★ Wed C&C (No Theme) Thread, Ed. 171, Jul/20/2011 ★

Claus A

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Welcome to the Wednesday Comments and Critique (No Theme) thread!

We’re continuing the great tradition of this C&C thread because we’re convinced that looking at and talking about images is vital for better photography, and also useful for understanding and appreciating our gear.

The idea is simple: you post an image and get critique on it, and in return give other people your opinion of their images. Or vice versa: you give others your honest feedback, and in return deserve the right to post your own picture for C&C.

Generally, you should post only one single image for C&C. As an exception, you can post two pictures resulting from one shutter release but with different treatment (for example a color and a black & white version, or a different crop) for us to choose from and comment on.

TWO RULES:

1. If you post an image, you critique at least one other image.

2. Keep your comments honest but polite; if you don’t care for an image, try to explain why. This is neither a “Good shot!” nor an image-bashing thread.

Any style, any camera. It is a peer-to-peer photography workshop!

Feedback is guaranteed (for up to 48 hours after the thread has started)! Though keep in mind that the thread tends to be busiest during the first 24 hours or so, so later image posts may get little feedback.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Turn on "Threaded view" and reply to this post with a web-sized image. Change the title so we can sort different images out easily!

2. Get back to this thread in a minute, an hour or a day or so, and…

3. …still in threaded view, look at one or more pictures of your choice, click reply and critique it.

4. Remember to add the EXIF if your image doesn't embed it as this may help

5. Image posters: please consider telling us what your own opinion on your image is. What prompted you to click that shutter button? What did you see? Why do you like the result? You don't have to explain, but it might be interesting.

6. You are very welcome to post a group reply to the feedback you have gotten. This could include a new version of your image, taking on board the comments received. Please try not to reply individually to every comment so as not to fill up the thread on your own.

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME, WELCOME! AND BE SURE TO READ THIS:


-► The critique you give (point 3 from the above list) is vital. What was your first impression? What catches your eye about an image? Why? What do you like, and what distracts you? What would you change?

-► Fiddle with the image in your head - composition, perspective, color balance, exposure. If the poster of the image does not object, you may even consider downloading his image and fiddling with it for real, to illustrate your point.

-► More general feedback is also welcome. Do you know something about taking the same sort of image that would make matters easier - share your own as an example in your reply. Encourage - it is a scary business putting your work up for other people to judge!

-► Finally what is the verdict? Waste-bin? Snapshot? Could be better? Family Album? Frame on wall? Poster-size frame on wall? Billboard? Reuters? World Press Photo? National Geographic? Museum? (pick your own superlative here)

Here is last week's thread:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38887641

One of the first replies is “The Related Post”. This is the place to post your general, not image-specific musings about this great enterprise called the C&C Thread.

Another of the first replies includes a link to all previous threads. This is called "Our Archives Vault".

Best Regards,

Claus.

--

... when the photograph annihilates itself as medium to be no longer a sign but the thing itself...

 
This is a placeholder for anything related to the C&C threads. And we do mean anything: feel free to start a discussion about the threads, or how you felt when your image was trashed by some mean know-it-all (probably not in this thread, though), or how it feels trying to say something polite about a cr @ ppy image posted for review (tough one).

This is also the place to make arrangements and share ideas for keeping this thread alive and kicking. Or for starting a new "Photo Essay" or "Series" thread, as has been suggested in the past (plenty of “Weekly” this-and-that threads around, so why not?).

The C&C group will be more than happy to consider all input.

--

... when the photograph annihilates itself as medium to be no longer a sign but the thing itself...

 
Here is the list of all recent editions of this wonderful experiment: our weekly exercise in ruthless peer-to-peer coaching for better photography; a refuge from gear discussions.

All threads of 2008: (Jonas started this thread on April 2, 2008)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=30596254

All threads of 2009:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=34168706

All threads of 2010:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=37375543

Recent editions:

Week 170 (July 13, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38887641

Week 169 (July 6, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38834526

Week 168 (June 29, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38778717

Week 167 (June 22, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38721918

Week 166 (June 15, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38668987

Week 165 (June 8, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38615725

Week 164 (June 1, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38563289

Week 163 (May 25, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38512911

Week 162 (May 18, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38458792

Week 161 (May 11, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38408054

Week 160 (May 4, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38357962

Week 159 (April 27, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38307295

Week 158 (April 20, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38254993

Week 157 (April 13, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38202821

Week 156 (April 6, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38150289

Week 155 (March 30, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38095763

Week 154 (March 23, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=38041531

Week 153 (March 16, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=37984269

Week 152 (March 9, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=37928595

Week 151 (March 2, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=37866928

Week 150 (February 23, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=37807305

Week 149 (February 16, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=37747603

Week 148 (February 9, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=37684498

Week 147 (February 2, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=37621221

Week 146 (January 26, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=37561168

Week 145 (January 19, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=37501138

Week 144 (January 12, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=37439942

Week 143 (January 5, 2011 – by Claus)
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=37375531

--

... when the photograph annihilates itself as medium to be no longer a sign but the thing itself...

