Ok. Suggestions/Feedback Please?

07/08/2007 01:29:14 AM · #1

Thought I would enter what I thought was a fun, interesting, people shot in the last Free Study. It got hammered. I throw my fair share of stinkers out there and usually have a fair idea what I did wrong when I do...this one has me completely baffled.

Can you please tell me what went wrong with this? Please be honest, I've got really thick skin from hanging around here for a few years now. :P

It's late, and I'm heading off to bed now, but I'll check back in the morning for any follow-ups, etc...

Thanks so much everyone. :)

07/08/2007 02:09:53 AM · #2

Ok, I'll bite... I didn't vote this free study and as always just my opinion.

For me perspective and crop really forced a lot of stuff into a tight space. Too close to give me any sense of action. It appears to be a young lady looking at us from an upside down postition while a gentleman holds her in the air.

Honesty again, there seems to be something about the center of the frame that causes me to look elsewhere in the shot. I don't know if it is the vibrant colors of their garb or paleness/brightness of the young lady's face but as I study this I am drawn to the edges of the shot. I almost feel that the gentleman's eyelashes are more prominent than the action in the center of the frame.

It is a nice shot but would need to have a little more excitement (action, story or expression) for me to give it anything more than a 5 in a challenge.

Again, I think the crop/focal length (70-210mm is great for close ups but when you get this close less distractions are better) is what makes this image a bit flat (no dimension).

Perhaps if you backed up a bit an left a little grass in front of the gentleman's head it might add a little action to the shot, you could probably crop a tad more off the top in that case.

The only other thing might be to work on the tones of the young lady's face... I understand she is fair skin and upside down but in this shot it stands out almost too much against the dark, natural colors/feel of the composition.

Just my thoughts
Andy

ED: Try the Suntan brush from Makeover tools in Corel PSP Photo XI on the lady's face. It does calm the brightness down a tad.

Message edited by author 2007-07-08 02:22:19.

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

07/08/2007 12:06:35 PM · #3

Thanks for the well-stated feedback Andy. :)

There were 3 girls (no guy there) that approached us at the fair. They did a little skit (for a small contribution of course) and I quickly grabbed this shot. Not much time to back off...certainly no time to switch lens. It seems I mucked this up by cropping it. The result was the opposite of my intentions. Arrrgg. I wanted to remove distractions (legs, etc...) so I cropped it down a bit. Burned the edges some. Oh well, one of these years I'll get it right. :P

Here's the original without any editing except to resize. BTW - I'm still getting used to this lens, but I'm quite pleased with it so far.

Andy, you mention PSP XI. I've considered that but have read numerous about numerous problems people are having upgrading from prior versions. Have you encountered any difficulties? The brush you mention sounds like a handy tool. Thanks for the tip.

kenskid

Nikon D700

07/08/2007 12:10:26 PM · #4

I don't mind the "upside down" part. However, the face looks "stressed" because it is upside down. It makes me feel uncomfortable.

07/08/2007 12:31:06 PM · #5

Originally posted by kenskid:

I don't mind the "upside down" part. However, the face looks "stressed" because it is upside down. It makes me feel uncomfortable.

Ahhh...then you would be judging the photo by subject matter and how it makes you feel rather than technical merit? :P :) :D

Note the numerous smilies? I judge by subject material as well quite frequently, so it's good to know I'm not alone.

I appreciate your sincerity. Thanks for the feedback.

07/08/2007 12:40:55 PM · #6

Doh! on the gentleman part... that would be why the eyelashes kept catching my eye...

How about a nice dark vignette around the edges to push the viewer back to the center.

I finally figured out how to do vignetting with a raster level in corel but the free filter I use all the time is from Xero Graphics - set four on this page.

//www.xero-graphics.co.uk/freeware.htm

You can do some really nice uniform vigetting, zoom in/out and other cools things with that filter if you don't already have one.

Originally posted by glad2badad:

Message edited by author 2007-07-08 12:43:30.

07/08/2007 12:51:45 PM · #7

10 Second Vignette using the Xero Filter

Gradient Shape: Elliptical, Sharp
Effect type: background color
Pattern: Solid
Repeats: 1
Width: 24
Height: 24
Strength: 245

07/08/2007 12:52:41 PM · #8

Originally posted by awpollard:

Doh! on the gentleman part... that would be why the eyelashes kept catching my eye...

You weren't the only one. :D

Thanks for the tip on the filter. I'm going to check on it now.

07/08/2007 12:54:55 PM · #9

Originally posted by awpollard:

10 Second Vignette using the Xero Filter

Gradient Shape: Elliptical, Sharp
Effect type: background color
Pattern: Solid
Repeats: 1
Width: 24
Height: 24
Strength: 245

Very nice tool. Is it legal for challenges? The added vignette that is...

Umm...now it looks like the upside down girl is REALLY in the spotlight. :P He-he.

07/08/2007 12:58:00 PM · #10

I would have to believe it legal in advanced because the same could be accomplished with burning... ???