Score 5.99 or lower and want a critique? 05/29/07

05/29/2007 02:31:24 PM · #1

Another challenge closure so I'll critique the first 10 images posted here.

This is started with extra posts from another closed discussion...
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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed here are subject to my own photographic views, bias and prejudice. The wise photographer will be able to extract from these critiques whatever helpful grains of truth they may contain.

05/29/2007 02:32:36 PM · #2

Originally posted by biteme:

does this topic still count? Would love to have a critique from you :)

05/29/2007 02:33:39 PM · #3

Originally posted by Judi:

Yup...I would love a critique. I don't ask for critiques from the critique club...but would love to know what I did wrong here!

05/29/2007 02:34:26 PM · #4

Originally posted by brownsm:

If you have the time, I would love some critique on this shot. I spent some time thinking of how I could use the selective desat to tell a story, not just color in some portion of a B&W image. It didn't score as well as I had hoped. It would be useful to find out why. Thanks!

05/29/2007 02:35:55 PM · #5

Originally posted by dcb300:

... i SUSPECT THE WORST THING ABOUT THIS ONE IS THE SUBJECT MATTER. I always look forward to your critiques. better still, I look forward to the day when I score too high to qualify for one.
Thanks,
Diane

Message edited by author 2007-05-29 18:14:05.

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

05/29/2007 03:17:46 PM · #6

Originally posted by biteme:

does this topic still count? Would love to have a critique from you :)

This is an interesting image and one that I spent some time looking at already. Think it was in another discussion. I really like how you captured it.

Positives:
Well composed and curiously conceived image concept. Makes the voter wonder what it is all about so gives it a lot of viewer interest. Good use of selective desaturation.

Technicals:
Taking a picture through the viewfinder of another camera makes it harder to evaluate. The numerous specks and the center framing marks are from the focusing prism of the Hassleblad. Certainly their inclusion in this composition is by design, but is good? That is a dilemna for this viewer and perhaps others. It is good for artistic reasons, but not for technical ones. Makes one ask which is more important. :)

You did a superlative job with the color and BW border feathering. That is what most folks have the most difficulty with. You did it like a pro.

BW quality is good. Higher contrast works well here. You include enough tonality to make it nice, yet contrasty enough to make it unique. The composition is very, very interesting and well done. Croping the head and feet is a good decision. It adds to the uniqueness of the composition.

The Challenge:
Selective desat is a difficult challenge topic because it is both hard to do technically, but also difficult to do artistically and appropriately. The viewer wants to know WHY you made your desat choice.

In your case this is not an issue. It draws attention to what is below the butterfly wings and that adds much viewer interest. ;) (Perhaps my maleness is showing through. LOL!!!) The choice of butterfly wings for that purpose adds to the effect as well.

You scored over .45 points above the challenge average indicating that voters thought it a good image, probably for artistic reasons.

This image would do great displayed in the right art gallery. I did not score this image in the challenge and wish I had. I'm interested in the score I would have given it.

Suggestions:
No suggestions. I'm tempted to talk about the specks and centering lines but I'm not sure removing them is a good idea. I like them included. The overall composition is great. For this image, there is nothing I could teach you.

vikas

Apple iPhone 13

05/29/2007 03:24:13 PM · #7

... edited, sorry didn't realize this was for selective desaturation!

Message edited by author 2007-05-29 15:25:31.

Canon EOS-20D

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

05/29/2007 03:26:05 PM · #8

Today seems like a good day for an stdavidson critique. :)

muckpond

Nikon D200

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

05/29/2007 03:34:37 PM · #9

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

05/29/2007 04:12:26 PM · #10

Originally posted by Judi:

Yup...I would love a critique. I don't ask for critiques from the critique club...but would love to know what I did wrong here!

You give me more credit than I am deserving, read on an you will know why. But I full well understand why you would ask.

Positives:
I'd like to be a dispationate critic but all I can think of to say is "WOW". The high key in this composition makes it special. The technicals and art within this imagery are only what I dream of in my own compositions.

Technicals:
Sharpness, high key treatment and the BW is perfect in every way. Color in the ribbons is just right. The solid white BG is absolutely the right choice.

There is a hint of jaggies in your model's hair and lack of detail in her cheeks, neck and left forehead that will be interpretted as a faults by some viewers.

