Attempting to make a "splash" ;)

[mrgtturbo]

I've recently decided to make a web page/site to show some of my photos. This means an enterance page or splash.... I got to thinking about what I wanted and thought it's got to be;

1. Interesting
2. Dramatic
3. Classy
4. It has got to stand out.
5. But still look professional. [this part is most important to me].

So I figured a "normal" photo just would not do. I would put one together in Photoshop from various photos I have taken.

This is my attempt and I would like any C&C offered.

This is a composit of 4 photos. Keep in mind I did not feather them for an original photo look... I did want things to sort of pop out. However I wished to still keep the feel of a photo at the same time. I don't know if I am making much sense trying to elplain what I was going for... but oh-well.

Let me know what you all think. The good, the bad, the... well not to ugly. ;)
This will be setting on a black page.

[btw... I the image is being stored on photobucket and they have a habit of resizing things and quality gets dropped, being this was long, I didn't know what size to make it for their service... so i sent it as it was and let them resize it themselves... so please ignore any rough edges that could be caused by this]

Thanks


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/mrgtturbo/EOS40D/Photography-Bonneau.jpg


Thanks again.

Aaron

[DerekSimon]

Looks good...my only complaint would be the lighting on the camera, it just doesn't fit with the rest of the compilation.

[mrgtturbo]

I was wondering about that myself...

To me it seemed mostly that the light on the camera was a bit too strong.
Do you think if I photoshopped it a bit it would then be fine, or would you retake the shot for a slightly different light angle?

Thanks much for your input.

Aaron

[Flo]

I would like it without the girl.she looks really out of place...? Just me....

[Robert_Lay]

I think the girl is looking at the other camera, and it's a rather sideways look.

Wouldn't it be better to have her looking into this camera?

[mrgtturbo]

I appreciate the comments. But maybe my goal in this image wasn't really understood from my intro... or maybe my idea was simply a bad one in the first place. lol

I wanted her and the camera set out from the background photo a bit... to make the lake setting appear a bit "backdrop-ish".

As for her looking into the camera placed in the photo... It took many shots of my camera to finally come up with one I could match with that photo. (so she would be looking into it). I also had to go through many photos of this girl to find one that would allow me to get a photo of my camera into it at an angle that would make the camera a near sideways, and give me the ability to pull it back away giving a good distance between her and the camera. As for composition or what not... this is the look I was going for. Good idea or bad idea can be up for debate however. lol

Keep in mind that this was made for the purpose of being a splash screen, or enterance shot into my site. I wanted it a bit more eye catchy or dramatic than a normal shot. As I have eventual plans to make portfoilios for several of this girls friends. And also wish to have a place to simply show some of my scenic stuff as-well.

Maybe the concept of my arrangement is not liked, but it is what I was going for.

Good idea, bad idea?

Thanks for commenting.

Aaron

[blinkmnt]

ammm...the issue is that a web page belongs to the realm of design not photography, so a pro site splash screen, would be more about the design of the name of your studio, your page or you name or a scenic pic you did. In design stuff must pages are moving toward minimal. hope it helps...

[Robert_Lay]

...
As for her looking into the camera placed in the photo... It took many shots of my camera to finally come up with one I could match with that photo. (so she would be looking into it).

...
Good idea, bad idea?
....



Hunh?

Right - bad idea!

It will be a better picture, in my opinion, if she is looking into the camera in use.

[Radtech1]

At the risk of not being very well liked, this looks awful. I mean, crap.

Assuming that your splash screen is the one place that you are trying to put your best foot forward, then I further assume that this is your best. If that is so, then your best isn't good enough. Under no circumstances should you show this to potential customers.

Those customers might not know why this looks "funny" (including but not limited to substantial mismatch on lighting AND white balance of the three main components [camera, model, and background], poor extraction on the model, and that of the trees and branches, very uninspired and flat, dull background). No, the one thing they WILL know is they don't want their pictures to look like that. Who would?

If this is supposed to tell people "who you are" as a photographer - what they can expect if they hire you – well, then it says that there are a couple of skill sets that you aren’t bringing to the party. The first and most evident skill you are lacking is that of basic photo-shopping ability. The fact that this shot is clearly hobbled together, with the mismatched lighting, and poor extraction is evidence enough of that.

The second skill set missing is that of an editor – as in an art director, knowing what to keep and what is trash. I am surprised that you think this shot works on any level at all, that you can’t see what is in front of you. Just to take one example, the grassy area of the shot. The colors are flat, grey and uninteresting – that shot should have never made it into the “to keep” folder, let alone made it as part of you introduction to the world.

