british upbringing.

Ok as I think that all that can be said has been said I'll go and stick pins into dolls.
04/21/2005 11:09:08 AM · #29
Originally posted by zarniwoop:

Well thank you all. No more needs to be said. I think the list goes like this:

Boring(well the whole place was boring I'm sure a better photographer could have made more of it, but hey, I'll learn)

Washed out colours (that was completely deliberate, the photo looked exactly the way I wanted it too, which is a plus for me, but I can see that people diodn't like that)

Boring (see above)
I keep saying thank you to you guys but that probably comes from a british upbringing.

Ok as I think that all that can be said has been said I'll go and stick pins into dolls.


I don't know about that, perhaps more positive suggestions for improvement need to be made.

What could have been done to improve this image?

First, you recognize the issues of color and interest as the main issues with this image. That is a big positive. That is something you will be more aware of next time taking pictures.

First, color... that one is easiest to deal with. Like you, I am always concerned with getting the color "right" on my images. It seems my camera never quite captures it the way I saw it so I usually have to make color adjustments.

You are to be applauded that you got the color the way you wanted. That often is my most difficult task with images. Unfortunately, in the end the colors appeared bland and weak to most viewers even though an application of autocolor in PS clearly shows they are very close to well balanced. But saturated colors are more appealing to the human eye. Processing for more saturated colors is best even when the goal is to convert to B&W. But always try to limit yourself to enhancing the colors that are naturally present.

The other issue is interest. That is the big question. Your composition lacked interest. How do you capture an image with a lot of viewer interest? That is a hard question and is not easily answered.

You need to study your subject. For an abandoned building you want to walk all around it and think about it and react to things you find interesting as you do. Generally speaking the most intesting things you find will be the most interesting to viewers as well. A different point of view on something is often appealing as well.

In outdoor photography a golden rule is to take what nature offers you. It may not be what you envisioned, but often is better than that.

In outdoor photography you generally have little control over lighting so the time of day has a huge roll in the photography. The combination of light and shadow plays the biggest roll in whether a picture works or not.

If you studied the works of Ansel Adams for your entry in the AA challenge you will recall he spent hours and often days waiting for exactly the right lighting conditions on the view of his subject to take his pictures. Some things he only photographed at certain times of the year and time of day to get proper lighting conditions.

That is why taking outdoor images in the early morning or late afternoon during the day or during interesting weather or at sunset or after dark at night work best. They provide dramatic lighting conditions. In outdoor photography "good" clouds can make all the difference in the world.

For your picture the first thing to do would have been to study the subject building completely from every concievable angle and all perspectives while taking pictures along the way. Different angles and perspectives may have made a vast improvement. You may have even decided, like Adams, to reshoot at a different time of the day for the most interesting lighting from the most interesting perspective on the most interesting part of the building.

A technical consideration for buildings in particular is texture. Generally they have a lot of it. Your subject building is no different and definitely has a lot. The overdone application here at DPC of dodge and burn is a great tool for bringing that out when applied in moderation. I almost always create a 50% greyscale layer in PS to apply dodge and burn highlighting using black or white brushes in darken or lighten modes and recommend it. That is different, and better, than using the standard dodge and burn tools according to many experts. It seems to work best for me so that is why I use it.

A good tutorial for it can be found here:
//www.bairarteditions.com/pages/tutorials/photoshop/exdandb.html
04/21/2005 11:12:05 AM · #30
Originally posted by zarniwoop:

Ok as I think that all that can be said has been said I'll go and stick pins into dolls.


Don't forget to take photos and post them.... hehehehehe :O)
04/21/2005 11:28:04 AM · #31
Just bear in mind, zarniwoop, DPC members may never share your vision of what is a great photo. It is often repeated around this site, that if you are happy with the photo the vote doesn't matter. There are many superb photogs at DPC that have never ribboned and/or whose average score in the the mud. That does not alter the fact that they are great photographers!
04/21/2005 11:42:48 AM · #32
Zarniwoop,

I didn't have a chance to vote in the challenge, but I would have voted it below a 4.

First, I see no real defined subject, is it the sky, building, bricks, or pipe your subject. The lines in the shot lead your eye to just above the pipe, so I assume the pipe, or somewhere above it. Still not sure.

Second, I can not tell if the building is abandon or not. It appears livable to me from this angle. So, a bit lower score for making me have to determine if it fits the challenge or not. In this case to me not.

Third, the sky is interesting with the clouds, but the graininess make it somewhat distracting.

The only thing I like about the shot is the color brown of the wood siding.

IMO the shot, as other have commented, is boring and really studying it at length, it it doesn't improve.

Take these thought, if you want, as creative critism.

Good luck in future shots

Van


04/21/2005 01:34:51 PM · #33
Ok I think everyone got the whole gratitude thing in the first two posts, but then you had go and say more stuff, and I know I won't sleep at night if I don't thank you for that too.
04/21/2005 01:52:30 PM · #34
Originally posted by stdavidson:


I don't know about that, perhaps more positive suggestions for improvement need to be made.

