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Jim B (MSP)

Jim B (MSP)

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I just posted a few pictures in a new gallery for critiques at
http://www.pbase.com/jimmsp/critique
I am looking for constructive feedback on these.
This is an old farm near me which is making way for a new housing subdivision.
Two questions come to my mind.
1. Which perspective do you prefer?
2. Do you prefer color or b/w, or sepia?

Any other thoughts?
--
Jim
 
Thanks for posting the interesting shots. To me, what makes the shots worthwhile is the color of the silo. So I'd go with color on these shots. Maybe just frame the silo alone? The broken down builiding doesn't do much for me as an outside observer. (Having said that, your main audienece for your shots is probably yourself -- that's certainly the case for me -- so go with what you like.)
--
Wayne
 
Hi Jim,

Very good subject matter and nice shots. I agree with the other poster with regards the colour of the silo, so I too would stick with that. With regards composition, I would like to have seen the derelict closely foregrounded (lowish angle) with the silo looming up behind. That way the silo would have been more dramatic and more emphasis would have been placed on the date painted thereon. Alternatively, of course, you could foreground the silo and have the derelict in the background, but I think both elements' potential would be lost there. I only say this as I have a prefernce for this sort of composition over a left/right same plane composition.

Cheers,
Jamie
 
Moving on 2 bw

I prefer the above image. Thinking about it though, I would like to have seen a slightly tighter angle between the broken down building and the silo, to bring the two together a little.

The date mark on the silo is great, that to me is the focal point of the photograph, the fact that the silo is still pretty much standing straight as opposed to the collapsed looking building contrasts the theme nicely.

Thanks for bringing a little photography to this forum!
--
My G2 collection on pbase:
http://www.pbase.com/natinha/galleries
 
I think I like Moving on 2, color, the best. I agree with the comment that someone made about maybe cropping a little of the bottom off.

Also, I wonder what these would have looked like had you used a polarizing filter. The sky may become more interesting, but that may also have distracted from the main subject.

Thanks for sharing.

--
================
g2.davidcostello.net
 
Hi Jim,

I like perspective in the "moving on 2" series better. In the other one, I find the trees on the left a bit distracting. On the other hand, in the 2 series, it's too bad the top of that tree in the background wasn't "growing" out of the top of the roof. Maybe moving in a bit closer or crouching lower would give a more isolated/dramatic perspective on just the roof & silo without the background tree intruding.

As far as color/bw/sepia, I think the color of the the silo is important to the shot, but the photoshopped "v2" is a bit too artificial looking for my liking. The pure b/w one doesn't seem to have enough "something" in it, I'm not sure what... So my choice goes to "Moving on 2"
Jim B (MSP) said:
I just posted a few pictures in a new gallery for critiques at
http://www.pbase.com/jimmsp/critique
I am looking for constructive feedback on these.
This is an old farm near me which is making way for a new housing
subdivision.
Two questions come to my mind.
1. Which perspective do you prefer?
2. Do you prefer color or b/w, or sepia?

Any other thoughts?
--
Jim
Click to expand...
 
Jim B (MSP) said:
I just posted a few pictures in a new gallery for critiques at
http://www.pbase.com/jimmsp/critique
I am looking for constructive feedback on these.
This is an old farm near me which is making way for a new housing
subdivision.
Two questions come to my mind.
1. Which perspective do you prefer?
2. Do you prefer color or b/w, or sepia?

Any other thoughts?
--
Jim
Click to expand...
i like moving on 3 in black and white. i like this one because it fills the frame with the subject. the color on the silo isn't needed, and is actualyll distracting since the building doesn'nt have much color. the silo isn't the important part the collapsed barn, with the silo is important (though the barn is good alone as well).

i also like moving on 2 in bw, it shows scale better.

but by fa,r the moving on 3 is the best one.

a seperate shot could be the barns roof with the green moss. use it as an abstract. and in IR this could look way cool.

where in the world do you live? this is the second really messed up building that i've seen you post.

---Mike Savad

--
http://www.pbase.com/savad/

http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=9050
 
mike savad said:
where in the world do you live? this is the second really messed up
building that i've seen you post.

---Mike Savad
Click to expand...
LOL.

I live in Medina, an outer-ring suburb of Minneapolis, MN. The area is undergoing a drastic change, from farm to suburban homes. If I drive 5 minutes West, I'm in farm country. If I drive 10 minutes East, I'm in crowded suburbia. The local land has been bought up for development, and some of the farm homes just go to pot before the bulldozers move in. Makes for some interesting pictures, though.

BTW, thanks for the comments. After looking at the variations for a while, I think I agree with you.
--
Jim
 
This is very interesting and I thing should be done more on this forum. I like how you posted some pictures and then got feedback. With that feedback, you've added additional photos and you can see the progression and alternate pictures and moods coming to life.

As for my preference, I like the "Moving on 3" color photo the best. I agree with another poster that the B&W photos are lacking "something". I think it's contrast. If you go into Photoshop and adjust the levels, you may get a more potent picture. But, I think the color ones are nicer.

You may even try a shot with the silo prominent and focused on just a portion of the building that really shows the "crumbling of the farm" theme. Maybe use the side of the building where the beams are all sticking out. Showing those prominently with the silo behind might be interesting to emphasise decay.

