Criticism welcomed
Discussion
I've just got back from a little trip and have been sorting through the photos I took. The majority are crap, but there are a few that I'm fairly pleased with, and I'd really appreciate any comments on how you reckon they could have been improved (either in the taking of them or post-processing; I don't know what I'm doing with either). Some of the rest are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/samwilliams/ but I think these are probably the better ones (click for a bigger version)
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Edited by samwilliams on Monday 17th August 11:40
I'm no critic, 'he who casts the first stone' & all that....but for what it's worth I'll give my unbiast opinions on composition.
1. What is the image trying to say?.....what are the people doing?.....Other than your reference in other shots, nothing really convinces me of the location........could even have been taken in some parts of the UK.
2. I like this one, could have done with the individual being a lot closer enabling easy identification of location through tribal dress.
3. Too cluttered, a sharp close up of one or maybe two individuals from ground level with further activity out of focus in background would have been my choice.
4. Although adequately composed & very striking, this has been done to death & presents nothing new for me.
5. I think you were attempting to add mood through contrast between the brighter foreground & overcast background, it would have worked better had the shot been taken with the huts in the foreground as they are clearly within the lit area & lighter in colour....also HDR would have been a distinct advantage.
6. A good idea, an oasis in an otherwise sterile environment?......this image could have been taken from an elevated position making better use of the greenery against the surrounding desert.......pity about the pylons/wires but they can alawys be PSed out.
7. Now this one I like a lot......The first thing it reminded me of was something from 'Star Wars' - the most basic of accommodation adorned with satelite technology, good contrast with the willow leading the eye in to the rest of the foilage in the same plane (rather than scattered all over the image). I would have waited a few min's for the vehicle at the front to move away though....also I'd remove the pylons from the skyline.
8. Too much going on, I find myself searching the buildings, finding them unsharp & unappealing......I would have concentrated on the cluster of buildings to the left only, removing more of the foreground from the shot & repositioning myself much further around to the left to encompass the bright area of sky.
ETA: Image DSC_0057-13a on your link is outstanding, I would have liked to have seen more like that one but I don't want to be trolling through 47 pages on your flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samwilliams/382659206...
1. What is the image trying to say?.....what are the people doing?.....Other than your reference in other shots, nothing really convinces me of the location........could even have been taken in some parts of the UK.
2. I like this one, could have done with the individual being a lot closer enabling easy identification of location through tribal dress.
3. Too cluttered, a sharp close up of one or maybe two individuals from ground level with further activity out of focus in background would have been my choice.
4. Although adequately composed & very striking, this has been done to death & presents nothing new for me.
5. I think you were attempting to add mood through contrast between the brighter foreground & overcast background, it would have worked better had the shot been taken with the huts in the foreground as they are clearly within the lit area & lighter in colour....also HDR would have been a distinct advantage.
6. A good idea, an oasis in an otherwise sterile environment?......this image could have been taken from an elevated position making better use of the greenery against the surrounding desert.......pity about the pylons/wires but they can alawys be PSed out.
7. Now this one I like a lot......The first thing it reminded me of was something from 'Star Wars' - the most basic of accommodation adorned with satelite technology, good contrast with the willow leading the eye in to the rest of the foilage in the same plane (rather than scattered all over the image). I would have waited a few min's for the vehicle at the front to move away though....also I'd remove the pylons from the skyline.
8. Too much going on, I find myself searching the buildings, finding them unsharp & unappealing......I would have concentrated on the cluster of buildings to the left only, removing more of the foreground from the shot & repositioning myself much further around to the left to encompass the bright area of sky.
ETA: Image DSC_0057-13a on your link is outstanding, I would have liked to have seen more like that one but I don't want to be trolling through 47 pages on your flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samwilliams/382659206...
Edited by Quick silver on Monday 17th August 13:15
Thanks, you're all far too nice; I want more criticism so I can do better next time!
Quick silver said:
ETA: Image DSC_0057-13a on your link is outstanding, I would have liked to have seen more like that one but I don't want to be trolling through 47 pages on your flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/samwilliams/382659206...
My hesitation with this one was that I had to do a bit of photoshopping to make the background a little blurrier and, to my mind, it looks too obviously photoshopped to be good. But that might be just because I know it has been and what it looked like before.jon- said:
samwilliams said:
it looks too obviously photoshopped to be good. But that might be just because I know it has been and what it looked like before.
The halo effect around the woman, and most noticeable the animals ear against the dark shirt on the left gives away the post.
Quick silver said:
jon- said:
samwilliams said:
it looks too obviously photoshopped to be good. But that might be just because I know it has been and what it looked like before.
The halo effect around the woman, and most noticeable the animals ear against the dark shirt on the left gives away the post.http://www.flickr.com/photos/samwilliams/383023176...
Edited by samwilliams on Monday 17th August 14:27
Some rather nice pictures that you should be happy with.
I would say that with subject matter like that you could really have gone a lot further and I think that you would have got a lot more out of the experience. But know knowing your level of experience as a photographer, I would not wish to say anything negative. If this is the first time that you have tried to do travel/documentary photography then it is a good starting point.
Keep it up.
What would I advise?
You are basically there on landscapes, and just starting on the people relationship with your camera. Personally I like 1,2,3,4 best because of the human involvement, although I think that you could have go a much better image out of the events in picture 3.
Don't be afraid to approach people and ask. OK candid pics alway work best. But if you approch people with a smile and ask, they might agree. Chat for a while and then start playing with angles, they will soon forget you are there and carry on normally after a short while.
I would say that with subject matter like that you could really have gone a lot further and I think that you would have got a lot more out of the experience. But know knowing your level of experience as a photographer, I would not wish to say anything negative. If this is the first time that you have tried to do travel/documentary photography then it is a good starting point.
Keep it up.
What would I advise?
You are basically there on landscapes, and just starting on the people relationship with your camera. Personally I like 1,2,3,4 best because of the human involvement, although I think that you could have go a much better image out of the events in picture 3.
Don't be afraid to approach people and ask. OK candid pics alway work best. But if you approch people with a smile and ask, they might agree. Chat for a while and then start playing with angles, they will soon forget you are there and carry on normally after a short while.
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