Photo Challenge #7 3/1-3/15 VOTING

**Rainer.** · 03-22-2008, 11:05 PM

I figure now is a time as any to do a little RC on these:

SarahTheGuitarist
Sarah, I (obviously) really liked your shot. Great composition and form. One thing I will say, though, is that you have some great details in the shadows that are a bit dark, and a little work in Photoshop could bring those right out.

Art
Art, it's a little bit underexposed. the building is a bit too dark, which can happen when you're shooting up against the sky. I'm not sure how you could compensate on your camera, but one thing you could do is hold the shutter halfway to get the right exposure while pointing it down or to the left, more towards the building, and then composing and shooting. Or you could just brighten it up post. As far as composition, the way that the building leaves a gap on the left side of the frame makes the composition a bit tense, so I would have probably cropped that, and then maybe have had to move a few feet to the left at shooting to compensate for the framing of the shot to have the building take up two thirds of the frame, vertically

JayCarrfan
Andrew, first thing that got me about this shot was that it wasn't straight. I have rotated it post shooting to get the horizontal lines to be truly horizontal. Next, there's quite a bit of camera shake. Set the camera down on something to keep it completely still. Without a flash, you're going to get motion blur when you're holding the camera in low light.

airsoft sniper
I think the question I'd have to ask here is, "What makes this interesting?" I think moving around more and exploring all the options you had for perspective might have allow you to find a much more interesting angle to shoot in, and really be unique perhaps about the interaction of the bars and the lumber. Overall, though, Home Depot doesn't seem like an incredibly interesting place to take pictures. It's also a bit overexposed (highlights are blown out), and could use some white-balance adjustment.

hapa_angel
Rach, form and composition here are nice, IMO. I also thought the lighting and balance were excellent, the colors blended, and the exposure was good. I don't know how you would have overcome this, though, But in the overall image, I think the things behind are rather distracting, and I also might have cropped out the windows in the corner. perhaps moving a few feet to the left to take out the greenery and have the entire back scene be dominated by the bricks would have led to a simpler, thus stronger, composition. The curve from the upper right really leads the eye effectively through the shot, though.

Jump5fan
Again, what makes this shot interesting? It seems like an average shot of a brick building. I would say that you should find a new perspective, and see how you could have made the building look as it usually isn't seen, as it does seem to be a rather ordinary building. And as it is, the pole is more of a distracting element, since it takes the image, and cuts it in an awkward area. The eye isn't really being led anywhere, and it's just a rather hectic image. Also, your sky is far too bright, and it's a bit overexposed in general.

***Art*** · 03-22-2008, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainer.

I figure now is a time as any to do a little RC on these:

Art
Art, it's a little bit underexposed. the building is a bit too dark, which can happen when you're shooting up against the sky. I'm not sure how you could compensate on your camera, but one thing you could do is hold the shutter halfway to get the right exposure while pointing it down or to the left, more towards the building, and then composing and shooting. Or you could just brighten it up post. As far as composition, the way that the building leaves a gap on the left side of the frame makes the composition a bit tense, so I would have probably cropped that, and then maybe have had to move a few feet to the left at shooting to compensate for the framing of the shot to have the building take up two thirds of the frame, vertically

Thanks, Jon! I am just getting into doing post work on my photos, and I actually did some to get that picture to where it was. It was a horrible original, unfortunately, which I actually snapped from the driver's seat while on my way out. :/ Thanks again.

ApparentlyNothing · 03-22-2008, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainer.

I figure now is a time as any to do a little RC on these:

SarahTheGuitarist
Sarah, I (obviously) really liked your shot. Great composition and form. One thing I will say, though, is that you have some great details in the shadows that are a bit dark, and a little work in Photoshop could bring those right out.

Art
Art, it's a little bit underexposed. the building is a bit too dark, which can happen when you're shooting up against the sky. I'm not sure how you could compensate on your camera, but one thing you could do is hold the shutter halfway to get the right exposure while pointing it down or to the left, more towards the building, and then composing and shooting. Or you could just brighten it up post. As far as composition, the way that the building leaves a gap on the left side of the frame makes the composition a bit tense, so I would have probably cropped that, and then maybe have had to move a few feet to the left at shooting to compensate for the framing of the shot to have the building take up two thirds of the frame, vertically

JayCarrfan
Andrew, first thing that got me about this shot was that it wasn't straight. I have rotated it post shooting to get the horizontal lines to be truly horizontal. Next, there's quite a bit of camera shake. Set the camera down on something to keep it completely still. Without a flash, you're going to get motion blur when you're holding the camera in low light.