Off centering your model more might add more interest.

The Challenge:
Does it meet the challenge? Yes. How well it does many will ask. This image was faulted for shoehorning to the challenge by some I am sure and/or for a weakness in the desat choice.

I know, I was one of the people that did it for the later reason. I was wrong and am now ashamed. This is one of the images I scored in about .3 milliseconds. I gave it an 8. I was wrong. This is a 10 all the way. I'm angry now at myself for scoring it so low. I think I instinctively knew I was wrong at the time but did it anyway. I'm certain I was influenced by the challenge topic mistakenly or in ways I should not have been.

In my opinion, I and the voters did this image a grave diservice by giving it a 5.5.

Suggestions:
Consider doing some touchup to remove some of the "jaggies" from your model's hair. Just use the blur tool lightly... very lightly. Little is needed.

The only other suggestion I can think of is to crop off some of the left side to off center your model and have her facing into the composition more.

Other than that I have no suggestions whatsoever. This is a great picture. This image could be an award winner in other venues and would make a great addition to a photo art gallery display.

okiesisi

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

05/29/2007 04:17:55 PM · #11

I know for most people its not the most interesting subject...but I liked it, and thought I did good on the desat/PP of it.

Thanks
SiSi

Judi

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

05/29/2007 04:19:18 PM · #12

Thanks Steve for your very informative critique. It certainly helped me.

hanneke

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/29/2007 04:22:23 PM · #13

Allready sent you a PM, but wanted to say thanks again here in the topic.

You rock!

BHuseman

Nikon D750

Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | S

05/29/2007 04:30:44 PM · #14

I always look forward to these threads...

Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8G

05/29/2007 04:34:36 PM · #15

Originally posted by vikas:

... edited, sorry didn't realize this was for selective desaturation!

This critique discussion has nothing to do with selective desaturation. If you have an image from another challenge that is OK.

vikas

Apple iPhone 13

05/29/2007 04:50:31 PM · #16

Originally posted by stdavidson:

Originally posted by vikas:
... edited, sorry didn't realize this was for selective desaturation!

This critique discussion has nothing to do with selective desaturation. If you have an image from another challenge that is OK.

Not that this picture did bad, but I was expecting it to do better. I don't understand what I did wrong! Would love a critique on this one. Thank you :)

stevieian

Nikon D7000

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

05/29/2007 05:00:37 PM · #17

Can you critique this portrait?

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

05/29/2007 05:26:42 PM · #18

Originally posted by brownsm:

I did not vote this image in the challenge, but sure I would have had great difficulty with it if I had. Within the last couple of weeks a youthful nephew, but not as young as your model, had three heart attacks and suffered congestive heart failure. Not a good thing. He may need a pacemaker but got away with just a stint without open heart surgery which is a VERY good thing.

I've had the 'opportunity' myself to walk around a hospital ward or two pushing a wheeled roller with baggies hung on it before. I've held close to a few metaphorical teddy bears myself. I have an inkling how she feels.

Think I know where you are coming from for your desat submission. :)

Positives:
Exceptional technical quality and your selective desaturation sends a clear message for such a youthful and understandably unhappy model.

Technicals:
Tones, lighting and color are all good. lighting is very nice, overall quality is well above average for DPC. Looks like you have created a slight blue overtone in the BW(greyscale) portion of your image. Looks nice, intended or not.

You did an exceptional job with the boundary between color and black and white. That is the toughest part of selective desaturation.

Technically this is a good image. The BW tones are well captured.

The Challenge:
You scored almost .5 above the challenge average in one with an exceptionally narrow range of voting and many poor image submissions. Commenters gave it almost an 8. That is very good. Overall, voters thought this a good image despite what you or I might think about the actual average score it received.

Perhaps some voters felt it was a setup and that is why it scored so low.

Suggestions:
No suggestions.

Jewelly

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

05/29/2007 05:53:36 PM · #19

I would also love some critque of this photo. Feel free to blow it apart so I can learn from my mistakes :)

and here was the original.

kellyrc01

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

05/29/2007 05:54:59 PM · #20

I would like a critique on this:

Thanks!

