Brutal Friday Critique - are you ready? Well punk are you?

stathunter wrote in post #8541746
Melissa - howdy - welcome to the fold! I am glad to see even someone new sticking their neck out for a little critique.
Ok you already know about trees coming out of her head.....but what you also forgot about it the rest of the background. Let's imagine the trees in the head thing are not there -- the background is sparse grass/gravel/dirt that does not complement the beautiful girl. I shoot a lot of weddings and I am always moving people around to find a background that is suitable for the subject --- sometimes moving even a few feet or shooting from a slightly different angle can make a HUGE difference.
Also - I think you need to study poses - get fashion magazines - I am not exactly a girly looking guy but I am always picking up fashion magazines - so I can take in trends in fashion and poses.
In taking your first photo - my initial thought - lets say you just had to have the girl on the pic-nick table -- I would of had her sit in the middle of the table - pull her legs up to her chest - have her arms around her legs - sit forward and ask her for a cute look- take it from a little higher angle looking down a bit - and see how it works with her etc.
The second photo--- well this needs work also -- the location looks fantastic - the angle is good maybe a tad high- I love how you have the sun on her back/side - but you made a crucial mistake - you cut her legs off --- you needed to get in for a tighter crop or back up and get her legs in --- again more refined poses would make this killer. You have the girl/location but made some beginner mistakes.

Thank you for your honesty! There is nowhere to go but up, right

I actually do have the full body of the second shot - several actually. She just happened to have the prettiest smile in this one. Why does that always happen? Posing is definitely where I need the most work. Until recently, I've only taken photos of my children, so I'm still trying to figure out how to tell people what to do with their bodies. I will definitely get some fashion magazines. That's a great idea. Thanks again!

shootinsmiles wrote in post #8541240
Hope you enjoyed your dinner. I'd love to hear your thoughts on my photo as well.

-John

John - yes - dinner was good. Sorry for the delay - I got tied up with other things.
Your photo is very good it has a lot of great elements..... great composition.....lighti​ng is there - good balance of elements and this photo --- I cannot say enough good things about this one. Well done.....now get out and repeat the success.

goosfrabaa wrote in post #8540577
Thanks, especially for the edit, my post processing skills are severely lacking. Here are a couple I took just now actually. You should be able to be plenty brutal with them, I've not tried much with b&w and full manual yet. I'm going to have to experiment with this subject a bit more though... could yeild some interesting results. By the way, I have not done anything with these in gimp yet.

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

HTTP response: NOT FOUND | MIME changed to 'image/png'

I understand where you are trying to head with these but these fall well short of much but experimental. The b&w go with the book -- but the phone kills anything -- keep experimenting but don't forget about the details and elements in the background. Also there should be a real compelling subject in a b&w photo -- these don't do much for me but I understand your concept thinking.

stathunter wrote in post #8541845
I understand where you are trying to head with these but these fall well short of much but experimental. The b&w go with the book -- but the phone kills anything -- keep experimenting but don't forget about the details and elements in the background. Also there should be a real compelling subject in a b&w photo -- these don't do much for me but I understand your concept thinking.

Ah, knew I forgot something, had to clean my desk before I could take these. I was bound to leave something I didn't notice. I think I actually prefer the color version w/ the full jar now that I look again. It's its own little world if I can just get it right.

TroyRaymond wrote in post #8541447
Captured a while ago, interested in your expertise. Thanks in advance.

| Byte size: ZERO | Content warning: NOT AN IMAGE

Troy

Troy -- I like this one. This is one of those photos that I have mentally stored in my mind.... you posted this a while back and explained how you captured it with the extension pole system (sorry I don't remember your product name).
I like the creative angle -- great use of creativity -- this is definitely an angle that you don't typically see. The photo has a lot of character and the processing is good. Love the rust in the windmill -- and the colors here (sky, field & windmill blade colors)
Good placement of the windmill (rule of 3rds) it creates a great photo --
Well done Troy!

Some of Friday is still left. I've posted this before but is this a keeper or not? A fairly deep crop.

