LMSYS III - Photo discussion thread

[soleful2001]

Originally Posted by macroshot

Have at it folks:

soleful2001 - I sure wish the focus had been stronger here as the image is otherwise an appealing mix of bird, rough-cut stump and how well the small subject fits into the environment. I would have preferred a better crop as well - off with the stick-stuff on the left. Not sure if the conversion should be a B&W either since it seems the emphasis would be more on the subject rather than having it all blend together in mono.

Robuk - Wonderful capture of what I assume to be a difficult subject, particularly while engaged in aerial maneuvers. The lower bird is awesomely sharp but I do wish the other wasn't quite as "muddy," if that makes any sense? It must be well in front of the other but the lack of focus is distracting to me. The overall brightness of the sky is too, but to a lesser degree.

airfrogusmc - I like this photo for all of it's negative space, the overall vastness of the BG relative to the subject, and the slight overlap of the wall panels so the lines are not symmetrical as absolute thirds. What I also enjoy is the fact that I can either expand my POV outward from the person seated or start wide and draw into the photo. The funny thing was I knew the image was from the interior of the Art Intstitute of Chicago as soon as I saw it. My favorite image of the week.

flo - First off, the title is perfect because it immediately sets the tone for the image. You've really grabbed a family moment that will make everyone who sees it smile. Bring down the harsh highlights and this image is much stronger.

-g- - It's funny that we see so much of each others families here ~ meaning in some cases we almost get a sense of who the subjects are as people, as we do here with your granddaughter. This is a really fun shot and having all those bubbles in front is a neat touch. One of the reasons I keep my 50L is knowing someday I'll have grandkids to capture. No hurry though. Really.

Kristy - Yes, we can tell she adores her father. And as a father of two daughters I know the warmth of a smile like that when I've done something right, even if they are now 21 and 17. She has an angelic smile and really pretty eyes. While some may find the sunglasses distracting, I feel just the opposite: I think it's a cool detail. Wish the flower was intact though because for some reason, that's what I'm looking at after her eyes and smile. I like the processing of this image too.

Skrim17 - I like this portrait and I will admit that I looked at your website and saw the B&W conversion and liked that one more. Why? The funky green and gray wall in the color version. I am definitely digging the blues and the texture of the denim and even the wrinkles of the shirt, but that wall behind her does nothing for me ~ it almost seems to be pulling something out of her. Dare I say that I would prefer to see the wall in gray with Susan left as she is in blue? Would that be selective coloring? Maybe I had better stop now.

lavanut - I definitely get a sense of what your title is saying, so close and yet not quite. I like the fact that I can read into the image just through the body language without seeing his face, specifically the hands, and I really like the tension that is conveyed from your crop ~ almost as though if his hands released they would try to push out the edge of the image.

KenjiS - Welcome to our little corner of POTN. I like your use of strong, bold colors for your subject and BG. Unfortunately your flash overwhelms some of the softness of your subject. The flower is sort of soggy too. Drop another photo in for the new week!

dilorenzo1954 - Nice processing; really adds the right element of newness and softness to the image. I really like how the DOF just kisses the eye, nose and mouth before it just dissolves into the wonderful blur of f/1.4... The crop could be just a bit tighter, less space on right the so the arm and face cut more of a diagonal third across the photo (that's just me though.)

Hank,

I really appreciate the time you took to provide me with some useful feedback.

[Jason C]

LMSYS submissions for April 23 to 29 2011; my C&C.

Once again, the disclaimer: I am only me. One set of eyes out of many. That being said, here is my C&C on last week's LMSYS gathering; in order of submission.



soleful2001--Evening Carolina Wren--I like your persistence and tenacity in your photography, you experiemnt with your framing and subjects. However, this particular shot is not your best in my eyes. A little too flat and the sharpness is lacking (shutter speed seemed low for that focal length). The Wren also blends in too much with his/her surroundings, does not stand-out, my eyes have to dig the wren out. Perhaps due to the conversion to b&w, or the Wren just blends in. Keep clicking that shutter.

Robuk--With a wing and a prayer--Solid capture of a tough subject, and getting two in frame (without overlap) is impressive. Two elements work well here, and the oof bird gives me the impression of mirroring the focused bird. Yes, sky is not perfect but not distracting to me.

airfrogusmc--Taken a break--I really, really like this capture for the ROT, the drawing into the subject and the post. I am not thrilled with the section seam on the left. Its a solid line that to me adds an odd weight to the capture and interupts the flow. Just a nitpick, I still dig this picture.

Flo--Little boy, Big Dreams--Sweet capture, nice freeze, but background is a bit harsh and its a little too centered for my tastes. Still, a very nice picture.

-g- --Bubbles--Lovely playful capture, sweet and innocent. Wonderful framing, composition and colors.

Kristy--Daddy's Girl--Lovely candid portrait, well compossed and nice conversion. A little too high key for me, and a little too sharp for my taste.

Skrim17--Susan's shoot--All compositional elements are in place, exposure, everything. Still, I get a "forced" feeling when veiwing this picture, something is not 'clicking' with me.

lavanut--I gave it My Best--One your best captures. Title conveyed well. Nice conversion, though I'd like a hair more contrast. When viewing your capture, my eyes wanted to see more of what he gave his best for.

KenjiS--Bright Yellow Daffodil--Thank you for joining this rag-tag group of ours. I feel had you gone softer, much softer your capture would work better for me. You have a soft, delicate subject there but the flash (even with your diffusser) is just too harsh on your subject, and I feel the sharpness is, um, too sharp. Try bouncing your flash off the bounce card, and meter for fill-flash, and try a softer approach to sharpening. See if that helps at all.

dilorenzo1954--Snug & Comfy--Lovely, gentle capture. Composition and conversion are wonderful, though I find the framing too centered for my taste. Very nice.



