Photo Comments Please

[legmaster]

Hi PHers,

Pretty much a newbie here, Great Forum. The Pie & Piston gives me a belly laugh at least once a day.

I'm in awe of some of the pics posted here so thought I'd give it a go. Here's a picture for comment please.

I have a Finepix Z1 (point and squirt job), I'm very new (and well out of my depth) with Photoshop, plus I couldn't tell a good photo if it bit me in the ar5e...

I like it of course 'cos it's my daughter carving a totem pole in my mate's field (you don't get to use that expression every day...). And also because I took the picture of the camp fire at silly 'O clock in the morning whilst hammered and was amazed when it turned out to be something more than an orange smudge

All comments taken squarely on the chin as deserved!

Cheers
L

[matthew_h]

It looks to me that combining the two shots has actually detracted from both of them.

The shot of your daughter looks like a good'un to me but chopping it up loses its appeal to me. Adding the fire shot behind is a big distraction from the main subject. The fire looks like a decent capture too so why not show it off properly.

I think that the splitting up of shots like you have done with your daughter's shot is best left to more abstract images and portrait shots are best left whole.

Can we see the two originals separately please? I'd like to.

[Casino]

Yep. Agreed. Combining the images detracts from both. Turning the ocntrast up on the B/W image would help it too.

[legmaster]

Thanks both for the feedback.

So apart from the contrast, the chopping, the composition and the combination of the 2 images I've done well - D'oh! I did say I wouldn't know a good photo if it bit me...

I'd be greatful for any further advice as I'd like to get some good action shots of the kids before they grow up and turn boring.

I can post the separate images in a couple of days once I get my PC back from my mate who's putting a new mother board in. (It was a close call on a dead hard drive containing about 2,000 digi pictures and nothing backed up of course. External HDD on it's way too - phew!)

Thanks for the help chaps.

Cheers
L

[size13]

My own opinion only, but I get what you're trying to do but it would work better if the two pictures where more related.

[bramley]

I agree with whats been said so far - the two images spoil each other.

efore you walk away from what you created, I think it could be improved/made more interesting by replacing the background (fire) image with a solid black colour, or maybe even white.

Also, I'd adjust the curves on the shot of your daughter - make the curve a very slight S shape, start gently you don't want to overdo it. This will make it punchier.

[nick_bbb]

By splitting the image up you have demonstrated that the composition is quite good Got any more photos?

[legmaster]

bramley said:

I agree with whats been said so far - the two images spoil each other.

efore you walk away from what you created, I think it could be improved/made more interesting by replacing the background (fire) image with a solid black colour, or maybe even white.

Thanks for the feedback Bramley,
I'll try a solid colour background only, as everyone else has said similar I guess I was trying to be too 'arty' and buggered it up

bramley said:

Also, I'd adjust the curves on the shot of your daughter - make the curve a very slight S shape, start gently you don't want to overdo it. This will make it punchier.

As a photoshop numptie I think you are referring to something on that. I'll read the help files on curves and get back with more Q's if needed.

Unfortunately Photoshop and all my pics are on my poorly PC, which is now sufferring from part delays from Aria - something to do with a new computerised dispatch system dead handy for a computer supplier...)

Cheers
L

[legmaster]

nick_bbb said:

By splitting the image up you have demonstrated that the composition is quite good Got any more photos?

Hi Nick,

Ahh - a positive comment I think

That was the first bit of photoshopping I've tried - learning my way around the million different options. I'm no computer thickie, and can generally find my way around most programmes, but christ PS is in a different league...

Cheers
L

[legmaster]

Los Angeles said:

The B&W shot has a lot of interest in it, over and above its cute human subject. Not at all sure why it's split Warhol-fashion into six and set against a fiery background. If you are aiming for an interpretation beyond the photo the work needs further development, or perhaps it is meant to be part of a series of similar works. What was you your intention for the background?

Hi LA,

To tell you the truth I had no idea what I was doing and was playing, trying to achieve something that I could hang on the wall and admire.

I don't have a clue on art so started with the turning the pic of my daughter into B&W and did some cropping to make it look OK to me.

Then I thought about cutting it up into 3 slices (as I have seen before with some landscape shots) and ended up with 6 squares, again as it looked OK to my 'rubbish eye'.

I then thought it needed a background and origally put in the same shot but in colour and not split, but that didn't work (though maybe what I think doesn't work will be better..).

So in looking through my snaps of the same camping week, I thought "Ahh - yes the fire, that will look good".

So in a nutshell the only intention I had with the background was that it was from the same week away and would have a little bit of meaning to the both of us (until she's a teenager and hates me for never spending any time with her when she was a kid of course...).

I do like the idea of making a series of shots the same though. With the missus and 4 kids there's enough scope for a book of similar shots

Cheers
L

[legmaster]

Los Angeles said:

legmaster said:

To tell you the truth I had no idea what I was doing ...

Bet warhol said the same thing.

He had 'almost legalalised' LSD on his side, which probably explains most of the fg shite he produced (IMO of course). But there's no excuse for my shite

[Legmaster]

matthew_h said:

It looks to me that combining the two shots has actually detracted from both of them.


Can we see the two originals separately please? I'd like to.

Right, I'm back again. PC just fixed and back in action.

The originals before I buggered them up are below.

I'd like to 'do something smart' with the daughter picture, so any advice, hints, ideas greatfully received.





I took the oppotunity to get myself an external hard drive so just about to back up all my photos (phew...).

Cheers
L