asking for your critique

back alley said:
...it's 1:15 a.m. here and i have great need for sleep.

i hope when i wake that there will be lots more feedback on the original shot....
joe
Click to expand...


1.15 a.m. ...the best part of the day, here it's the worse part ... morning!
Surely the shot deserves some more positive feedbacks.
I like it, it has nice tones, textures and composition. I agree with comments above about size, I'd like to see it smaller (but I'm looking at your photo with my office's screen that's not a good one and has some strange settings about image size :confused: ). Maybe Ray is right, the right part is a little bit overexposed but it doesn't spoil the photo. I like the second tighter crop (without the object in the very bottom) and maybe you could try to crop a bit also on the right.
Goodnight Joe,
Nico
 
Joe, check out "Gestalt Design" the "Law of Proximity" and "Law of Similarity" you like it because it's patterned, an imbricated repeat to be strictly accurate, humans like patterns, check Erwin’s site brick everywhere :) .
You probably also associate it with “new kit” :D
 
I haven't read all of the reponses thus far, so forgive me if I repeat something that's been said...

I like the simplicity of the photo, and of the tones. The photo is really well separated into white, black, and two shades of gray. I also like the lines; the angle of the wall and and the straightness of everything in the photo. It's a pleasing photo to look at.

I dislike that the front, right corner of the mailbox, closest to the viewer, is out of focus. The focus point is just behind that, on the wall, and I find the softness of the corner, and of the same area on the open lid, distracting.

Cheers,
BJ
 
if i recall correctly i focussed on the silver lock in the middle of the mailbox.

would you normally focus on the part closest to you?
i maybe should have tried different parts to focus on so i could compare.
thanks bj.
 
It's a good photo, well composed with nice light and textures.

It looks like you shot it pretty wide open, f2-f4, something you don't do often? Personally I would shoot it again, try putting the box off center, step to the left and shoot it looking down the street (bright side), step right and recompose shooting into the left side (shadow) and then see what looks best.

Ask yourself in a couple of months if you still like it, if so it's good. Winogrand didn't develop his film for a long time, he said it helped remove the emotion he had at the time of shooting and allowed him to be more critical of his work. I think this one works well as a card, good idea!

Todd
 
I like the version with 'back alley photo' on the box ... that should be your avatar! It has more balance for me! :)
 
ok, a little less of the right side, name & email added...



337364021_d88abfd6f2.jpg
 
Joe, I'm gonna go against the grain here. No pun intended and my criticism is not personal. As an image itself, without the writing, it's graphic, has nice tones, and compositionally sits well. If you are looking for more, I don't really know what the image means in and of itself. Is is just what it is - a mailbox. I feel, as a viewer, it elicits no emotion for me. If your intention was to add text afterward, as a promotional piece, then as a concept to this end, it is successful. As an image in itself, as I said, it is graphic, compostionally sits well, but it may mean more to you then it shows to me as a viewer. If this was part of a larger series, of everyday objects, then it could be somemthing more. I am in way saying it is a bad photograph. You seem to be wanting more from us as viewers.
 
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thanks keith.

i'm asking for feedback because i'm tired of posting pics that get little reaction. the kind of pics i like seem not all that popular so i thought if i ask the 'audience' maybe i could figure out what's what.

for this pic i agree with you, nice pic but no emotion is involved. the text was an afterthought and i think it works, but it was not part of a plan from the start.

if you look through my gallery, most of my pics are 'busy', lots going on. i really like that style but it's not popular. the simple more graphic shots seem to be popular though, so i thought i'd ask around.
this is only the first shot i have posted for critique and i hope to do this again, soon. i hope you guys have the patience and energy for this.

i realize that, in the end, it's myself that i have to please but it would be nice to have some company along the way ;)

joe
 
i did once...

honestly? i'm being selfish and wanting to concentrate the energy on my one photo and not a group of five.
nothing against the critique threads at all, i just really feel the need to start 'improving' and hope for an accelerated process which i think this would be.
joe
 
to add...

i have the tools to do a good job, the zeiss cameras and lenses are in a league that i do not yet belong in.
my goal, my new year's resolution so to speak, is to stretch myself, to push myself and right now i'm looking for some more dierection.

not sure if this makes alot of sense or not.
 
Just one thing, Joe. I'd burn the right hand side in a little to calm the contrast and bring the mailbox out a little more. You even have a nice edge to work to.
 
i have photoshop 7 and do not know how to burn in with it, not as a stand alone tool.
i usually just adjust levels and sharpen a touch.

is burning possible with ps7?

joe
 
The text is not at the right angle, and it is very very dificult to get it right.

I suggest printing the text and taking it downtown with you, and a bit of blutak too...
 
Also, look at weeklyshot.org

It's invitation only and I haven't got any invites right now. bBt if you're interested I can send you one when they next allocate invites.
 
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