need some critique

[lubitel]

Hi All,

I would like to hear some opinions about the 3 photos here. Feel free to say what you feel, I am not looking for praise. I am just not sure what to think of them.

On one hand I like to take pictures in such situations where the shadows are long and contrast is high -- on the other hand I always have a feeling that I am doing something cheesy or overdone. What are your thoughts on this?

 

[ghost]

is it important for you to show the surroundings of the object and its shadow? i'm drawn to the last picture the most because it shows the least.

 

[rover]

The composition in the first one is interesting. I like shots that are simple finds, look up, you never know what you will see. I think that and the third shot are very well done. The third is more of a traditional composition, but it is well done and carries your theme.

I think the windows in the lamp shadow of the second shot break the continuity of it. If they weren't there or elsewhere in the frame with the shadow of the open window, not in the lamp shadow it would work much better for me.

 

[lubitel]

is it important for you to show the surroundings of the object and its shadow?

No, I guess not necessarily, but I often find it hard to decide what to "focus" on, how to crop.

 

[jaapv]

I rather like them, as you worked on interesting copositions. What you might try is to work with a more hard gradation, losing some grey-tones and creating a more graphic effect. Or try copying them to linefilm and make them totally black and white.(or do so in PS) I see the point of Rover's critique of the second shot, however, the repetition of form in the shadow of the open window saves the day, imho.

 

[jamiewakeham]

I think the third is the best. I agree with Rover that the collision of the shadow and the window confuses the second a little. The first is nice, but I'm drawn more to the simplicity of the third.

I wonder if composing that third shot a little to the left, to miss out the diagonal line of the edge of the building, would have strengthened the composition (by further simplifying it) or not? Then, I suppose, a decision about the no parking sign would be required...

All in my extremely humble opinion, of course!
Jamie

 

[Ash]

I love the first photo, it took a few moments for my brain to work it out, and its rare that a photo has such an obvious subject and yet takes moments to mentally understand it. I love the shadows across the window, not sure if it could be framed a little tighter, however.

The second image is nice, but I'd prefer it with a closed window. That bloody square is distracting in the composition.

Last photo I'm not so keen on, its nothing special to me. It might be your composition, letting that right side feel baggy and ruining the composition, as well as cutting the window in half at the top.

 

[oscroft]

I rather like that first one. My immediate feeling is that the shadow is something to do with the window rather than the balcony above, and it challenges me to "look into" the picture and absorb it properly. I think I'd have cropped some off the right of that one though - enough to make it just about square. I also like the tighter framing of the third one.

All in all, three very nice shots.

Best,
Alan

 

[Ash]

oops, looks like I'm the odd one out with my preferences 😀

 

[zuikologist]

I like the first and the third. They have a more abstract quality. I think ghost's comment is a good one imho - less is more with this kind of photo.

 

[Sparrow]

Hi All,

I would like to hear some opinions about the 3 photos here. Feel free to say what you feel, I am not looking for praise. I am just not sure what to think of them.

On one hand I like to take pictures in such situations where the shadows are long and contrast is high -- on the other hand I always have a feeling that I am doing something cheesy or overdone. What are your thoughts on this?

Of those three the first holds, and confuses, the eye far more than the others, the geometry of the lighted triangle has interest itself and the detail contained by it remains intriguing even on closer inspection, nice.
As to the genera, I’m also unsure they can feel a bit pretentious, a bit arty; I like them myself but hesitate to exhibit.


posts 193?

 

[BJ Bignell]

On one hand I like to take pictures in such situations where the shadows are long and contrast is high -- on the other hand I always have a feeling that I am doing something cheesy or overdone. What are your thoughts on this?

I don't think that your subject matter is cheesy or overdone. Light and shadow are the building blocks of every picture we take, and of everything we see, so shadow pictures will always have the potential to impress.

That is, of course, until shadow pictures become the next Lomography, and all the hip kids start doing it. 🙄 When that happens, you'll need to find a new subject matter...

I find your pictures pleasing to look at. The first is the most interesting - that's a very neat shadow - but may be improved by a little bit of cropping. The other two have a more "classic" look. However, if you want me to get technical, I think the third one is a "miss", because it appears that you were not lined up exactly across from the subject. This gives the pictures a slightly crooked feel, and there's that distracting white blob in the top right-hand corner. If this picture was squared-up, it'd be much stronger.

Cheers,
BJ

 

[Michael I.]

nice use of shadows - i dislike the fact the window is cut in half in the third one,otherwise tthe three of them are very nice

 

[jaapv]

This goes so well - as does for instance THIS THREAD, why don't we dedicate a forum to this , Jorge. I feel it would work far better than the "rate my photograph"gallery, as a forum doesn't suffer from indigestion, as a gallery does.

 

[lubitel]

Jaap, I agree. These are really interesting comments and opinions, and they are very helpful to me, since I dont normally get a chance to talk about my photos with people that know something about photography. A section devoted to critiques would be really good.

Thank you all for you input.

 

[zuikologist]

This goes so well - as does for instance THIS THREAD, why don't we dedicate a forum to this , Jorge. I feel it would work far better than the "rate my photograph"gallery, as a forum doesn't suffer from indigestion, as a gallery does.

Jaap - a good idea, and (currently) more visible and interactive than gallery comments.

 

[Sparrow]

This goes so well - as does for instance THIS THREAD, why don't we dedicate a forum to this , Jorge. I feel it would work far better than the "rate my photograph"gallery, as a forum doesn't suffer from indigestion, as a gallery does.

please don’t this one works because it’s in a general forum, dedicate one to criticism and only people you would find there will be critics; and they would feel free, or compelled, to criticize anything that got posted.

 

[bsdunek]

I like all of them - I see what you're doing and it gives me inspiration. Not 'Cheesy' at all.
1. I really like this one. As has been stated, it has a depth that holds the eye. I also like the angle of the building - it makes it very dynamic.

2. I wish the top of the lamp shadow and the window didn't collide. Maybe you could try it an hour earlier or later. Still, the window shadow does hold it together.

3. Interesting, although it needs something. Maybe you should have included a little more of the building. The shadow at the lower right almost leaves the frame.

Just IMHO. 😎