Rock Climbing Puppy
by bex85

Comment:
You already got some good comments on this image, but being as it was your first entry and I liked the subject I wanted to add my thoughts as well.

First and foremost, you have a doll of a subject here, so adorable, hard to go wrong with that!

Now let's get into the technicals. Upon first view the image looks like it falls more into a 'snapshot' range than anything else. This, however, is not a bad thing in my opinion. Obviously there was a reason you took the picture - something you wanted to capture and spoke to you - that to me is one of the most important aspects of photography, so regardless of how the photo turns out in the end, the intent is there and that elevates many things beyond just 'snapshot'.

The composition of this image is pretty good but I think there are some areas where it could be improved, even just in post-processing, though if you can and wanted to do a reshoot to give it another try that'd work too.

First is the positioning of your main subject - the pup is smackdab in the middle of the photo. This kind of setup is fine in general but can also put the breaks on a creative or artistic flow. This also probably is one of the reasons a previous commenter asked what the subject was, the rocks or the dog since they both seem to be getting equal time. I would suggest cropping the bottom of the image to help bring the pup down lower in the shot and thus give him(?) more of a starring role in the image. In scrolling the image on my screen I think cropping off about where the two lower rocks meet up would do the trick. This effectively lowers the dog, creating a sort of 'ground' line while both still giving the rocks the ability to create the atmosphere you were going for and it also opens up the top portion of the image too, makes it feel stretched and higher and more purposeful to me.

The lighting here is pretty harsh, which is typical of the sun, its rarely in the mood to be helpful when I'm out in the middle of the day as well. The downsides of the bright harsh light is the dog's fur, being white, ends up getting blown out in areas and so the lovely textures it provides are then lost. I still haven't learned how to rescue blown out areas so I'm not sure how you could tone the overly white areas down without causing problems elsewhere, no point it making an adjustment if it'll just knock something else out of whack! The lighting also has created some dramatic and some not so great shadows. The whole side of the dog facing the viewer is in shadow, which helps pull out those textures I'd mentioned before but it also makes him seem a little muddled. A nice overcast day or morning/late evening would probably be best for lighting - or if you'd been able to get him entirely in the shade then the lighting would be even and the contrasts not so intense.

I think the flowers along the side and in the background add a needed delicacy that contrasts well with the roughness of the rocks. Its also, as someone pointed out, corresponds nicely with the dog's fur color and helps bring that color to other parts of the image thus adding more balance.

They say that B&W can hide a number of sins, though it shouldn't be used only to rescue a photo, that there should be a purpose beyond that for using B&W. That said I'd be interested to see how this translates into B&W since it does have such an intense light and shadow issue. What may be a downside to the image now could be a boon in that situation and potentially easier to control with only the two colors to worry about. Maybe a high contrast sort of photo.. might work, might not but you never know 'til you experiment!

The final sort of wishlist thing I have is I'd love to have seen the dog's entire face. So much personality can be inferred from an animal's face and I think an even better connection could be made with the viewer if they were looking into the little guy's eyes.

Perhaps as a finishing off point I could suggest a nice medium sized border as that always seems to add just a hint of rigidity to an image which then makes it seem just that smidge more polished.

Pet shots tend to be the kiss of death in many of the challenges, so that's a quirk about the site you go up against when submitting them, but I think you've quite a character here and I certainly wouldn't mind seeing glimpses into the life of your rock climbing dog in the future challenges.

Singin' The Blues
by Nikonian Ninja

Comment:
I really like what you've done here. This image has a very.. I don't know.. comic-esque feel to it. Not because of its content but in what choices you've made in processing. That isn't to say it looks juvenile or outlandish either, instead it has a very hip feel that just touches on dramatic without going overboard.

The first thing that grabs my attention and that I want to touch on is the background. I think that brickwall is fantastic. The color is rich and makes an excellent foil for the cooler colors in front of it. The texture of the background is fantastic even if its a digital representation (at least that's what I'm guessing since some of the details repeat themselves), and its almost as if I can see a face starting to form in the negative space portion of it. I don't know if that was intentional or just my mind playing tricks on me but either way it adds to the edgyness.

Next is the border. Many times I look at photos and wonder either why they didn't border it or why they did - at least with the border they chose. Here you've got a strong border but instead of being overpowering or annoying, it is doing its main job and that is framing the image. The thickness is good, it makes it look strong and, to me, feels like its capable of carrying such a visually stimulating image. It stops the eye from wandering and yet relates back to the photo because of the inner red border you added.

