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DPChallenge Forums >> Individual Photograph Discussion >> Is this really so bad?
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07/05/2013 12:09:03 AM · #1
I figured this image should score higher, is it really that horrible?



The couple were quite pleased with the image, as was I; so, i'm wondering why some of you felt strongly enough about it to score it with a 1, some 3's and so many 4's.
07/05/2013 12:20:31 AM · #2
I think over all it's a reasonable image, I will take it you know the posing and expressions are well captured that the focus is well placed but for me the background too over powering with its high contrast and rich colours, I would appreciate this image more if the background was less cluttered, perhaps even just softer focus off the primary subject (shallower DoF and more bokeh ?). It's a best of all time open challenge voters have HIGH expectations

disclaimer: didn't vote in time to get through all images and did not see this one during challenge (hindsight is always 20/20).
07/05/2013 12:28:52 AM · #3
I gave it a 6, and maybe i was being generous bc I love weddings.

The background was not at all interesting, and the sky was blown out, the comp a little awkward, with the bodies cut off where they were, it looks more like a snap shot than a Pro shot, did you shoot the whole wedding?

And you only got one 1, not bad! I get more of them on a good photo, lol!
07/05/2013 12:33:01 AM · #4
I didn't vote on this image or the whole challenge, however the background is a big distraction, open the lens up and blur it out. I also find the nose to eye a bit too uncomfortable and the pose seems forced rather than a moment caught. Also crop it much tighter. I would have given it a 5 most likely.

Matt
07/05/2013 02:12:52 AM · #5
Not so bad. But this was a hiddem gem challenge and voters expected something 'special'. To tell the truth this was a posed photo of a wedding couple and you could see a lot of pictures like this. I would never enter a photo taken during a wedding unless it has simething that makes it different. I remember Jagar getting a ribbon in a FS with a shot like that.

ETA: of course in another challenge it would have scored better :)
07/05/2013 02:21:00 AM · #6
It's not bad. It's just not great, great.

Cute couple, but they are admittedly in kind of a distracting and somewhat crappy location.

Also, as I'm sure you know, the sky is blown out, and there's a few other minor technical issues.

There is, however, plenty to like about the image, but, this was, as others have mentioned, the hidden gem challenge... The level of expectation was fairly high, and rightly so.
07/05/2013 06:05:03 AM · #7


Not hi-jacking just using same topic line. If not okay, I will remove.

Bottom 5%, bottom 5 of entries?

Look again; did you notice this is
- street photography?
- his empty soul, expressionless eyes?
- Okay, how many noticed the broken frame on his glasses.

Not angry, just soooo disappointed that the toughest of photography, street portraits, are so unrecognized and undervalued in this community. But, as I said, it is in my style, I have been true to myself and will continue to be so. Really bottom 5?
07/05/2013 06:43:28 AM · #8
I didn't get so far that he was homeless. But that he is part of the poor civilians I understood by his broken glasses, the smooches on his coat, his facial expression.
I gave it a 7 because the image itself you brought touched me. The PP on his face was a bit too smooth however.
But as I said in my initial comment: some people are real gems to photographers. They just needs to be found/noticed in the crowd.
This guy IS a real gem you've found in the crowd and this entry is way underrated to me, even with the PP.
07/05/2013 07:05:15 AM · #9
Peter I wanna be frank: I don't like your image.

Almost no clues about his being a homeless. In any case I wouldn't judge better of worse an image only following that starting point.

I see a blurred portrait (maybe only a little bit out of focus) with no other elements to help the viewer. Maybe 4.8 is too harsh, but I'm sure you had MUCH better photos.

07/05/2013 08:11:54 AM · #10
Ryan , I don't like the background the pose or the processing. I gave it 4.

Peter , I think the focus is the main negative here,not very engaged either. I gave it 5.
07/05/2013 10:13:42 AM · #11
Thank you guys. I see, for the first time, this image on another monitor and with other eyes. No excuse. After all this time I should have known better. Kicking my own butt. Stubborn stubborn stubborn. I had a point to proof, (ie people do not really see/watch/evaluate/observe before scoring and 10 seconds does not cut the ice!) but this joke is on me. I have hundreds of real jewels, I am sorry to all, which I should have played.
07/05/2013 11:47:55 AM · #12
All mine have been bad recently, kinda getting aggravated... alot.
07/05/2013 12:02:15 PM · #13
Originally posted by docpjv:

Thank you guys. I see, for the first time, this image on another monitor and with other eyes. No excuse. After all this time I should have known better. Kicking my own butt. Stubborn stubborn stubborn. I had a point to proof, (ie people do not really see/watch/evaluate/observe before scoring and 10 seconds does not cut the ice!) but this joke is on me. I have hundreds of real jewels, I am sorry to all, which I should have played.


