Challenge:Free Study 2012-04 (Advanced Editing VII) Location: Long Day at Disneyland Paris Date: Apr 8, 2012 Aperture: 4.0 ISO: 100 Shutter: 1/125 Date Uploaded: Apr 27, 2012
I'm quite new at photography - so I don't have a fancy light set with multiple reflectors. In this picture, I noticed the tears in her eyes - and they just stayed there - and it struck me as beautiful. I positioned her in her stroller so there was better light on her face and muddled around until I found an angle I liked. I recognize that photography is subjective and take no offense at my ratings - but I would love any feedback that helps me learn more, and allows me to grow into a better photographer. My ultimate goal is to be able to capture the spirit and personality of my subjects. This is just one of Evelyn's many complex moods.
Statistics
Place: 255 out of 275 Avg (all users): 4.9063 Avg (commenters): 6.5000 Avg (participants): 4.8660 Avg (non-participants): 5.0323 Views since voting: 448 Views during voting: 188 Votes: 128 Comments: 13 Favorites: 0
My two cents: Make your focus point on the eyes at all times. It appears the focus point was on her nose. Regardless, I hate to admit it, but toddhead is right. (Don't tell him). A little PP and this would have been a 6.0 easily. Have him show you the levels and curves trick. If you send me the original I'll Post process it and send you my workflow. This shot has so much potential. Keep em coming and don't get wrapped up about the score. Go check out my portfolio and look at some of my early entries. This shot kills them so if you stay with it you will reach one of your goals (Kicking Todd's butt) sooner than you think.
I'm not sure how to take being the recipient of the very first "bird" award - but it gave me such a huge laugh, I'm going to consider it a compliment.
Thank you to everyone for the comments - they help. I'm looking forward to better things - like editing a picture (post-processing) for the first time. Side challenges. Self-portraits. Harsh and not-so-harsh critiques as long as they're honest. And continuing to be in awe of the varied and diverse talents in this forum.
This is the very first photo that i am giving my "deserved a better score" award to.
The community here can sometimes be harsh in their vote casting as many hold everybody to an incredibly high standard. This effect causes many to rise to the occasion but can be daunting at the beginning.
As you are new here and, like many, want to learn and improve your skills, i feel that you are a fitting recipient for this.
As an aside, I notice when people are new to the site they have to make a disclaimer that they have no "fancy lights and such"....many great photogs here do not have strobes or even speedlights for that matter. The talent starts in your heart and head and grows from there. Are strobes nice? Most definitely, but don't use the absence of them as a crutch or excuse, look at this months blue in the free study....All natural light there. explore your passion, hone your craft, develop your style. Then decide what extra equipment you need...if any.
I'm going through the entries, stopping at those images I feel have had the benefit of an unconventional eye and dwelling a little longer to try to see and appreciate what you saw. This is one of those images.
Positives: Something about this image grabs me - it may try to pass itself off as a snapshot to begin with but the facade does not last for long. There is raw emotion here and real purpose too. Although it isn't as sharp as it might be, I'm grateful for that - I can only image how penetrating the stare would be with razor-like focus.
Critical stuff: Not really
Overall: A sleeper - definitely rewards a longer look.
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