The difference editing can make - DPChallenge Forums

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

10/06/2003 07:45:52 AM · #1

Okay, THIS was my fight entry. Finished 107.

THIS is the edited version that is, of course, NOT DPC legal.

Let me say that the gutter was unavoidable in the shot because of where I was on the roof of the Market Square building and the large, portable stage that blocked the view from the roof at a better angle for the shot.

My question is, how many folks voted this shot low because of the things I could fix were it not for the restrictive editing rules.

I guess I can admit to being disappointed with a 107/118 finish with a shot like this one.

Shari

BobsterLobster

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/06/2003 07:54:18 AM · #2

There's not much difference to me between shots. The gutter doesn't bother me particularly.
I hope you're not offended, but I gave this a 4.
It seems under-exposed, and I agree with the comment that says there's too much clutter. I find it very offputting seeing lots of people's feet and it just seems too much like a snapshot to me. There's a baby's head chopped in half in the top right, and in the bottom right corner, there's someone's back which is distracting. Not many elements in the photo look like they were placed there deliberately.
I hope these comments are useful, please don't feel attacked!

Bob

magnetic9999

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

10/06/2003 08:06:17 AM · #3

I'm sorry Shari but I agree with Bob. The subject itself may have had a lot of potential, but it wasn't revealed in the photo.

Sometimes people take pictures at situations when they felt excited or stimulated. The person tends to look at the picture forever after and remember the emotions they felt. However, we may not have captured the image in such a way that others who were not there also feel that emotion.

Does that make sense?

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

10/06/2003 08:09:03 AM · #4

Just out of curiosity...how would one take a photo such as this--during a parade--in a way that would not have "distractions" and other people?

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

10/06/2003 08:10:31 AM · #5

Originally posted by BobsterLobster:

There's not much difference to me between shots. Not many elements in the photo look like they were placed there deliberately.
I hope these comments are useful, please don't feel attacked!

Bob

How does one "place" elements in a parade?

Flea

Nikon D1

10/06/2003 08:11:32 AM · #6

Originally posted by shareinnc:

Just out of curiosity...how would one take a photo such as this--during a parade--in a way that would not have "distractions" and other people?

i would have zoomed in closer on the dancer showing their face up in one corner and trying to catch some of the flying material in the oposite lower corner...

BobsterLobster

Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/06/2003 08:14:53 AM · #7

You can decide where to place elements of your surroundings into your viewfinder. I'm not saying it's easy, and I often don't get anything but snapshots in similiar situations, but it's good to have something to aim for!

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

10/06/2003 08:18:27 AM · #8

The best shots of parades I've seen are usually when the photographer gets out into the middle of the parade, uses a wide angle lens and something that can focus fast. You have to dance along with the parade and not get in the way.

Also helps to have a pass!

PaulMdx

Canon EOS-1D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

10/06/2003 08:50:35 AM · #9

Any chance a shallower DOF could have helped here? Not sure how telephoto this was, or how much effect a wider aperture would have made..

jonpink

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2

10/06/2003 08:50:57 AM · #10

just by using a wide appature would have blurred teh distrations in the bg. Also getting lower would be more dramatic.

Flash

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

10/06/2003 09:15:46 AM · #11

There is not much difference between the 2 photographs. The distractions from the background are evident in both and have been commented on already. This situation seems quite similar to photographing a classic automobile at a large meet. People are just part of the picture. As a photographer, you concentrate on the main subject, try to wait for the least amount of people in the frame, crop as close as your lens allows, control DOF if possible, and usually the photo still doesn't turn out right. The reason the professional photographers get early access to car shows, is so that they can shoot without the crowds. This picture is quite good at capturing the dancer in motion. The elevated perch amplifies the costume. However, as with all crowd shots surrounding a main subject, the challenge is to make it unique. The only option I see here is to crop the entire frame, to where just the dancer's head and whatever portion of the costume can be fitted within the crop, excluding all other incidentals. Then determine whether the remaining photo is worth a wall hanging.

coolhar

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

10/06/2003 09:25:00 AM · #12

The feeling of motion comes thru well but perhaps the crowd being so close to the subject kept you from getting a better shot. Maybe an angle closer to ground level could have improved the picture more than your editing. But this is hindsight from someone who was not there for the moment that moved you.

jimmyn4

Canon EOS-7D

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

10/06/2003 09:34:15 AM · #13

This was the comment I left on your photo "I like how you have captured a sense of motion here. I think a photo from street level would be better. That way you wouldn't have to crop the heads off the spectators. Or a tighter crop on just the subject. I don't think this will score well because it doesn't show flight."
I gave you a three mostly because I didn't think this showed flight. I didn't like the fact that you had cut the heads off the spectators either and the gutter was distracting. I think your edited may have done a little better but not much because I just don't see flight here. Sorry.

