RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
Welcome to this critique thread. Please read the purpose statement and the guidelines/ground rules regarding participation.
Purpose
The primary purpose of this thread is to provide a forum where photographers can give and receive constructive criticism on one another's photographs. By setting up some basic guidelines we hope that this thread will provide a forum where the give and take of honest constructive criticism can help us become better photographers.
Guidelines/Ground Rules
The thread has very specific rules regarding participation. The one basic rule is that you cannot provide criticism on an image or comment in a critique thread unless you also have an image posted. To post an image to this thread you must be a participant. Participation in this thread is limited. Here are the guidelines and ground rules for participation:
• Participation in this thread is limited to 5 photographers
• Participants join the thread by posting their intention. You can simply reply with your intent to join by posting something like: "I'm joining," "I'm in," or just state your name
• Joining is on a "first come, first served" basis. The first 5 to reply become the participants
• Once the thread has 5 participants, no other photographers can join or participate in the thread
• Once the thread is full of participants all photographers will upload their image(s)
• Please abide by any thematic requirement (e.g., landscape, portrait, etc.)
•The number of photos for each participant is limited to one
• Photographers attach photos as thumbnails (no inline images or links)
• Photographers post their images supplying titles (if any) and other pertinent information (the amount of information should be minimal)
• Photographers can only comment on their own images and reply to comments only when everyone else in the thread has posted their comments on the image
• Every participant must comment on every photo (except their own—initially)
• Every participant must make at least two comments, one positive comment, and one constructive criticism (which is actually two positive comments)
• Once every photographer has commented then a free flowing discussion begins. It is at this point that every photographer can comment on their own work and reply to comments, ask questions, etc.
• The participants decide when the thread closes.
If you'd like to participate in a critique thread and need some ideas about how to proceed with viewing images critically, you may find this thread helpful:
How do you look at photos
You can also provide feedback on critique threads here:
Critique Feedback Thread
Remember: Please do not provide criticism on an image or comment in a critique thread unless you also have an image posted.
This thread is now active, please follow the guidelines if you'd like to participate! Have Fun!
.
Purpose
The primary purpose of this thread is to provide a forum where photographers can give and receive constructive criticism on one another's photographs. By setting up some basic guidelines we hope that this thread will provide a forum where the give and take of honest constructive criticism can help us become better photographers.
Guidelines/Ground Rules
The thread has very specific rules regarding participation. The one basic rule is that you cannot provide criticism on an image or comment in a critique thread unless you also have an image posted. To post an image to this thread you must be a participant. Participation in this thread is limited. Here are the guidelines and ground rules for participation:
• Participation in this thread is limited to 5 photographers
• Participants join the thread by posting their intention. You can simply reply with your intent to join by posting something like: "I'm joining," "I'm in," or just state your name
• Joining is on a "first come, first served" basis. The first 5 to reply become the participants
• Once the thread has 5 participants, no other photographers can join or participate in the thread
• Once the thread is full of participants all photographers will upload their image(s)
• Please abide by any thematic requirement (e.g., landscape, portrait, etc.)
•The number of photos for each participant is limited to one
• Photographers attach photos as thumbnails (no inline images or links)
• Photographers post their images supplying titles (if any) and other pertinent information (the amount of information should be minimal)
• Photographers can only comment on their own images and reply to comments only when everyone else in the thread has posted their comments on the image
• Every participant must comment on every photo (except their own—initially)
• Every participant must make at least two comments, one positive comment, and one constructive criticism (which is actually two positive comments)
• Once every photographer has commented then a free flowing discussion begins. It is at this point that every photographer can comment on their own work and reply to comments, ask questions, etc.
• The participants decide when the thread closes.
If you'd like to participate in a critique thread and need some ideas about how to proceed with viewing images critically, you may find this thread helpful:
How do you look at photos
You can also provide feedback on critique threads here:
Critique Feedback Thread
Remember: Please do not provide criticism on an image or comment in a critique thread unless you also have an image posted.
This thread is now active, please follow the guidelines if you'd like to participate! Have Fun!
.
ampguy
Veteran
i'm in.
qwer
qwer
T
Todd.Hanz
Guest
me too!
Todd
Todd
AOI Photo
Established
Count me in
RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
I'll find something. I'm in. We need one more!
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Warren T.
Well-known
I'll go again 
--Warren
--Warren
Warren T.
