help me get better at picking which image

Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f/1.7 Aspherical MF Wide Angle - Black

11/08/2011 02:20:01 AM · #1

so thought i had a nice image for the free study and to be fair i d id ignore yo_spiff excellent advice to my own detriment because i didn't want to do better on semi false pretence if that makes sense

so here was my image scored a 5.02

these were my other pics in no particular order, i know choice is subjective but just looking for opinions, thanks in advance

_MG_4346 by gilesbert, on Flickr

_MG_4536 by gilesbert, on Flickr

_MG_4553 by gilesbert, on Flickr

IMG_4692 by gilesbert, on Flickr

IMG_6228 by gilesbert, on Flickr

IMG_7003 by gilesbert, on Flickr

IMG_7030 - Version 2 by gilesbert, on Flickr

NiallOTuama

Google Pixel 2

11/08/2011 02:28:22 AM · #2

I really like the helmet image of your kid. Perfect focus on the eyes. And great processing on them too! I would have suggested that one with a bit of a crop change. Maybe it's 'snapshotty' but I think it's damn good snapshotty! :-)

The rearing swan image is also excellent. Were the rocks not there that should have been chosen for sure.

Paul

Leica SL

11/08/2011 02:36:55 AM · #3

4346 - nice image but caution needed; FS entries that match a theme that has been done can bore people: the Foliage challenge (in which this would do well) means that this will be suppressed in a FS.

4536 - would score around 5.5 I would say; distortion (though part of the appeal of the image) would deter many voters and the overall interest level is low.

4553 - Flat 5 - the car mirror is unattractive and gimmicky. Avoid for FS - would do OK in a mirror challenge.

4692 - Low 5s - very low intrinsic interest

6228 - High 5s - great light, engaging subject, excellent toning but you already know voter aren't going for your softer focus portraits. If scores are what you are interested in you'll need to nail the eye sharpness (edit - nail the focus and selective sharpen for emphasis) - even though you might not want to.

7003 - mid 6s - DPC friendly; with some highlight recovery and a good vignette, this would do well.

7030 - low 6s - DPC friendly but a bit static compared to the image above.

Note - themes are my perceptions of playing the DPC scoring game and don't reflect my personal preferences. For me 6228 by a mile but the soft focus will get you killed by too many people for it to score well. Don't let that stop you though.

For me your actual entry scored a 4. I quite like the avant garde images but the flat toning on the wall was distracting and the instrinsic level of interest was low for me - no drama or story in the scene or the processing.

What were your favourite images in the challenge? Showcase some of those in the posthumous thread.

I'm sure others will chime in but you have my thoughts.

Cheers

Paul

Message edited by author 2011-11-08 02:38:32.

BrennanOB

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

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

11/08/2011 02:46:26 AM · #4

I would say Paul pretty much nailed it as far as handicapping the over under on those shots.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM

11/08/2011 03:08:13 AM · #5

Originally posted by paulbtlw:

thanks paul

7003: yo_spiff cropped and did a much better pp job on the rearing swan almost silvery liquidy nicenss yet crisp if that makes sense but i didnt want to piggy back his skills if you get me,

4536: yeah the 16-35mm isnt that sharp and distorts at 16mm on full frame, was my original entry into FS but was put off my the barrel distortion

6228: exactly my thoughts re popularity of child snapshots, being biased of course i love this image and ordering it in 30x20" for my wall, it was shot with my old 20d and nifty 50 just riding in the park on our bikes, only pp was b/w conversion in aperture, i'll sharpen the eyes before printing though thanks

4346: was shot on the 2nd of october well before the foliage challenge hence not entered and maybe too contrived

7030: i liked the water drip but compared to the other swan it does lack some punch

i liked the detail in my image but in all honesty it was taken to show to a stylist friend for a high fashion shoot we are planning, with the intend of a tall waif like friend with big dramatic hair adorning the doorway

my top scorers from the challenge were

10's

9's

8's

maybe a little equestrian biased as a grew up on and parents still have horse farm, sister has sport horses and i build stables and areans/sand schools for the day job hehe

i liked the water dropplets on the head on this one but wasnt sure how to make them sing

