Let me have it

I want to enter this image in a national competition, please give me your most honest critique. I'm most interested in critique from people that have entered regional or national competitions, people who know how judges think. I'm not providing context as judges won't have context.

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Not a pro and have not entered anything into a competition but I love it. Wireless strobe on the right hand side?

rcheung07 wrote in post #3805025
Not a pro and have not entered anything into a competition but I love it. Wireless strobe on the right hand side?

Wireless ETTL above right, yes.

I like the feeling and mood creatied by the colours alot.
You've been able to keep the contrast in the sky relatively safe considering the range of light you were dealing with...great use of the flash.

A couple of nit picky things I would change to ented into a competition where EVERYTHING will be looked at: (I've never entered a competition, so ont sure what they are looking for). But from a personal perspective...

I wish the bride was just slightly angled a bit more to the camera, to see her profile.
There is an island to the right of the groom that is distracting.

I'm not quite sure about the grooms left arm, the space between his arm and body is unsettling? Maybe make it bigger of get rid of it...

Finally, the shadow cast by the flash behind the couple acts like a great diagnal leading line to mirror the shoreline, but it isn't quite straight...there is a bump just to the left of the bride either from grooms hand or uneven ground...I would maybe strighten that out...

Just my 2 cents, and it may not count for anything, but since you've had a lack of replies, I thought I'd get things going...=p

Thanks Shane, I appreciate the critique

You know what's funny? I didn't set up the exposure. Stu set it all up, I set up the lighting and suggested a pose to the couple, and pushed the button. He had it on Tv, 1/30th, and I didn't even look at the rest since the pics on the back of the camera looked ok. It just goes to show what's important.

I always miss the nit-picky stuff so I'll let others find that. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, I think it's gorgeous!

I agree, it's a gorgeous image... the only nitpick I'd have is that I would want her dress in the whole frame, as it's disappearing to the right. I sort of want them to step one step to the left into the image, if you know what I mean.

I think the image throws me a bit. The sun is setting in the background, yet there's an intense light (the flash) shining from the opposite direction. Striking image, but somewhat illogical? You know what I mean?

jamiewexler wrote in post #3805569
I always miss the nit-picky stuff so I'll let others find that. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, I think it's gorgeous!

me too...... but it would have been cool if her dress wasnt cut off at the end of the picture. thats all for me. i felt like i wanted to see all of it. but i love it the picture. i think its well done, great colors, wonderful pose.

great job!!

shannon

CyberPet wrote in post #3805696
I agree, it's a gorgeous image... the only nitpick I'd have is that I would want her dress in the whole frame, as it's disappearing to the right. I sort of want them to step one step to the left into the image, if you know what I mean.

Funny how we all see things so differently....for me part of the heavy impact of this image was the fact that her dress was blowing out of the frame. It gave it a stronger feeling for me....

Thanks everyone

From what I've seen in the AIPP awards books...

Convert to black and white and add noise.

Edit: This is the type of thing I'm talking about... I don't think it's any better than your processing, but these moody, grainy portraits seem to win more often than not.

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Tim,

How are you intending to display this image? From my limited experience with competitions i know that presentation counts for a lot with the judges.
The image is really nice and the choice of paper, matte and matte colour can really help you show it at it's best.
I am a big fan of black or white for matte's but many prefer to see a colour that compliments the tones of the image....what are your plans?

With regard to the image itself, as much as i like it i find the shadow cast by the couple annoying. I would try to blend that a little into the foreground to the right of it.

i didnt even notice the shadow at all, it kinda blended in with the ground and other shadows. Guess thats why im not a judge.

the shot looks awesome to me. Great colors and great exposure, looks like winner to me. only change id make is go for the rule of thirds and lower them a bit. errrr do they allow heavy pp?

its a great picture but my eye keeps wandering to the large blown area on the left..

made some changes to the image, i don't know if its the compression to the image or your selections, but there are some halo's around certain parts so i've cloned them out and a few other bits, i've circled the changes

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