What do you think of this?

metropolis4 · 11-20-2009, 12:08 PM

I didn't know if I should clog up the critique post with this since there are a few of these (but feel free to move it there if that's more appropriate).

I've been liking this look. It's the aged photo setting on Lightroom tweaked a bit for more contrast, darker exposure, slightly more color and less yellows. What do you think?

OiBoyz · 11-20-2009, 12:17 PM

I like.

**Rainer.** · 11-20-2009, 01:30 PM

This may be completely stylistic preference, but you got a heck of a vignette going on in all the shots. I only mention this not because a strong vignette is a bad thing, it's just that the edges end up being very contrasty in these shots, my eye doesn't have a good "latching" point.

I think that last shot is strong. I'd love to see it as a big print. The color of the bench draws the eye very strongly, and the tones of the path and trees are excellent.

I'd think the photo of the giraffes would be much stronger cropped in somewhere. The high contrast highlights the pattern on their coats, but the centered composition is static. This is a shot by Andrew Zuckerman:

Of the opposite end of the giraffe

, but the arrangement of the animal's form compared to the frame is something to consider.

I think you've got a good style going, though. I don't think I've personally ever used the presets on Lightroom, I just edit based on what I feel my eye is visually pulling me towards. I think that sort of free manipulation is a good key to finding a visual language that fits your style.

Soap · 11-20-2009, 02:06 PM

I think the vignetting is good for this style of photography (the dark color, high contrast shots). But using it in every photo can get a bit annoying. I hope that this isn't your lens causing the problem. If I understand correctly, though, it is something you've added after the fact.

**Rainer.** · 11-20-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoapbarII

I think the vignetting is good for this style of photography (the dark color, high contrast shots). But using it in every photo can get a bit annoying. I hope that this isn't your lens causing the problem. If I understand correctly, though, it is something you've added after the fact.

I think the approach I prefer to take is add any vignetting that is necessary on a per-photo basis, instead of vignetting for vignetting's sake.

metropolis4 · 11-20-2009, 06:32 PM

Hey, thanks for the comments so far!

The vignetting thing is something I probably over-do, but that's mostly because before I got my DSLR I was using an old Olympus OM-1 and the lens I used the most was really cheap and naturally vignetted like crazy. I sorta got used to the look of heavy vignette because of that lens and I guess it's hard for me to get away from. It's sort of like a crutch. I feel uncomfortable when it's not there... I'll have to keep that in mind though and I'll try to lay off of it the next time around

The composition of the Giraffe's wasn't really planned. I had my 55-200 lens on and they just started running right up close to the border. I would've missed them entirely if I tried to change lenses so I just shot what I could at 55mm. I almost wonder what it would have looked like if I cropped to focus down on the legs and feet. If it were you where would you crop it in?

The thing I like about those presets in Lightroom is that they aren't just burned in. When you select one it sets parameters in the Develop tab. You can then go in and look at how things are set and move anything around as you want to. it's taught me quite a bit about how to create certain effects and helped me find certain things I like... such as these.

**Rainer.** · 11-20-2009, 06:40 PM

It's hard to say what I'd do, probably make most of the giraffe go off the frame completely, and try to abstract the patterns. But yeah, in my opinion don't be too afraid to crop after the fact. The camera isn't the only place you can compose, IMO.

metropolis4 · 11-20-2009, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rainer.

It's hard to say what I'd do, probably make most of the giraffe go off the frame completely, and try to abstract the patterns. But yeah, in my opinion don't be too afraid to crop after the fact. The camera isn't the only place you can compose, IMO.

Yeah that's something I'm still learning to do. I'm too used to just going with what came out of the camera and I forget that I can crop in post processing

OiBoyz · 11-20-2009, 11:55 PM

I'd be interested in seeing a crop of those giraffes that was mostly fur color and texture.