airsoft sniper
I think the question I'd have to ask here is, "What makes this interesting?" I think moving around more and exploring all the options you had for perspective might have allow you to find a much more interesting angle to shoot in, and really be unique perhaps about the interaction of the bars and the lumber. Overall, though, Home Depot doesn't seem like an incredibly interesting place to take pictures. It's also a bit overexposed (highlights are blown out), and could use some white-balance adjustment.

hapa_angel
Rach, form and composition here are nice, IMO. I also thought the lighting and balance were excellent, the colors blended, and the exposure was good. I don't know how you would have overcome this, though, But in the overall image, I think the things behind are rather distracting, and I also might have cropped out the windows in the corner. perhaps moving a few feet to the left to take out the greenery and have the entire back scene be dominated by the bricks would have led to a simpler, thus stronger, composition. The curve from the upper right really leads the eye effectively through the shot, though.

Jump5fan
Again, what makes this shot interesting? It seems like an average shot of a brick building. I would say that you should find a new perspective, and see how you could have made the building look as it usually isn't seen, as it does seem to be a rather ordinary building. And as it is, the pole is more of a distracting element, since it takes the image, and cuts it in an awkward area. The eye isn't really being led anywhere, and it's just a rather hectic image. Also, your sky is far too bright, and it's a bit overexposed in general.

I pretty much agree with most of that. I'll add just a little to some.

Art - This might have made for a really great HDR opportunity with the sunset in the back. Perhaps a different angle to get that in there more and then having both the sunset and the building being properly exposed. Other than that, I'd just echo what Jon said.

JayCarrfan - It also feels like the white balance is just really bad, and it feels like it's lacking a little depth because of that. There's just SO much orange.

hapa_angel (aka Grammar Police

) - I actually kinda liked this one. I think it has some potential. The background feels to busy though. To much going on overall. The simplicity of the curve and the wall were what caught my eye, but that simplicity is ruined by the background. You know what I mean? So perhaps reframing it.

(and yes, I made a couple grammar errors on purpose!)

Rainer. - Pure crap. Why do you even try?...... oh wait, I voted for you. Dangit.

**Fandrew** · 03-23-2008, 01:10 AM

Gee, you act like I took the picture just to enter a photo challenge.

I've never cared to be a photographer. I just simply took advantage of a beautiful building. That picture was taken with a 5 megapixel P&S digital camera. While I understand and appreciate all constructive criticism given in this thread, I think too much of a fuss is being raised here.

And Rainer., I was using a flash. I didn't bother editing any photos after taking them. I admit the scene is a little too much "gold" (I believe Jon called it orange, but I digress).

I guess the point I'm trying to make here is that my submission represents a non-photographer interest.

Oh, and I voted for Hapa_Angel because I love the color of the bricks in the background. They are a nice contrast to the solid wall and ceiling.

ApparentlyNothing · 03-23-2008, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayCarrfan

Gee, you act like I took the picture just to enter a photo challenge.

I've never cared to be a photographer. I just simply took advantage of a beautiful building. That picture was taken with a 5 megapixel P&S digital camera. While I understand and appreciate all constructive criticism given in this thread, I think too much of a fuss is being raised here.

And Rainer., I was using a flash. I didn't bother editing any photos after taking them. I admit the scene is a little too much "gold" (I believe Jon called it orange, but I digress).

I guess the point I'm trying to make here is that my submission represents a non-photographer interest.

Oh, and I voted for Hapa_Angel because I love the color of the bricks in the background. They are a nice contrast to the solid wall and ceiling.

Since this is a photography forum for photographers, you have to expect to be judged as such. I'm not saying you can't do these challenges or you're not welcome here if you don't care to be a photographer. Not at all. But, you have to realize that probably most people here are photographers, and the challenges are to help us get better at photography. Thus, as I said, you have to expect every photo you submit to be RC'ed as if you were a photographer. We raise fusses so that people can discuss and learn and get better.

If this is something you don't want to be a part of and you just want to share your photos without being RC'ed, you could always just create your own thread for your pictures and state that you don't consider yourself a photographer and aren't looking for RC. But, of course, you're still always welcome to take part in the challenges at any time. I think the fact that you're tied for first shows there's something about your photo that interests people, so don't take the criticism too harshly.

Cadence · 03-23-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art

I do not find the photo very special. With a good camera, I feel like the photo could have been much better. That is the point. It is a very ordinary picture to me.

See this is how I felt about everyones photos this round. JayCarr's was the only one that had an interesting subject (though the technical quality isn't the best).

**Rainer.** · 03-23-2008, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayCarrfan

And Rainer., I was using a flash. I didn't bother editing any photos after taking them. I admit the scene is a little too much "gold" (I believe Jon called it orange, but I digress).

There's usually a little indicator that goes off on most P&S cameras when support is recommended. Check for it next time you shoot in low light, it'll save you a lot of blurry images.