Would love your opinion on a couple photos

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

02/01/2012 09:10:42 AM · #1

These are a couple of recent photos that I was really happy with. I would love to see what you guys think about them. How could they be improved?

Both were taken at 300mm, f/5.6
Light provided by the setting sun
Minimal editing... slight curves changes, and sharpened a bit

Thanks for your opinions!

Message edited by author 2012-02-17 14:07:06.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

02/01/2012 10:01:54 AM · #2

post them to your portfolio, and link the thumbnails, this way we can comment on them properly.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

02/01/2012 10:54:42 AM · #3

Ah, I didn't know that was the accepted method.

The issue being, I am not a paying member and cannot upload extraneous images to my portfolio.

Sounds like I'll need to become a paying member eh?

Osiris1975

Canon EOS-600D/T3 Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/01/2012 11:22:24 AM · #4

I like the lighting in these photos, more so the first one. Gotta love the setting sun. :)

I think the first photo could be improved by filling more of the frame, zooming in more, on the curved grass. Dead grass isn't very colorful, so I think the way to make create greater impact is to show greater fine detail, blowing up the dapple of browns on the gold and seeing the striations in the grass. I didn't feel the blurring in the foreground added to the photo, so I'd consider making the view more unobstructed, perhaps by raising the point of view a few inches.

In the second photo, I think I'd have liked to see more contrast the grass, it seems like the highlights are a bit too strong. The background might benefit from some tweaking of your color sliders to make it more blue.

hahn23

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

02/01/2012 12:15:50 PM · #5

In both photos, there is a lack of subject. What did you want the viewer to see? You may expect viewers to carefully scan the full scene in search of your point of interest. I didn't see a subject at first glance and I didn't discover a subject on a longer inspection. Technically, these are okay. I prefer the second image because of the color contrast and a hint that I might get to see interesting detail in the remnants of the seed pods. There is a lot of competition for viewers' time. I think you maybe get 1.2 seconds to capture the attention of a viewer. My advice is to include one or more additional elements of interest to grab the eyes and brain and heart of viewers. As I re-read what I just wrote, it seems pretty harsh, but I genuinely intend these words to be constructive criticism and things to consider in future photo shoots.

jagar

Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+

Sony Sonnar FE 2.8 35mm ZA

02/01/2012 12:30:59 PM · #6

I agree with

hahn23 here, the technicals are fine, subject is lacking, subject is everything the technicals should follow.

Sony Sonnar FE 2.8 35mm ZA

02/01/2012 12:55:47 PM · #7

Maybe I'm confused with the term "subject". Which seems like a simple term, but I'm obviously not catching it fully.

To me, the subject in these photos is made clear by the shallow DOF. In the first image, the ribbons of grass curling around each other left of center are the subject. In the second image, I felt the subject was absolutely clear... being the only thing in focus.

Not saying that you guys are wrong... but if you could explain a little further it would be really helpful. What are you looking for in a subject?

Thanks for the help guys! I want to evolve!

Osiris1975

Canon EOS-600D/T3 Rebel

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

02/01/2012 12:59:34 PM · #8

Originally posted by JamesDowning:

My sense is that he was saying the subject wasn't interesting enough to hold his attention. That is sort of what I was getting at with my comment to fill the frame so that the details of the grass would be larger. The idea is these details would make the grass more 'subject worthy'.

jagar

Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+

02/01/2012 01:00:15 PM · #9

I mean that it's the subject itself that lacks interest, you presented the subject very well, it's just not that interesting really.

Giles

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/01/2012 01:02:07 PM · #10

Say there was a caterpillar or a bug crawling up the grass on the second one it would add one interest, at the moment it's a stead of tall grass that's it

Maybe blurred by bokeh flowers inthe background etc something to add interest and draw the eye infor a long look

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

02/01/2012 01:11:51 PM · #11

Thanks guys, reading it that way does make it clearer.

hahn23

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

02/01/2012 01:47:48 PM · #12

Well, instead of "lacking a subject", I should have said "lacking a focal point". You did direct our attention to the grasses with selective focus. But, once we got there with our eyes, the grasses were lacking in interest. A strong focal point is one of the basic elements of effective composition. Once you have identified your strong focal point, then apply the other techniques in the linked article.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR

02/10/2012 03:28:05 PM · #13

Coming back to this discussion. It seems landscape images are some of the hardest to form a true "subject" with. I struggle with that a lot. Sure, it can be a tree or some other isolated object. But what about pure landscape images?

