What's wrong with this picture? - DPChallenge Forums

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

03/28/2003 05:04:59 PM · #1

I would really love to know what was so bad about this picture? It is my favorite of all that I have submitted. I haven't gotten a critique in a long time but I would love to know what turned so many people off to this one.

//www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=14764

Greg

justine

Canon EOS-50D

03/28/2003 05:35:16 PM · #2

Nothing is wrong with it.
In fact it's very rich and very deep. Fantastic focus. Good work.

? Ya just never know 'round geehear!!!!

Gringo

Nikon D2X

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

03/28/2003 05:42:53 PM · #3

Well..... I wouldn't hang it on my wall....Not that it isn't artistic. If I knew the guy, I might look at it differently.

tomzinho

Nikon D70

03/28/2003 05:51:14 PM · #4

i didn't submit nor vote for the 'from above' challenge, but i think that there is nothing wrong with your score for that picture. i would have probably given it a four or five. while the photo generally meets the challenge, the primary strength of the photo (the DOF) does not accent the up facing down perspective - only that the face is in focus and the rest isn't. ultimately i really don't find it compelling in terms of originality or meeting the challenge.

bod

03/28/2003 05:56:35 PM · #5

Technically it's excellent, I like the DoF. The hand being out of focus and framing the face works really well.
On the downside I don't like the leg and it's overcompressed. 102k file shows you could have used much higher quality, especially for a monochrome image. This shows up mostly on the hand.
At the end of the day I guess it just doesn't have mass appeal to the voters here. No bad. If you like the shot that's all that matters.

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

03/28/2003 05:58:11 PM · #6

Lol

This was one of my favourite 6 images of the challenge.
I love the composition, the DOF, the black and white treatment.
I don't know that you could have improved anything, for me.

We voters are all individuals - some you win some you lose.

Looks like this one happens to appeal to fewer of us - but for some of us it really succeeds very well.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

03/28/2003 06:00:58 PM · #7

In my humble opinion, there is nothing wrong with it.. i gave it a ten... it's a great photo :)

Gringo

Nikon D2X

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

03/28/2003 06:09:21 PM · #8

For what it's worth.... I gave it a 10 as well. I didn't say I didn't like the shot.

e301

03/28/2003 07:00:59 PM · #9

Damn, I can't help you either, as I gave you an 8. I was surprised with your final position, I remember thinking when looking at the results.

if it's any consolation, I also got an average 2 from the no-camera voters.

My guess would be that it's a little odd - not the clean straightforward un-threatening stuff that does well in the points. This isn't meant as anything derogatory to the winners - but it seems in general to be true

Take consolation in some of the comments though: there's some very fine shooters here who liked the shot.

Ed

Message edited by author 2003-03-28 19:06:08.

Artifacts

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

03/28/2003 07:08:58 PM · #10

I agree with everyone else, I liked it and think it is a very nice shot. Personally, I don't think 5.3ish is a bad score either for this group. The folks that submit here are all very talented and the rest of us, like me, are learning!

Sonifo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

03/28/2003 09:27:34 PM · #11

I guess I will be the sour apple here.

I like it but his leg and other arm really bother me when I look at it. I do however like the hand in the forground. Maybe a tighter cropping. Technic is great. You are good at taking pictures, but when you get to creative it scares the voters. I would have given you a 7.

LindaLee

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

03/28/2003 11:03:31 PM · #12

Sonja, Love the animation at the link in your signature, thank you so much for bringing that to my attention.

DennisF

Nikon D100

03/28/2003 11:28:35 PM · #13

Basically, I think you used the wrong camera. WOW, what a collection. I gave this a 6 - high average. Nothing set it apart for me. I agree with the comments that tighter cropping is in order along with wider tonal range. A very tight composition with good focus on the face and blur in the hand could have done it.

I really liked your Bridges entry - one of the very few where the bridge did something and had some life to it.

You do good work. Keep it up.

Dennis

JPR

Sony Alpha a55

Sony DT 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Aspherical ED Super Wide Angle Zoom

03/29/2003 01:10:44 AM · #14

ok, i have to ask what you're complaining about. You're acting like you got a terrible score or something. Above 5 isn't that bad at all. I'm still hoping to get a 7 one day, which is really really hard, and the highest scores ever are low 8's and are very rare. So a 5.3 is pretty damn good. Hey, you're in the top 100, go clelbrate. I gave you a five. The picture is good but just not really that great. I'd call it an average photo. I guess I'm a low voter though.

03/29/2003 01:39:57 AM · #15

Bod, I saved it is PS at quality level 12, the highest available, I don't know how to make it take up more space except to add more noise.

Jason, I typically do better in the ranking than this and I really believe this was one of my best shots presented here. It is a self portrait by the way. That other hand was holding a cable release. The main reason I asked this question is because I haven't gotten a critique in a while, and I would like to better understand why the people voted the way they did. All the people who left comments during the challenge were very positive but the score was only mediocre. I have noticed that when I get very creative my scores are usually not as high.

I would like to thank you all VERY much for your comments, they are ALL greatly appreciated. Thank you all for taking the time,

Greg

rainbow

Sony Mavica FD-90

03/29/2003 03:16:34 AM · #16

I just checked on the score I gave and it was 9. I noticed that it was people with no camera that marked you down. Perhaps that is an explanation in itself.

Anthnony.

marco

03/29/2003 06:35:59 AM · #17

Great shot, Greg! Gave it an eight.

Marco

bod

03/29/2003 08:01:16 AM · #18

Originally posted by dadas115:

Bod, I saved it is PS at quality level 12, the highest available, I don't know how to make it take up more space except to add more noise.

Heh, fair enuff! Like you say, kinda difficult to save it at higher quality.
I'm sure I can see some kind of horizontal lines across the hand, but maybe it's just me or some kind of optical illusion!

Olympus 50mm f/1.8 MF Normal Zuiko

03/29/2003 12:00:58 PM · #19

bod, those lines are the infamous "banding" from the 1D. It shows up from time to time with this camera and has to do with the type of CCD the camera uses.

Greg

Message edited by author 2003-03-29 12:02:49.

emorgan49

Olympus E-5

03/29/2003 01:00:59 PM · #20

We often come back to this monitor settings issue. It is dark on my difficult-to-get-right monitor, better but a little dark on my this-is-better-I-vote-from-here monitor. SOmetimes pictures that are just on the edge of being dark look pretty bad on some unadjusted monitors. Try looking at this picture on some random monitors and see what you think.