Luminous Landscape Forum
The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: grouchomarx on October 18, 2010, 07:04:51 pm
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"Alcoholbiography I"
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/S23uk6VWxSI/AAAAAAABjU4/NMVoGjobFPU/s600/F1040011.JPG)
"My Last HIE"
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/S23vN0GrYuI/AAAAAAABjiQ/vF90O7h2A0g/s600/F1000028.JPG)
"Porto, Portugal (2010)"
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TLo0MES3FBI/AAAAAAACudM/kiGwYET3KGA/s600/DSCF3002-b.jpg)
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Well, IMO, all three are excellent photos. I particularly like the man whom you have titled "alcohol biography". But despite the title he appears to be acting like a mime. He is expressive but natural and his body movement and position has a rhythm inkeeping with the out of focus background and path.
JMR
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Groucho, I'm with John. I'm not too sure what you were trying to do with #2. From the looks of it it's a tiny crop from part of a much larger file. The noise overwhelms it. I think I understand what you were trying to do in #3, but I don't think it quite came off. To me there's too much heaviness in the lower diagonal. The silhouettes are good, but they're overwhelmed by the dock. On the other hand, I can see arguments on the other side of that coin. As usual, the photographer gets to make the final decision.
But #1 is excellent, and, as John said, the guy looks like a mime. His dress is unusual, but possibly not for the location where you made the shot. Good work!
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The first one's very good (reasons already mentioned); the third one's not bad. Trash the second.
Mike.
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The first one's very good (reasons already mentioned); the third one's not bad. Trash the second.
Mike.
I agree with that. The first one reminds me of a B&W image that hangs in a pub in Glasgow. It is the Strathduie bar. The image is of a tramp walking towards the photographer with fish and chips in his hand and the hand is outstretched towards the photographer. It looks as if it was taken in the 60's and is iconic of Glasgow. A truly wonderful image. This kind of thing isn't easy to get and is worthwhile.
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Yes, 'alco' stands in a class of his own, but with friends we can't see.
Rob C
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Thanks for your comments and advice.
I understand what you say about the 2nd picture. I have a bias because I know the city, the river, the bridge and the bridge builder... I make no pretension being a photographer... (as it's easy to see...). I just like to take pictures, that´s all.
Here's another one:
"Those were the days"
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/S23uskFSmuI/AAAAAAACvDI/uVvKkEKWQLc/s600/F1050004.JPG)
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Yep what the others said. You have made an important point about your own memory and experience of a place getting in the way of examining what the image actually says. The viewer only has the dots of ink or pixels from which to respond.
I just thought I would have a play and see what feel it would have if the background was desaturated. I did this not to make an 'improvement' but just to explore what the feeling would be if there were no surrounding colour distractions and the man was more prominent. I kept his colour, and the red on his vest and jacket seem quite interesting.. His flesh tones bring him to life more than a straight black and white and support his gestures.... just an experiment, so than you for this opportunity.
Julie
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thanks jule for the time you took to work on my picture.
:-)
regards from sunny porto, portugal
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"Cool and Groovy"
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/S23uhc0Vs1I/AAAAAAABjTQ/XZFdli1jghU/s600/F1040004.JPG)
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Another good shot, Groucho. These faces are fabulous.
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"Kids at Favela Rocinha, Brazil (1 of 2)"
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/S23uuScnXAI/AAAAAAABjWQ/tAJznmbQ7rg/s600/F1050007.JPG)
"Kids at Favela Rocinha, Brazil (2 of 2)"
(http://lh6.ggpht.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/S23utqVCJWI/AAAAAAABjWE/_dPj6k9LLa8/s600/F1050006.JPG)
Rocinha is the largest favela in Rio de Janeiro. It has a estimated population of 250,000. It is located in Rio's South Zone, and it is built on a steep hillside overlooking the city, just one kilometre from the beach.
(from: Wikipedia)
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Cute kids, Groucho. But pictures of cute kids always are just that: cute. After looking at your other two pictures of people I have a feeling you're after more than cuteness. If you're not familiar with Helen Levitt, take a look at one or two of her books. She made some astonishingly meaningful kid pictures. One of my all-time favorites is at http://masters-of-photography.com/L/levitt/levitt_masks_full.html
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(...) I have a feeling you're after more than cuteness. (...)