Okay, there you have it. Take it as just someone's view on how he sees your photographs, which it is. It was a very nice week of submissions, thank you for allowing me to be a judge.

One more thing, this discussion thread is open to all to discuss submitted photographs from a prior week's competition, not just the judges. You wanted this, get in here and discuss!


PS: I would have had this posted 45 minutes sooner, however my Kenko TC came from KEH...and I had to try it out...


Jason C

[Flo]

Thanks Jason!

[KenjiS]

Thanks both of you for your input

I'll work on trying to make my flash softer..I'm..not that great with flash i must admit...

I'll be entering again though

[Kristy]

Wow.... thank you Jason and Hank (?) for proving such detailed feedback. Very nice of you to share it with us. I enjoy seeing the images through someone else's eyes.. You picked out stuff that I hadn't even considered... so this is a great learning experience.

My personal favorite from last week was Ed's baby photo.. I have a soft spot, I know, I know... lol. . but I really loved the soft light and the conversion.. it was nice having all the detail there, in the skin and facial hair, lip wrinkles, etc.. babies can be a challenge.. It could have been more off center, but I get lost in the details anyway.

Crissa, I think the main thing that could be missing from your portait is that the subject lacks light in her eyes... You can always toss a reflector on the ground between you and your subject if there isn't enough light behind you to make a reflection. When I photograph people, that is the first thing I do, is look at the light in ther eyes.. For more mature women especially, I always try to make sure there is a nice pop of light hitting their face, as it helps to fill in our wrinkles, and give them more of a glow.. they'll appreciate it.

For all of us.. often times cropping can make all the difference in the world. The images don't need to fit into a standard crop size... If I look at Alan's image, I can see it being the inside spread on a square book.. really cool.. Love the negative space and the way it makes an impact on the over all scene...

Sometimes if you look outside the 8x10 & 11x14 format, you'll be pleasantly surprised..

over and out...

oh... edit to add.. @ Jason.. I like 'em sharp.. lol..

[Kristy]

Originally Posted by KenjiS

Thanks both of you for your input

I'll work on trying to make my flash softer..I'm..not that great with flash i must admit...

I'll be entering again though

If you have a reflector, try firing your flash into the reflector and letting the light softly bounce back on to your flower..

[Harleypugs]

soleful2001--4 - Soft - Conversion does nothing for it.

Robuk--1.5 - Very cool capture. very sharp. Would have loved to see a little contrast in the sky but sometimes it is what it is.

Allen--1 - Love just about everything about this shot. The negative space.

Gail--3 - Cute shot. Not digging the crop. Little hot on his face. Could use a little pop. I love what is happening in this candid.

Geno--1 - I really love this shot. One of his better ones. Love the little girl and the bubbles. Shouldn't life always be like this?

Kristy--2.5 - This shot is very close to being there. My eyes go towards the hot cheek. Needs a little work on the conversion. Lovely eyes.

Crissa--4 - Looks very flat. Could use some fill light. Not digging the green line in the wall camera left. Crop that out. Not digging the line coming out of the head. Reposition.

Lisa--3 - Nice capture. Full of emotion. I think the shot from behind works. The conversion is very flat. No pop. Love the lines of the arms and the bleachers? Works.

Kenji--4 - Looks like it was captured at night with lots of flash. Not sure that works here. Water drops picked up all the flash.

dilorenzo1954 - -1.5 Not a fan of the processing. I would take it BW but that is just me. Love the shot. Crop tighter. I love negative space, but here it leads my eye to the light area. Great shot.

[KenjiS]

Originally Posted by Kristy

If you have a reflector, try firing your flash into the reflector and letting the light softly bounce back on to your flower..

The one thing i dont have actually XD

Time to go find one i guess

[Kristy]

Originally Posted by KenjiS

The one thing i dont have actually XD

Time to go find one i guess

just pick up a sheet of white foam-core at your local craft store... would work the same way..

Or make one of these... I made one with foam paper once...

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNCmuExlHvM

[KenjiS]

Originally Posted by Kristy

just pick up a sheet of white foam-core at your local craft store... would work the same way..

Or make one of these... I made one with foam paper once...

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNCmuExlHvM

I tried making something similar out of heavy photo paper before with no success D:

[-g-]

Great comments, judges! I fear you've set the bar far too high for me. I don't know that much about critiquing other's work...

[lavanut]

Thanks for all the great comments, judges. I appreciate the feedback and the thought, time & effort that goes into writing them!

[Kristy]

Originally Posted by -g-

Great comments, judges! I fear you've set the bar far too high for me. I don't know that much about critiquing other's work...

I'm so thankful you said that...! Because I am feeling the same way.... so glad I'm not all alone... lol..

I'm supposed to start back up on my workouts tonight..... it's been since November that I exercised regularly.... was having issues with some wack-out heart rhythms.. but my doc said I'm good to go, sooo... Really itching to get back... but a little nervous at the same time. lol..

You know how it is... when you hit the gym months after not going and you lost all of your muscle, so the weights feel really heavy... and the cardio last for about 5 minutes and you're winded... hahaha.. And really you haven't done it in so long that you kinda forgot what your lifting routine was in the first place... and you got lazy and can't imagine exercising when you are normally almost ready for bed...

Wish me luck! (and don't you just love when strange people on the forum ramble on and on about something that doesn't really matter to you anyway... entertainment value?)

[Jason C]

Its all good, people...no problemo.

Kenji, you can also rig something out of poster board paper. Or, just save a couple of dollars and get something off of ebay.


Jason C

[soleful2001]

Jason,
Thanks very much for the feedback. It seems I should know my limitations with this big tele by now. Handholding in the dark is for dating - not photography with this thing! Even with OS.