Next the shadow. I don't know if that was added in or part of the initial picture but it has a very strong presence and gives dimension to both the guitar player and the image itself. It sort of lends credence to the image - to me its clearly had some digital bits added to it, and the shadow sort of.. I don't know adds a realism that helps counter balance the 'fake' parts. Even if the shadow is fake itself, what it represents is the important part.

I love your subject too. He looks as though he's been glossed over with a bit of gritty pop that makes him really stand out against the background and yet retain some fantastic but subtle textures. His tattoos really jump off his skin and that gives the eye some other areas to explore and wonder about too - there is a red line on the neck that seems overly saturated though. The clarity is good, though it does seem a bit soft on his face and upper body... that said the eye is generally caught by the gleaming pegs on the guitar and so the man's face is almost rendered blurred because my eye isn't paying attention to it anyway. I like what you've done with the guitar, the bright metal and the sparkle really create a sub-main subject within the bigger main subject, which is a nice layering effect compositionally.

The man's pants look a bit odd, kind of like they were spray painted on or something. I anticipate they were actually already there and you did some sort of processing to them to give them this comic/spraypaint-styled appearance. I think it works for this image but of anything presented here, I think they are the one item I find distracting.. weird as it may seem!

Many folks would dismiss this image as not being worthwhile since it isn't pure photography but I really like how you've melded traditional photography with some digital art elements. I think the subject lends itself very well to that practice and what you've done here is take the best of both worlds and merge them. This could have come across as overdone or sloppy but you've done an excellent job. My few nitpicks - the pants striking me as looking a bit odd, the repeating detail in the wall (where the two lines are much lighter than the rest of the wall), and the man's upper body being softer than I'd like - are definitely overshadowed by the areas I think have been very well done.

I could be wrong in the amount of digital art that has been added to this image or vice versa, but whatever went into its creation I think the end result is something to be proud of.

Edited to add: Further viewing makes me think maybe there is more a case of digital manipulation than actual digital art addition where the wall is concerned.. maybe you just copied a portion of it and added it, which would explain the repetition, not that it is a big deal either way, were it a complete fabrication or simply a very striking enhancement of something already there, what's there now is excellent.

Editing again!: Having seen the original, the final product is even more impressive. The bones were there but it was seriously lacking in some oomph, you certainly provided that in spades. Very well envisioned and accomplished.

Message edited by author 2006-09-14 17:31:19.

Ezzy
by bs-photos

Comment:
I think this is a very strong picture, the use of black & white has drawn out a lot of detail in the fur and the eyes that many cat images are lacking.

Compositionally I like the 'in your face' view we have, it not only allows for great close up detail but it gives the animal a nice attitude or semblance of personality. I do have to agree with a previous commenter about the ears though. The cut off nature definitely makes me wish I could see them in their entirety, that said I think it would be better to crop it so they weren't in the picture at all. The reason being as they really aren't the focus of this image - at least not anything I find myself interested in looking at - that's market is cornered by the fabulous eyes.

Speaking of the eyes, I am so glad in this particular case you resisted doing a selective desaturation. It would be very tempting with those huge eyes being so well-defined to want to highlight them even more by keeping their color in. While, when done well this *could* create a spectacular attention grabber, there is the equal possibility that'll come across as cliche and forced. Instead, the eyes are clear, they have a nice catchlight in them and their details are exceptional with the crispness both in focus and that B&W helps to provide.

The focus here is wonderful, just what is needed in a shot this close range. The whiskers and short hairs are nicely accentuated and of course the eyes look great - not just the inner part but I actually find myself even more facinated by the rim of the eye, almost looks like it has eyeliner on!

The lighting here is okay - it does the job of lighting the more important aspects of the cat's face, but again I have to agree with a previous commenter about it causing some unfortunate reflection and blowout of the white forehead area. With cats being notoriously hard to work with I'm not sure it'd be feasible to have set up a more diffuse light to capture this shot with. I also don't know if there's really a way to tone down the white on the forehead without potentially making it look strange in relation to the rest of the image.

Great job on this lovely cat portrait, it may be a subject folks like to talk down but you've done a lot with this image and I don't think it'd be fair to lump it in with the truly snapshot cat photos out there. I'm surprised it didn't do better in the challenge.

Fading Into Fall
by bs-photos

Comment:
I am a huge fan of silhouettes. They are typically very clean and allow the viewer to concentrate on forms that can otherwise be lost in other situations. I think this image is a prime exampe of that.