10/06/2003 11:03:58 AM · #14

what a difference a bit more editing can do...

obviously NOT dpc legal

but elimated all the clutter - just a quick modification
used clone, and layers on sidewalk ( quick edit ) - sharpened man - desaturated BG

EDIT: link removed
[url][/url]
/edit
with a bit more time - the sidewalk could be done cleaner
i'm at work - not a lot o f time to fool with photos

what you think?

ideally you would wnat to compose the photo better to minimize post processing - unless the intent is to modify the photo heavily.

one way to compose better in a busy situation - use the apeture to blur out the distractions ( minimize depth of field )- keeping the main focus on the subject.

soup

Message edited by author 2003-10-06 20:46:16.

magnetic9999

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

10/06/2003 11:25:56 AM · #15

soup, you've made it alot better. a little selective lightening would make it even better.

still doesnt say flight to me, tho.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm f/2.8D IF-ED

10/06/2003 11:31:32 AM · #16

nah not really flight..

but - the robe is in flight of sorts
i think the crop/edit adds to it though

soup

Flash

Nikon D700

10/06/2003 01:37:02 PM · #17

Soup.....nice job.

10/06/2003 08:45:49 PM · #18

i have removed the link to the photo as requested by
the photographer

thanks though ;}

soup

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

10/06/2003 09:32:45 PM · #19

Originally posted by Flash:

Soup.....nice job.

No offense meant here folks, but comments like this one are why I asked soup to please remove the shot.

Shari

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/06/2003 09:49:01 PM · #20

Originally posted by shareinnc:

Originally posted by Flash:
Soup.....nice job.

No offense meant here folks, but comments like this one are why I asked soup to please remove the shot.

Shari

If I were to pursue my photo page, I think I would turn it into myphotocontest.tk's "Second Opinion." I think we could learn a lot from seeing someone else's take on our raw work.

(No offense meant either, but if people liked what they saw in Soup's edits, perhaps it would have been something the rest of us who didn't see it could have learned from).

M

Tokina AF 28-70mm f/2.8 ATX Pro-SV for Canon EOS

10/06/2003 10:04:44 PM · #21

well i appreciate that...
and doesnt sound like a bad idea
but - with folks selling prints and what not - maybe i over stepped
the bounds by editing something that wasn't asked of me...

was bored, and had a vision - i love image editing

and no need to capitalize the S in soup ;}

soup

MWitt

Canon EOS-5D

10/06/2003 10:10:40 PM · #22

I was the one 9 vote you received. I thought it was a very unique interpretation and my eye was pulled to the dancer's motion. Then my eye caught the colorful character on the right and was pulled right back into the shot by the dancer's motion again, paying little attention to the feet in the background or the gutter.
Great shot! I loved it!

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

10/06/2003 10:30:33 PM · #23

Originally posted by mavrik:

Originally posted by shareinnc:
Originally posted by Flash:
Soup.....nice job.

No offense meant here folks, but comments like this one are why I asked soup to please remove the shot.

Shari

If I were to pursue my photo page, I think I would turn it into myphotocontest.tk's "Second Opinion." I think we could learn a lot from seeing someone else's take on our raw work.

(No offense meant either, but if people liked what they saw in Soup's edits, perhaps it would have been something the rest of us who didn't see it could have learned from).

M

I don't necessarily have a problem with folks giving a try at editing another person's shot. My problem here is that 1) the shot was named "soup" in soup's portfolio--the only mention of me as photographer is in the comments, not something that shows up in a google type search for photos 2) folks began "complimenting" an editor without any nod to the photographer, blurring the line a little too much for me and 3) this shot is now part of a presentation for the Fayetteville Arts Council and I want no blurring of copyright issues because of it.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

10/06/2003 10:31:20 PM · #24

Originally posted by Olympian:

Thank you, Olympian. Your "eye" followed the path mine did when I shot and cropped this photo.