Post challenge critique please. - DPChallenge Forums

04/07/2010 08:46:09 AM · #1

This is my entranceII shot. I was hoping for some more critiques. I seem to get very few comments, maybe because of my mediocre shots.
The blown out sky and overexposed look was on purpose. The sky was very flat grey all week around here and I thought this look was kinda cool. I thought it gave it sort of an antique look.
Anyway, any further advice and critique would help. Thanks.

bob350

Sony Alpha 1

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

04/07/2010 09:32:40 AM · #2

Sky color is ok - drab fits the ice situation. Consider a crop that is more square and removes some of the sky at the top, maybe to just above the tallest part of the hills. When I scroll the picture to get that effect, my eye is less distracted by the sense of glare above, the colors and contrast in the main part of the image come across stronger, and I find it easier to notice the path and "entrance."

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

04/07/2010 09:42:44 AM · #3

Originally posted by bob350:

thank you. And thanks to Ja-9 for the comment.

Yo_Spiff

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

04/07/2010 11:02:18 AM · #4

It got a 5 from me. I liked the scene overall, but there were 2 things that hurt it for me. First was the blown highlights in the sky and lake, or at least what appeared that way. You probably had a solid gray sky with no cloud detail available. It can make for nice soft light on the subject, but I find it's best when I can keep the drab sky out of it. The second thing was the composition. I tend to not use square crops a lot and I didn't think it worked for this one. Too much of that empty drab sky at the top, and the sign/tire were right up against the frame edges on the other side. This all combined to leave it unbalanced to my perceptions. I did like the desaturated treatment you used.

Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS

04/07/2010 10:19:36 PM · #5

Thanks for the critique Mr. Spiff, or El Spifferino since I'm not into the whole brevity thing(sorry for the obscure Lebowski reference it's my favorite movie ever)

anyway, bump for the night folk.

vawendy

Sony Alpha 1

04/07/2010 10:32:46 PM · #6

My biggest issue wasn't the blown sky, though it's certainly not a big help. I actually thought the angle of the shot made it much less interesting. I know you were trying to make it look like an entrance, but it draws your eye to the mountains and thus the sky. The interesting part of the photo is the fence and the float, and they are almost an afterthought. I would have liked it better if you would have stepped off to the left, and using a wide angle, shot a little more face on to the fence, still getting the little path to the side of the fence. It would have given the fence and the float more interest, it would have brought out the ice and the water more. The mountain and the sky is the least important part of the picture, but with the setup and the leading lines, you go right to it.