~ Blue Dutch Iris ~
by Ja-9

Comment:
Hi from the Critique Club, Ja-9,

I love the colours and the perspective here. The yellow/orange plays nicely off the blue. In addition, the border you created on the top and bottom is very good.

I can't help but wonder if your image was perceived by the voters as unsharp or lacking detail. It's tough to get much depth of field when you're shooting so close, and it looks like you were already using a fairly slow shutter speed. Looking through your portfolio, you obviously have a grasp on macro photography, so I don't need to go into detail there.

Geoff

Old Forgotten Friend...
by digichic

Comment:
Hi from the Critique Club, digichic,

I love the ray of light coming in from the upper-left corner! You've done a great job to fit the challenge using subject matter you like, which is always nice. I *love* the lighting on the frame of the bike -- especially the specular highlight in the middle. I think your choice to go monochrome was a good one, especially since all that wood in the background was probably dull and colourless.

Improvements? Perhaps a lower camera angle would have worked for you. People are always intrigued by different angles -- ones they don't see themselves every day. Less depth of field for a softer background might also have worked well here, although it appears that you were limited by your equipment in that case. Perhaps backing up and shooting with your other lens at 300mm wide open would create that effect.

Great job.

Geoff

Galloping through powder snow
by snaffles

Comment:
Hi from the Critique Club, snaffles,

I think you've done a great job with this image. The tonal range is excellent, and you did a fantastic job to hold the highlights in the sky and snow while still keeping detail in the horses. Your framing is great (they have room to run into), the rim lighting is nice, and you've got a very complementary background. I think your high number of 7+ scores represents the image nicely.

Well done!

Geoff

2009 Christmas Card Exchange
by colorcarnival

Comment:
That looks great!

Big Brother
by Strikeslip

Comment:
Could use some sharpening.

Love the matching horns on your eye brows. It would've been a 10 from me had I voted, purely for that expression.

Curves
by lovethelight

Comment:
Great lighting! I love the extreme shadow, but how I can also just barely make out her left eye. Awesome!

The_Man_V.jpg
by david_c

Comment:

Originally posted by violinist123: Originally posted by geoffb: Aperture controls both ambient and flash. ISO controls both ambient and flash. Shutter speed controls only ambient. Although your statement that a slow shutter speed lets in more ambient is correct, your claim that aperture does not control ambient is completely wrong. Shoot an ambient-only shot at f/4 and then again at f/2.8 (same shutter speed and ISO), and tell me the ambient doesn't change. You're correct when talking about an ambient-only situation. Unfortunately, no one is talking about an ambient only situation, the discussion is about studio lighting and this image is a strobe lit shot. You've obviously confused controlling exposure and controlling the mixture of ambient and strobe light. The two are not the same, and the latter is both what I was referring to and what is referenced in the photographer's notes of this image.

No, it doesn't only apply to an ambient-only situation. Why don't you go try it, as that seems to be the only way you'll be convinced. Set your camera and strobe up however you want; just make sure to have areas that are clearly ambient-lit and strobe-lit. Now, open or close the aperture 2 stops, while leaving everything else the same. You'll notice it affects EVERYTHING.

Note, while you're at it, that the author of the article you linked to never claims that the aperture does not affect ambient light (which is your claim). He is simply ambiguous when he says it affects the flash exposure (choosing not to elaborate on its effect on ambient).

The_Man_V.jpg
by david_c

Comment:

Originally posted by violinist123: Just so you know, aperture doesn't control ambient light. Shutter speed does. Shooting below sync speed lets some ambient light into the exposure.

*sigh*

Unfortunately, that's not correct. Aperture controls both ambient and flash. ISO controls both ambient and flash. Shutter speed controls only ambient.

Although your statement that a slow shutter speed lets in more ambient is correct, your claim that aperture does not control ambient is completely wrong. Shoot an ambient-only shot at f/4 and then again at f/2.8 (same shutter speed and ISO), and tell me the ambient doesn't change.

EDIT BELOW

Originally posted by violinist123: You don't have a clue.

Congratulations on being a complete dick. What makes it funny is that you're still wrong about your claim. So, I can sit here and enjoy it.

Message edited by author 2008-10-25 23:57:57.

The_Man_V.jpg
by david_c

Comment:

Originally posted by violinist123: Just so you know, aperture doesn't control ambient light.

Aperture controls both flash and ambient.

Reflections in spoons
by IreneM

Comment:
Too bad you're blemished by all those red and yellow ribbons you got in those earlier days, hey?

Congratulations on yet another blue and yet another impeccable shot.