Luminous Landscape Forum
The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: cmi on November 09, 2009, 06:43:24 am
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Shot this summer...
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Christian,
I like it. Wonder if a ~ square crop would bring out the two strong diagonals better. Something like this?
[attachment=17783:IMG_6672.JPG]
Maybe the boy's legs looked chopped...
Dave
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Christian,
I like it. Wonder if a ~ square crop would bring out the two strong diagonals better. Something like this?
[attachment=17783:IMG_6672.JPG]
Maybe the boy's legs looked chopped...
Dave
Dave, I went to your website - wonderful thumbnails in galleries but whenever I clicked on one I got "error on page" message and dark screen.
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Dave, I went to your website - wonderful thumbnails in galleries but whenever I clicked on one I got "error on page" message and dark screen.
I have no problems on the site ... it appears to use Flash ... are you sure you have the latest Flash plugin installed?
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It's an amusing shot. I like how the boy is looking on with boredom (at least it seems so) while the musician is clearly into the music. Photographically, I would've tried to get some separation between the musician's head and the AC unit in the background. Otherwise, it's a nice shot.
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Christian,
I like it. Wonder if a ~ square crop would bring out the two strong diagonals better. Something like this?
Maybe the boy's legs looked chopped...
Dave
Dave, You're kidding, of course... You are, aren't you?
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Dave, I went to your website - wonderful thumbnails in galleries but whenever I clicked on one I got "error on page" message and dark screen.
Thanks for the info. The gallery is based on Michael J Jackson's Shadowbox, written in javascript and CSS. I did have trouble with older versions of IE, but the problem was that the image would appear on a white background instead of the shadowbox working like it should. Never heard before of an error like this before. Can you let me know what browser / version you are using?
Dave, You're kidding, of course... You are, aren't you?
Well, yes and no. Yes in that I thought of you when I was considering the crop and said to myself, "Russ is going to hate this, but let's try it anyway." No in that I think the crop might bring out the emotions a little more. I have to say I did it very roughly and quickly this morning, without too much thought. I like the original better because I think the crop actually takes away from the diagonals, contrary to what I said this morning before coffee...
I'd keep my scissors in their holster on this one.
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Never heard before of an error like this before. Can you let me know what browser / version you are using?
I just installed the latest Java update. Today I get the error message on clicking most thumnails, but it does show me some images.
I am using IE8 on Vista 64. Jeremy suggests I don't have latest Flash. Could be but I don't know how to check.
[attachment=17793:Davechew.jpg]
[attachment=17794:Davechew2.jpg]
Tony
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Tony,
Thank you. I'll send you a private mail so I don't hijack this thread.
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Christian, I was so shocked by Dave's comment and suggestion that I forgot to tell you I like it very much. Good shooting!
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When I was viewing this image on my laptop tonight, whilst adjusting the angle of the screen, the background in the image darkened, and it actually improved the image. I rocked the screen back and forwards changing the angle of viewing and the darkened background seems to really bring the image to life. It seemed to bring out the glow of the musician and really make the little boy more prominent. The distracting blue and rectangle became less prominent when the characters came to life more.
Perhaps it may be worth a try to darken the background to see if you can emulate what I saw.
Julie
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Christian, I was so shocked by Dave's comment and suggestion that I forgot to tell you I like it very much. Good shooting!
I'm going back into my hole to fix my d$%& website.
I think Russ is right. It is very good.
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Dave, Jason, Russ, Jule,
thank you all for your helpful comments!
Dave, I instantly liked your crop, I think too it focuses more on the emotions of these both. I could have zoomed in more. I dont know if I actually crop it to your suggestion - I already cropped a bit and Im not sure if that leaves enough for printing. But I'll keep the suggestion in mind, thank you very much.
Jason, yes it was also amusing for me! Not so much the boy alone, but he pretty much reflected the overal mood of the people around at this point. This black guy along with his companions tried really hard to lift the spirit but at least in this moment it had little effect. The whole atmosphere on this day was a bit like this. I agree I could have improved on the separation of his head.
Jule, thanks for the remark. You are right it gets improved by making the darks more deep. It was actually pretty harsh sunlight and I tried to counter that with a bit of negative contrast. Now looking at it with fresh eyes, it seems I overdone it.
And Russ, glad you like it! I wondered what you would say
And a word on cropping: In the last months I came to think about Russ preference for uncropped images, and what he said, that the first image is often the best. So in other words, to respect the first try. Well what can I say, its actually right. It's often the first image, and well, a crop maybe improves an image, but the decision at shooting time is of course more important...
