What Should I Have Done Differently?

07/17/2006 09:34:41 AM · #1

I don't usually do these threads, but this one has had me perplexed all week - The comments really don't tell me why it received the score it did. What were you - the voter - looking for / thinking when you scored this one?

hanneke

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/17/2006 09:38:22 AM · #2

I didn't vote this challenge, but I checked the photo's I liked in thumbs, and yours was one of them.

I didn't read the comments, so I might say something again.

At first, I think the focus is a bit off. It's on the back of the glass-plate. Focussing on the girl OR on the 10 would be better I think.
Second, I think the setting is a bit too dark. Birthdays are fun, and a lighter setting (white background, and more light from the left) might have worked better.

My 2 cents. Hope it was a bit helpful!

Message edited by author 2006-07-17 09:41:33.

hokie

Nikon D2X

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8G IF-ED

07/17/2006 09:39:02 AM · #3

I think it is because the "10" is out of focus versus the young lady.

Perhaps if you could have had her leaning in to the candle real close, meaning the front of the face was down lower and very close to the candle and then had only the candle and the front of her face in focus with everything in front of the candle and behind the plane of her face out of focus.

The subject idea was great.

Message edited by author 2006-07-17 09:39:44.

pottersclay75

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 35-80mm f/4.0-5.6 III

07/17/2006 09:47:36 AM · #4

Originally posted by biteme:

Second, I think the setting is a bit too dark. Birthdays are fun, and a lighter setting (white background, and more light from the left) might have worked better.

Yeah, but many have the tradition of turning off the lights in a room when a person is to blow out the candles.

hanneke

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

07/17/2006 09:49:10 AM · #5

Originally posted by pottersclay75:

Originally posted by biteme:
Second, I think the setting is a bit too dark. Birthdays are fun, and a lighter setting (white background, and more light from the left) might have worked better.

Yeah, but many have the tradition of turning off the lights in a room when a person is to blow out the candles.

True.
But still, IMHO it would be better. More fresh. Hope you know what I mean.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

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

07/17/2006 09:52:01 AM · #6

It's surely, IMO, mostly a response to the DOF issue; since the challenge was "10" and the 10 is soft, I think that hurt ya...

R.

07/17/2006 09:54:39 AM · #7

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

It's surely, IMO, mostly a response to the DOF issue; since the challenge was "10" and the 10 is soft, I think that hurt ya...

R.

but but but... the candle was just to emphasize that SHE is 10! :( I'm so misunderstood! lol

Thanks guys, I'm getting a better idea now!

Matthew

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

07/17/2006 10:20:34 AM · #8

I was one of th emany 6s you received. I thought that the image was good, meeting the challenge, but I agree with others here that the focus should have been on the candles: with the focus on the girl, the image is all about "birthday", or "growing older", whereas focus on the candles would have emphasised that the important thing is that she is "10", and not another age.

To me, there is also a slight colour cast in her skin tones, but overall, in my top 25% for the challenge (so I think that you were a bit hard done by).

PhantomEWO

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

07/17/2006 10:25:42 AM · #9

I tend to agree with others here. It has great potential. The DOF just is not quite right. The only thing in crisp sharpness is her bangs, the cake is soft as is her face and back of her hair. My eyes were drawn to one snall are on her forehead due to it's sharpness. I believe if the entire photo was soft focus it may have done better or if the 10 was sharp and she was in the soft focus part it would have done better. Heck, this was in the middle of the pack, not really a bad score anyway.

modgethanc

Nikon D90

Nikon AF Fisheye-Nikkor 16mm f/2.8D

07/17/2006 11:06:08 AM · #10

Left a comment.

Sammie

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Canon EF 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

07/17/2006 11:11:23 AM · #11

I was one of your 9 votes. I really liked this photo the way it was and was very surprised it didn't score higher.

Perhaps, more focus could have been on the 10 but it is very good just the way it is.

scarbrd

Leica M10

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

07/17/2006 11:18:29 AM · #12

I thought she looked older than 10, not much, like 12ish. I gave it a 6.

If I may ask the same on mine. I really thought this was a ribbon contenter. 6.4 is a good score, I know. But I thought I nailed this one. Any suggestions that would have put this one over the top?

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

07/17/2006 11:25:17 AM · #13

Great colors, David and I like the DOF showing "just" enough of the child. I scored it an 8. Grats on your top 20 finish! :)

scarbrd

Leica M10

07/17/2006 11:27:56 AM · #14

Originally posted by idnic:

Great colors, David and I like the DOF showing "just" enough of the child. I scored it an 8. Grats on your top 20 finish! :)

Thanks! An 8 from you really means something!

Someone gave it a 1. I wonder what they were looking for?

But then the Blue Ribbon winner got 2 - 1 votes. Geez.

Message edited by author 2006-07-17 11:28:42.

Matthew

Peleng 8mm f/3.5 Fisheye MC In M42 Mount

07/17/2006 12:15:27 PM · #15

Originally posted by scarbrd:

I really thought this was a ribbon contenter. 6.4 is a good score, I know. But I thought I nailed this one. Any suggestions that would have put this one over the top?

I liked the image - the colours are great. I gave you a 6, because I thought that the image was strong, but the connection to the number 10 was only moderate. There were quite a few "hands" shots, and while your image is great, the winning hands shot was photographically top notch (I gave it a 7 - again limited a little because of the only moderate connection to the challenge). In my voting, I tended to favour a more literal interpretation of the challenge title.

Having said that, my own entry was a bit of a shoe-horn, and I seriously thought twice before entering it for that reason (I took it because it was pretty, and had to emphasise what was a weak connection to the challenge!).

Tiberius

Samsung Galaxy S22, S22+, S22 Ultra

Panasonic Lumix G 14mm F2.5 ASPH

07/17/2006 12:21:04 PM · #16

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

It's surely, IMO, mostly a response to the DOF issue; since the challenge was "10" and the 10 is soft, I think that hurt ya...

R.

Agree.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

07/17/2006 01:18:35 PM · #17

This is my outtake idea. I think I chose the right one of the two, eventhough both work well. She kept wanting to eat the soup while I shot :P

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

07/17/2006 01:54:33 PM · #18

From the comments, it seems most people scored mine only on the literal level; the metaphorical component seems to have not made much of an impression ...