Well-known
ampguy
Veteran
RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
AOI Photo
Established
T
Todd.Hanz
Guest
Sorry for the tardiness, I'll have to post in a little bit
Todd
Todd
T
Todd.Hanz
Guest
Warren T.
Well-known
I'm not sure if it's me or RFF, but I'm having problems navigating around. Response is slow. It's hard to do critiques in this kind of situation. I'll try again a little later.
Warren
Warren
RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
Todd:
I love these kind of shots, ones where the essence or quality of a place is the subject of the photo. There's a strangeness permeating this image. It seems to come from the oddness of the elements and how they combine. I really like the area of the image where the truck trailer meets the cafe and the sign that points to that general intersection. It's almost dead center and became the entry point of the image for me. I think the truck trailer makes the image. Just having that big rectangle in the middle kind of sets up a nice visual walk through the image. The lack of people presence doesn't bother me at all. This is a very pleasing composition.
Only two distractions for me: the additional information on the right edge, particularly that little horizontal highlight--maybe a slight crop(?). And, the top of the cafe, the part in the sky, it has a strange edge around it (not even a distraction, really--just a comment). The image feels a little heavy, but this is your style, something that marks a todd.hanz image. It has a richness of tones.
As usual great work, strong composition.
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I love these kind of shots, ones where the essence or quality of a place is the subject of the photo. There's a strangeness permeating this image. It seems to come from the oddness of the elements and how they combine. I really like the area of the image where the truck trailer meets the cafe and the sign that points to that general intersection. It's almost dead center and became the entry point of the image for me. I think the truck trailer makes the image. Just having that big rectangle in the middle kind of sets up a nice visual walk through the image. The lack of people presence doesn't bother me at all. This is a very pleasing composition.
Only two distractions for me: the additional information on the right edge, particularly that little horizontal highlight--maybe a slight crop(?). And, the top of the cafe, the part in the sky, it has a strange edge around it (not even a distraction, really--just a comment). The image feels a little heavy, but this is your style, something that marks a todd.hanz image.
It has a richness of tones.As usual great work, strong composition.
.
AOI Photo
Established
Not Just You
Warren T.
Well-known
Ampguy:
It's difficult for me to get an initial feeling from this image. Technically, the image is well exposed, well focused, showing good detail. However, it appears to be simply a group of randomly placed stones, with no recognizable purpose...or maybe that was your point ?
It would probably make a great piece of abstract art if blown up to poster size and hung on a wall
After all the other comments are posted, I'd love to hear a little background on this one.
RayPA:
This is a nice street shot, and very cleverly composed. Nice! I like how the main subject (the man reading the paper) is contrasted by the bright walkway. It really makes the subject stand out. I like how your own shadow in the background balances out the main subject. There are many enjoyable details going on here, including the face looking back at you from the front page of the newspaper, and your image repeated again in a reflection at the far end of the shot.
At first, I was going to mention the empty space in the foreground, but then i decided that removing any of it would upset the balance of the shot.
AOI Photo:
This is an interesting shot. Viewing it automatically makes me wonder what the heck happened to that restaurant and what the rest of the block looks like. I also noticed the weird name: "Mex Mex" hmmm...
The large brick wall on the upper part of the picture, I feel, does not really add to the subject, and it somehows looks artificial (I'm not sure why, maybe because of telephoto compression?). Just my suggestion, but perhaps moving or cropping closer so that the frame is filled from the top of the restaurant building to the first horizontal sidewalk line on the bottom (right around the photographer's knees).
Todd.hanz
I really like this composition. The fact that no people are visible here serves to show the loneliness of the trucker's life. The converging lines of the building and the whimsical "U Drop In" sign points to, and frame the truck trailers. The imposing "Cafe" tower makes it tricky to incorporate into the composition, but you positioned it very well within this image.
An alternative viewpoint would have been to try and showcase the unusual architecture of the cafe, but that would change the "feeling" of the shot.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to comment on your great pictures, everyone.
--Warren
It's difficult for me to get an initial feeling from this image. Technically, the image is well exposed, well focused, showing good detail. However, it appears to be simply a group of randomly placed stones, with no recognizable purpose...or maybe that was your point
?It would probably make a great piece of abstract art if blown up to poster size and hung on a wall
After all the other comments are posted, I'd love to hear a little background on this one.