The tree has a feathery feel to it that would be lost in a normal capture of it simply because of the lighting and color of the leaves. Now that those distractions are gone, there is nothing to get in the way of the basic form of the tree. Its well-balanced and that shows - as does the make up of its branches which are helping to provide some excellent lines.

The dillweed or whatever that is on the ground is fantastic too, I love the forms being shown off there AND I like how my eye has not just one area of interest but three. The ground cover helps draw the eye along and it has a nice contrast to the strength the tree is exhibiting - in comparison the weeds look frail and delicate.

Finally the sky is awash in gorgeous, yet nicely subdued colors. You could've saturated into some deep colors but I'm so glad you didn't. The result is a dynamic look at the clouds and a pleasing softness to the sky that makes for a perfect foil to the stark black, instead of competing with it as a more boldly colored sky might.

The focus is perfect and the composition works very well. The one thing I don't like about the image is the sun behind the tree. I feel it hads a harshness to the image that is out of place and its vivid brightness doesn't seem to mesh well with the surrounding elements. It may not have been possible to capture this image without the position of the sun where it is though. Luckily, its not a huge issue either, I don't think it is a 'problem' for the image, there may be those who like its inclusion as it does add to the atmosphere - I just find its intensity out of place.

This is a great image and you've managed to balance a number of different elments in a way that is pleasing to viewers in a general "oh pretty" level but also some more sophisticated visual interactions for those who want to take time with an image.

water-1.jpg
by Tajhad

Comment:
First, when I looked through your portfolio I noticed a number of interesting images but the one that grabbed my attention was this one.

I absolutely love the color combinations here. The blue is soft and cooling and the sparks of orange really add a smooth contrast, finishing off with the punch of white. I could easily see this as a Zen entry.

I thik the lighting here is good. You've managed to get some dappled lighting on the water in areas and the flowers look well lit as well. I really like the fact that there is also a shadow across the water as that keeps the image from being too sparkly and bright, allowing the colors to work together and not be overpowered. Some might find the shadows distracting since they are not stretching across the entire image, but I'd disagree and think it adds a nice dimension and another area of contrast for the viewer to explore.

The focus looks excellent, the flowers are well defined and the little bits floating with them are easily seen. That said it looks like there may be a bit too much sharpening. I don't know if that's the case, but some of the floating bits feel extra contrasty and I tend to see that when I start to sharpen things too much. There's a bit of haloing around some of them too which is noticeable when you're really examining the photo. Perhaps a re-process that addressed this?

I think the composition is perfect. I really wouldn't change anything at all. The position of the flowers is off-center which adds a bit of drama. Though there are clearly bits floating around and darker bits on the bottom of the pool aka background, it still retains a feeling of negative space for me, which helps isolate those flowers and makes them pop even more. I love the background here as well. In another image it may seem much too busy, but I think it works extremely well and adds a foil for the crisp, cleaner colors the floating items create.

I do wonder how adding a thicker black border around this would look, I think it would smarten it up just a bit, giving us an edge that keeps our eyes in and framing the whole piece nicely. I don't think the image requires a border by any means, but I think this is one where the border (providing you chose a good color - i.e. not white!) would be a positive supporting item rather than a detraction.

I could very easily see this as a print on someone's wall, with or without a border added!

whisper through time
by tapeworm_jimmy

Comment:
The minute I saw this in your portfolio I knew I wanted to take a closer look. I really like what you've captured here. The title is perfect, I can easily imagine the nearest statue whispering to the next and that information making its way on down the line.

The subjects themselves are all extremely interesting in their craftsmanship and detail, that is an added bonus. Your choice in composition - position of the camera, lighting and all that helps lend another dimension to something that already has a classical beauty and historical draw.

Speaking of lighting, I like the light here, particularly because it does a good job of centering the attention on the "active" portion of the image and the "reaction" to that action. Granted they are stone statues so they aren't inherently in motion, but the two nearest have their heads turned towards one another and with your title you can infer a sense of action.

The light then starts to drop off as you get further down the line, yet there is enough that the details of a few of the more distant statues are still visible and there for the viewer to examine. That brings us to the focus. I think for the most part the focus is pretty decent. I can enjoy some of the detailing of the statues, primarily the main subjects, and a bit of some of the ones further back. I do think the focus is softer than I'd prefer however. In the example of the first two figures, the focus should be ultra-sharp, really picking up on the textures of the ringletted hair and facial features. If that same focus could be extended to the next figure that'd be great, but as you get further back the details of course do not need to be nearly as clear and in fact as they blur out that adds to the feeling of the figures waiting in line to hear the latest news, so that's a plus, IMO.

