critique photo please =) - DPChallenge Forums

Nikon MF Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/2.8D PC

03/16/2010 11:36:58 PM · #1

ok... so this is a sample i'm showing to a client and I'd like some input... it's on Flickr..

to see it click HERE =)

let me know what you think... yea... can't use it in the night challge as I don't like to use client's pics in challenges... =)

any input would be great!

thanks!

chazoe

Nikon Z7 FX

03/16/2010 11:47:11 PM · #2

Wow, I really like that. If that was in the challenge I would give it at least an 8, probably higher even. Very interesting without being too cluttered. Extremely clear. The only thing I might pick on slightly, and it's not your fault but might be fixable in PS, is the wave-shaped shadow or stain(maybe?) on the road is slightly distracting to me. That might just be me though, others may find that more interesting. Really, other than that one tiny thing I think this a great shot and all that JAZZ should be very pleased.

For my own learning purposes could you post the exif. info? Thanks.

Citadel

Nikon D7500

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

03/16/2010 11:52:51 PM · #3

Overall I like it. One thing I will say is that I find my eye bouncing back and forth between the left side and the right side. That's my two cents anyways.

Lonni

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

03/16/2010 11:58:01 PM · #4

Nice work Eric. Is it HDR or just exactly the right time of night?

03/17/2010 12:01:54 AM · #5

Thanks!

yea, the stain on the ground is from a street sweeper... I'm probably going to clone it out if they go for that one...

about bouncing back and foreth, well, there was nothing on the left half of the frame as that coffee shop is really the only store on that street with lights, so the only way to get some nice detail on the left was to use a street car....

for the exif, this was two shots... what exactly were you looking for?

I used a D90 with Tokina 12-24 @ 12mm bracketed at 1 stop intervals...

one shot was for the main scene with the coffee shop and road, the other shorter exposure was for the street car, the sky was a soft light blending mode with custom work from the dark and light skies...

Dark shot - f/8, 2 seconds, ISO 200

Lighter shot - f/7.1, 2 seconds, ISO 200 (also lighter because it was taken like 15 minutes earlier in the night...

basically it took me an hour to get an idea of how to frame it, then I set up my tripod where I wanted it and stood there for two hours taking shots when the street car went by until the lighting was just right...

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

03/17/2010 12:03:17 AM · #6

Originally posted by Lonni:

Nice work Eric. Is it HDR or just exactly the right time of night?

well... it's not really HDR... I did put two photos together, but only to darken the sky a bit...

it's basically as I said in the last post... stand behind the tripod for 2 hours and wait for the lighting to be JUST right =)

Thanks!

Lonni

Nikon D700

03/17/2010 12:06:26 AM · #7

Nice work. Reminds me of your other shot of the snowfield scene.

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

03/17/2010 12:09:31 AM · #8

Originally posted by Lonni:

Nice work. Reminds me of your other shot of the snowfield scene.

thanks! that previous picture of the Ski hill is at a stalemate by the way... they want it, but they won't pay my asking price... i'll give them some time and I think they'll eventually cave and make a better offer.... =)

I hope the coffee shop is happy with this one... they were hinting at black and white, but i think this is better in colour...

Message edited by author 2010-03-17 00:10:20.

justamistere

Nikon D3s

03/17/2010 03:27:10 PM · #9

Just my opinion. Well I'm a self proclaimed cropmaster, whatever that is. I would chop off the left side, right after the "c" in eric, thus putting the emphasis on the Coffee shop. That would still include the "Speed Limit" sign, which in my mind say "Slow down and stop in for some cofee". It would still include one large starburst of streetlight. Too bad there isn't some kind of a sign that says "Stop In or Slow Down and have a cup..." on the Coffee Shop. Or a person sipping a cup on the bench, or just an arm holding a cuffee mug coming out of a door. You could photoshop something in. Cropping it that way would make my eyes less jumpy from Left-to-Right in an endless cycle, and give an "Ending" to the story it's trying to show. The sharp blue sky and sharp yellow store make it more vivid and interesting. Too bad the trolley streaking lights couldn't be closer in the curb lane.

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Pentax

03/17/2010 07:45:34 PM · #10

Originally posted by justamistere:

Hey, you have a good point, and I'm having a tough time deciding... this image will be printed 60 inches wide on canvas so I think you will be looking backa nd foreth at both sides either way... good point though... Thanks!!!

any other ideas?

northebound

Pentax K20D

03/17/2010 07:50:34 PM · #11

Is your client the owner of the coffee shop and this is for them?

Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC HSM for Pentax

03/17/2010 07:56:10 PM · #12

Originally posted by northebound:

Is your client the owner of the coffee shop and this is for them?

yes she is and this is for her

northebound

Pentax K20D

03/17/2010 08:09:36 PM · #13

I'm mixed on my thoughts about it. Don't get me wrong - i think this is an awesome shot! But, I'm going to assume that the client will want an emphasis on the coffee shop - particularly the sign maybe? The left distracts me from the right, which makes that a problem. But, on the other hand - the shot doesn't seem to work at all without the left being there. I guess I have no real suggestion... just a potential problem that I'm seeing with the pic.

Trumpeteer4

Nikon D7000

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

03/17/2010 08:28:11 PM · #14

I like the left hand side, I like the contrast from the cool tones of the outside world, to the warm inviting tones of the coffee shop. I personally think the crop is great as is. Nice shot! The only thing that I think could be cleaned up a little more would be to remove the no parking signs by the speed limit sign. I'm not sure how real to life you want it though.

Message edited by author 2010-03-17 20:30:20.

03/17/2010 08:46:59 PM · #15

Originally posted by Trumpeteer4:

Thanks! I sent the sample to the client and I'll let her decide on if she wants the signs removed... it would look better, but like you said, she may want it to look just as is...

Thanks again everyone!!!