Critique Request 06 - DPChallenge Forums

08/15/2002 06:41:51 AM · #1

Greetings...

BigSmiles

Canon EOS-10D

08/15/2002 07:18:10 AM · #2

I find myself asking how many lights were used to illuminate this subject. There's little dots everywhere! Certainly not the standard way to light a shiny object that's for sure! My professors wouldn't like it for that reason.. but I still think it makes it interesting.

08/15/2002 07:34:48 AM · #3

Im left with the same feeling as I was for the last one (Critique 05 - which was actually the 6th critique request).

It's mechanical and interesting to look at. The lighting and framing are all technically good with good balance of lights and darks. But what is it and why?

John

aelith

Olympus C-3020Z

08/15/2002 07:43:47 AM · #4

If you look closely at the bottom flange of the subject gear you can see the photograher and the row of ceilling lights behind. Didn't know machinery oil was so reflective.

DoF nicely used to pick out one of many. Good study of form.

08/15/2002 08:02:45 AM · #5

Originally posted by floyd:
Im left with the same feeling as I was for the last one (Critique 05 - which was actually the 6th critique request).

It's mechanical and interesting to look at. The lighting and framing are all technically good with good balance of lights and darks. But what is it and why?

John

See Aelith's comment...

TerryGee

Canon EOS-30D

08/15/2002 08:09:07 AM · #6

I like the DOF and contrast on this one. Nice B&W.

08/15/2002 08:57:45 AM · #7

Ok granted - it's a good study of form. It does pop off the page at you.

We're still in all B&W, though.

John

08/15/2002 09:08:13 AM · #8

Originally posted by floyd:
Ok granted - it's a good study of form. It does pop off the page at you.

We're still in all B&W, though.

John

I can't really explain this, but I have a really difficult time finding color images that inspire me. I do see lots of NICE and EXCELLENT color photos, but the ones that hit me the hardest and make me think the most are the b/w and duotones... I haven't spent any time searching out color images for use as critique photos...

08/15/2002 11:41:22 AM · #9

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
I can't really explain this, but I have a really difficult time finding color images that inspire me. I do see lots of NICE and EXCELLENT color photos, but the ones that hit me the hardest and make me think the most are the b/w and duotones... I haven't spent any time searching out color images for use as critique photos...
[/i]

I think it's actually more challenging to take a good quality colour image. B&W can hide a multitude of sins. But conisder these:

Orange Symphony
Not as fluffy as he looks!
Taking Cover
Back to Basics
Liberty and Justice

I dont think any of these would have worked in B&W. And as for making me think the most - all of the above images had a stronger impact on me than todays "study of form".

John

08/15/2002 11:53:26 AM · #10

Form study does not carry the samy type of impact as these photos you have listed. Form study is definitely a subject where personal taste for that type of image is required.

Form study, as far as I can see, works better in black and white in most cases. The color doesn't add anything to the photo. Unless the color is perfect, color variations would be distracting from the form itself.

One of my favorite types of image is like Steam Power. This image has no warm and fuzzy feeling at all. There's nothing 'pretty' about it. It's just a preference that I have :)

My own views of what is great photography is not always warm and fuzzy :) I like cold, hard reality just as much as I like Mapplethorpe's Calla.

I agree with what you said about those images not working in black and white. Likewise, these images I posted here would not work well in color. They were NOT made into black and white images for the purpose of hiding any problems, and assuming that to be the case seems a bit narrow minded to me. I understand that a lot of people do not prefer black and white, no matter what the subject is. Since I do prefer black and white over most other modes, I will likely post more in the future. If I come across some astonishing color image that I really like, I may post it.

Patella

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

08/15/2002 12:04:00 PM · #11

John,

First, gonna play DPCer: Way too many glaring highlights. I would crop this ever so slightly tighter to remove the very edge of the gear just peeking into the shot along the right hand edge. Why aren't the objects in the background in focus? You shouldn't have used such a shallow depth of field. I wonder what this would look like in color? You should center the subject more -- and it shouldn't lean so much. Finally, there are some bright spots way down in the blacks between the gears -- you should have lit this (or played with the levels) to remove those.

K, my "would I hang it" critique: Having noticed that edge of the gear on the right, I would crop that out -- or at least matte so it covers it -- it's minor, but it just looks a little forgotten. There's something about the range of tones here tht feels a bit too limited to me. Between the lack of tonal range and the subject matter, I probably wouldn't be interested in hanging it. It's just not something that I, personally, find too itneresting.

Finally, my photography "I wonders" (things that you may or may not be able to have any effect on): While I recognize that the oil is an integral part of this picture, I do wonder what kinds of textures and tones you would get if it weren't covering all the gears. I also wonder what this shot would look like in color precisely because of the oil. Does it add an interesting extra dimension, or does it make everything too monochromatic?

08/15/2002 12:04:00 PM · #12

Originally posted by aelith:
If you look closely at the bottom flange of the subject gear you can see the photograher and the row of ceilling lights behind. Didn't know machinery oil was so reflective.

DoF nicely used to pick out one of many. Good study of form.

hmm.. I can't see the photographer reflection in this one :(

08/15/2002 12:04:52 PM · #13

BTW... this is a bad example photo anyway... The depth of field is not strong enough in the foreground...

aelith

Olympus C-3020Z

08/15/2002 12:18:41 PM · #14

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Originally posted by aelith:
[i]If you look closely at the bottom flange of the subject gear you can see the photograher and the row of ceilling lights behind. Didn't know machinery oil was so reflective.

