I feel flattered that I received not one, but two very well written and honest critiques on my "The Shooter"
As you have pointed out my lighting is harsh and I have dirty fingers!
About the light, that is one of my biggest problems, I have just not been able to get the hang of lighting, I need to shoot and shoot until I get it.
About the fingers, oh if you only knew me! I am the most retired, retired person you can imagine. If I am not taking pictures I am playing with my 1960 Alfa, or my 1955 Chevy Cameo, or making a new type of tool on my milling machine and lathe, and if I get really bored I might paint part of the house, Yuck!
Well I got the idea for the marbles when doing some machine work and didn't even think about a scrub down for the modeling job. When I noticed the dirt in my images, I took the easy way out and decided that if it were a kid his fingers would have been dirty too.
I appreciate your critiques and also your contributions to DPC. When
accomplished photographers such as yourselves, pass such positive remarks down on my work, it encourages me to go out and do some more.
Thank you both, keep shooting, and most of all have fun.
Composition: In my opinion the photo needs more space. Your hand is very near the blue marble. It's not like you're really aiming at it from such a short distance. A landscape composition with the blue marble on the one end and the red one on the other would make it more clear that it's the kid's game you want to show. Another issue I see is that the blue marble seems to float because all background is totally black. There is no reference point like the floor to see.
Lighting: Hmm.. you wrote you used subdued light? Well actually I would say it's a bit harsh. Almost like flash. I think that's the biggest issue on this photo. The lighting doesn't look good.
Focus: All in focus. This makes the photo look a bit flat. Especially in combination with that lighting. Maybe a more narrow DOF would add drama to the shot. I don't know if you tried it but I think some motion blur to show a movement of one marble would make the photo more interesting and your message more understandable.
Challenge: Yes, it meets the challenge.
Creativity: I don't know if you left the dirt under your fingernails there on purpose, like jmsetzler thought, but I agree that this adds to the kids theme. But like justine'scomment suggests, a different setting, not this clean studio shot, would have made this more understandable. Aynway, I think you had a good idea and your photo shows more creativity than flower shot number xyz.
Composition A shooter (to answer someone's question) is the person who's flicking the marbles into each other. In this case, I answered under composition because I'd love to see the whole shooting thumb (and yes, clean it).
Color The colors are good, but the dark blue on the right blends with the black background. Otherwise, it's good.
Focus I like the focus on this shot - but it's a bit TOO sharp here - shows the dust specs and dirt.
Lighting The light is a bit harsh - direct lighting with the reflection doesn't work for me here. Try diffusing - eliminate the spots.
Subject matter I love how you found the yellow as swirls - not using a different marble. Nice work there. I like the hand included - you know the only problems there.
Overall Down from your previous shoots - but mostly because of lighting and dirt. Check, check, check! Studio shots need to be as good as you can get them - everything is under your control.
Very pretty marbles and the colors are right on.......the trouble for me is the hand is dirty.....lol it's a distraction to an over all good shot. Now if it was a group of little kids sitting in the dirt all shooting then dirty hands would work.
nice work :) the dirty finger and the dirrt under the fingernails bring out the kid theme in this photo nicely... that was good thinking to plan that out because kids always have dirty hands :)
good detail and use of macro. might have used something to defuse the light source and i'm always a big supporter of boosting saturation a bit to bring the colors out a bit more.
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