JulieNick wrote in post #8541784
Here's mine

Julie - there is a lot to like about this shot - the colors - the motion with the blowing article of clothing. The nurturing of the belly - it works well. The location is excellent - it really is a good photo......... now for the bad. It is good but there is potential to make this a great photo. First I am not thrilled with the cut off legs -- that bothers me a bit - maybe move her higher up on the hill--- maybe move down a bit and take it all in the picture..... the other questionable thing is which way she is looking -- it looks like she is looking at the camera -- because I do not see a silhouette of the face.
So really this boils down to fine details that could take this from good to great -- one other thing I would like to point out - that might help others -- is to remember to take more in when taking the photo than you need. You can always crop a photo but you can really never add more in--- so step back a bit -- take in more -- then crop in post.

she was looking at me. Well, behind me was one of her kids and he started talking to her as I pressed the shutter. It was getting chilly so we were wrapping things up and wanted to get a shot like this so things were a bit rushed. I do know what to look for the next time. If there is a next time. Thanks for the c & c

bpiper7 wrote in post #8541920
Some of Friday is still left. I've posted this before but is this a keeper or not? A fairly deep crop.

Bill--- howdy - yep there is a little left of Friday.
Yep - I knew immediately that it was a deep crop - noticed the grain. There are a few ways that I myself rank photos -- I am typically shooting for a bride/client etc and ask myself is this photo worth the money that the client paid me? Is this photo a stand alone example of my work and will someone pay my fees based on this photo as an example....and my final rank of my photo is do I like this and is this photo an example of my skill as a photographer - or heck do I just plain like it.
My question to you is this an example of your skill as a photographer? Will clients hire you based on this photo? Do you like it? I would have to say that this photo would not fall in as a keeper or one that you can use as a stand alone photo to be that example of your skill as a photographer. Without the bird this photo would be without question one to toss.
Keep shooting.

This is awesome. Can you share with me how I could have improved this shot? If there is enough time left.

stathunter wrote in post #8541695
Jay - I totally understand the concept here but it is really not that gripping. Maybe a more interesting subject - or something a bit "more" funny.....than it might have more legs to run with.
So unfortunately I have to vote Nay.

Fair Enough...

Thanks for taking the time.

Well everyone........it has been a pleasure viewing and hopefully assisting with creative growth.
I am finished packing my gear bag and all my batteries are charged-- I am traveling early in the am for a wedding - then covering a news event -- so will be shooting tons this weekend. I suggest that everyone get out and take tons of photos also....even if they are only of your mailbox...get out and shoot!
Have a great weekend!
Scott

Stephanie- give me a sec and I will give you a quick critique.

stathunter wrote in post #8541975
Bill--- howdy - yep there is a little left of Friday.
Yep - I knew immediately that it was a deep crop - noticed the grain. There are a few ways that I myself rank photos -- I am typically shooting for a bride/client etc and ask myself is this photo worth the money that the client paid me? Is this photo a stand alone example of my work and will someone pay my fees based on this photo as an example....and my final rank of my photo is do I like this and is this photo an example of my skill as a photographer - or heck do I just plain like it.
My question to you is this an example of your skill as a photographer? Will clients hire you based on this photo? Do you like it? I would have to say that this photo would not fall in as a keeper or one that you can use as a stand alone photo to be that example of your skill as a photographer. Without the bird this photo would be without question one to toss.
Keep shooting.

I DO "just plain like it". But I was wondering if I was alone.

The reason I cropped like I did was to get the bird in relation to the pier and try to make a blah shot salvageable.

I needed to get the shot right before the PP.

Thanks for taking the time. And thanks for the truth you offered. This is a great thread.

CoquetteRN wrote in post #8542003
This is awesome. Can you share with me how I could have improved this shot? If there is enough time left.

Steph- I am a dog person and take a lot of my doberman -- dogs/animals are tough - they don't always stay where we want them. But I like the concept - but think you might have gone for an entire head or half of the head-- in looking at cropping this to half a head - the problem is that the head is tilted just a little and it won't balance correctly -- the other factor here with this particular shot is that there is only half of the eye lit-- the other half is shadowed. I would also remove the hair or eye stuff so it does not distract from the photo......... in my opinion these are all minor details but they make or break a photo.

Well gang - that is it for me -- glad to help. Maybe next Friday-- no promises yet.