Smoking!

Hi all,

Hoping you all could grill me on anything you dislike about this image.
Be super hard on me, I wouldn't be offended by anything if it's a genuine
peice of critique. I would appreciate it a whole lot actually.

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This looks somewhat like a cell phone pic, there is nothing really in focus and the color doesn't do anything for me...

I could like the composition but it needs to have a point to draw the attention and start the story in the viewer's mind - for me, I'd like to see the mirror image in focus and be able to read the expression on her face.

Lots of noise, nothing in focus, white balance issues, glare spot blocking the reflection face. Not sure what the intent was behind the image other than it being just a candid snapshot.

argyle wrote in post #11473317
Lots of noise, nothing in focus, white balance issues, glare spot blocking the reflection face. Not sure what the intent was behind the image other than it being just a candid snapshot.

Sorry to say above in a nutshell..

Yeah, lots of noise. Personally I don't mind, people I've shown the actual physical print don't mind but you internet folk all seem to dislike it haha. Which is fair enough, each to their own. To be honest with the gear I own I was lucky to even be able to physically create images in that situation but that's not an excuse :P

I could show you a similair photo with her in focus, she is actually in focus it's just motion blur but I do have one without it. To be honest I hate it ahah, to static, to boring, lacks any feeling. Which was actually what other photographers I know thought too. Big taste difference between the people I know, and my teachers compared to you helpful bunch at POTN.

White balance issues, fair enough. It could potentially use some cooling down and general more accurate white balance but I mean I'm already breaking every other rule ahah.

That glare spot is smoke by the way To put it in context it was displayed as part of a youth culture project, so I guess you could say that is the intent.

Thanks everyone, interesting hearing what you have to say. If anyone else wants to add that would also be grand.

CallumPhoto wrote in post #11473374
Yeah, lots of noise. Personally I don't mind, people I've shown the actual physical print don't mind but you internet folk all seem to dislike it haha. Which is fair enough, each to their own. To be honest with the gear I own I was lucky to even be able to physically create images in that situation but that's not an excuse :P

I could show you a similair photo with her in focus, she is actually in focus it's just motion blur but I do have one without it. To be honest I hate it ahah, to static, to boring, lacks any feeling. Which was actually what other photographers I know thought too. Big taste difference between the people I know, and my teachers compared to you helpful bunch at POTN.

White balance issues, fair enough. It could potentially use some cooling down and general more accurate white balance but I mean I'm already breaking every other rule ahah.

That glare spot is smoke by the way To put it in context it was displayed as part of a youth culture project, so I guess you could say that is the intent.

Thanks everyone, interesting hearing what you have to say. If anyone else wants to add that would also be grand.

Sometimes, that's best to explain up front...tells the reviewers what the purpose was behind the shot...this will usually be taken into account and could alter reviewer's mindset when doing a critique.

argyle wrote in post #11473417
Sometimes, that's best to explain up front...tells the reviewers what the purpose was behind the shot...this will usually be taken into account and could alter reviewer's mindset when doing a critique.

Yeah, fair point. I just feel even better when my photos are well received without me having to say a word, I really like to hear what people think without anything altering their perception. Out of curiousity in this case does it change your opinion?

I think this would have worked better if she would have been smoking crack

CallumPhoto wrote in post #11473374
people I've shown the actual physical print don't mind but you internet folk all seem to dislike it haha.....

I think you need to keep in mind that perhaps some people may not want to tell face to face what they really feel about a print, but you asked us for an honest evaluation. You got one.

The noise and OOF is not as distracting as the composition. The joint of the 2 walls split the photo in half and nothing ties it back together. The way she is holding the cigarette also looks posed and not natural.
No amount of explanation or commentary is going to make this better or worse - I agree with your comment in this regard. In fact if it needs to be "put in context" as an image, the image has failed if it was to serve a message.
Kudos for not attempting to make this out as "good art" because it might be a "bad photo"...and it is not that bad.
BTW - Agree with bcd01 but I am sure this has occurred to you.

It does not do anything for me

Well I have no idea why you want people to beat you over the head this image is fantastic as is. I personally love it and I'm getting pretty picky these days. The use of motion works really well, the print tone is excellent, and the mirror adds reflection on more than one level.

I would like to say something concerning a trend I see a lot. This is a one up image. There will never be another expression like it. I say this because I think photographers in general dismiss a lot of images wholesale as if there is no value whatsoever. I am of the school that says let's have another look. This image has a lot of charm and character. Very original. I would buy a print for my collection.

bcd01 wrote in post #11476774
I think you need to keep in mind that perhaps some people may not want to tell face to face what they really feel about a print, but you asked us for an honest evaluation. You got one.

These are my university teachers who have ripped me a new one on several occasions, but yeah if it was anyone else I wouldn't even listen to what they have to say ahah. Because I've tested my friends and family with bad photos and they say they like them even though they are very average

My teachers rated that photo as 3/4 for impact, 3/4 technical (obviously they understand it's okay to break rules), that's at the standard of a first year student. What they did say was it's not original enough, if I do something like it again just really try to put my own stamp on it.

jetcode wrote in post #11477247
Well I have no idea why you want people to beat you over the head this image is fantastic as is. I personally love it and I'm getting pretty picky these days. The use of motion works really well, the print tone is excellent, and the mirror adds reflection on more than one level.

I would like to say something concerning a trend I see a lot. This is a one up image. There will never be another expression like it. I say this because I think photographers in general dismiss a lot of images wholesale as if there is no value whatsoever. I am of the school that says let's have another look. This image has a lot of charm and character. Very original. I would buy a print for my collection.

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Hey thanks for the kind words! I'm glad you liked it, you're welcome to buy to print if you'd really like. Are you a teacher at a school or is it a figure of speech? My guess is the later.

um..i'm sorry to say but i don't like anything about this image...the lighting...the composition...everythi​ng is off...there is no focus...no clear subject or point...nothing is emphasized...no mood expressed... and i don't like how she's holding the cigarette or what she's wearing...just nothing of interest...i'm sorry. :/

i like smoking shots tho...i just like them to tell a story or capture a mood...i like the graceful lines of the hand holding the cigarette and a long neck...what were you going for?