Cockwhore posted:

#1. I don't think the processing is over the top, other the fact that you seemed to have pushed the recovery slider way too hard. If you look at the clouds, parts of them are blown out - which is fine in itself - but the parts that are blown out aren't white but are this murky shade of grey, which you should avoid. I also think the composition could have been a lot more interesting, if you had tried to align the lamp-posts to the pillars of the gate. Moving so that the the concrete path is right in the center in the image (and its lines converge in the middle of the image), would have also yielded a stronger image. Everything is almost symmetrical, but not quite, which is driving my brain crazy. Sometimes this can be desirable, but I don't feel this is one of those times. Overall, I think out of the three pictures you posted this is your strongest one (just push the recovery slider back a little bit, please).

#2. Yeah, it's a huge cliche, but it's well executed. The road is nice and centered. The tree provides a good frame for the couple. The light is nice, and the colors are warm, which suits the image. I can almost see this being a poster for a romantic comedy. Like a picture of a waterfall at low shutter speed, or a suset over the ocean, you won't be breaking any artistic ground, but you'll still get something pretty.

#3. This picture, along with a huge collection of pictures of door-frames, benches, etc, mentally goes into a file I call "pictures that do nothing for me, but seem to have some following, which I will leave alone".


My turn. I took some photos on Christmas day, when I went for a walk with my father and my uncle, I'd like to get some critique on. The first was more of a snapshot, and I'm not terribly happy with the framing, but looking at it a little later, I noticed a single seagull in the sky, which really endeared the picture for me.



A Walk by Victor's adorable world of pixels


This is my dad. Hi, dad.

Father by Victor's adorable world of pixels

AIIAZNSK8ER posted:

I think the problem your having is actually creating a mood. When I saw this photo, I enjoyed seeing primary colors on the dresses, but I don't see a solid concept or vision. Are you trying to show a lifestyle or culture or tell any kind of story? Making the chandelier look like it's lighting the scene would help set the mood. Right now the light looks like a spotlight to me with a hard edge all around the frame. The distortion in the ceiling and the one yellow bright dot are distracting me from enjoying the rest of the frame because it seems so carefully set up. You said you can't go back and re-shoot, but could you have moved the pool table between the two windows and center the moose head. Then get closer and only show the two windows and the top half of the pool table? Unless the full bodies are important to you I think you should get closer.

Would like some crit on the following:

CarrotFlowers posted:

I disagree with Sevn. I really like this picture. I like the colours and the light. I like that they're sitting on a beach, but away from the water - makes me wonder why they are doing that; what's opposite the water that's so interesting? I think that creates a story. I also love that they're bundled up and bored looking because it's so atypical for a beach scene and also reminds me of several days when my family has gone to the beach on freezing days and had to bundle up. I think the contrast of "they're facing away from the water so something must be interesting" vs the bored faces and the guy checking his phone is really nice. I don't think it looks set up in the least.

In summary, I think it creates a really neat story and makes me ask a lot of questions, which in turn makes me look at it longer and holds my interest. I don't think a picture has to have everyone looking super engaged and happy for it to be a good photo - I really like the feel that you captured in this one.

AIIAZNSK8ER posted:

I think this fixes the color issue some have had. I'm not convinced that either version is any stronger than the other.

This was not staged, these people were really like this. I think this was in August or September. They were facing away from the ocean for some reason and I saw him on his phone and she was kind of just sleeping. I walked over to them and asked if I could take some photos of them. They didn't care and I took 3 snaps. I liked this one the best because of how they fit between the sky, water, and sand. The other frames ended up intersecting heads with the horizon line that just don't look as clean. Opposite the ocean is the boardwalk and view of all the hotels. I think maybe the were just trying to face the sun? I found it funny to see these people all bundled up at the beach.

Oprah Haza posted:

Here are my three (I posted critique three posts up).

I haven't shot in a while due to injury so I reprocessed photos to get entirely different feels from my original processing.

RangerScum posted:

I am sure that things were very cramped when you were taking this, but I don't think either of the things you mentioned in your explanation of the photograph are emphasized in this. It's very busy and with all the people behind her, it's hard to tell that the girl is even a worker at the stand. Not to mention that the octopus tentacle you're mentioning is all the way over on the edge of the frame. Plus it's been shot at a goofy angle. Like I said, I'm sure it was cramped, but this photo has a lot of problems.


I know I already faved it on flickr, but I really like the composition here.

One for me:


Untitled by Myotomy, on Flickr

Mannequin posted:

Ambihelical Hexnut posted:

Critiques a few posts up. Here are some more loving landscapes. Again.

Evilkiksass posted:

Why do you think them being wider would help?

Mannequin posted:

I don't think it's that boring. Sure, some of it is a little hit or miss here and there, and maybe lately, it may seem repetitive. But I don't think it's boring. I can think of a lot of things before my street portraits that are boring. Maybe I'm biased. Either way, you are free to your opinion!

I'm not a knock-off of those two you mentioned because I don't even know who the first one is, and have only seen very few works by Sartorialist. I do not follow him at all, and get my biggest impressions from the classic photographers -- especially the classic street photographers like Bresson, Frank, Vivan Maier, etc. Avedon is an influence as well. Whether any of this is evident in my work I don't know, but that's who I most admire and follow.


No. Big misconception. None of my pictures happen by accident. Getting a good exposure is only half of the job, or maybe even less than that. First I have to make a connection with somebody whom I've never met, then figure out in a very short period of time, and sometimes under great duress, how to take an interesting picture of them. I ask them to pose in a specific way in specific locations (close to the proximity of where I bumped into them). More important, I have to make them feel comfortable and unafraid. These are tasks you don't see me doing, but are crucial to taking a good (woops, sorry), boring street portrait. There is a lot of social interaction here and thinking on your feet. This has helped me gain a lot of skills working with others: specifically giving direction and feeling comfortable with that, and making others feel comfortable in front of the lens. As a photographer of people this is extremely important. Now, whether or not I am taking good or bad pictures, at least I know I have acquired a skill that can take me to good places.

I suggest you go out and try taking some street portraits. Approach people you've never met who look interesting to you. They might be walking down the street in the opposite direction. Catch their attention, ask if you can spend a couple of minutes with them, 3 or 4 at most. Sure, you say the concept's been done and it's boring and all that, but go out and try it and put yourself in the position of "organizer of a photo shoot", knowing that you don't have very much time because the person is on their way to some place, and you have to take an interesting photograph. How do you do it? Where should they go? How should they stand, with millions of people walking all around you? You have to answer these questions. I encourage you like I encourage everyone who's asked me about it, to go out and try it and overcome the challenges involved.

Speaking of photography, I checked your post history for a good 5 minutes for a link to something you may have posted. I guess you could say I'm curious about "the artiste behind the critic" so to speak. But I couldn't find anything, maybe I missed it. Do you take pictures? Can I see them? I won't make judgements, I would just like to see your take on things.

Edit: Found it!


I love the first one and I like the second one, but I think in the second it seems like you were trying to squeeze too much into the frame, and could have benefited from a wider lens or from standing further back. The carts, in particular, look like they just barely make into frame. Otherwise, I love your style, I like where you're taking your work, and am always interested to see more!


My sense is that you don't have a real connection here to your subject. In both shots she is looking away. I sense a shyness. I like the composition of your second shot better than the first because I think there's a little too much head room in the first shot and the linearity of the second is appealing to me. I like where you are going with your work, so keep it up!

nonanone posted:

Chinese/Taiwanese people love getting their picture taken! Just motion towards your camera and tell them you love their outfit