I like the B&W nature of this image - I don't know if you converted it to B&W or if the coloring of the shot is inherently B&W. I really think this aspect of it should be played up though. I think increasing the contrast a bit and really bringing out the shadows, adding some starkness to the shot would help draw out those texture details and make some of the features stand out a bit more. I think running with a deeper B&W would also add some more drama to the image, which though it has a great subject and excellent idea behind it, could slip a bit into dullness.

I mentioned that I liked the lighting, but one of the downsides of the lighting is that it is pretty much an even wash over everything. Normally that's something I would think is a good thing, but with the detailing available and the potential of using the shadows to great effect, the even light starts to wash everything out.

I think with a bit of adjustment, either using Levels or Curves, would start to draw out a more dramatic light vs shadow play on the statues and add that extra dimension I'm envisioning in my mind. I don't know how to dodge or burn to save my life, but I'd imagine fiddling with those options could help as well.

As it is, the image immediately caught my attention both for its composition and the clever way you interpreted and then captured it. I think just a bit more adjustments would really draw out everything this photo has to offer, though you've clearly provided an excellent jumping off point.

Comfort in chocolate
by Ceefore

Comment:
Any photo depicting chocolate is alright by me. Good subject no matter what you do with it.

I read your comments on why you chose the style that you did and I can apppreciate what you were trying to do. I think in general the shot worked out, highlighting what you were trying to bring to light, but as you've probably noted in other comments, the extreme shallow DOF appears to be working against the image more than anything.

The lighting looks spot on and I like the composition, the chocolate arrangement is interesting and leads to some nice shadow/light play. The bits of chocolate in the foreground are a nice touch as well, though I think they are severely under-utilized.

I think this type of image screams for being in sharp focus throughout the main subject. You'd mentioned wanting to explore the texture of the chocolate, particularly the edges. I think the edges on some portions of the chocolate are enjoying a nice sharp line, but the surrounding softness, instead of accentuating that sharp area, actually is bleeding into there and making my eyes interprete everything as just a bit softer than it really is. Also the thick bands of blur from the shallow DOF definitely grab my attention and shove it down to the chocolate crumbs and away from the areas you're trying to emphasize.

If possible, it might be worth while to reshoot an image like this and try to get all the chocolate into complete focus, you may be surprised at how much detail and texture is visible. Also, if possible, I would keep the chocolate crumbs as focused as you can as they help boost the idea of ruggedness and texture by their very existance. Similar to a mountain having boulders populated at its base, more areas of interest for the eye to view and a subtle reminder of the roughness (read: texture) of the area.

You have some great lines provided by the way the chocolate is blocked off but they are being downplayed by the soft focus when they could be a wonderful asset to the image. I do think the simplicity of your set up is a boon to the image however and the concept is easily understood.

While I personally think complete focus on all areas would help this shot immensely, I do think it is possible to keep with your original intent of featuring selective areas using a shallow DOF without being at the extreme this shot is. Perhaps opening up the DOF just a little bit and finding a nice middle ground between what you've experimented with here and complete sharp focus will create a nice balance so all aspects of the chocolate subject can be enjoyed and you're objective of a shallow DOF is still met.

If you do give the shot another go, I'd love to see the results!

reflecting
by ErinM

Comment:
I love the choice of B&W in this! It really helps draw out the dark eyes and enhances their soulful look. You almost fall into them, they have quite a bit of mystery for such a young boy! I think the time you took this was perfect, the lighting is great, it really hugs the contours of his face and doesn't leave any harsh shadowing at all - and if it did, you did an excellent job of burn/dodging them into submission.

I like the pose, has a familiar feel to it and yet it provides and interesting frame for his face. Its got a subtlety to it, my mind recognizes and accesses my own memories of simple lounges in the grass and yet my eyes enjoy the angles provided and how they occupy the background allowing your son's face to be the star.

The reflections in his eyes are very interesting. I can't tell exactly what's being reflected but the shape adds its own dimension without feeling creepy. I really really like how you managed to keep his entire face in great focus, the focus appears very even and it is clearly delinated from the softer background. It really centers my attention on the important features - even his ears are soft and in the background and thus don't distract.

