Masochist Seeking Brutal Criticism

[Honu-Hugger]

Hi Guys and Gals,
I am absolutely in awe of what is posted in the gallery by other members and while I'm not looking to copy anyone elses style I am interested in improving my photographic skills in hopes of bringing them a little closer to what I see here. So please, if you have the inclination, leave some honest criticism of images I have posted; it would be very much appreciated -- even if it hurts a little!😉 Thanks. and a big thank you for making this the great site that it is.

Warm regards,

D2 (the other Doug)

 

[Rich Silfver]

Ok, pretty brutal critique given on your last 6 photos 🙂

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Wow, Rich -- you wasted no time at all! Thank you very much. I just finished reading your critiques and now I hate you😀 Just kifdding, of course!

Everything that you mentioned I can see as an imrpovement and I thank you so much for taking your time to do so. Most of what I posted has not been cropped so I will go back in my own files and fool around a little with cropping. Same with the Palm photo -- it's straight out of the camera and the contrast was not messed with -- I'll play with it a littlle. too. I agree that it is generally lacking an object of interest, I just wanted to get something out of my old Zeiss folder. I also wish that I had included a little more of the first palm to the right.

This just goes to further prove what a great site this is -- a plea for help answered within minutes. And Rich, you really gave me some useful criticism. I can not thank you enough!

D2

 

[Rich Silfver]

I can not thank you enough!
D2

Sure you can. How 'bout an original black-painted Leica M3?

😀

 

[back alley]

d2,

without looking at your gallery i can give you this...

edit!
most of us would be better if we edited with more brutal honesty of our own. or edited without the emotional attachment we often subscribe to our work.

wife # 2 was my best editor ever. i was at my best (photographically) with her.

and now i will go look at your pics.

joe

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Joe,
Thank you for your comments and for taking the time to look. I agree with your advice -- you and Rich have made very good points.

May I ask you, Rich, and anyone else that would care to weigh in to also take a look at "Paddle Wheel" and "Deckhand" if you have a moment? Those are two pictures in particular that I may be having a difficult time being objective with (thinking of what you said about emotional attachment and editing). And Rich, I'm looking for that black M3😉 Thank you, guys!

D2

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Black M3

Black M3

Just wondering which would cost more: a black Leica M3 or a black BMW M3?

D2

 

[Rich Silfver]

Oh, I can give you a link to where one is being sold - actually just about 8,000 Euro.

You think you could have it here by say Tuesday? 😀

 

[FrankS]

Honu-Hugger,

Here's some general advice about shooting pictures: what you leave out is as important as what you leave in. As much as possible, every visual element in your picture should support the subject. If it doesn't, it's usually just a distraction and you should try to leave it out of the frame. After deciding on your subject, check the background all around. Move the camera to the left and right, and up and down, forwards and backwards (usually forwards) to alter the relationship of the subject with the background in order to block and/or crop out distracting elements. Simplify to strengthen your visual statement.
Of course this is just my opinion, but this helps me get pictures that are pleasing to me.

 

[Honu-Hugger]

Thank you, Frank. That is good advice and reminds me of an interview with Stevie Ray Vaughn years ago: he stated that the best advice he ever received was from Albert King who told him "it's the notes you don't play..." I appreciate your critique and have looked at the pictures again with those thoughts in mind.

I thought about posting these replies as PM's to each individual member but then reconsidered and decided to post them publicly. Not only to outwardly express my appreciation but to also include anyone else on the forum that might also benefit from the discourse. My wife is an excellent writer (although a lousy critic of my pictures -- she likes everything) and she has always maintained that everyone needs an editor -- I believe that, it's tough to be objective of your own work. I appreciate the constructive criticism very much. I post comments for others as well, but without a lot of confidence at this point I limit myself to mentioning what I like. With great appreciation I thank the forum collectively, this is a very unique and precious site.

Always a student,

D2