Gee, James, why don't you tell him how you really feel about his
photo?
Personally, I like the gull. Even the post processing. You know the
saying, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder?"
There, that was easy, too.
Blown highlights on the head down to the legs, dark shadow over the > main point of interest, perhaps--the birds eye. Center framed, boring > perspective, oversharpended, what more can i say...the PP made it > worse...yeah, that WAS easy...
Oops..! Did I say that outloud...?!?
Seriously, the OP asked for C&C, i gave mine. And I honestly hope
they are received in the vein they were given, as true (honest)
C&C, nothing more, nothing less. You may like the photo, but
technically, it sucks...not unlike many of mine, i might add...
And you took all the photos on your gallery in your first day with
your first dslr? You gallery is very nice with some excellently
taken photos. And while it's correct in pointing out certain
aspects in an image to help the OP...he did state go easy...words
like it sucks is far from going easy. And you say technically that
it sucks unlike yours...well maybe you might need to practice what
you preached here in your C&C...because your photo of the swan that
you entered in 'Better Photo" has blown highlights in the head too
and right under than main point of focus in the eyes....
*****************************************
Packy
http://homepage.eircom.net/~vmax ; for my pic stuff
I wrote most of this this morning, but had to shuffle off to work, so i didn't get the chance to finish. Now, after reading some of the other comments during the interim, i see some of the points have already been discussed, but I decided to post my response without alteration anyway:
Honestly, Packy, there's no need for this...
It just comes down to how comments are perceived...are they ill intended or no. Mine are not, and never have been.
Apparently, you have read past my comments regarding receiving criticism in the vein it is given. I didn't flame the OP's photo and run, but took special care to point out that I was only trying to be honest in my opinions...
If an OP doesn't want C&C, then they should state that they only want to share their photo, and aren't interested in technical critique. I feel I was "easy" in the sense that I used additional verbiage to assure the OP that although my critique was unfavorable, I meant no harm, and simply didn't want him/her to be disillusioned about the technical merits of the photo.
Moreover, you have misread my comment regarding my own photos. If you reread it, you will see that I said not "unlike" many of my own photos, which is to say that we share this trait in common, i.e., this photo sucks technically, as do many of my own photos. This was an admission of my own shortcomings in this area, not OP bashing. I apologize for the poor grammar and choice of words.
Regarding my Swan photo, a BetterPhoto "Finalist" pick, as I stated in a previous post, blown highlights are not always a bad thing (I believe, I made this comment in your thread about the Cathedral, found here:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1034&thread=21401155 ). The blown highlights in question are minimal, and actually add to the photo, imo, as these blown areas were light reflected off of the water onto the Swan, and the image would not be nearly as good in their absence.
NOTE: I only mention the fact that that particular photo was chosen as a finalists by the BetterPhoto judges to reinforce my previous comments (elsewhere) that blown highlights are not always a bad thing. And I emphatically was NOT tooting my own horn in the comment you misread. Neither am I trying to accomplish it here. In that case, I would have proved myself an a$$, and your reproval would have been justified.
If there is any question concerning the intent or motive of my C&C of the OP's photo, please, give me the benefit of the doubt.
To the OP, if I have offended you, I apologize for doing so, but keep in mind that "C&C" stands for "Comments & Criticism." Saying "I like this photo" is a valid comment in and of itself. Saying "I dislike this photo" is not a valid criticism, imo, unless, it is accompanied by the reasons why. In my case, I gave numerous reason for my unfavorable criticism of your photo. I had hoped that would've sufficed.
Three final points:
First, I admit that saying "sucks" was a poor choice of words. I did not use this type of language in my initial post, but was only responding to the poster who challenged me on my original comments. I was trying to make light of the facts, but came across in a bad way. For that, again, I apologize.
Second, I think I am consistent in my solicited critique of photos. Moreover, I have previously expressed a dislike for "feel good" reviews, especially of my own photos. Please, see the following post for further insight into my motivation and intent regarding straightforward critical analysis:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1005&message=21020981&changemode=1
Third, responding to what was said concerning my own photos sucking, i was not speaking in past only but present tense as well.
Sorry, for causing such a ruckus..!
-james
A FEW OF MY SNAPS R HERE:
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/free/gallery.asp?memberID=158378
