Critique Request 05 - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

08/14/2002 07:01:54 PM · #1

Greetings...

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

08/14/2002 07:54:31 PM · #2

There seems to be a very bright light shining down at the subject. To bright. Seems a little blurry. I think I am getting better at this. :)
I would give this a 4 for a vote.

lisae

Olympus C-720UZ

08/14/2002 08:03:53 PM · #3

Hmmm.... it seems to be some kind of mechanical thing, like a chain. The surfaces have a cool metallic texture, looking a bit slick from a film of grease or oil. I get the feeling that if I grabbed the link with the empty hole and pick it up, the chain will be pretty heavy and make some clacking noises. It's a tactile photo like the one of the book, but a bit cold and impersonal in comparison because it has more depth of field, sharper focus, brighter light, and slightly abstracted composition. I don't really like it that much.

Gracious

08/14/2002 08:20:59 PM · #4

I like that it shows texture and portrays a dependable, workhorse kinda feel. It's a little scary to me because it looks so strictly mechanical that I would have no control over if I got stuck in it or something. It looks like it would crush me. So I can admire the workmanship and precision, and functionality but I strongly dislike the impersonal character. I can almost taste metal, and I imagine it would be noisey when operating. Because it leaves such an impression on me, it is a successful image, imho. Ohhh one more thing, one of the caps being missing, I get the impression it would be malfunctioning...scarier still....lol It seems to touch all my senses.

myqyl

Nikon D3100

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G DX VR

08/14/2002 08:23:11 PM · #5

You lose a point off the bat for bad math :) This is Critique request 6 :)

As per the photo, I've always been a sucker for geometric shapes and this is just full of them... This is my favorite from the series (which I'm enjoying btw)

floyd

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

08/15/2002 05:52:31 AM · #6

So why is there one bolt/cap/thing missing? This picture has some mystery about it.

But that's all.

Technically it's fine - the lighting is good. The tonal range is fine. It's got interesting shapes in it. But what else? Does it capture anything about the moment? The mechanics? Not really. Not unless I'm missing something.

I'm guessing this is one of John's own. It looks like part of a caterpillar machine to me. On the other hand I might be wrong - there's no EXIF data in it.

John

Patella

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

08/15/2002 01:08:50 PM · #7

There's something about the clarity on this one that bugs me. I don't know what else to call it except clarity -- it appears to be focused well and properly sharp, but my initial reaction was that it either had a focal problem or that it was desperately in need of sharpening. I think it has something to do with a combination of the grease and whatever texture the metal itself may have.

I like the abstract quality of it, wish there was some spot work done (maybe a little burning working to bring out the logos on the link pins), and also wish that maybe there was some (an) additional pieces in the very upper left corner instead of the larger shadowed space.

Nit-picky issues: It looks like there's just the tiniest bit of something else in the background along the upper right. There isn't anything you can do about it (short of some PS work) without moving the link pin closest to it way to close to the edge of the frame.

I like the shot and wonder how it would look with just a little bit of a tone to give the feel of grease and warm it up a bit. (I like warm tones on shots like this, though.)

lecook

Sony Mavica CD1000

08/15/2002 01:56:10 PM · #8

i'm not sure what the point of focus is supposed to be...altho the lighting is good, the overall fuzziness bothers me, it does nothing for the metal quality...neither do i like the large black area at upper left, i'd rearrange the geometric "layout" and/or reposition the camera...

goodtimecharlee

Olympus E-10

08/15/2002 02:33:22 PM · #9

love the subject. makes a great b&w. excellent tonal range. great texture. seems a little soft. thats the only thing that bothers me. very strong otherwise. perfect composition. you have a great eye. if at all possible i would go back and shoot this again and see if you could get it a little sharper. i wouldnt mind a print of this.

-Charles

FranziskaLang

Nikon D100

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Nikon

08/15/2002 02:35:50 PM · #10

john, i haven't been around a lot in the last few days, but do you reveal your 'sources' after some discussion? i think that would be very beneficial and interesting to all that participate in the reviews.

08/15/2002 02:48:17 PM · #11

Yes... 05 and 06 are my own photos... I usually post the source :)

Guillermo

Olympus C-700UZ

08/15/2002 04:57:36 PM · #12

What the heck is it? This would probably be under 5. Technically would get a 6.

Remie

Nikon D70

08/15/2002 05:48:33 PM · #13

All the attention is drawn to the empty hole and it makes me wonder why there is a missing bolt and what might be the consequences of that. What is it? Is the bolt supposed to be left out? Is it sabotage? Are they still working on it? The photo is leaving a lot of unanswered questions and for me, that's what is making this an interesting photo.

08/15/2002 06:51:54 PM · #14

Originally posted by Remie:
All the attention is drawn to the empty hole and it makes me wonder why there is a missing bolt and what might be the consequences of that. What is it? Is the bolt supposed to be left out? Is it sabotage? Are they still working on it? The photo is leaving a lot of unanswered questions and for me, that's what is making this an interesting photo.

This is actually a very large drive chain that operates a conveyor belt. The photograph does an injustice to the size of the links. They are approximately 5 inches long. The link with the missing pin is actually the end of the chain. This chain had been removed from the machine during a maintenance period. I found the 'missing pin' to be a nice interest point in this photo also.. that's why it is positioned at that specific location in the photo :)

Remie

Nikon D70

08/15/2002 07:14:21 PM · #15

Darn John, you shouldn't explain all that. That was the point of my post: leave the questions open :)

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

08/15/2002 07:16:31 PM · #16

Originally posted by Remie:
Darn John, you shouldn't explain all that. That was the point of my post: leave the questions open :)

:)

I will keep that in mind in the future :)

David Ey

Nikon D80

08/15/2002 11:06:09 PM · #17

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Originally posted by Remie:
[i]Darn John, you shouldn't explain all that. That was the point of my post: leave the questions open :)

:)

I will keep that in mind in the future :)
[/i]

Oh No----Please Don't Leave Us Wondering

Nikon AF Micro-Nikkor 60mm f2.8D

08/15/2002 11:07:26 PM · #18

I think remie has a good point :)

David Ey

Nikon D80

08/15/2002 11:38:53 PM · #19

Well. I, for one, am not interested in looking at a bunch of photos never to know what the hell it is.
Ya want us to look at it and say "Yep, great shot of a mess of gobbeldeegoop. Post another for us mindless twits."?

* This message has been edited by the author on 8/15/2002 11:42:21 PM.

Guillermo

Olympus C-700UZ

08/15/2002 11:39:39 PM · #20

You see thats the whole point. Pictures shouldnt have to be explained unless the purpose of the shot was to confuse the audience or should I say onlookers.

Originally posted by David Ey:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
[i]Originally posted by Remie:
[i]Darn John, you shouldn't explain all that. That was the point of my post: leave the questions open :)

:)

I will keep that in mind in the future :)
[/i]

Oh No----Please Don't Leave Us Wondering

[/i]