I finally became a member, so here's a proper link to these images... would love some input on how to improve.

(I almost submitted these as my best of 2011.)

Thanks!

Message edited by author 2012-02-10 15:40:46.

Ozzie

Nikon D90

02/10/2012 04:01:27 PM · #14

I like the first picture better, because of the clouds hovering over the top, plus the colours seem to be more saturated. In the second photo, the skies probably would look better if it wasn't as washed out. A circular polarizer would have added to it if you had one.

hahn23

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS II USM Lens

02/10/2012 04:41:22 PM · #15

Both images are good. In the second one, the manmade road distracts me. This is probably just me, but I try to do landscape without roads, bridges and jet contrails. It's not a hard and fast rule to keep "the hand of man" out of landscape images. Sometimes, it is unavoidable. But, for a great landscape to show its stuff, it's better to be without distractions.

The first image has a good focal point, asymmetrical composition, a pleasing background and okay sky. Your exposure is good. I have three suggestions for improvement:
1. Consider a soft grad ND filter system. Out west, we have clean, dry air. There's not much in the air to scatter light. So, when the sun is out, we have bright highlights and dark shadows. Suggest shooting during the golden hours to give yourself a chance to photograph soft, colorful light.
2. Because you shot during overcast conditions, you didn't lose any detail in the shadows, nor did you lose any detail in blown out highlights. That said, your image is "flat". It needs dynamic light to present interesting shadows and highlights. Don't fear the sunlight.
3. The sky is a very important element in a landscape, especially when there is no water element on the ground. A cloudless blue sky is rarely interesting. A completely overcast sky will throw gray light everywhere. The optimal sky is about 40% cloudy, with patches of blue showing. Clouds with interesting detail are very desirable.

You're on the right track.

Alyn

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

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

02/10/2012 05:20:20 PM · #16

First image in your original reply:

Sharpness and exposure wise - perfect in my opinion. I love the bokeh, it's a very peaceful image, reminiscent of the fall. It is bordering on the line of an abstract nature shot. I don't think it has the graphic appeal to make much impact in that regard. I suppose your message is peace in the grass on a fall day, which is communicated well, but I think your subject should be studied more to find a pattern of lines and shapes in the grass to lead the viewer on an adventure through the image. At the moment, the graphics are a bit (for lack of better words) lacking a point. An interplay of shapes in the grass would be a fun subject.

Second image in your original reply:

Good sharpness, I do detect a little grain in the image, however it's not bad. I love the contrast between the deep blues and the complimentary yellows. The eye zooms to that intense contrast with pleasing results. It's slightly disturbing that the grass is cut off at the top of the image. We don't have anywhere to gaze. Our eyes just go from bottom to top and out of the image (also the straw going out of the right of the image has the same effect). I'm not sure what you're trying to emphasize in the image either. Perhaps switching to a vertical composition to emphasis the height of the plant. However, I would give the same advice as for the first shot...looking for shapes with these types of subjects is rewarding (especially with such beautiful contrast and complimentary colors, finding nice shapes would create a beautiful abstract).

Long way down:

(I'm not by any means a landscape photographer.)

I love the interplay of purples and oranges in the rocks, but I think your message of "long way down" isn't necessarily communicated. I think it has a fairly good composition. My eyes travel along the road and the edge of the cliff very nicely and tends to rest in the haze in the valley. It's too peaceful. I think the image would benefit from some sense of tension. And emphasis on the jagged rocks. You also a need a little more sense of height in the image. I do however like the foreground grass; the little leafs are pointing right into your image and contrast nicely with the oranges.

Canyonland:

(Loving the oranges and purples again.) My eyes want more of those background canyons! I keep looking at those beautiful pastel colors and completely ignoring the foreground rock that takes up a lot of the image. In my opinion, the image would benefit from a focus on the depth and immensity of the foggy canyons with their navajo colors. The peaceful colors and overcast clouds. The subtle details in the rocks. Basically, get rid of the foreground rocks.

Really overall good images with really good quality and good composition, just a few of my perceptions. :)

02/11/2012 01:07:21 PM · #17

Thank you to everyone that has left comments. They are much appreciated!!