The Self Critique Thread - Got what it takes?

I just thought of creating this thread. From the Cream of the Crop to the Newbie Photographer, here is the idea:

Post a photo you knew you could have done better (well, not just a gray blurr or a pitch black photo), but be the first one to share which elements you were happy with, and the others YOU think could have been improved, whether by thinking about it on location, or by getting home and seeing the results with more time.

Then others can also give you constructive criticism, but you should be the first to talk about your own work.

Anyone ready to go?.... I will post my first as an example in a few minutes, unless someone likes the thought and wants to go ahead.

well i know i messed this picture up hardcore in the fact that i forgot my filters at home..... it was taken right into a sunset behind a building... so needless to say not alota light where i was but a tun above the building.. if i had my graduated density it would have come out alot better

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This photo has tons of potential !!... Yeah, me and filters are still not talking to each other. Thanks for posting.

Yes, in spite of your concerns, the waterfall is very interesting - it sets a mood very well.

If you had been looking to create this effect, you would have never gotten there.

Remember, the "Decisive Moment" really takes place when you look at the proof sheet.

The intent was to make an HDR composite from 5 exposures of a subject with darkened foreground and lightened background; capturing as much detail as possible. 3 of the 5 exposures are displayed in the attached web-link.

http://www.flickr.com …on100/262581610​3/sizes/l/

1. The HDR composite failed to "repair" the over-exposed areas in the most underexposed photograph (foliage and ground color lost; 0 + 0 = 0). I failed to notice the highlight warnings on my LCD in the most underexposed photograph.

2. Moving the camera 2 feet to the right and rotating my lens 4 deg to the left, likely would have solved this problem (ie. avoid capturing the un-interesting extreme highlighted areas in the mid-right portion of the photograph). In addition, the new camera position would have captured more of the wall pattern (stone + wood) without missing the slightly highlighted tree trunk on the right. These exposures were made with a rotated CP (that did not solve the over-exposed highlights problem). Perhaps I should also learn how to use neutral density filters ?

3. The goals of the composition were probably flawed from the start; namely, capture of bench + foreground stones + wooden/stone wall + tree. Perhaps a better composition would have been just the tree + wooden/stone wall. Simplify, simplify ?

4. I spent the entire day at this location. The only photographs worth keeping were taken after 4:00 pm.

Your thoughts ?

zircon100 wrote in post #5823890
The intent was to make an HDR composite from 5 exposures of a subject with darkened foreground and lightened background; capturing as much detail as possible. 3 of the 5 exposures are displayed in the attached web-link.

http://www.flickr.com …on100/262581610​3/sizes/l/

1. The HDR composite failed to "repair" the over-exposed areas in the most underexposed photograph (foliage and ground color lost; 0 + 0 = 0). I failed to notice the highlight warnings on my LCD in the most underexposed photograph.

2. Moving the camera 2 feet to the right and rotating my lens 4 deg to the left, likely would have solved this problem (ie. avoid capturing the un-interesting extreme highlighted areas in the mid-right portion of the photograph). In addition, the new camera position would have captured more of the wall pattern (stone + wood) without missing the slightly highlighted tree trunk on the right. These exposures were made with a rotated CP (that did not solve the over-exposed highlights problem). Perhaps I should also learn how to use neutral density filters ?

3. The goals of the composition were probably flawed from the start; namely, capture of bench + foreground stones + wooden/stone wall + tree. Perhaps a better composition would have been just the tree + wooden/stone wall. Simplify, simplify ?

4. I spent the entire day at this location. The only photographs worth keeping were taken after 4:00 pm.

Your thoughts ?

Setting up the shoot is critical - even when shooting in RAW. My tutorial provides guidance on all of the steps for a successful HDR.

*************HDR******​*********
Step-by-step Tutorial on "Merge to HDR"
Now available at the following Web site:
http://www.zaffora.com​/W9DMK/UsingHDR.htm
or as a downloadable PDF:
http://www.zaffora.com​/W9DMK/UsingHDR.pdf

Here's a link to an example of how a Merge to HDR should work:
https://photography-on-the.net …hp?t=287931&hig​hlight=HDR

Mr. Lay;

Thanks for the web-links. "At the other extreme make certain that there is an image with properly exposed highlights, regardless of a lack of shadow detail. This means getting at least one shot in which the highlights are as close to the maximum (right hand margin of the histogram) as possible without clipping."

Hopefully, my next HDR shots won't be clipped.

Sam

"Anyone ready to go?.... I will post my first as an example in a few minutes, unless someone likes the thought and wants to go ahead."

Mario, I would like to see an example.

Here's my favorite shot from the zoo this weekend. I wish I had captured more of his arm. Also the green tree leaves are distracting and the blown out wood in the foreground and side are a problem. I do like the mood. Thanks for looking.

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I would have loved to have had a set of waders on hand. If I had them I would have changed the angle by near 90 degrees. I would have also taken more time to set up. This was in the middle of a lake around 250 yards away. Needless to say it is about a 200% crop. In general I would like to improve the amount of time that I spend on composition and also camera settings.

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I 've been away from the camera for a couple of days, and so I didn't get a chance for a 'fresh' set of mistakes. Except for this one, a half arsed attempt at a self portrait.

First of all, going into it my mindset was not right. I hate photos of me. With that being said, I did not look for the best lighting scenario, perhaps using a window and some natural light. Instead, I just sat on my desk, and tried with the 50 1.4 and a timer.

The focus finally worked, though the photos were showing dark. So I mounted the 580. and the result seemed pleasing on the LCD (I mean the face, well, we can't do nothing with the face).

Turns out it was too bright, I do not like how the tints on my face and the flash give me that extra spark, as if I were either teary eyed, or drunk, or possibly both.

As for self critique: I need to spend more time practicing the scenarios and situations I particularily dislike. This should give me a good level of mediocrity, in the areas where most simply fail (talking about those scenarios photogs hate to capture).

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I like this idea! I'll be posting soon one up soon.