Critique on some older photos - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

03/08/2012 02:29:18 PM · #1

Hey everyone. I recently updated my portfolio to include some photos from a trip to Destin, FL that my family and I took back in 2010. I was wondering if anyone wanted to critique these...
I would like to go back this summer with the family, so perhaps some insight as to how to make them even better would be great.

Limited Editing on the bridge

Original Photo

Original Photo

Thanks in advance to all! :)

RyanW

Nikon D7000

03/08/2012 02:51:26 PM · #2

For me, the bridge is unremarkable in it's own right - there's nothing about the image, as is, that is drawing me to it. That could be in part due to the grey-ish nature of the background and my mood at the moment, the exact same qualities may work for other people (that's the beauty and drawback of "art").

The second image has too much "sky" and not enough "focus" in addition to the sand and water feeling washed out. If you were aiming for footprints on the beach being the focus, change the aperature to keep the focus up front on the sand and partly the water, while the horizon and sky should be more out of focus. Aside from that it just looks like a picture of a beach on a nice day. Cropping out some of the superfluous clouds/sky could help to keep the image more focused on the sand and water.

The third image is the best of the three in my opinion. You have a good blend between land, sea and air, the only problem i have with the image is the seemingly dark spots - i'm not sure if you ran this through some filters for colour/brightness/etc, but the horizon seems very black, the right side of the image has a dark area of the water and the sky seems to get darker the closer it gets to the right side of the image. This, to me is compounded and with a dark spot in the bottom left from the wave gives an 'off-balance' feel to the image.

Overall i think they're all decent images technically without any huge flaws, but there's not really anything drawing me into them.

spiritualspatula

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

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

03/08/2012 02:53:11 PM · #3

Threw out a couple comments.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

03/08/2012 02:53:59 PM · #4

Originally posted by RyanWareham:

Overall i think they're all decent images technically without any huge flaws

funny, I feel like i'm about to fall of the edge of the earth.

Message edited by author 2012-03-08 14:54:42.

03/08/2012 02:54:40 PM · #5

Thanks guys! I appreciate the thoughts. :)

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

03/08/2012 04:39:28 PM · #6

Here's a few more recent photos. Just a couple black and whites.

On the one of Mac... I noticed that both eyes aren't completely in focus, which is bothering me. And there's a dark shadow to the left of his face.

After looking at the one of both boys, I see the picture needs to be straightened. I may have over processed... but I like the end result.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

03/08/2012 07:49:27 PM · #7

dodge and burn eyes, it makes all the difference.

photoshopping eyes

03/08/2012 07:53:55 PM · #8

Originally posted by mike_311:

dodge and burn eyes, it makes all the difference.

photoshopping eyes

That's something I haven't done in a while. Gonna have to