 
One from this week:



(The beer ad translates to 'The taste of Berlin')

Thanks for looking & commenting,

Regards,

Claus.

--

... when the photograph annihilates itself as medium to be no longer a sign but the thing itself...

 
Caught this baby monkey (Gibbon or Siamang, not entirely sure now) prancing around on the ground in a local zoo.



I'd just left an indoor location and had forgotten to change the ISO down from 1600, so it needed a bit of neat image.

I'm of two minds about this picture myself. On the one hand I like the dynamics, on the other I feel like the monkey should be looking a tiny bit more at the camera.

Oh .. and ... uhm .. don't look at the exif.
--
Mithandir,
Eternal Amateur
http://www.shooting43.com/

Unless stated differently, any image I post is licensed under CC-by-nc
 
On my walks, I've been watching this image "grow" for a while now. I finally decided that I'd best take it now or forget it, at least 'till next year. So, in the spirit of Zindanfel, here it is. I stood back away from it and used the long lens to crop out some unwanted elements, and used the square crop to give it more stability. What do you think?

[E30 + 50-200 60mm f/8 1/60sec ISO 200]



--
-Mike
It's much easier to criticize than to create
 
Mathias,

I don't think that the monkey has to build up a relationship with the viewer by looking at the camera - the scene stands for itself.

A monkey strolling through the grass (nice fine sharp grass, btw, good DOF!) looking for whatever he wants. Looks almost leisurely...

Good composition (maybe except for the blurred bright structure in the BG to the left). Fine light, colors and good detail.

Nice capture,

Claus.

EXIF? It's in the rules: any camera:-)

--

... when the photograph annihilates itself as medium to be no longer a sign but the thing itself...

 
Thats downright scary!

Caption:

STOP ME BEFORE I KILL AGAIN

--
Larry Lynch
Olympus Aficianado

Mystic, Connecticut

In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane.
Oscar Wilde
 
The eyes have it!









--
Larry Lynch
Olympus Aficianado

Mystic, Connecticut

In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane.
Oscar Wilde
 
Mike,

When I first opened your post the browser showed everything of the photo but the road part. I liked that very. The road spoiled it, then (sort of 'imprint of the first look').

Simple and elegant scene: could be seen as something trivial - or mysterious. A lot of possible meaning overload. Or just provoking a chuckle. But, either way, I looked quite a while at it, so it's a good photo.

Cheers,

Claus.

--

... when the photograph annihilates itself as medium to be no longer a sign but the thing itself...

 
Larry,

beg to differ.

While the eyes may have it, the mouth gives it away, IMO!

Fine photographs; I like the first better (mostly cause the light is better).

Thanks for showing,

Claus.

--

... when the photograph annihilates itself as medium to be no longer a sign but the thing itself...

 
I think I might agree about the mouth, but for some reason the eyes captured my interest on this day.

If you could hear her speak!

The voice of an angel... soft, breathy, and lilting, with a slight New England accent.. (Soft Rs... car becomes cahh, and barn becomes bahhn. Similar to Kate Hepburn, in her pronunciations.

Sorry about the light on the second shot.... the flash had not fully recycled from the the photo I took before it.

I have photographed this girl a few times every summer since she was about 8 years old..(10 years). Im going to put all of them on a disk for her mother, this fall..

--
Larry Lynch
Olympus Aficianado

Mystic, Connecticut

In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane.
Oscar Wilde
 


Got some new reading glasses.
I like the photo. If it were mine, I'd experiment with a b/w conversion and make the background lighter, as well as the eyes (but I'd retain the contrast), just to see if more attention can be given to the eyes.

What adjustments did you make to get parts of the skin so black?

larsbc
 
The eyes have it!



This is going to make me sound like a slavish devotee of compositional rules but in this case I think it really applies: moving her head to the right of the frame would make the image more interesting.

A tighter crop might've helped as well.

larsbc
 
This fellow was unusually hunting way off his natural habitat......So, I took the op and we had a little modeling session....

 
Thanks..

I will probably crop it like that before giving it to her mother.
--
Larry Lynch
Olympus Aficianado

Mystic, Connecticut

In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane.
Oscar Wilde
 

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