Thanks again for sharing.
Jeroen said:
Funny how everybody likes different ones... i really like the angle
of number 3 and the red and blue color really light up the shot

--

http://www.pbase.com/jkoomen
Click to expand...
 
I have to agree with Mike here, the color in the silo is very distracting to me as well, to me it doesnt work very well, but of course that is only my opinion. I would prefer the shot totally without the silo, I like the decrepid old barn falling down by itself, I would like to see it from the 1 perspective a little closer up, the moss on the roof is great and the roof itself whould be a good subject with the trees in the background for scale.
Thanks for the image.

Bill
mike savad said:
Jim B (MSP) said:
I just posted a few pictures in a new gallery for critiques at
http://www.pbase.com/jimmsp/critique
I am looking for constructive feedback on these.
This is an old farm near me which is making way for a new housing
subdivision.
Two questions come to my mind.
1. Which perspective do you prefer?
2. Do you prefer color or b/w, or sepia?

Any other thoughts?
--
Jim
Click to expand...
i like moving on 3 in black and white. i like this one because it
fills the frame with the subject. the color on the silo isn't
needed, and is actualyll distracting since the building doesn'nt
have much color. the silo isn't the important part the collapsed
barn, with the silo is important (though the barn is good alone as
well).

i also like moving on 2 in bw, it shows scale better.

but by fa,r the moving on 3 is the best one.

a seperate shot could be the barns roof with the green moss. use it
as an abstract. and in IR this could look way cool.

where in the world do you live? this is the second really messed up
building that i've seen you post.

---Mike Savad

--
http://www.pbase.com/savad/
Added - More Closeups, Flowers, Buildings, and Still life.

http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=9050
Click to expand...
--
Bill Guilford
G2 Owner since 02/22/02
http://www.pbase.com/gilfrd
Atlanta, GA
 
Bill Guilford said:
I have to agree with Mike here, the color in the silo is very
distracting to me as well, to me it doesnt work very well, but of
course that is only my opinion. I would prefer the shot totally
without the silo, I like the decrepid old barn falling down by
itself, I would like to see it from the 1 perspective a little
closer up, the moss on the roof is great and the roof itself whould
be a good subject with the trees in the background for scale.
Thanks for the image.

Bill
Click to expand...
I just added 3 more versions as you suggested. They are simply digital blowups of v1, focussed on the broken barn. When the weather improves here, I may try to get some additional closeup shots.
The green moss in the b&w sort of follows from Mike's comment.

Thanks, all.
--
Jim
 
Jim,

I like the modified angle of view in Moving on 3 - it eliminates the errant tree I mentioned previously. Moving on 3 BW does now have a bit more oomph, I guess more contrast than in 2 - so added to the better angle, I like that b&w one now. But I still think moving on 3 color is more interesting - the faded red white and blue adds a certain homeyness & immediateness to the shot - makes me feel more sorry to see the building come down. The b&w one seems more like it's documenting something that happened long ago, or at least at some unidentified time already passed - too late to worry about it. At least, that's my interpretation of it.

But I think some tight, close-in crops of just a 4-6 of the panels of the silo in b&w, showing off their textures only - would be interesting. Looks like lots of great texture in there.

As for the moving on 4 shots, I think they lose interest - maybe it's just me, but again I find the mess of trees behind a bit distracting. Maybe some closer in shots of the moss and shingles emphasizing the textures would be good.
 
Jim,
I like this one best.

I looked at the early versions and then at this one. What you have done is just what I was going to suggest. The color of the silo is interesting, but in B&W the mood is brought down to match the desolation of the subjects. I also think having as little foliage as possible brings out this mood as well.
Mark
 
Me too.
I agree with the comments made before about "2" and contrast for the B&W sky.

I was tempted to say the color of the silo isn't needed since it is implied, then I kept comparing because it's not as if there isn't a choice there. The full color version of "3" just strikes me as "being there" as opposed to looking from afar in both time and space.
--
Farewell,
Bob H.
 
Robbo said:
If you are looking for critiques, http://www.photosig.com is the place to go.
Click to expand...
Robbo said:
Robbo said:
--
Jim
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I have posted a few pictures out there. It appears to me to be a self praise forum- you praise me, I'll praise you. I have gotten little real constructive feedback.

In less than 12 hours here, I have had a lot of good feedback, much of which I have tried and found valuable.
Besides, on Photosig, it's hard to ask for a reviewer to choose between photos.
--
Jim
 
Jim B (MSP) said:
mike savad said:
where in the world do you live? this is the second really messed up
building that i've seen you post.

---Mike Savad
Click to expand...
LOL.
I live in Medina, an outer-ring suburb of Minneapolis, MN. The area
is undergoing a drastic change, from farm to suburban homes. If I
drive 5 minutes West, I'm in farm country. If I drive 10 minutes
East, I'm in crowded suburbia. The local land has been bought up
for development, and some of the farm homes just go to pot before
the bulldozers move in. Makes for some interesting pictures, though.

BTW, thanks for the comments. After looking at the variations for a
while, I think I agree with you.
--
Jim
Click to expand...
before they flatten the land out - be sure to get some snow pictures with that kind of stuff.

---Mike Savad

--
http://www.pbase.com/savad/

http://www.photosig.com/userphotos.php?id=9050
 
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