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01/29/2010 08:24:38 PM |
Greetings from the Critique Club
I am sorry you didn't score higher for your Best of 2009 shot, but I think the Best of Challenges are very hard to score well in.
I think there are a number of things you could have done to improve the image and increase your score in the challenge. Starting with the assumption that you had the time to do this (and chances are you due to the nature of the shot) I will mention the things you could have done at the time of shooting, then the post processing steps.
I believe a shallower depth of field would have enabled you to really isolate the biker from the background. This I feel would have given much more impact. There are parts of the back that blend into the trees which may have been avoided. Somebody else already mentioned this, but I will say it again, maybe crouching down and taking this from a lower point of view would also have helped isolate the bike. By the way, I think it is awesome that you captured the shadow of the bike so clearly. it really is a bonus.
As far as composition goes, I'm afraid I do find the placement of the bike to be a little too centered. Unless you were about to step into an abyss, I think a few steps to the left when you were shooting would have resulted in a slightly more interesting angle. As I said, I am assuming you had the time to think of all these things, when I'm sure the reality was you saw the moment and just snapped quickly to make sure you got the moment. (At least, that is what happens to me, I forget about everything technical in my quest to get the shot).
When it comes to the post processing, again I think there are a few things that could have improved the final score. As I mentioned above, the composition is a little bit too centered for my taste, so in this case I think cropping the image square could have helped a lot.
Additionally, the B & W conversion could be better. This feels a bit flat and could use a bit of a boost in contrast either via a levels or curves adjustment. To be honest though, and remembering I haven't seen the original, but I can't help thinking this may have worked better in colour. (This coming from someone who mostly does B & W)
Anyway, I personally gave it a 6 during voting, but I think with slightly different processing it could have gone up to a 7.
Feel free to pm me about this critique if you want.
Sarah
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Comments Made During the Challenge  |
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01/28/2010 03:46:15 PM |
| Nice stop action capture. The biker's shadow is a bonus. |
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01/28/2010 09:51:43 AM |
| Nice motion shot. Did you just desaturate it? The B&W conversion is a bit dull. |
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01/28/2010 12:39:48 AM |
| You'd get a lot more impact out of this if you lowered your perspective to increase the apparent height of the tailwhip. |
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01/27/2010 03:08:34 AM |
| another shot where I feel a square crop works better. I would crop of the left portion , 6 |
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01/27/2010 02:47:10 AM |
| he seems to be on the wrong end!! |
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01/26/2010 10:15:23 PM |
| awesome action shot well done |
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01/26/2010 02:41:06 PM |
| Great action. The shadow in the lower corner really makes the shot for me. |
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01/26/2010 12:02:26 PM |
| 4 - I like the potential with this shot - perhaps a much bolder crop, uncentering the rider and, depending what you had to work with, a slight nudge rotation up on the right to 'straighten', may have given this more of an edge - that coupled with some more refined processing, especially to add some drama and minimise the overexposed lighter areas of the image/background. Alas, you'd still be left with some competing distractions that take full attention away from the rider and his shadow. |
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01/26/2010 05:10:31 AM |
| The shadow is perfect! I might have cropped tighter on the left to have the cyclist in one diagonal corner and the shadow in the other. I like the sky but the shadow is what really makes the shot for me so I'd want to emphasize it more. |
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01/25/2010 05:15:14 PM |
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01/25/2010 11:14:26 AM |
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01/24/2010 02:58:42 PM |
| I like the signature shdow in the right corner! |
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01/24/2010 02:23:09 PM |
| I like the little shadow at the bottom right...wonderful action shot, well done |
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01/24/2010 10:01:48 AM |
| Good clean stop motion, and nice that you got the shadow in the frame as well.....7 |
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01/24/2010 08:40:28 AM |
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01/24/2010 07:46:58 AM |
| Best of 2009 and hope it was safe landings. Scary shot but super action timed well. |
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01/23/2010 04:28:03 PM |
| Nice action shot, though the details are somewhat lost among all the background stuff. I think a different angle or perhaps a shallow DOF would have helped this one. |
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01/22/2010 08:26:38 PM |
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01/22/2010 04:25:22 PM |
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01/22/2010 09:22:59 AM |
| ?How do these kids do that? WOW he's flying and you got him and the shadow. Great timing. |
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01/22/2010 05:32:22 AM |
| Good street shot, good action. I really like the shadow in the bottom corner. |
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| Photographer found comment helpful. |
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