What could have been done to improve this image?

First, you recognize the issues of color and interest as the main issues with this image. That is a big positive. That is something you will be more aware of next time taking pictures.

First, color... that one is easiest to deal with. Like you, I am always concerned with getting the color "right" on my images. It seems my camera never quite captures it the way I saw it so I usually have to make color adjustments.

You are to be applauded that you got the color the way you wanted. That often is my most difficult task with images. Unfortunately, in the end the colors appeared bland and weak to most viewers even though an application of autocolor in PS clearly shows they are very close to well balanced. But saturated colors are more appealing to the human eye. Processing for more saturated colors is best even when the goal is to convert to B&W. But always try to limit yourself to enhancing the colors that are naturally present.

The other issue is interest. That is the big question. Your composition lacked interest. How do you capture an image with a lot of viewer interest? That is a hard question and is not easily answered.

You need to study your subject. For an abandoned building you want to walk all around it and think about it and react to things you find interesting as you do. Generally speaking the most intesting things you find will be the most interesting to viewers as well. A different point of view on something is often appealing as well.

In outdoor photography a golden rule is to take what nature offers you. It may not be what you envisioned, but often is better than that.

In outdoor photography you generally have little control over lighting so the time of day has a huge roll in the photography. The combination of light and shadow plays the biggest roll in whether a picture works or not.

If you studied the works of Ansel Adams for your entry in the AA challenge you will recall he spent hours and often days waiting for exactly the right lighting conditions on the view of his subject to take his pictures. Some things he only photographed at certain times of the year and time of day to get proper lighting conditions.

That is why taking outdoor images in the early morning or late afternoon during the day or during interesting weather or at sunset or after dark at night work best. They provide dramatic lighting conditions. In outdoor photography "good" clouds can make all the difference in the world.

For your picture the first thing to do would have been to study the subject building completely from every concievable angle and all perspectives while taking pictures along the way. Different angles and perspectives may have made a vast improvement. You may have even decided, like Adams, to reshoot at a different time of the day for the most interesting lighting from the most interesting perspective on the most interesting part of the building.

A technical consideration for buildings in particular is texture. Generally they have a lot of it. Your subject building is no different and definitely has a lot. The overdone application here at DPC of dodge and burn is a great tool for bringing that out when applied in moderation. I almost always create a 50% greyscale layer in PS to apply dodge and burn highlighting using black or white brushes in darken or lighten modes and recommend it. That is different, and better, than using the standard dodge and burn tools according to many experts. It seems to work best for me so that is why I use it.

A good tutorial for it can be found here:
//www.bairarteditions.com/pages/tutorials/photoshop/exdandb.html

Wow - this is quite a comment, and one heck of a helpful critique Steve.

With busy lives as they are nowadays, taking this much time to help goes a long way to make this a great place to hang out and learn. Thanks!

04/21/2005 02:14:25 PM · #35
Hi C P,

Here is my take on your shot, without reading anyone else's comments except Steve's above.

Your picture, though not poorly composed lacks a central focal point - the place the eyes are naturally drawn to. You have several in your shot fighting for attention.
When an image is looked at, and not just referring to the challenges here, has but a few precious seconds to have it reach out and grab one's attention to hold it there and keep a person interested enough to study it further. This is true in any art form, and photography is just another form or art.

Your image is relatively "flat". By this I mean lacking in differences between light & dark, highlights & shadows. Overall it is a bit washed out and lacking contrast & color.

As a perhaps extreme, I did a quick edit on it and think it would
have had better presentation that the original as you submitted it:


-- As submitted ------ My Edit------

I voted yours a 5 during the challenge.
Wasn't great, wasn't bad, was just "there".

Not meant as an attack, just trying to add why I think, and keep in mind, it's ony an opinion.
04/21/2005 02:53:03 PM · #36
Well this was the original photo I took, so I guess the post-processing was counter-productive.


btw, nice edit bradp; you'd have done a lot more with the original.

Message edited by author 2005-04-21 14:56:47.
04/21/2005 03:52:00 PM · #37
Yup, the original is better than the entry IMO.

Robt.
04/21/2005 04:01:34 PM · #38
My camera seems to work better than my brain. Should I be pleased at the value for money?
04/21/2005 04:14:52 PM · #39
I'd agree with others on the fact that there is no real focal point to the picture. I put my eye on the pipe in your submission, and I cannot keep it steady there for 5 seconds without it wandering off (mainly to the white junk on the side of the building). Try it, can you keep your eye steady on one section of the picture. If the answer is no, need to readjust the photo. Interestingly though, when I look at BradP's edit of your shot, I can keep my eye on the pipe for a long time without it wandering around the picture. I'm thinking that it is because there is a much higher contrast between the pipe and the surrounds that isn't there in your submission. Oh well, just my unedumacated 40 Belarussian Roubles worth.
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 10/19/2025 04:56:39 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 10/19/2025 04:56:39 AM EDT.