Open Critique Thread - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM

09/22/2005 10:22:44 AM · #2

On my scale of 1-10 I would give this 4.
The bokeh is great but I dislike the central position with the business of the chopped off leaves and stalk detracting from what could be a beautiful shot.
A little soft and direct sunlit for me too.
As an aside my 4 vote is just under my average of 5 for a reasonable but not over exciting shot.
Truthful Sara, sorry, I warned you :)

davmct

Canon EOS-20D

09/22/2005 10:25:55 AM · #3

I'd probably give this photo a 3, perhaps a 4 if I were in a good mood. My first impression is that alot more effort could have gone into the preparation of the shot to ensure that the light wasn't so harsh (perhaps using a light reflector to give it some shade?), as there is a LOT of burning along the flower petals, which is the primary point of focus, and the burning, IMO, isn't providing any artistic flair. Also, the colour seems a bit muted or muddy, and the yellow stamens seems to blend in with the pink petals, instead of being more vibrant and popping out. Finally, I think the petals could be a bit sharper in focus, to bring out some of their texture more.

nsoroma79

Nikon Coolpix P7000

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

09/22/2005 10:27:42 AM · #4

If I were voting for this in a real challenge, I would give it a 5. I think it is very pretty, but I look for sharpness in pictures.

If we were doing this as advanced editing, I would also comment that there are some spider webs, or something near the stem that looks like dust. It is a bit distracting and it actually caught my eye first.

LeeD

Canon EOS-30D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

09/22/2005 10:28:38 AM · #5

I would give this a 5. I think it's an OK shot, but lacks any "wow" factor for me. Overall it's pretty average. The colors do seem a little muted and the focus is somewhat soft. Personally I like the composition, but the lighting does seem a little harsh.

dahkota

Canon EOS-7D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

09/22/2005 10:28:59 AM · #6

Only because you asked...
Depends on the challenge - 4 or 5.
If it meets the challenge, a 5. To me this image is essentially a snapshot - a quick take of a pretty flower. I can see no reason for the softness, the composition is static, the colors are flat. The only reason I can see that you took this picture is to meet the challenge.
If it doesn't meet the challenge, a 4. Its not terribly out of focus plus all the above still applies.

All the above is strictly my opinion. I am in no way an expert not do I necessarily know what the heck I am talking about. My reviews are given as solely my opinion and it is your option to agree or disagree.

saintaugust

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

09/22/2005 10:30:06 AM · #7

Originally posted by saracat:

First shot up for open critique. Please state vote you would give and why.

i'd give it a 5.

it lacks contrast, in my opinion. also, there are soooo many flower pics that i think they need something "special" to really make them stand out. nice bokeh effect with the background though.

LeeD

Canon EOS-30D

09/22/2005 10:32:59 AM · #8

Current breakdown

3: 1
4: 1
5: 4

jpeters

Nikon D200

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

09/22/2005 10:35:02 AM · #9

I left you a comment...

ajschel

Fujifilm FinePix X100S

Canon EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6 IS USM

09/22/2005 10:35:45 AM · #10

Ok, when supposing the challenge is flowers (to rule out the factor of originality in my voting), description: take a picture of a flower, I would vote this 4 as being a nice picture of a flower. I'd say the composition is OK, nice bokeh, the highlights are blown, and there are dustspots in the picture, making this an ordinary photo. If, however, I realize during voting that a lot of pictures are like this but lack nice bokeh or good composition, I'd bump this to a higher score, depending on the rest of the pics a 5 or 6 (probably there would be some really nice shots in the challenge I'd vote 7 and 8 as winners).

pix-al

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

09/22/2005 10:36:45 AM · #11

Originally posted by saintaugust:

nice bokeh effect

Excuse my ignorance/stupidity (whatever you want to call it), but what does this mean? bokeh?

09/22/2005 10:37:52 AM · #12

I'd give it a 5. The spider web I think is very distracting. The light is a little harsh and the centering just doeson't work for me. It is not a capture that stands out. I would suggest a different time of day when the sun is not in direct contact with this flower.

09/22/2005 10:38:42 AM · #13

Originally posted by BIG AL:

bokeh?

It is making the background blurred (out of focus) making the subject pop more.

peecee

09/22/2005 10:39:52 AM · #14

Originally posted by BIG AL:

Originally posted by saintaugust:
nice bokeh effect

Excuse my ignorance/stupidity (whatever you want to call it), but what does this mean? bokeh?

bokeh

damn you are quick James :)

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

09/22/2005 10:41:44 AM · #15

"I am so fast when I turn off the light in the bedroom I am in bed before the light goes out"

Who said that?

saracat

Pentax K10D

09/22/2005 10:43:43 AM · #16

Well, I have to say that ya'll are spot-on with what I was thinking of that photo. I think the only excuse I have is "if I had known then what I know now..." It's unfortunately not one I can go back and shoot again until next spring. Thanks for the honesty so far, by the way.

Say, just as a question, how many votes/comments are we looking to tally here (per picture)?
I'm asking 'cause I've got another pic I'd like to put up, but I don't want to confuse everything.

davmct

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM

09/22/2005 10:48:40 AM · #17

Originally posted by saracat:

glad to hear that you can take a punch AND go another round! I'm impressed. :)

saracat

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

09/22/2005 10:53:18 AM · #18

I'm going to go ahead and post my other pic 'cause I was just told I have to go to Anderson (about an hour from here) and then take my youngest to the barber shop (she got a hold of some scissors when I was typing and decided to cut her hair!) so I'm not sure when I'll be back.
If you do any more critiques, please refer to picture 1 or picture 2 in the body of your critique so I'll know which one you're referring to.

Here's #2:

pix-al

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

09/22/2005 10:53:19 AM · #19

Ok - Thanks for the link peecee...

So is "bokeh" just another term used if you have a shallow depth of field, causing the background to be out of focus or are there different ways of achieving tihs effect?

davmct

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM

09/22/2005 10:55:29 AM · #20

perhaps instead of posting here, we should actually add our comments to the image, and give the thread an occassional bump when we leave comments?

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S21, S21+, S21 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

09/22/2005 11:05:19 AM · #21

What point does it make to ask us what "vote" we would give without stating a "challenge" to give us a context for the vote? I'd score the second shot (balloon) a lot higher in a "Freedom" challenge than I would in a "Clouds" challenge. I'd score it very well in "Rule of Thirds" but not so well in "From the Ground Up"...

Robt.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/22/2005 11:15:48 AM · #22

Or use images that you put in a challenge here. I will tell you my vote and then tell you why I already voted that way. None ongoing of course.

Beetle

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

09/22/2005 11:21:10 AM · #23

Good point there, Robert.... it would need a challenge title.

Assuming the flower fits its challenge well, I'd give it a 5.
5 is my usual answer for something that is: good enough (i.e. I can see what it is, it is pretty much in focus, there is enough light, etc) but it is far from exciting, and it fits the challenge.

peecee