DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register) 
 

DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Self Critique: Give it a try...
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 25 of 56, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 05/06/2005 02:27:48 AM · #1


"Boys of Summer"

I would like to try a little experiment in 'self critique' and I hope that others will follow. What I have done here is let someone else (clubjuggle) choose a non-challenge photo from my collection for this project. The purpose of this exercise is to determine what we do and don't like about one of our own photos. The great thing about a self critique is that we can inject the reason we shot the image. The benefit of this project is to possibly learn what we should post with our photos here on DPChallenge when we enter a challenge or post an image for public commentary.

My own commentary and critique on this image:

As a part-time sports shooter for the local newspaper, I get the opportunity to attend a lot of events in the local community. Oddly enough, I'm not a great fan of sports photography, and I'm not very good at it either. What I do enjoy is watching people, and a sporting event is a great place to do this.

I made this photo at the opening game of the South Atlantic League (single-A professional baseball) season here in my home town. The Hickory Crawdads were hosting the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Prior to the start of the game, I was wandering around the stadium talking to various people and looking for a few good candid opportunities. I went down to the dugout along the first base line and looked around for a few minutes. I spotted this young man sitting with his father in about the third row of seating. I immediately noticed several interesting aspects of this young man. He was wearing a 'Crawdads' hat and he had his baseball glove on his hand. This made me immediately think about why a baseball game was happening and why I was there. Baseball is a spectator sport, whether it be professional or amateur. Without the fans, the sport would simply not exist. Young people like 3-year old Brendon McCoy come to these games to watch the athletes play the game and hopefully see a home team win in the end. They bring a great enthusiasm, as shown by the hat and baseball glove. Brendon hoped to catch a foul ball during the game.

In a nutshell, I believe that this photo sums up the baseball game better than any action photo that I could have come up with. The innocence of the child at the ball park is almost stereotypical (a word I prefer in place of 'cliche'). The warmth of the late afternoon sunlight describes the beginning of a summer pasttime that many people enjoy.

Critique:

There are a lot of issues in this photo that could be improved in a controlled environment. I would love to have not clipped his ear on the edge of the frame. I would have also preferred to capture this scene without the hot spots on the seats beyond my subject, while retaining the same warmth and glow of the light on his face. I would have also liked to show a little more of the baseball glove, but I composed tightly to eliminate his father from the photograph. His father was sitting next to him on the left just out of the frame. In candid photography, I can't really ask my subjects to move or position themselves for a better photo. I just have to take what I can get and use what I know to try to produce a good photograph. In my opinion, I succeeded with this image. The technical 'issues' that would normally be considered problems are outweighed by what the photograph says to me, as described in my commentary. I believe that I caught a candid moment that captures a young boy's enthusiasm and innocence.

Notes:

I believe I covered everything worth discussing in and about this photo. I noted why I shot it and how I think it could be better, regardless of the conditions.

Have someone pick a random non-challenge photo from your collection and try a self comment/critique. Why did you shoot it and how could it be better?
05/06/2005 08:31:14 AM · #2
Great idea ... I have occasionally put something like this in the additional info section on submissions when I have time, but with our contest structure people don't see it until later (which means usually never).

I'm sure I have many "what were you thnking" photos available if anyone wants me to try and explain -- just post it here. I probably won't get to it until the weekend though ...

I noticed your pose and crop (including the ear) are similar to my shot of Isaac and snake from last year. I guess I like your shot for the same reasons you've already cited. I think the glare is useful in this case to define the shape or your subject, who's in near-silhouette anyway.

I disagree a bit about one thing -- I think baseball as a game survives quite well without spectators, just not as an industry.
 05/06/2005 08:55:52 AM · #3
I'm up for this, anyone want to suggest a portfolio image of mine for me to self-critique?
 05/06/2005 09:20:49 AM · #4

Really nice, but see if you can critique it Kavey!

Message edited by author 2005-05-06 09:22:03.
 05/06/2005 09:29:27 AM · #5
I like the idea. Looks like I go blind when I take a picture or work on it and later often I see them all differently. this exercize might help me :)
Ok, anyone to pick a photo from my portfolio?

