What should have been better????

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

01/10/2008 04:23:07 PM · #1

Hi

I submitted a picture for the free challenge. My score was 5.8072 which is pretty good for a beginner like me, but what could I have done different or better.

//www.dpchallenge.com/image.php?IMAGE_ID=626969

Best regards,
Thomas Jessen
Denmark

bvlindalou

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

01/10/2008 04:25:58 PM · #2

Originally posted by thomasjessen:

Here is a better look at it

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/10/2008 04:26:23 PM · #3

A better title like "The Horse Whisperer" would have gained an extra point from me. :)

BeckyT

Nikon D300s

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

01/10/2008 04:28:07 PM · #4

Left a comment.

scarbrd

Leica M10

Leica 35mm f/1.4 Summilux M Aspherical MF - Black

01/10/2008 04:30:15 PM · #5

Contrast boost more than anything would have helped. or maybe a little more manipulation in the B&W conversion. Looks kind of flat. The capture is great though.

Message edited by author 2008-01-10 16:30:32.

Ecce_Signum

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

01/10/2008 04:37:44 PM · #6

Originally posted by scarbrd:

Contrast boost more than anything would have helped. or maybe a little more manipulation in the B&W conversion. Looks kind of flat. The capture is great though.

wot David said ;)

Great opportunist shot that I gave a 7. Only your 4th challenge and almost a full point better than your 2nd highest scoring shot. All you need to do now is keep on getting better.

Phil

Canon EOS-7D

Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2.8 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) for Canon

01/10/2008 04:40:27 PM · #7

Your main problem is that you used real horses. Next time try this:

Better scores await!

Ristyz

Apple iPhone 12 Pro

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

01/10/2008 04:56:54 PM · #8

Perfect timing, good composition for horses. the conversion to b/w is kinda flat. Since this was an advanced editing challenge you could have used layers to lighten the darker horse a bit for more details in the dark areas as well as lightened the darker side of the other horses face a bit.. You could have also edge burned to bring the viewer in off the corners some. LIttle things like that to make the b/w conversion stand out more.

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

01/10/2008 05:01:28 PM · #9

Ristyz echoed my thoughts exactly. sent PM.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/10/2008 05:01:37 PM · #10

So I understand that it is mainly my Photoshop and English skills that have pulled me a little down. The title is difficult since they were playing. Some people suggested a color version but I don't know if that would have helped - the colors are wonderful though. How do I post a color version here? In my portfolio or what?

Thanks for the comments. Please tell me more - I am learning!

Thomas

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

01/10/2008 05:03:42 PM · #11

FWIW, I was somewhat joking about the title - although I may have given it an extra point. :) Nothing wrong with your title though. Didn't mean to mislead you. You must be new here or you wouldn't take anything I say seriously anyway. :)

Message edited by author 2008-01-10 17:03:54.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

01/10/2008 05:06:37 PM · #12

Hi "Art Roflmao"
I am new, but I am still happy that someone take the time to comment on my work.

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

01/10/2008 05:13:14 PM · #13

All I can say about the image is to echo what the folks said (some of whom are our Horse photo "experts"). Very minor tweaks might have gotten a little higher score, but keep in mind a 5.8 (and upper 65 percentile) in a free study is an excellent score - for anyone.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

01/10/2008 05:36:06 PM · #14

Thanks, that made the beginner (me!) happy.

Thomas

Falc

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

01/10/2008 05:49:08 PM · #15

For me the composition is a little too tight around the horses. I'd prefer a little more space, especially to the right of frame.

_eug

Nikon D50

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

01/10/2008 06:04:59 PM · #16

Damn, we can't take Art anywhere...

(And you can quote me on that.)

Wenders11

Canon EOS-40D

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

01/10/2008 06:23:06 PM · #17

I think this would have been better in color. Either that, or like others said, with some more contrast in the B&W. It's a really nice shot, I just think it needed a little more WOW in the contrast or color department.

mpeters

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

01/10/2008 06:30:41 PM · #18

[thumb]631319[/thumb]

Thomas~ here is a quick edit...

All with Photoshop CS2.

1) Increase contrast slightly using an S-curve in the curves tool.
2) Use white and black brushes on a 'soft light' layer to bring out some detail in the hair/main and lighten some of the shadows on white horse.
3) Darken corners and upper portion of frame with gradient fill on an 'overlay' layer.
4) Unsharp Mask filter

That's about it. Not saying it is what you envisioned, just a few steps that I feel improve the capture.

I think Falc has a good point about the cropping. More negative space would be nice for context and impact. cheers,

amandalore

Canon EOS-40D

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

01/10/2008 06:48:30 PM · #19

Also - I'd suggest using a gradient map to turn your photo B&W instead of grayscale. This gives you better contrast to begin with.

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

01/11/2008 02:16:00 AM · #20

Hi again
Thanks mpeters. I'll save your that work description and use it another time. I definitely see a difference!

To Amandalore: How to you use the gradient map to change it it to B&W?

Thomas

Message edited by author 2008-01-11 02:17:29.

amandalore

Canon EOS-40D

01/11/2008 08:01:31 PM · #21

Gradient Map (and I'm using CS2 by the way)

Image -> Adjustments -> Gradient Map

It will automatically use the two colors you have selected in your color palette (sorry don't know what those two color boxes on the left side toolbox are called). You can mess with the settings by clicking inside the gradient box (in the popup box where you see the rectangle full of the gradient) - from there you can move the little sliders around, click inside the boxes and change the colors, add more than two colors, etc. Pretty hard to explain from there, but you can mess around with it and learn.

I would also suggest using your help-menu when trying to learn anything (and I mean any application you're ever trying to use on a computer) - this is how I've become pretty good at all kinds of computer applications (databases, html code, excel, you name it).

If you get that far and have more specific questions, feel free to PM me... I hope this helps

01/12/2008 05:47:14 PM · #22

Thanks...

fotomann_forever

01/12/2008 06:09:36 PM · #23

Originally posted by _eug:

Damn, we can't take Art anywhere...

(And you can quote me on that.)

fotomann_forever

01/12/2008 06:11:46 PM · #24

//www.dpchallenge.com/tutorial.php?TUTORIAL_ID=43

Black and White Conversion Tutorial

yanko