05/29/2007 06:15:07 PM · #21

Originally posted by dcb300:

Hi Diane... You break my heart with pictures like this when I know you can and want to do better. Please feel free to PM me privately before you submit or try to join a DPL team to get input on your images. I know... I'm not that fast responding. :(

Selective desaturation is a very difficult challenge. I know you worked hard at it.

Positives:
Overall the lighting is not bad and the BW is OK.

Technicals:
The toughest thing about selective desaturation is getting the color right and the boundaries between color and black and white right. That is not easy.

You had trouble on both counts. Your greens stand out like a sore thumb even though they are good in and of themselves. They just don't fit the desat. You allowed boundary colors in places it should not have been allowed and that is a cardinal sin in selective desaturation. On the other hand, in some places the boundaries are very good.

The Challenge:
Yes, it meets the challenge. But many voters will ask themselves why you picked the desat the way you did. Their conclusion will be that you did it just for the challenge and will fault the image for it and give you a low score.

Selective desaturation, more than any other technique, must be applied to invoke a strong emotional response. Yours does not do that. Voters will ask themselves why you made that choice and when they can't figure that out will vote it low.

A question you always want to ask yourself is this, will my submission stand on its own long after the challenge topic is forgotten. If the answer is no then don't submit it.

I have to make this admission. I scored this image a 2 because I felt the selective desat was not well done, did not fit the composition at all good and was just a poor choice for composition and desat.

Suggestions:
I could make a few technical suggestions for improvement but my bottom line is that it just is not the right image to submit for selective desaturation or for composition. Sorry.

05/29/2007 06:20:42 PM · #22

The number of requests for critiques is astonishing given that many folks are now in the DPL. Must be discontent flowing over from the Selective Desaturation challenge. :)

I'm already over my limit of 10 for a given discussion and will do those I still have remaining. Others that might be added will only get "regular" comments. :(

05/29/2007 07:09:17 PM · #23

Originally posted by mk:

Today seems like a good day for an stdavidson critique. :)

Have to say, that has an ominous sound to it. ;)

Positives:
Nice high short range contrast, particularly with the fingerprint and hand lines. Details are exceptionally well captured.

Technicals:
General technicals are very good. Given the high contrast, the sharpness is exceptional with the fine detail you captured. Brightness and lighting are right. The middle finger of the top hand is oversmoothed compared to the rest of the composition.

The boundary of color and BW is done very very well, considering how narrow it is.

If applied, dodge and burn is applied properly. If it was and I can really tell for certain that means you did an even better job. :)

The Challenge:
You scored almost .5 above the challenge average and by DPC standards that is pretty good. For this challenge that means voters liked this image a lot more than the others.

I only scored this image 6. For me that is actually scoring it lower than the group did. The reason for that is I felt the color in the shell was to intense for the composition. There was also a question in my mind as to the meaning of the colored parts of the image. There wasn't one for me. Both contributed to a low score. It is fairly rare for me to score an image so close to the group average. I'm usually far on one side or the other. :) Think I voted this image low.

Suggestions:
Just one... you might consider backing off the overall color saturation on the shell to make it more muted. The brightness of the yellow overwhelms the BW portions of the image.

05/29/2007 08:23:56 PM · #24

Originally posted by muckpond:

Positives:
The concept, pose, technical quality and execution of this image is exceptional. It has a very professional look.

Technicals:
Sharpness, contrast, framing/crop and background are all very, very good. It is especially nice how you have the bright background highlighting help bring out the detail in your model's hair. Putting on blush and your model's reaction to it is great.

The blush red is a to intense for the desat. The greenish overtone around the eyes acts as a major distraction. The edging around the blush itself looks slightly unrealistic.

The Challenge:
Conceptually you are right on with the concept and choice of selective desaturation. The color draws attention to itself. Color is a bit intense for the desat and that worked against it in voting.

.3 above the challenge average was actually pretty decent for DPCers given the major middle of the road scoring dished out for this challenge. The fact the average commenter gave it a 7 is a tribute to the quality of the image. DPCer's hearts were in the right place if not their scores.

Suggestions:
Just one... reduce the saturation of the blush red to reduce it's overall intensity. And get rid of that greenish color cast at the edges of the eye. That alone would have had a major impact and improved scoring greatly. Outside that this image is super.