Message edited by author 2005-05-06 09:29:39.
 05/06/2005 10:07:21 AM · #6
Nonage: go for it...
05/06/2005 10:10:36 AM · #7
ok, I'm in if someone picks one for me.
 05/06/2005 10:13:25 AM · #8
Originally posted by nshapiro:
ok, I'm in if someone picks one for me.


How about this one?


05/07/2005 09:38:00 PM · #9
What a good idea John. I am willing to give it a try if someone want tp pick a photo for me. I don't have much in my port. though so you can choose a challene image if needed.
 05/07/2005 09:43:05 PM · #10
Originally posted by rex:
What a good idea John. I am willing to give it a try if someone want tp pick a photo for me. I don't have much in my port. though so you can choose a challene image if needed.



05/07/2005 10:02:00 PM · #11
I like the idea as well, if someone would do the honors of picking one for me.

(spelling... my nemesis..or is that nemisis..maybe nemosis..grrr)

Message edited by author 2005-05-07 22:03:30.
 05/07/2005 10:18:50 PM · #12
Originally posted by rblanton:
I like the idea as well, if someone would do the honors of picking one for me.

(spelling... my nemesis..or is that nemisis..maybe nemosis..grrr)


Ok...how 'bout this one..



Anyone willing to choose one of mine for me?

Message edited by author 2005-05-07 22:29:05.
 05/07/2005 10:19:23 PM · #13
Originally posted by Konador:
Originally posted by rex:
What a good idea John. I am willing to give it a try if someone want tp pick a photo for me. I don't have much in my port. though so you can choose a challene image if needed.




Ok the one thing that bothers me most about this photo is the botom where the leaves are cut off. It is almost like it just stops. I learned a lot doing this light on white and it is not as easy as I first thought. If I had the challenge to do over again I would back up a little to not cut the leaves off on the bottom. I do like how close to solid white I got it. I haven't been able to duplicate it. I probably can if I use regular paper again I have since started using foamboard. Foamboard doesn't seems to work as well.
 05/07/2005 10:20:20 PM · #14
Anybody else want to try a self critique?
 05/07/2005 10:23:53 PM · #15
Originally posted by rex:
Anybody else want to try a self critique?


o,o,o,o,o....me,me,me,......please, pick me......ouch.....me,me..
 05/07/2005 10:26:28 PM · #16
Originally posted by swinging_johnson_v1:
Originally posted by rex:
Anybody else want to try a self critique?


o,o,o,o,o....me,me,me,......please, pick me......ouch.....me,me..


I know it is a challenge entry but I really want to know what you think of this one.


05/07/2005 10:37:33 PM · #17
Originally posted by rex:
Originally posted by swinging_johnson_v1:
Originally posted by rex:
Anybody else want to try a self critique?


o,o,o,o,o....me,me,me,......please, pick me......ouch.....me,me..


I know it is a challenge entry but I really want to know what you think of this one.



shew.... tough one. No pulling punches version.

nice comp, a bit soft(definately needs sharpening), good lighting. Hair a bit distracting in upper eye ( if the lower eye was covered this picture would of been a waste of time), color ok, b&w's ok, very intimate, a touch noisey but not bad.

Proud Dad Version;

Outstanding, standing O, great job, Beeeeautiful kid, Out Standing Pix, should be in the Library of the Congress, songs should be sung over the quality of the pix, nice job, keep up the very strong,guarenteed job for life work.

How did I do????
 05/07/2005 10:39:56 PM · #18
Originally posted by swinging_johnson_v1:
How did I do????


Very good. Seeing what is wrong with a photo of you child is very hard to do.
 05/07/2005 10:41:07 PM · #19


Thank you Judy, glad to take a shot at it.

