Score 4.5-5.99 and need a critique? 2007/04/17

04/18/2007 03:55:07 PM · #26

Originally posted by jasonlprice:

What do you think about this?...and thanks in advance!

I voted but did not comment on this image. I gave it a 10 and liked the image. I thought it was a "good" image so scored it accordingly.

Positives:
This is a touching image capturing a 'life' moment. That is what makes this image good. It is hard to capture this in photographic imaging but done very well in this one.

Technicals:
Lighting, exposure and composition are very good. Composition supports the image exceptionally well.

The Challenge:
Obvious appears to be taken at night so therefore meets the challenge. Not only that, but because of the composition does it better than other images in the challenge.

Suggestions:
There is little technically to suggest to improve this image.

Message edited by author 2007-04-18 16:03:18.

jasonlprice

Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM

04/18/2007 04:29:30 PM · #27

Thanks stdavidson! I'm very happy that you liked my image and gave it a 10! I guess that is a two-edged sword though because if you didn't like it you could have explained why it scored sub 6. :) I guess "thoughtful" photos don't do so well on DPC?

04/18/2007 04:29:48 PM · #28

Originally posted by pamelasue:

Positives:
As a B&W image on gambling taken by a USA photographer that makes this is a 'good' image. It is an expression of USA pop culture.

Technicals:
It looks like a nice B&W image with a full range of tones from pure black(0,0,0) to pure white(255, 255, 255). I could be wrong. The forearm is slightly overexposed. Composition is generally good but not exceptionally well with a centered composition. Other technicals are good.

The Challenge:
This meets the challenge very well for an American audience but not so well for a non-American audience which will affect it's score slightly. Non-American audiences would score it lower.

Suggestions:
Offset the main subject slightly from center positioning is the only way to photographically improve this image. Subject matter and other photographic qualities changes are different issues.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

04/18/2007 04:48:24 PM · #29

Originally posted by jasonlprice:

I think you hit the nail on the head with your question. Look at the average from your commenters - and you had a lot of commenters. Sometimes here at DPC, connecting with your viewers is WAY more important than a score - and in this case I think that's especially true.

Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III

04/18/2007 04:48:29 PM · #30

Originally posted by colorcarnival:

Positives:
Nice black background and golden colors are strong points in this composition.

Technicals:
Golden color is nice. The main technical feature that hurt this in scoring is the minor defects in the dark areas of the background. There are some other apparent defects inside the lighted areas as well.

The Challenge:
What will bug voters more than anything else is that they really cannot tell what the main subject is. True that if you look closely, you can tell what it is, but for DPC you have a very short time to communicate your subject to voters. If you don't achieve that within afew SECONDS then you'll get a lower score.

Suggestions:
Remove the defects in the black and lighted areas of the image. Take more and different images of the scene that better shows the coins clearly.

colorcarnival

Olympus 45mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital

04/18/2007 04:57:01 PM · #31

Thank you so much for taking the time to give me an excellent technical critique of my photo. I was looking that the smidges in the black part now. I think at the time I was not sure if i could clone them out or not so i just chose to go with it as it was.

Very much appreciate your insight and time!

escapetooz

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

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

04/18/2007 04:59:52 PM · #32

Thanks.

04/18/2007 05:12:29 PM · #33

Originally posted by Melethia:

... I do agree that DPC generally votes "low" but as long as individual voters are consistent with what they vote as an "average", then it evens out.

I respect this view as well but disagree that it is acceptable. Because all DPCers vote "low" is no reason to accept it for "consistency" because it evens things out. Vote what is right for the country or culture of your origin and that will NEVER be wrong. My contention is that current DPC low voting 'standard' meets no country's or culture's norms regardless how "low" it might be, including England's.

As long as you and I vote "low" like everyone else does at DPC then scores will always be arbitrarily "low" and cause photographer disenchantment under the LOWEST common standards in any country ANYWHERE in the world. I believe that is wrong. My personal plan is to buck that illogical assumption by average DPC voters.

04/18/2007 05:23:02 PM · #34

Originally posted by Federico:

uhm... DNMC?

I have no idea what you are refering to, but strongly feel that DNMC voting has a very negative impact as to how it affects photographers trying to improve their skills. DNMC votes confuse those trying to improve their photographic skills because their basis is NOT photography, it is because of topic interpretation with is entirely subjective.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 USM Macro

04/18/2007 05:39:56 PM · #35

Originally posted by escapetooz:

This is #11,I think, but will critique it anyway. :)

Positives:
Overall general technical quality is good.

Technicals:
Color, sharpness, lighting and most technical issues are very good.

The Challenge:
I agree this is a night shot and meets the challenge but fringe voters may disagree and think it is not and vote differently. Meeting the challenge is NOT the main issue with this image. What is are technical issues such as 'unique' lighting, composition and perspective moreso than anything else.

Suggestions:
Chose a different perspective, lighting or perspective for this subject. If changing lighting is not an option, as I suspect it is, then use dodge and burn and/or other post processing techniques to make the appearance of this image more interesting to the average viewer.

alexgarcia

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

04/19/2007 02:37:27 AM · #36

Thanks, Steve, once again. I always think your comments are very clever and go to the point. If you remember last week we talked in another thread about the question of sharpen...
Good job, as every week. Hope this week I don't have a photo down 6 to post in your thread, my landscape is going well, but it will be a pitty have not your comment, LOL.

Ã�lex.

Federico

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

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

04/19/2007 07:58:35 AM · #37

If you want to critique another one :)
thanks
Federico

Spizzer

Nikon D3

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

04/19/2007 03:59:33 PM · #38

I never understood why this did so poorly, and the two comments I got were not descriptive enough to even tell if they were for or against it.

Thanks,

Jeff (spizzer)

04/19/2007 04:38:17 PM · #39

Originally posted by Federico:

Positives:
Wonderfully conceived and captured black and white. Subtlely moody and gives the viewer much to think about when looking at it. It is the type of image that draws the viewer back again and again. Technical quality is excellent. The immensity of the cobblestones in the frame stuns the viewer.

Technicals:
Black and white contrast and range is just right. Your processing enhances the moodiness of the composition. Backlighting and shadows enhance the composition greatly.

The depth of field on this one is interesting. One of the few images where major subjects like the two people remaining out of focus fits the composition. Generally speaking you'd normally have the closest foreground in sharpest focus but that is not the case here. It is slightly out of focus. Don't know if that is by design. It certainly doesn't hurt the composition and adds more curiosity to the picture.

The Challenge:
Certainly meets the challenge well and in a unique and interesting way. Commenters obviously like this image a lot and say so. The average score is low, but that is true of most DPC images. Perhaps voters glossed over this one because it lacks the flash and instant "Wow factor" DPC voters have come to expect.

I voted this challenge and gave this image a 9 and probably should have given it a 10. Its one fine image.

Suggestions:
The reason I know I should have scored this a 10 is because I can't think of anything significant to suggest to improve it.

Message edited by author 2007-04-19 16:40:39.