Critique Request: Baroque - DPChallenge Forums

07/26/2002 06:00:28 PM · #1

Photo: Baroque

Please critique my photograph as if it were in a challenge here on DPC with a subject of "Still Life"... I would also like to know how you would score it...

Thanks :)

Froober

Canon EOS-10D

07/26/2002 06:18:31 PM · #2

Keep in mind, I''ve been locked up with a toddler all day long and my brain is numb from lack of use.

I definitely like the composition. The lines are great! The light/shadows on the wall in combination with the musicical score is a little too busy for me. I think it might be too light though and as a totally separate issue I think the light on the violin may be too harsh. When I think of baroque, I think of strong, dark, rich color and textures. That''s definitely not in the picture. That would be an issue with the title (for me) not the actual photo though. I can''t decide if I like the graininess or not. I know this will sound tactless but knowing that the photo comes from you...I know you can do better. :) Some people might that as the compliment it''s intended to be. I hope you do. I think if you play with the lighting a little it might help out...but then, you''re the expert around here :P

Oh. Score....I can''t believe I''m doing this but I''m only being honest...6 (mostly because the harsh lighting on the violin REALLY bugs me).

My edit...told you I was brain numb. Baroque...busy and I think the colors were even wimpy...thanks aelith! So, just ignore my comment about the colors and title. You could find a more detailed violin though...lol.

* This message has been edited by the author on 7/26/2002 6:39:52 PM.

07/26/2002 06:26:19 PM · #3

A very unusual look to this one John. It looks like a mezzotint screen (I love the layout, very artistic). Too grainy for my taste, it takes away from the wood grain of the instrument. I think the over-all shot is too uniform in greytone. The background is fading perfectly from dark to light to accent the music sheet and the instrument, but they are all similar in contrast. The shadows on the left side work well for me but the upper right side background has distortion in it. I keep trying to see an image in the blemish. If the sheet of music were clean-white it might put the balance back in it for me. ? How did I do? Offensive? Plenty of teeth? now I need some feedback on "tact"

aelith

Olympus C-3020Z

07/26/2002 06:31:15 PM · #4

Compositionally I see two strong lines counter thrusting in an upright cross each supported by soft textured shapes one curviliniar and the other smaller but sharper (note paper).The small area of reflected light is and interesting area but is not balanced by any other area of softness therefore become distracting instead of intergarating with the image. As for the image concept as indicated by the title Baroque art is as busy as Baroque music. Thus your image is too upright and plain. The violine itself could be tilted more for greater diagonal force.

I cannot say anything about photo technique except to say it seems a bit soft. In my ignorance I would probably give it an 8. aelith

07/26/2002 06:31:38 PM · #5

Well there you have it John.... Show us a picture that is the exact opposite of what each of us are asking for... Then you will have a 10. (how funny we all see things).

07/26/2002 06:36:45 PM · #6

Ok... try Baroque v2 and I will make another change to it as well... this particular mod came from Lisa's comments about the brightness... I can't do anything with the composition because the subject was in a glass display case... I asked them if they would open the case so i could move the stuff around a little and they sorta giggled and looked at me funny :)

Journey

Canon PowerShot G3

07/26/2002 06:37:23 PM · #7

It's sort of funny for this newbie to critique your picture and can't give you technical feedback. I'll say then what I, as viewer, saw. My eye was delighted by the play of light and shadow on the left. So much so actually that my eye wanted to go there all the time instead of to the violin/viola. Also, that light/shadow play and the whole area on the left of the base of the instrument (the correct word for it escapes me right now)consists of triangle shapes which is fine (shapes and negative shapes). But it conflicts somewhat with the rich curves of the instrument,underscored by the title of your picture. The way you cropped on the right side very effectively emphasize the curve shapes.
There is also a bit of a balance issue between the left and right side of the image. There is a lot going on on the left, light/shadows and the scores, perhaps a little too much. The right side is more quiet and gives more emphasis to the "baroque".
Could you explain the lighting, please? Perhaps I am dead wrong but I thought that it was deliberately over lit and causing some graininess. Would really be interested to hear your reasoning on this.
Respectfully,
a viewer

07/26/2002 06:41:24 PM · #8

The lighting was out of my control... I had my camera lens pressed up against the glass at a slight angle to try to reduce the reflections in the glass...

07/26/2002 06:41:54 PM · #9

Oh, that's miles better - the blemish in the upper right must be reflection? Can you make it a darker brown without loosing too much? now it's an 8

Froober

Canon EOS-10D

07/26/2002 06:51:27 PM · #10

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
Ok... try Baroque v2 and I will make another change to it as well... this particular mod came from Lisa's comments about the brightness... I can't do anything with the composition because the subject was in a glass display case... I asked them if they would open the case so i could move the stuff around a little and they sorta giggled and looked at me funny :)

That's better...I'd take it up to an 8. In this version (probably in the first too), I don't see enough contrast between the violin and the background. That light in the upper right corner needs to go too. Okay, can you do this?? I hate the idea of a blonde violin...spot edit to make it a nice medium brown (within the tone of the picture of course). How do you like that for insulting someone else's art? lol

07/26/2002 06:52:37 PM · #11

I could do that, but it's not the image i photographed if I do. :)

Froober

Canon EOS-10D

07/26/2002 06:59:20 PM · #12

Originally posted by jmsetzler:
I could do that, but it''s not the image i photographed if I do. :)

Plllt! Loosen up or are you afraid you''ll like it (spot editing)??? Hmmmmmm....

:) Just messin'' with you and attempting to wrangle you in on one of those completely ridiculous conversations that you''ve been avoiding.

* This message has been edited by the author on 7/26/2002 6:59:28 PM.

07/26/2002 07:01:14 PM · #13

Originally posted by Lisa:
Originally posted by jmsetzler:
[i]I could do that, but it's not the image i photographed if I do. :)

Plllt! Loosen up or are you afraid you like it (spot editing)??? Hmmmmmm....

:) Just messin' with you and attempting to wrangle you in on one of those completely ridiculous conversations that you've been avoiding. [/i]

You noticed that huh... ;) I can do the spot editing but I really prefer not to. The image I photographed was what I wanted. I still like my original edit better than the v2 edit. I pumped up the contrast and added the grain to that shot to get what I was looking for... :)

07/26/2002 07:06:21 PM · #14

John how did you get the grain to fall into such even rows? halftone?

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

07/26/2002 07:07:11 PM · #15

I used the noise filter in photoshop... not in the gaussian mode tho...

justine

Canon EOS-50D

07/26/2002 07:07:57 PM · #16

Photo: Baroque is my favorite.
I'm slightly bothered by the shadow on the upper left. I love the over all treatment of the photo......tone/grain. I would like to see more of the whole shot. The crop on the right is just a tad tight for my liking.
It's a cool shot JMSETZLER and a cool subject.

07/26/2002 07:08:37 PM · #17

Originally posted by Gotcha:
John how did you get the grain to fall into such even rows? halftone?

I think i may not understand that question... the grain that i added was film grain, not the wood grain...

07/26/2002 07:09:14 PM · #18

Interesting effect

07/26/2002 07:09:16 PM · #19

Originally posted by kee:
Photo: Baroque is my favorite.
I'm slightly bothered by the shadow on the upper left. I love the over all treatment of the photo......tone/grain. I would like to see more of the whole shot. The crop on the right is just a tad tight for my liking.
It's a cool shot JMSETZLER and a cool subject.

This is the whole shot.. it's not cropped.. just resized...