(cracks knuckles)

I took this photo after making the amazing discovery that what I took for a very plain tree one day had lovely blossoms. At first they looked very subdued as they tend to hide up underneath the leaves and are not that obvious at first. In truth, I did not see them in the tree first, but upon the ground and did some sleuthing in my back yard to discover the tree. I was so enamoured of this "new thing" that I returned for pictures several days. I began looking for opportunities to catch different lighting on these as I felt a bit of light would really light up the orange "skirt" around them. I was not disappointed.

This photo to me represents the suprise and wonder of a new discovery (for me at any rate) in my own yard.

The critique

I look back at this photo and see needed improvements. I wish I had gone for a greater DOF on the subject itself. The soft focus of the shadows of the stamens on the petal in front would add more had they been sharp. There is a bit of OOF branch in the upper right that is a distraction as is a bright speck on the back of a petal across from it. I do like the placement of the blossom over all and the bokeh. The stamens wander in and out of focus and greater DOF would keep my eye from bobbling around trying to focus on them. This image made me a bit more aware of where on the subject I am focusing and what DOF I would like to see on the end product. Still, it brings back a nice feeling remembering that first time I looked up in the tree and saw those shy blossoms.
 05/07/2005 10:43:17 PM · #20


How bout this one
 05/08/2005 04:31:01 AM · #21
This is a great idea, and learning tool, John. I'll give this a bump by asking someone to pick one of my shots.
 05/08/2005 04:54:54 AM · #22
Originally posted by dpdave:
This is a great idea, and learning tool, John. I'll give this a bump by asking someone to pick one of my shots.



05/08/2005 08:37:01 AM · #23
Originally posted by rblanton:


How bout this one


I can't believe I just wrote out an entire self-critique and then lost it when I hit the wrong button. Arg!

This is a photo I likely would not have taken if I didn't have the PAD project to motivate me. I passed it on the way home from the office and drove two more blocks trying to decide if I wanted to take the time to go back for the photo. The color is what caught my eye because it was an extremely blah, gray day. When I returned, I decided I did want to capture the scene because of the contrast of all the neutral grays and the colorful sash, and because of the story / history the subject conveys. I actually called the church when I returned home to find out for certain about the sash. It was put up for the new Pope and replaced the black one that had been displayed after the death of Pope John Paul II.

For the composition, I tried many different angles but decided this most straight-forward framing was the best for what I was trying to do.
The sash is not the whole story here - I think the church door and surroundings, rather than taking interest away from the sash, help to enchance it. I like the bit of color in the flower pots balancing out the photo a bit on each side.

The lighting is a bit flat, but there was nothing I could do about that except a reshoot. The church faces directly west, so a late afternoon sun with the glow and some shadows might have made it a "prettier" photo, but I kinda like the contrast of the gray with the bright colors.

I think the clarity and focus are both good. I use a Sony 717, so there was no deciding "which" lens to use.

Overall, I'm pleased with the photo. It's not a favorite of mine, but I don't see anything that I would change given the same circumstances. I am glad I stopped and took the time for the shot.

05/08/2005 08:42:59 AM · #24
By the way, John - I really like that shot of the little boy. As I commented on your PaD posting of it...the expression of anticipation and innocence here is palpable. Lighting maybe isn't studio-perfect, but is not flat either. I think it gives a real sense of location and "being there." Sunshine, little boye and baseball! Really nice people shot.
 05/08/2005 09:23:45 AM · #25
Originally posted by saiphfire:
Nonage: go for it...


Thanks Saiphfire :)
Its a challenge entery and first thing I regret about it is entering in wrong challenge :(
Secondly, looking back at the time I took this shot, I realize I have missed so much due to my tendency for close ups and tigh cropping. It was a beautiful place with view of narrows in the back & snow still highlighting the peaks. There is almost no detail seen in the anchoring rope and a better focus and choice of f number would have made some improvement to the details of image. However, the reason I took this picture was the unusual shadow of boat & looking at the comments by viewers, I think I did bring out my primary subject to the viewers successfully. Perhaps, lolz, thats what I was selling... :p
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 04/23/2024 02:10:53 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 04/23/2024 02:10:53 AM EDT.