Exactly. It's very difficult and I haven't enough ability to do it. But I have enough fun trying it...
As Clint Eastwood put it... A man's got to know his limitations.
:-)
And thanks for the reference to Helen Levitt. I'll take a look. Also if you have some seminal book in mind, specially in street photography, please let me (us) know.
Thanks,
Regards from sunny porto, portugal
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Exactly. It's very difficult and I don't have enough ability to do it. But I have enough fun trying it...
Who says you don't have enough ability to do it? I don't agree. Two of the pictures on this thread show plenty of ability. Neither is the usual tourist shot we see far too often on here. You're really trying. That's what's important... Almost as important as continuing to try.
As Clint Eastwood put it... A man's got to know his limitations.
Dirty Harry's idea that a man's got to know his limitations never did make my day. Accepting limitations is preemptive surrender.
And thanks for the reference to Helen Levitt. I'll take a look. Also if you have some seminal book in mind, specially in street photography, please let me (us) know.
Helen Levitt published several books. You can find a list of them on the web. Better yet, go to Amazon and punch in "Helen Levitt." For a general annotated bibliography check http://www.hawphoto.org/Bibliography/Bibliography.html. I did that one for a photography club I chair during winters in Florida. For street, off the top of my head, I'd check Henri Cartier-Bresson, Elliott Erwitt, Robert Frank, Garry Winogrand, and Lee Friedlander. There are many, many more. My favorite book on street photograph is Bystander: A History of Street Photography. I've never been a big fan of Joel Meyerowitz's work, but there's nothing else out there that comes close to that book for the history and development of street.
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(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TMWQKc32yoI/AAAAAAACwFc/pCAMJrO0DZM/s600/IMG_0313.JPG)
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Okay, Groucho. Now you're back on track. Keep going that way.
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Thanks for your advice.
I've decided to start a blog... ??? ??? ;D
http://portostreetshooting.blogspot.com/ (http://portostreetshooting.blogspot.com/)
the name says it all...
regards,
grouchomarx
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a recent picture. I just had the time to take the camera out of the bag and shoot.
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TM6xUy0xi0I/AAAAAAACyuU/7y9vc7SisNw/s600/IMG_0662b.jpg)
I like the theme but i'm not quite satisfied...what do you think?
tnx
grouchomarx
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The first photo and the "cool and groovy" photo are excellent IMO.
Jack
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It looks like you have been stalking her. :) ;)
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I like the theme but i'm not quite satisfied...what do you think?
grouchomarx
I like the theme too. But(t)...
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Well, I'm impressed with the "people shots", they are very good storytelling images.
The image of the man with a beard is quite unique. It makes me wonder why his hands are spread, or what he might be trying to say. You've cropped it pretty tight - I might have included a bit more of his legs - this is sometimes called a "three-quarter shot."
I also like your use of depth of field, with the subject sharp and background out of focus. This gives the viewer fewer distractions, and more attention to your subject.
I also feel that you nailed the exposure. Many times this kind of shot is over-compensated for bright elements in the background, leaving the subject under-exposed.
The bridge shot is a very pleasant snapshot, but has a number of problems. Contrast is very flat, and overall the image is quite cluttered. At the least, I would crop the foreground, as the water doesn't really add much to the impact.
The image "Porto" is very good - the two silhouetted figures, and their angled shadows, are striking, to say the least. Some might say you cropped too close to their heads, but I think the crop creates some interesting energy and tension in composition. It works.
David Saffir
GuruShots Photo Critique (http://www.gurushots.com)
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"And Now for Something Completely Different"
(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TNcdbwswOVI/AAAAAAAC0IE/JbzH15pypNA/s600/IMG_1161.JPG)
grouchomarx
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now THAT'S COOL!
great composition, color, imagination - nailed it!
David Saffir
GuruShots Photo Critique (http://www.gurushots.com)
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Woman in Red.
Which one? 1st, 2nd, none?
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TOe9FNBlHHI/AAAAAAAC158/_JXAlruimRE/s500/IMG_1398.JPG)
or
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ZGmzcXMSIJI/TOe9Fgz3CJI/AAAAAAAC2bE/STR31bLVO7Q/s600/IMG_1399.JPG)
thanks
grouchomarx