Luminous Landscape Forum
The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: RSL on September 26, 2012, 09:07:40 pm
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What did the front side of the sign say?
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The random framing and severing of the foot in the first submission I find annoyingly sloppy.
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Yes, I know, Walter. You've already said you "construct" your pictures. It's a different process altogether.
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But I also see and admire work from folk who do not construct their pictures which impresses. Must be down to mental agility and reflexes as is also the case in much of my own work.
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Yes, I could see that in the studio shot of the obese model.
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I think the framing is pretty much bang on, given always that Russ doesn't get to move people or objects around, according the rules of the game he plays.
The Walk sign is fully in the frame, as it absolutely must be. The person out of frame to the right is out of frame, just as that person must be. Thus, the right edge is exactly where it needs to be, and the margin there was quite narrow. This, of course, also determines the left side of the frame. It might have been nice to place the central figure slightly left, this would have brought too much of the out of frame figure into the frame -- possibly also a fine image, but not THIS image. Also, placing the figure slightly left would mean getting closer, which would disturb the verticals:
Vertically? I think the central figure's head is fortuitously placed. I would not have minded if the foot was entirely in frame, but you'd have paid for that with lost sky. Maybe not a major crime, but then neither is the cropped foot. It aids a sense of motion, the sense of the central figure entering the frame.
It is essential to street that you take the good with the bad. If not, you're faking it. The goal is to have the important things be amongst the good, and the bad things be unimportant. Then edit away the ones that still aren't pulling their weight.
The instant caught here, with the hands just so, matters profoundly. This was well done.
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Must be down to mental agility and reflexes as is also the case in much of my own work.
Here's an idea Walter: How about posting some of your pictures that required mental agility and reflexes. I'm a lot more impressed by criticism from someone whose pictures impress me. Rob says you do fine work, and I tend to take Rob's comments at face value, but so far all I've seen is a couple motorcycle and car snapshots and a really ugly nude. Do you do other stuff?
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It might have been nice to place the central figure slightly left. . .
Good catch, Andrew. Exactly what I thought when I raised the camera, but it just wasn't possible.
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I'm a lot more impressed by criticism from someone whose pictures impress me. Do you do other stuff?
"RSL" why would I be at all concerned with what you or anybody else is impressed with?
I do lots of stuff and have done quite successfully for quite a long time. But I am not one who sees purpose in airing my works on a site such as this. I put up a couple for a giggle in 'Without Prejudice' from time to time.
I might add that it is appalling that anybody should make such a rude and insulting comment about a model in an image posted on any web forum. The image itself was not posted seeking criticism and I can assure you that the model certainly did not seek criticism.
W
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... I might add that it is appalling that anybody should make such a rude and insulting comment about a model in an image posted on any web forum. The image itself was not posted seeking criticism and I can assure you that the model certainly did not seek criticism...
And I, for one, couldn't care less... once it is posted publicly, I consider it open for public criticism. And once your model allowed you to use her photo for anything else but audition for The Biggest Loser, she opened herself for public comments too. And those aren't going to be always nice.
As for political correctness, this must be a new high (or is it low?). What, there is no more ugly/beautiful distinction, we are all suddenly equally beautiful? Ugly is new beautiful? There is no ugly anymore? Or there is, but we can not say it?
Yes, I know "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" (or, in some cases, beerholder), and I know you can always find somebody finding something beautiful, but there are also generally accepted canons of beauty for any given time and place.
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I think calling the artist obese is more factually accurate than derogatory.
This picture doesn't have the magic that I've seen in your other photos Russ.
Can I ask why you chose to keep this (or convert this) to b&w?
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But I am not one who sees purpose in airing my works on a site such as this.
Obviously, Walter. But that raises the question: why are you even on here? As near as I can tell from what I've seen, and attempting to be polite, your efforts as a photographer fall well short of exceptional. So why does "a site such as this" attract you? There are plenty of other sites out there that are not "such as this." Have you been kicked off of all of them?
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I might add that it is appalling that anybody should make such a rude and insulting comment about a model in an image posted on any web forum.
Walter, you are consistently among the rudest of regular posters here, and this is the second time I have noticed you chastising others for rudeness. I cannot help but suspect you of having a sense of humor.
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Walter's a true troll. Best ignored.
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I think the setting is lovely but the shot barely average. I understand that sometimes things don't conspire to create good composition. Keep the shot because it's worth it for a record. But as art or street itself? No, it's not very good.