Actually, it's not a bad image, just soft.
07/05/2013 12:21:38 PM · #14
Thank you for the feedback.
This was from the first time i did anything at a wedding. I was a 2nd photographer there, not the primary, and it was for family (that's my sister-in-law and her husband).
They hired the photographer and his assistant bailed/didn't show, so i accompanied him and helped him carry his gear, setup shots with holding reflectors, etc and snapped a few images when i got a chance. Unfortunately all of the images had similarly blown skies as i didn't have an ND filter, nor an off-camera flash/reflectors of my own, nor the knowledge at the time to compensate for these things.

The only image i could have used that may have scored better from this series was them on the bridge with several trees around them and no sky, but the expressions were very posed. This one is actually a candid - my brother-in-law frequently leans in that way to kiss her cheek with his nose around her eye. It's "the thing he does".

Originally this image was larger in each direction - i cropped it here to bring it in closer and left enough of the trees that it wasn't just trunks going up to an overblown sky. I'm not a huge fan of the hill/trees myself but i loved the emotion in this and thought i'd see how it was received here.
I'm shooting my first wedding as the primary photographer in 2 weeks, so i had been going through a bunch of older shots i had and processing/playing with some, and that's why this was picked as my hidden gem image. I was quite fond of this picture as are the couple, i just expected a better score because i have an emotional attachment to it i guess.
But yeah, everything you guys pointed out is true, and it's things i'll be watching for in 2 weeks when i'm shooting my friend's wedding.

Message edited by author 2013-07-05 12:32:26.
07/06/2013 11:23:16 AM · #15
Hey Ryan

First of all I think it was very gutsy of you to step in and replace the photog's assistant and give it your best shot, literally. So huge kudos to you! A couple years back I found a list of wedding photo tips, they may come in handy. Many are pretty obvious but some are more subtle.

I've only shot a few weddings but found the following list useful. Hope it helps! BTW where is wedding taking place? Just curious, and I may know of some good areas in that location you can use.

I am going to assume that the upcoming wedding you are shooting is going to be a traditional white wedding with an outdoor shoot at some point, so may I suggest right off the bat - be ready to adjust your ISO at a moment's notice so the bride's gown isn't blown out.

1) Create a shot list - discuss with the couple what kind of shots they want;
1b) Who is going to help wrangle the wedding guests for you - wedding planner? Assign someone in advance so you're not racing all over the place;
2) Scout the location of the wedding - get an idea as to light conditions and what makes a good backdrop;
3) Preparation is key - have a plan for bad weather, have all your batteries charged up, spare cards etc;
4) You have a d7000 so you can turn it to silent mode;
5) Don't forget the small details like the rings, bride's bouquet and shoes, table settings, decor etc;
6) Talk to the minister or whoever is conducting the ceremony so you know how close you can get, use of flash etc;
7) Shoot in RAW;
8) Learn how to use diffused light;
9) DON'T CHIMP. By all means check occasionally for exposure etc but otherwise you risk missing a ton of stuff;
10) Change up your POV;
11) If possible use a ladder to do an overhead shot of wedding party;
12) Use a fill flash esp if shooting midday;
13) If it's high noon/early afternoon, and you're shooting outside, one word: SHADE!!! Get them in the shade esp trees if available;
14) Expect the unexpected, be ready to shoot on the fly;
15) Shoot on continuous mode once all the formal stuff is done, get people relaxing.

And afterwards when you're posting stuff online, as seems to be standard these days... if you get any potentially embarrassing shots, DON'T post them publicly. If you think the subject might find it funny, email it to them in private.

Finally fwiw I found shooting wildlife to be a tremendous help for getting you primed for shooting people - unpredictable behaviour, contrasty colours, getting in and out of focus, changing ISO constantly to compensate. If you have the time, go shoot seagulls. They're easy to find, fairly big and make great flying white cards :-)

Hope this helps!! :-)
07/06/2013 12:59:45 PM · #16
Originally posted by snaffles:



And afterwards when you're posting stuff online, as seems to be standard these days... if you get any potentially embarrassing shots, DON'T post them publicly. If you think the subject might find it funny, email it to them in private.


keep i mind that weddings are a private event and you may not be allowed to post the images. specify if you wish to have this ability in your contract and you do have a contract right?
07/06/2013 03:50:00 PM · #17
+1 on Mike's point...even though this is a friend's wedding, don't get too casual. Get the important stuff in writing.

I should mention that the wedding or two I shot as 2nd camera some years back were posted online, but in a password-protected section of the guy's site. However he told the entire gathering at the reception the password, so...*eyeroll* ..fwiw I would do the same but give the password only to the bride and groom.
07/06/2013 04:34:02 PM · #18
For me, it's the composition, period. A nice, tight, square crop would eliminate most of the issues mentioned here. But additionally, there is a greyness/flatness to the lighting on the couple, exacerbated by the over-brightness of the bg.

Outdoor portraits are very tough, you really have to be vigilant about the bg, shadows, etc. On top of that, you have to be aware of weird crops, so either shoot wide and crop later, or just go for close-ups.
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