I'd say the one, somewhat minor, issue I do have is the cutting off of the forehead. The arms being cut off I don't think makes much of a difference, particularly since they feel very background, but his hair is acting as a frame for his face and since there's a portion of it cut off it leaves the top of his head looking a bit open-ended to me. Looking at it, I'd say if there were just a smide more to the top of the photo - about the equivalent of the space between the top of the photo and the menu bar, that'd provide just enough hair to show and finish off the frame of his face and thus close the photo off so I don't roam out of it through the top of his head. I don't think snipping off that much from the bottom of the photo to compensate would effect anything negatively either.

Regardless I really like the soulful, deep and yet almost secretive expression you've captured. The more I look at it, the more I feel like he has a secret that he's pleased about, something in the slight tilting up of the lips maybe? Quite a bit to see here and you've captured it so nicely.

wonderboy
by ErinM

Comment:
What a lovely child. Those eyelashes look long and to die for! First, I like the turned head, it gives me a feeling that I'm catching the boy unawares and in a moment of simple inner reflection. In some instances the cut off elbow would be a bit of a distraction but I think with the compostion you have it works. My attention (for the most part) stays riveted to the boy's face and his calm.

That said, the lighting here has its pros and cons. There's some bluish tones to it which cool the image down, this helps promote that calm feeling, it also compliments the cooler colors of the green shirt and the speckled background. I think either the intensity of the light or the direction its coming in from is what's causing me to find some cons to it though. The main one being the way it lights up his arm. Since his skin is a little pale there, it is reflecting the light back and that makes that portion of his arm stand out - to the point that its drawing my gaze away from his face which I think isn't what you'd intended. The light also is making the spotted background more noticeable than it should be (IMO) and that is also vying for my attention.

I do however LIKE the background. The little fuzzed out flower dots are nice, but I'm thinking it might be a bit too busy for this setup. If they were more blurry - possibly to the point it looked similar to one of those abstract watercolor paintings, just a swirl of blue and green, then it wouldn't register quite as much but would still provide the color interest.

You've got some nice catchlights in his eyes from what I can tell and his position/posture feels relaxed and normal which I think adds authenticity to the moment. The light hitting his face, particularly just under the eyes seems a smidge too bright. Nothing earthshattering mind you, just a bit brighter than I'd expect. I'm not sure if a similar lighting issues would be better were he looking face on to the camera (it might highlight his eyes more?) but here its playing out more as additonal light reflection for me.

I think the composition is wonderful and you've got some great clarity and focus. If I were to suggest changing anything in his pose it'd be to have him swivel his head just a little bit more towards the camera, just enough to see more of his other eye and perhaps a bit of the cheekbone. It'd offer the same distant, pondering feeling but also give more of his face to see. Might be worth a shot to try - its entirely possible that the balance would be worse than this particular pose but you never know!

Focused Determination
by Delta_6

Comment:
I like the way this pops out from the background. I don't know if that's simply because of the brilliant orange of the kayak or also because of your blurring of the background but it works well either way. The natural light is a bit harsh so there are some unflatteringly bright areas that draw the eye away from the youngster a bit, but I don't think that is an overwhelming issue.

I don't know if it'd be possible to give this shot another try at a different time of day (perhaps not in the same race? circumstance) but later or earlier may give a nice soft even light that'd highlight the kayak without being too harsh. It may also hit the water differently so some nice bluish color could occur and add to the contrast - not sure about that though.

I really like the bit of action you caught with the water being flipped up by the paddle, without it, the image would be a little flat and edging towards lifeless even though it is clearly depicting an active event. Its a small thing in general but I think it helps give story and movement to the image.

The title helps give the viewer a direction when looking at this image and I like that the subject's face seems to carry that idea through - definitely see a bit of teeth gritting and effort.

Unfortunately due to the position of the subject the face isn't completely clear, there looks like some softness as well which detracts a bit. I would love to have a nice crisp view of the subject's face so I could see that focus and determination clearly. In images such as these I think the face should be the main focus where clarity is concerned - everything else is of course important but this image seem to be more about what the subject is going through than what vehicle is being used to express that idea.

Once that personal connection has been made the viewer can then sit back and notice the detailing of the kayak and the numbered jersey and soak in (and imagine) the larger scope of the environment of the moment too.

Compositionally I think the centered positioning works as (to me) the photo leans more towards the action and circumstance of the image rather than an abstract or overly artistic bent.

Looks like the going was tough, but I'm sure it was fun!