Christian
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And a word on cropping: In the last months I came to think about Russ preference for uncropped images, and what he said, that the first image is often the best. So in other words, to respect the first try. Well what can I say, its actually right. It's often the first image, and well, a crop maybe improves an image, but the decision at shooting time is of course more important...
As a frequent advocate of cropping (sometimes I do it just to annoy Russ), I agree with you, but I would stress the word "often."
I would guess that I actually crop less than 1% of my images, but there are times when I realize that I missed the real picture at shooting time. When that is the case, I have no qualms at all about cropping. But I think anyone who crops more than, say, 5% of his or her shots needs to pay more attention to what's in the viewfinder.
Eric
P.S. I like your photo, and the cropped version does indeed intensify the emotions, but then the chopped off legs are a problem. I would definitely try Julie's suggestion to darken the background.
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As a frequent advocate of cropping (sometimes I do it just to annoy Russ), I agree with you, but I would stress the word "often."
I would guess that I actually crop less than 1% of my images, but there are times when I realize that I missed the real picture at shooting time. When that is the case, I have no qualms at all about cropping. But I think anyone who crops more than, say, 5% of his or her shots needs to pay more attention to what's in the viewfinder.
Eric
P.S. I like your photo, and the cropped version does indeed intensify the emotions, but then the chopped off legs are a problem. I would definitely try Julie's suggestion to darken the background.
Glad you like the image too, Eric. I actually did try Julie's suggestion, maybe I was not clear enough. Here is the new one.
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I like the new darker version. I might be tempted to clone out the thing on the wall (A/C unit? Picture?) behind the musician's head, but that's not really necessary. And to me the child just looks enchanted by the musician, not bored at all. He's too engrossed to smile.
Eric
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I like the new darker version. I might be tempted to clone out the thing on the wall (A/C unit? Picture?) behind the musician's head, but that's not really necessary. And to me the child just looks enchanted by the musician, not bored at all. He's too engrossed to smile.
Eric
Its a very small cellar window. Yes, cloning out would improve it, but I don't bother at the moment. It's not printed yet, maybe when I print it I will.
Your interpretation of the childs emotions makes sense for me. I personally think he is partly fascinated and engrossed, but also partly in a bad mood. So he listened and got fascinated, engrossed but it also makes him sad, and kinda earnest. But of course I cannot really know Its my interpretation.
Christian
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Its a very small cellar window. Yes, cloning out would improve it, but I don't bother at the moment. It's not printed yet, maybe when I print it I will.
Your interpretation of the childs emotions makes sense for me. I personally think he is partly fascinated and engrossed, but also partly in a bad mood. So he listened and got fascinated, engrossed but it also makes him sad, and kinda earnest. But of course I cannot really know Its my interpretation.
Christian
That's funny. When I first saw the image I imagined this boy just had been told by his parents that he couldn't have that ice cream/candy bar/puppy/whatever. He has a temper tantrum, storms away 20 feet and runs into this musician. Christian captures the scene.
That's why I like this image; I read a whole story even though I have no idea if that's really what happened.
Dave
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That's funny. When I first saw the image I imagined this boy just had been told by his parents that he couldn't have that ice cream/candy bar/puppy/whatever. He has a temper tantrum, storms away 20 feet and runs into this musician. Christian captures the scene.
That's why I like this image; I read a whole story even though I have no idea if that's really what happened.
Dave
Dave, Exactly! That's what makes a good street shot.
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Right on! It lends itself to many different stories, and that keeps it interesting.
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Glad you like the image too, Eric. I actually did try Julie's suggestion, maybe I was not clear enough. Here is the new one.
I'm glad the darker background worked. If it were not for readjusting my laptop screen and noticing colour variations, I would not have thought of it!
Julie
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Here two more from this day I found "interesting". Nothing special, partly failed. But after having this nice discussion with you all I thought I just show them just for fun
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I'm glad the darker background worked. If it were not for readjusting my laptop screen and noticing colour variations, I would not have thought of it!
Julie
Hehe, glad you noticed
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I like the street musician shot because I had an immediate interpretation when I first saw it and the more I looked at it the more that interpretation changed; I suppose that's what makes any picture dynamic and worth coming back to....it's very good work Christian.
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Thank you Ishmael.
Christian