IMG_7081 by gilesbert, on Flickr

here the original from the swan, yup thats a typical october day in northern england dull, brown and miserable haha, full size if anyone wants to play with it

IMG_7003_original by gilesbert, on Flickr

Message edited by author 2011-11-08 03:46:04.

giantmike

Canon EOS R6

11/08/2011 05:13:55 AM · #6

Originally posted by paulbtlw:

4346 - nice image but caution needed; FS entries that match a theme that has been done can bore people: the Foliage challenge (in which this would do well) means that this will be suppressed in a FS.

I agree with this statement, but with one caveat. In this case, foliage didn't start voting until the last day of the free study, so most voters would be as exhausted with foliage photos during their FS voting. Case in point, my image which ended up at 6.13. Most of the week it was at 5.90-5.98, but then actually got a major boost when foliage voting started.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

11/08/2011 09:53:07 AM · #7

Since he mentioned it, here's my edit of his swan shot. Still not great. It was tough to bring out some detail and try to get some wow as well. The overcast English skies could work to advantage at times, however. Some of my best shots have been taken on overcast days, when I don't have to deal with the harsh contrast between light and shadow. I don't think the lake was a good location for that to work to advantage, however.

I had suggested the wideangle forest shot for the FS.

BTW, I gave your FS entry a 5. I thought it was sharp, well detailed, and exposed decently, but the way the subject was composed just didn't do anything to grab my interest. It was just a doorway in an old building. A different perspective may have helped a lot.

Message edited by author 2011-11-08 09:55:35.

mariuca

Fujifilm X-T30

Fujifilm XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS

11/08/2011 10:07:55 AM · #8

Giles_uk

I personally think that you have to reevaluate your goals or rephrase the above statement concerning which one to pick to please the DPC crowd

Garry

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

11/08/2011 10:08:33 AM · #9

I agree with Paul's assessment 100%.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

11/08/2011 12:55:41 PM · #10

I think the swan's a good shot, plenty of potential. I think everyone';s unfortunately ignored the most important part, thje relationship of the two swans; they ARE, presumably, a couple... Here's my take; I do have a BW version as well, kinda like this one though.

Yo_Spiff

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

Olympus 12-100mm f/4.0 M.Zuiko ED IS PRO

11/08/2011 01:05:18 PM · #11

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

I think everyone';s unfortunately ignored the most important part, thje relationship of the two swans

The version he originally gave me to must have been cropped, since it didn't have the second swan. I would have likely left it in if I'd seen the full frame.

Good job on bringing out those details, Robert.

Message edited by author 2011-11-08 13:05:59.

11/08/2011 01:39:08 PM · #12

Originally posted by mariuca:

Giles_uk couldnt decide which one to pick to please the DPC crowd was between this one, the swans or the leafs on log... went for this one. b/w isnt the best conversion but im learning with each one i do. Giles_uk

I personally think that you have to reevaluate your goals or rephrase the above statement concerning which one to pick to please the DPC crowd

why? is not like i only take pics for this site, i came on here after reading the article about alex saberi and him saying it helped him improve his photography massively by being on here and having a couple of weekly challenges pushes you to get out and take pictures, hard when you are a single dad running your own business doing 80 hours a week driving diggers etc, so the idea is to please the DPC crowd which reflects an improvement? does it not?

spiff i sent you the link then went back to the image and messed with it again, but didnt realise that when you have uploaded an image from aperture using the flickr feature any changes you make locally are mirrored on flickr and same with facebook, so i went back and played with it and it automatically uploaded it while playing. i had to export the raw then convert in ps then use web based upload to get original up on flickr.

yeah swans mate for life dont they so id very much assume they were mr and mrs