DoF nicely used to pick out one of many. Good study of form.

hmm.. I can't see the photographer reflection in this one :(
[/i]

Ok I looked again. Dark blob down just right of center with a bit of lighter area in the center that I took to be camera and tripod. But maybe I've got too much imagination. Not sure now the angle is right for a reflection??? sory

* This message has been edited by the author on 8/15/2002 12:18:35 PM.

lisae

Olympus C-720UZ

08/15/2002 12:27:08 PM · #15

I just really don't like this one. I've come back to it a few times, and I don't feel any more interested in it. The slickness of the oil makes me shudder, and these metal objects are not things I'd like to play with. I rarely respond well to straight photos of inanimate objects. There's just no hook for me.

goodtimecharlee

Olympus E-10

08/15/2002 02:49:13 PM · #16

john,
hang in there man. i am right there with you when it comes to b&w. i don't understand why so many people on this site are down on b&w. to me it is the truest form of photography. i feel just the opposite. somepeople think b&w covers flaws. i disagree. i think color can be a crutch. i do love color photography though. it just seems that when i am shooting my eyes are thinking b&w most of the time. i love your subject matter. you have a wonderful eye. i'm always looking for interesting shapes and textures. all that being said this is not one of my favorites of yours. interesting shapes. it just doesnt grab me though. i think it might be the lighting. i'm sure that was existing lighting wherever this things where warehoused. that would probably be tuff to work around.
do you read black & white magazine? great mag.

08/15/2002 02:55:42 PM · #17

Originally posted by goodtimecharlee:
john,
hang in there man. i am right there with you when it comes to b&w. i don't understand why so many people on this site are down on b&w. to me it is the truest form of photography. i feel just the opposite. somepeople think b&w covers flaws. i disagree. i think color can be a crutch. i do love color photography though. it just seems that when i am shooting my eyes are thinking b&w most of the time. i love your subject matter. you have a wonderful eye. i'm always looking for interesting shapes and textures. all that being said this is not one of my favorites of yours. interesting shapes. it just doesnt grab me though. i think it might be the lighting. i'm sure that was existing lighting wherever this things where warehoused. that would probably be tuff to work around.
do you read black & white magazine? great mag.

I understand exactly what bob was saying about covering up flaws with black and white. When making photographs under indoor lighting, if you are not using the corrrect film or the correct white balance settings for the shot, you will get some strange coloring... I think it is normally called "tungsten glow" or a nasty yellow tint on the image.

These last two photos that I posted were shot with the intention of making them black and white from the beginning. Knowing that, I still set the white balance where it should be for the shot.

I am getting ready to post another image in color rather than black and white. I went through the photos that I shot yesterday to see if I had any that would actually work better in color than in black and white and I found just one...

I don't read Black and White, but maybe I'll check it out. I do subscribe to Lenswork however... it's phenomemal as well. The current issue is what inspired me to start working on my own series of "form & function" images. These that I have posted here are just a few tests of that. These images were taken in the manufacturing plant where I work and I can not control the lighting very well. The manufacturing floor is brightly lit by mercury vapor lighting...

08/15/2002 04:06:35 PM · #18

Woooah there - I didnt mean to suggest that ANY of these photos were converted to B&W to hide any flaws. What I said about B&W covering a multitude of sins was more to do with less talented photographers than yourself (like me) who might choose to convert an image to B&W because (a) it corrects the lighting somehow or (b) it makes the shot look more arty.

I dont doubt for one second that these last two photos were shot intending them to be B&W and I agree with you that form studies will usually work better in B&W.

I guess I'm just looking for meaning where there is none. Perhaps form studies aren't my thing so much.

Incidentally, though - Steam Power - superb photo. Not at all like this photo you posted above. Steam Power is far far more to my taste. Perhaps it's because Im a guy and Im interested in machinery or perhaps it's because it captures something about the steam engine - Something about the power of the thing and the love that people had for these things.

Interesting that the two pictures should strike me so differently.

John

Gracious

08/15/2002 04:12:21 PM · #19

"I understand that a lot of people do not prefer black and white, no matter what the subject is. Since I do prefer black and white over most other modes, I will likely post more in the future."

I love black and white also...and it works especially well for the subject matter you've chosen. It's ironic that in some ways black and white depict reality better than the colors of reality...odd but true. Although I am not particularly drawn to machinery, think this project shows much promise and I'm certain that many people, especially those who work in similar environments, will appreciate the images. Nice work John!
P.S. I have to laugh at myself as I read back my post...Actually I do like some machinery. Eg: Cars, old fans, kitchen equipment, and more.

08/15/2002 06:56:55 PM · #20

Originally posted by floyd:

I guess I'm just looking for meaning where there is none. Perhaps form studies aren't my thing so much.

John

This is one of the reasons I chose to post these subjects... They are very different from what I posted before. They are not intended to have a high emotional value... well, maybe not to anyone except me :)

These photos do not have the impact that the STEAM POWER shot has. They serve a similar purpose, however. These differ from the train shot because the train offers familiarity and more 'tangibility' than these do.

BTW- I have a color 'form and function' shot ready to post soon :)