I strongly recommend back off on your aspirations and that you work on your basic processing skills, and that you also work on your “seeing” skills for a while before identifying yourself as a "photographer". For that matter, I recommend that take some classes in photography at the local college. If there is an art school near-by, then so much the better.

Point is, right now, you are not ready to be a photographer. I wish I had better news.

And whether the membership here is willing to tell you or not, this much is true: no one here – especially those who have photography as their livelihood – no one will want the profession of “photography” to be defined in the minds of the customer based on what you posted here.

Oh, and the debate on having her look at this camera or that camera is kind of like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Don’t get pissed – just go do better.

Rad

[Max Demian]

At the risk of not being very well liked, this looks awful. I mean, crap.

Assuming that your splash screen is the one place that you are trying to put your best foot forward, then I further assume that this is your best. If that is so, then your best isn't good enough. Under no circumstances should you show this to potential customers.

Those customers might not know why this looks "funny" (including but not limited to substantial mismatch on lighting AND white balance of the three main components [camera, model, and background], poor extraction on the model, and that of the trees and branches, very uninspired and flat, dull background). No, the one thing they WILL know is they don't want their pictures to look like that. Who would?

If this is supposed to tell people "who you are" as a photographer - what they can expect if they hire you – well, then it says that there are a couple of skill sets that you aren’t bringing to the party. The first and most evident skill you are lacking is that of basic photo-shopping ability. The fact that this shot is clearly hobbled together, with the mismatched lighting, and poor extraction is evidence enough of that.

The second skill set missing is that of an editor – as in an art director, knowing what to keep and what is trash. I am surprised that you think this shot works on any level at all, that you can’t see what is in front of you. Just to take one example, the grassy area of the shot. The colors are flat, grey and uninteresting – that shot should have never made it into the “to keep” folder, let alone made it as part of you introduction to the world.

I strongly recommend back off on your aspirations and that you work on your basic processing skills, and that you also work on your “seeing” skills for a while before identifying yourself as a "photographer". For that matter, I recommend that take some classes in photography at the local college. If there is an art school near-by, then so much the better.

Point is, right now, you are not ready to be a photographer. I wish I had better news.

And whether the membership here is willing to tell you or not, this much is true: no one here – especially those who have photography as their livelihood – no one will want the profession of “photography” to be defined in the minds of the customer based on what you posted here.

Oh, and the debate on having her look at this camera or that camera is kind of like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

Don’t get pissed – just go do better.

Rad

As harsh and blunt as this might sound, it's true. I don't think this banner could ever represent the hard work of a professional, amateur or aspiring photographer. The landscape is dull and the camera shot looks sloppy and badly lit.

Just keep practicing and get comfortable with the Photoshop skills man. ;)

Oh.... and in the spirit of constructive criticism, remember that nearly always LESS IS MORE. I.e. try to keep it simple and not just cram 4+ different subjects/ideas into the image, otherwise it will look terribly congested and not reflect a style or a solid concept.

[rsagusti]

I have to agree with Max and Rad.

The post processing on the 3 different "parts" of the processing are all totally different, they don't seem to come from the same 'photographer' in my opinion.

[mrgtturbo]

It seems apparent no-one seems to see what it was I was going for with this. And to be honest... that's fine. If you all do not see what it was I was going for then the public probably will not either. I'm glad to know this before posting it.

But I do not believe I am as bad at this stuff as you all may be thinking I am at this point. That was an attempt at something intended to be different.

I have taken no photos with the intent to be a splash page, (and the ground came from one of my first photos taken long ago). However a couple of my shots were considered before thinking, "I'm going to make something".

I do feel alittle embarrassed about the great dislike for this little project, so I would rather just let this thread die and post a couple for consideration in a new.

I do appreciate the honesty I have gotten here. Even if you are all heartless and mean. LOL Hey I was just joking!!!!

Seriously... I do appreciate the honesty... thanks for the advice.

I will quickly grab a couple photos and post them for consideration in "help me choose a photo". Please respond there. I feel like I may have done here just what I wish not to do by my page with others, and I am being warned will happen. I hope to save face... please come to my next thread and help me choose something more appropriate.

Thanks everyone.
Aaron

[Nathan]

In all honesty, it looks cheap.

[Right Cranium Imaging]

You may already be set on the idea, but Im just going to throw in my 2 cents. I am not a fan of Splash pages in general. To me its just one more unnecessary step to get to the ultimate goal that is your actual images. Again, just my opinion.

[Bill Boehme]

It seems apparent no-one seems to see what it was I was going for with this .....