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Walter's a true troll. Best ignored.
As written, could that be read as libel?
Rob C
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No, it's called free speech.
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In the USA the truth is not libel. In other countries, this is not the case.
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I'm in the USA. :D
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Interesting take: so it depends on reader opinion. Marvel of US law, then.
No wonder so many lawyers make a good living; I'd often wondered why it was such a litigious society. Shame the current times don't live up to the 50s cars, then... and to think I fell in love with American Graffiti to the extent of shedding a sentimental tear.
Oh well, live and learn - illusions are obviously made to be shattered.
Rob C
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I think the setting is lovely but the shot barely average. I understand that sometimes things don't conspire to create good composition. Keep the shot because it's worth it for a record. But as art or street itself? No, it's not very good.
You're right, Jen. From the standpoint of geometry it's almost as bad as the majority of what I see on "Documentary," but it has two things going for it: (1) There's a story there, and (2) you can't tell what the story is from the picture, so it's not as boring. But, mea culpa, it's not one of my best.
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I like it because of the inevitability of the composition. I haven't really formed an opinion on whether it's good or bad, but whichever it is, there is no important element that is not an inevitable consequence of the moment. This inevitability is, I think, an element of quality in this kind of work.
The only question is whether or not you should have pressed the shutter at all, all else is as it must be.
In this way it feels like a Joseph Conrad story, which always strike me as having that same inevitability, like a Swiss watch, there is only one way this can unfold, and it unfolds just so.
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Pressing the shutter was inevitable, Andrew. I wish I'd had more time to deal with the geometry, but I couldn't let this one get away.
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Pressing the shutter was inevitable, Andrew. I wish I'd had more time to deal with the geometry, but I couldn't let this one get away.
What would you have done if you could have frozen them in time, and moved around? If you care to talk about it, anyways, I'd like to hear your thoughts on where a better photograph would have been at, or near, this moment in time.
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Andrew, You do this kind of thing in a second or less, but there wasn't much I could have done even if the world had stopped so I could walk around the scene. If I'd moved the camera right I'd have included at least part of the body of the guy on the right, and all I wanted was his arm. But at least I'd have had time to make sure the rest of her heel was in the picture.
In the end, much as I hate to admit it, this is a situation where cropping simply is necessary. Here are two cropped versions. They improve the geometry, but even in the B&W version the woman's face is somewhat camouflaged by the car behind it.
It's just one of those things. You can't win 'em all. From the standpoint of street photography standards I shouldn't have posted it, but I still think it's interesting. Let's call it a "documentary," and let the critics tell us that no picture has narrative ability.
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In the USA the truth is not libel. In other countries, this is not the case.
Well, I've not met Walter, so I don't know if he's a dwarf or a giant, Scandinavian or otherwise, or whether he lives in a cave or under a bridge frightening passing goats. I suspect none of these, so maybe he's not a troll and it's not true.
Careful, Russ ;)
Jeremy
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this is a situation where cropping simply is necessary. Here are two cropped versions.
Russ,
The crop on the colour version makes the image sing and reveals much more inter-relationship (including the geezer sat on the bench seat). Cropped, I really like it and the clipped heel becomes an added strength rather than a detraction, for me.
Cheers,
W
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so maybe he's not a troll and it's not true.
Thank you Jeremy, you have hit the nail on the head.
Perception is a personal matter and if some want to think that being frank and forthright makes you a troll, then so be it.
Cheers,
W
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Russ,
The crop on the colour version makes the image sing and reveals much more inter-relationship (including the geezer sat on the bench seat). Cropped, I really like it and the clipped heel becomes an added strength rather than a detraction, for me.
Cheers,
W
Thanks, Walter. I'm always reluctant to crop. I always try to compose on the camera, but this time I blew it. Only problem is, it's a 12 mp from the E-P1. If it were a 36 mp from the D800 I'd be happier about the crop.
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I see no need to take a pot shot at another forum. If you want to be bitter, you can always send me an email or PM. The cropped versions do help somewhat, but I still don't see any particularly compelling story in the image.
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I'm not taking a pot shot, Jennifer. I'm saying what I always said on the site when I was on the site.
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As written, could that be read as libel?
Rob C
Haha! Too funny. Go ahead and sue me. Let's find out.
Is it even possible to libel an anonymous curmudgeon?
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back to the photo children ::)
I want to know who is he about to shake hand with and what is on the front of the sign to get that response from the other person.
Just for ideas to explore russ.