a shadow poll...

[shadowwolf]

...for lack of a better title.

:cool:
A short history. I've been lurkin' here for awhile now...I view offered photos & read responses. The wealth of experience & knowledge here has (in my mind at least) helped me become a better photographer. I'm rather stubborn in the sense that I want to develop my own "eye" for photography. In part thats why I hesitate to post much of my stuff.

A growing interest is live performance photography. "I" think this image from a recent Lil Texas performance might be worthy.

If you could please let me know if I should :

a) Leave it here in the "Critique Forum" to die a slow death.
b) Leave it here in the "Critique Forum" & post a few more images for comparison
c) Be brave & post a few results in the "Performing Arts Forum"

Seriously...my hope is to hear your thoughts/impression/critique...thats why I lured you here...to see what comments my image might generate. Its my measure of where I am and where I need to go.

So......thanks in advance if you are one of the visitors that respond.:cool:

[Apexer]

52 minutes and nothin ??

For me the bass player looking at you sells it. The whole deal looks a tad soft, and maybe not cut the neck off the bass next time. I'm pretty new to real photograhy too, so ....just my .02 = )

You lucky dog for getting so close! Good shot!

[Robert_Lay]

I share some of your concerns about trying to develop your own interpretations under the gaze of a super-critical audience. However, this shot is far better than most of the stuff of this genre that I see posted on Critique Corner. Your exposure, color balance and lighting are much better than most. I realize that is likely not your doing, but recognizing those kinds of details definitely indicates a trained eye.

[tonydee]

It's good to post EXIF data for these kinds of shots, as trade-offs with aperture, shutter speed and ISO are crucial for such low-light conditions. In this case, I'd prefer to have seen both guitarists in focus, but realise this may not have been possible. This is indeed an excellent effort... very rare to see such a picture sans severe colour casts and exposure issues. It's a little frustrating not to see the closer man's face... not sure if you were there long enough to get lucky in that way.... Cheers, Tony

[shadowwolf]

Apexer...it seems my photos in general are labeled "soft"...I've come to believe its a result of when I click the shutter & what editing I do. Seriously...my photos always seem to be "soft".
Thanks for the comment...I appreciate it.

Robert_LAy...your comments are especially appreciated. You've commented on my images before & I've read your comments on images posted by others. Praise...if I've assumed correctly...from you is a feather in my cap. Thank you sir.

Tonydee...I always forget to post the exif data...& honestly I don't know how to make exif available. But...I used a 350D with my 50mm f/1.8 iso was 1600 & I tried to keep ss at a minimum of 1/250...my other camera was my 30D with a 85mm f 1.8 @ iso 1600 & a minimum 1/250 ss. Thanks for the kind comments. I have numerous more to edit.

I origionally posted because first "I" liked the result & second because I wanted comment from viewers like the three above. Just 'cause "I" like 'em doesn't always mean others will. So....thanks folks for takin' the time. Below are 2 more I've got confidence in. The lighting conditions were constantly changing and I'd considers the conditions difficult at best...but I gotta say I like the finished product.

Thanks again for all input...

[tonydee]

Last one's great... smile and closeness makes it... the one before that's showing enough noise to be a little distracting, and the area on the near side of the closest guitarist's face is a bit flat and presumably blown. If I were you, I'd try taking the ISO down a stop or two at the expense of shutter speed... you won't jag quite as many sharply, but when you do they'll be less noisy... but what's best really depends on how you intend to use them - on screen or printed and at what size. Background areas can be roughly selected and hit with noise reduction, so not a huge deal anyway.

Cheers, Tony