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

I was trying to show how in the world of discovery people are still deep into their phones. I also added a little bit of tilt to the photo to show how the world is tilting to raise those phone dwellers above those into discovery and the water is to show how we bottle up our society into easy packages but the ticket booth is closed so unless you are in the know you are already too late. Obligatory video camera cause you know, big brother is watching.

But seriously I did try to wait out the guy with the phone but he just had to get a high score or something and wasnt moving.

Brutal Friday: let'er rip Scott (and I've agreed with all of your comments so far except for my previous image LOL)

stathunter wrote in post #16844076
Thanks Dog - I will try to be more brutal......let me start with yours!

While this pic is a major event with someone that I am guessing I should know, but I dont, the pic is ok but not one I could see being used in news or mkting for the event. I just did a major event for the marketing dept of a large concert venue. I shot similar ones to this but out of the thousands of shots I had to pick a few they could immediately send for news distribution etc. If I this was my shot I would toss. The post is not right, hand position is off - if she was holding the mic with both hands and not pushing out this may work. But I would still consider this a C+/- shot. Not the "one" shot.

So, keep shooting and take more killer pics. Just show us that "one". Trust me I take thousands at an event and show them the top 10 killer shots and then a hundred or so more for archiving etc.

Your analysis is well made, this pics is far from "the one", everybody can get hundreds shot like that during an event.
And You're still very kind
I'm very impress by the numbers of pics you should comment, your schedule may be very tight some time

let's hear it about this one too

stathunter wrote in post #16844081
LOL! I read your "Brain" and my dyslexia translated it to Brian.....your def more of a Brian than a Brain. lol

You sure? Im not the one with "dyslexia".....

stathunter wrote in post #16843733
Hey Simon - welcome to the group my friend. I am glad you like this shot, honestly I do not see anything in it. This obviously means more to you than me. I like to judge a photo based on a client perspective or enjoyment. I shot for clients so look at it based on can I justify someone paying me for it.....yes or no. I also shoot projects for myself and want something I have not viewed before or something different....if it gives me enjoyment great....but I always try to judge all my work based on if I can sell it to a client.

This photo is more of a snapshot and not much more. Keep shooting!

Thanks a lot for your feedback, I completely get what you are saying. It often takes me a few glances at a shot before I can really see it's flaws.

How about this one, perhaps a bit more interesting.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/nas2​8R

planet5D wrote in post #16844563
Brutal Friday: let'er rip Scott (and I've agreed with all of your comments so far except for my previous image LOL)

Hey 5D - this one is kinda cool. Obviously not something you intended on capturing but I think it is different and cool in an artsy way. It obviously would not work in news/editorial, since artsy is not what they want. But I do think this is a cool capture. Definitely an image that was not intended but I do think this is a keeper and may even be something that someone would purchase for a print.

mikexlt wrote in post #16845071
let's hear it about this one too

Hey Mike!

I think I like this one. There are a few things that I may clean up a bit like the log in the bottom right and maybe some of the branches.(the branches are a bit distracting and take away from the pic) If you clean it up and edit it a bit I think this may be something that you could sell as a print. I personally like this and think it really could be great with some creative editing.

Thanks for sharing!
Scott

salmonidae wrote in post #16849753
Thanks a lot for your feedback, I completely get what you are saying. It often takes me a few glances at a shot before I can really see it's flaws.

How about this one, perhaps a bit more interesting.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/nas2​8R One Canada Square [p] by jazzersi, on Flickr

Hey Simon - I do think this pic is really similar feedback to the other. More of a starter type of photograph that if it was shot in landscape may be something with some creative editing could potentially be a print that someone would buy, but I think it is a stretch.

Keep shooting - dont be afraid to take a lot of shots, experiment (as you are doing) the more comfortable with the camera that you become the better your shots and portraits will become. Seriously - just shoot, make mistakes, refine what you are doing and take it to the next level.

stathunter wrote in post #16850135
Hey Simon - I do think this pic is really similar feedback to the other. More of a starter type of photograph that if it was shot in landscape may be something with some creative editing could potentially be a print that someone would buy, but I think it is a stretch.

Keep shooting - dont be afraid to take a lot of shots, experiment (as you are doing) the more comfortable with the camera that you become the better your shots and portraits will become. Seriously - just shoot, make mistakes, refine what you are doing and take it to the next level.

Thanks again. I think maybe I just struggle to know what actually a makes a good photograph! Thanks, am going to carry on ha!

Incidentally there is a landscape shot similar to the one I posted:

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/natM​jL

stathunter wrote in post #16850080
Hey 5D - this one is kinda cool. Obviously not something you intended on capturing but I think it is different and cool in an artsy way. It obviously would not work in news/editorial, since artsy is not what they want. But I do think this is a cool capture. Definitely an image that was not intended but I do think this is a keeper and may even be something that someone would purchase for a print.

Thanks Scott

While you may think of it as an accident, the effect was entirely intentional by the lighting crew at the concert - in fact, I have a very similar image in white, orange, green, and purple light. So they did it multiple times during the show and I specifically targeted this cropping from my vantage point every time.

Just for reference, the band was BritFloyd and they're very unique in that they allow all kinds of cameras in their shows. Most venues/bands ban any kind of "professional" cameras but BritFloyd allows anything except flash and video with a light.

It gave me the opportunity to shoot something I've never been able to shoot before - a large professional show in a massive auditorium. After the show, they even greet the audience in the lobby of the venue and I specifically went there to thank them for allowing photography (everyone else wanted autographs etc)... I wanted them to really know how much I appreciated the opportunity.

There are some of my favorite shots here on smugmug including several different color clones of this one

planet5D wrote in post #16851137
It gave me the opportunity to shoot something I've never been able to shoot before - a large professional show in a massive auditorium. After the show, they even greet the audience in the lobby of the venue and I specifically went there to thank them for allowing photography (everyone else wanted autographs etc)... I wanted them to really know how much I appreciated the opportunity.

And you took nice advantage of the opportunity. Must have been a blast. Good work.

bpiper7 wrote in post #16852579
And you took nice advantage of the opportunity. Must have been a blast. Good work.

Thank you so much for your kind words - it was a blast. Of course it helped that I went there because of the music and loved the show in the first place.

I did have a seat in the first row of the mezzanine so I had a fantastic view from above to begin with. Plus, I talked to the ushers and they let me go down to the side of the stage for a bit (as long as I didn't get in front of the other patrons) so that's why some shots are closer.

This looks like a great thread. Would like some critique also. Thank you in advance. These are from my recent vacation.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/ngJY​aN

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/ngRh​rA

pyrospawn wrote in post #16852630
This looks like a great thread. Would like some critique also. Thank you in advance. These are from my recent vacation.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/ngJY​aN Eiffel Tower by pyrospawn, on Flickr

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/ngRh​rA
The shoemaker by pyrospawn, on Flickr

Hey Pyro!

I think they are both good shots. I personally like the second shot best - would be a great shot for a human interest story. I like the B&W, works well with both. I think both shots are interesting and sharp and the b&w complements them well. I was interest in what you used and clicked on your flickr, and am impressed with the Sony. I never have shot with a Sony and you use it well!

I took a quick look at your flickr pics. Well rounded work. My two cents to you would be since you have an understanding of light etc now start shooting creative shots. You have some good work but I think it is similar to what is out there, common shots etc. Since you have a "good eye" for photography now use the creative side of your brain and push the limits on creativity. Make mistakes, but be creative - try new ways, angles - just push the limits and experiment further, deeper.

All the best!
Scott