RayPA:
This is a nice street shot, and very cleverly composed. Nice! I like how the main subject (the man reading the paper) is contrasted by the bright walkway. It really makes the subject stand out. I like how your own shadow in the background balances out the main subject. There are many enjoyable details going on here, including the face looking back at you from the front page of the newspaper, and your image repeated again in a reflection at the far end of the shot.
At first, I was going to mention the empty space in the foreground, but then i decided that removing any of it would upset the balance of the shot.
AOI Photo:
This is an interesting shot. Viewing it automatically makes me wonder what the heck happened to that restaurant and what the rest of the block looks like. I also noticed the weird name: "Mex Mex" hmmm...
The large brick wall on the upper part of the picture, I feel, does not really add to the subject, and it somehows looks artificial (I'm not sure why, maybe because of telephoto compression?). Just my suggestion, but perhaps moving or cropping closer so that the frame is filled from the top of the restaurant building to the first horizontal sidewalk line on the bottom (right around the photographer's knees).
Todd.hanz
I really like this composition. The fact that no people are visible here serves to show the loneliness of the trucker's life. The converging lines of the building and the whimsical "U Drop In" sign points to, and frame the truck trailers. The imposing "Cafe" tower makes it tricky to incorporate into the composition, but you positioned it very well within this image.
An alternative viewpoint would have been to try and showcase the unusual architecture of the cafe, but that would change the "feeling" of the shot.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to comment on your great pictures, everyone.
--Warren
RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
AOI Photo said:
An interesting shot with a strong reportage feel to it. I've never subscribed to the theory that good street phtography should not have shots of people from behind. There are too many good/famous photos that debunk that theory, and some of my favorite classic images by reknown photogs feature prominently the backs of their subjects. I don't think we need to see the face of this person to get the sense of photographer surveying a disaster. Even though the scope of the disaster is unknown and doesn't look too bad (as pictured here) the feeling is of resignation and defeat. The photogs posture seems to convey this, and I get this feeling more than the one implied by the title.
I love the frame-within-the-frame (the storefront window). It works against the portrait format, but it still works. I think a horizontal format would have worked better and highlighted the storefront. It also would have lessened the dominance of the large black structure, which for the life of me I can't figure out what it is. It almost looks like a giant rod or something responsible for the devastation. I think identification is important here to help the viewer grasp some sense of the event, especially if we don't see a face. It all comes across really well though, but I think it would have come across even more in a landscape format.
It's a gritty shot with lots of interest and lots to look at. Well done!
RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
Warren T. said:
A simple image with a lot of impact and a message. This is really well done. The title helps to convey your intentions (at least as I read it), but the message comes across without the title (definitely keep the title, though!). The reflection is wonderful and seems like a distant memory. The window isn't just broken it's horribly and dangerously smashed open, brutally. Again works well with the message.
I'm reading the window as belonging to a car. Initially I thought this was a weak point (that it was a car), but I think that can work into the message as a secondary theme. The window/backgorund highlights are somewhat distracting and I gotta wonder what a crop--that minimizes them--would end up looking like.
This is a very good image that shows how photos can create an impact using the simplest of elements. Great story-telling. Thought-provoking. Well done!
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RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
ampguy said:
Ted, this is a fine image, a study of texture and tone. It's difficult to critique beyond the technical, really. You've got some great patterns working here, and you've subtly worked them quite well into an easy, viewable image.
Beyond a bump in contrast, some USM (tiny bit) and maybe finding a good overall density (I'd like to see it darker), all it lacks is finishing and presentation. Meaning, this is a prime candidate for a PS frame--maybe a thin black border on a white frame (?)--if displaying online, or finishing out to hardcopy and ready for hanging.
Nice work.
ampguy
Veteran
Warren T. -- Broken Window
This close up is striking, in content, and in contrast. It's not pretty and conjures images of violence or mischief. In the reflection, it appears there are teepees, so one wonders where this is. The pure blackness inside the broken glass makes one wonder if this was manipulated or if the photo was actually taken like this. Either way is fine, it just makes one wonder.
I would consider taking the right of the photo out, the texture of the string or whatever makes for a wierd border IMHO. Very interesting.
This close up is striking, in content, and in contrast. It's not pretty and conjures images of violence or mischief. In the reflection, it appears there are teepees, so one wonders where this is. The pure blackness inside the broken glass makes one wonder if this was manipulated or if the photo was actually taken like this. Either way is fine, it just makes one wonder.
I would consider taking the right of the photo out, the texture of the string or whatever makes for a wierd border IMHO. Very interesting.