Aaron,

One of the toughest things in the art world is to expose one's ego to the potential rigors of rejection when the artist's work is placed before peers for critical evaluation. With so much of one's creative energy invested in a project, the last thing that the artist wants to hear is that their creation doesn't quite measure up as well as hoped to the expectations of the art world.

But, it is the way that one grows as an artist: taking critical evaluation comments at face value and then working towards improvement. Whether anyone understands your intent in "what it was [you were] going for with this" (although, I suspect that they do) is not as important as understanding their message that in this case, it simply doesn't succeed. A question that you should consider is whether others who see your web site will be more apt to "get it".

I refrained from commenting on the image when I first saw it a couple days ago, but I would have to agree with the gist of Radtech's summation. The same thoughts about mismatched WB and perspective along with incongruous blending in the graphics artwork were too painfully apparent to be considered seriously.

[mrgtturbo]

Bill,

I understand what everyone is saying. but my point was for it not to match with the background. I know my photoshopping may not be as good as many here on the board.. and I mean many. However this image was intended to look different. So I don't really take any of what's said in a truly painful way. I mean... hell if you look at it nothing in the foreground was feahered or blended in in any way. They were simply placed there. Infact if I remember correctly I even left some of the white outline around the tripod and such, (but in doing so it gave the appreance of setting out futher from the background). So mostly I take the comments in a way of my idea was not any good. This sucks to hear, but I agree it is a matter of if others whom see the site will "get it", this is why I am still happy with the choice I made to post it here, (even if I look like an idiot now). It's better to now than some time after I publish the site.

I guess what i am really to try and say here is;

1. I wish no-one here to judge my ability based upon this one foiled effort of bad artistic judgement.

2. I would like to believe it is understood that I do appreciate the C&C I get, as I am always trying to improve in the things I do.

and
3. I am trashing the image. It does not work, so it's not going to be kept.

I guess I could aways use something more simple... like a duck. lol

These are pretty much as shot, (minus size and crop of the 2nd).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/mrgtturbo/web%20maybe/2008_06_01_6762-x10copy.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37/mrgtturbo/web%20maybe/2008_06_01_6936-8x10copy.jpg

But who has an interest in ducks!?! LOL
Seriously though... isn't somthing like this a bit too simple?
I guess I'll figure something out. I did post a couple more photos in a close by thread.

Aaron

[Max Demian]

Bill,

I understand what everyone is saying. but my point was for it not to match with the background. I know my photoshopping may not be as good as many here on the board.. and I mean many. However this image was intended to look different. So I don't really take any of what's said in a truly painful way. I mean... hell if you look at it nothing in the foreground was feahered or blended in in any way. They were simply placed there. Infact if I remember correctly I even left some of the white outline around the tripod and such, (but in doing so it gave the appreance of setting out futher from the background). So mostly I take the comments in a way of my idea was not any good. This sucks to hear, but I agree it is a matter of if others whom see the site will "get it", this is why I am still happy with the choice I made to post it here, (even if I look like an idiot now). It's better to now than some time after I publish the site.

I guess what i am really to try and say here is;

1. I wish no-one here to judge my ability based upon this one foiled effort of bad artistic judgement.

2. I would like to believe it is understood that I do appreciate the C&C I get, as I am always trying to improve in the things I do.

and
3. I am trashing the image. It does not work, so it's not going to be kept.

I guess I could aways use something more simple... like a duck. lol

These are pretty much as shot, (minus size and crop of the 2nd).

But who has an interest in ducks!?! LOL
Seriously though... isn't somthing like this a bit too simple?
I guess I'll figure something out. I did post a couple more photos in a close by thread.

Aaron

Hi Aaron,

It's a good thing that you take the critique at face value. Don't worry, everybody... and I mean EVERYBODY (Pro or amateur) has done something that others might consider "crap" or sub-par to say the least, but that doesn't mean that you're a bad photographer. It only means that you made one bad call. That's it. No one is going to judge your photographic abilities based just on one collaged composition.

It is a good idea though to sharpen up your PS skills and I stand by my first comment on the image. Most of the times LESS IS MORE.

Keep at it! I like the duck photos a lot. Especially #1! :cool:

[Bill Boehme]

Aaron,

I think that you have handled a tough critique very well and I don't believe that you need to worry how others perceive you personally. Critiques are objective, but it is difficult when on the "receiving end" of a critique to not perceive them as also being somewhat personal, even though they are not intended that way.

Online critiques are generally rather mild. By far, the toughest critiques occur at live venues where the artist has ample opportunity to develop his artistic "alligator hide". Going before the panel at a juried art show to endure comments from the experts in the field is a true lesson in humility until one learns that the comments and suggestions for improvement are directed towards the work and not the person who created it.