The Creative Photography Thread v7 | The quickest way to make money at photography is to sell your c - General

[url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurencehowe/7694429638/][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7129/7694429638_57a6798b6e_z.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurencehowe/7694429638/]nixy1_120726_1[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/laurencehowe/]Laurence Howe[/url], on Flickr Not too sure about this one, what do you guys think?

Really love that light, maybe a lil over processed though.

The background and colours are [b]stunning[/b]. Not sure about the foreground though.

[QUOTE=Dvorak231;37041801][URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurencehowe/7694429638/"][IMG]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7129/7694429638_57a6798b6e_z.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL="http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurencehowe/7694429638/"]nixy1_120726_1[/URL] by [URL="http://www.flickr.com/people/laurencehowe/"]Laurence Howe[/URL], on Flickr Not too sure about this one, what do you guys think?[/QUOTE] I speak with artistic opinion. A lot of people disagree with it, but such is the nature of opinions. Compositionally it doesn't have much going for it. It's got a pretty motive and good background colors, but they are placed badly. The strong, contrasting light of the background makes it uncomfortable to view, and the image has no reading line. The eye does not slip comfortably across the image, or follow any sort of natural line. A good guide for the eye would for instance be a branch in the background. When I look down the viewfinder, a lot more then "get the settings right and shoot" goes through my head. The most important thing at that point, when a motive is found, is making that motive presentable in a comfortable way to look at, but also in a way that captures emotion. For the emotion, I'd ask her to look towards the camera, or display any sort of emotion really. And pose her in a more energetic way. A more lively way, a good idea would be a swoop composition. Again, speaking purely out of opinion. When looking down a viewfinder also think "how would I paint this?" Once you've got the pose and expression right your next task is to get the composition right. I already mentioned how the strong contrasting lights make it uncomfortable to look at. The fact is, backgrounds should have few contrasts, and preferably not in the same tones as the foreground. I think you'd benefit from a higher aperture. If you get those wonderful autumn colored leaves then they don't really need to be out of focus, just make sure that the light difference between the foreground and background is substantial. Before taking the picture, make sure you look at what your eye falls on first in the image, and where it goes from there. Your picture isn't bad but it's very forgettable, and your post processing doesn't really do much other then lend it an instagram-like look.

[QUOTE=mac338;37042048]I speak with artistic opinion. A lot of people disagree with it, but such is the nature of opinions. Compositionally it doesn't have much going for it. It's got a pretty motive and good background colors, but they are placed badly. The strong, contrasting light of the background makes it uncomfortable to view, and the image has no reading line. The eye does not slip comfortably across the image, or follow any sort of natural line. A good guide for the eye would for instance be a branch in the background. When I look down the viewfinder, a lot more then "get the settings right and shoot" goes through my head. The most important thing at that point, when a motive is found, is making that motive presentable in a comfortable way to look at, but also in a way that captures emotion. For the emotion, I'd ask her to look towards the camera, or display any sort of emotion really. And pose her in a more energetic way. A more lively way, a good idea would be a swoop composition. Again, speaking purely out of opinion. When looking down a viewfinder also think "how would I paint this?" Once you've got the pose and expression right your next task is to get the composition right. I already mentioned how the strong contrasting lights make it uncomfortable to look at. The fact is, backgrounds should have few contrasts, and preferably not in the same tones as the foreground. I think you'd benefit from a higher aperture. If you get those wonderful autumn colored leaves then they don't really need to be out of focus, just make sure that the light difference between the foreground and background is substantial. Before taking the picture, make sure you look at what your eye falls on first in the image, and where it goes from there. Your picture isn't bad but it's very forgettable, and your post processing doesn't really do much other then lend it an instagram-like look.[/QUOTE] Wow that's probably the most feedback I've ever seen posted here haha, thanks it's appreciated. I know what you mean about the branch creating a line to draw your eye across the image, however I should probably mention that this shot was completely candid, I just looked up and snapped, hence the weird framing with her hand in the foreground and her overall pose. I guess I should have recomposed but I didn't want her to notice, I find most candid shots look better than posed ones, or maybe I just can't get posed ones to look natural.

My aunt's dog was at my place this last weekend, he's so damn cute. [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/gentledoom/7695577084/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7695577084_918efbdbbe_c.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/gentledoom/7695577084/]Aunt's dog[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/gentledoom/]Gentle Doom[/url], on Flickr

Took some macro pictures, this is the one I like the best: [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/neotechno/7688173508/][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/7688173508_debdd97726_b.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/neotechno/7688173508/]IMG_0879[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/neotechno/]Neotechno[/url], on Flickr Any thoughts?

Nail in board has been done to death :v: I would move the focus a wee bit forward or maybe a tighter aperture (Maybe F5.6?)

back to the skatepark; i really missed it. [img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8147/7696161984_57f526de41_c.jpg[/img] [img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7249/7696162546_ccdaef3543_c.jpg[/img] [img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7133/7696163648_67f8f959d1_c.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=Kabstrac;37046491]like brain said; nail in board has been done to death. It's just not creative, you know? I try to refrain from macro pics as I often feel it's not pushing my abilities. You're just starting out from what I gather in your flickr though, so it seems to be natural you'll be drawn to macro. Problem is, macro is too easy, at least that's what I think[/QUOTE] The problem with macro is that people usually get impressed with closeups that they forget to compose the photos properly or they forget to even get an interesting subject.

[QUOTE=Slippery-Q;37046237][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7249/7696162546_ccdaef3543_c.jpg[/img][/QUOTE] Sorry bruv dat pole straight out his head was bothering me. [t]http://i.imgur.com/qN0eS.jpg[/t] Love his expression by the way.

[QUOTE=bopie;37047029]Sorry bruv dat pole straight out his head was bothering me. [t]http://i.imgur.com/qN0eS.jpg[/t] Love his expression by the way.[/QUOTE] s'all good, brah bro brah. also, thanks. :>

I feel like I haven't taken a pure landscape in ages. [IMG]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/13537916/PIcs%205/_DSC0051.jpg[/IMG] Not digging the wideness of it, but I couldn't see any other way.

nowhere near as good as your other stuff, imo.

That's a bit extreme, no? Harsh criticism does not inherently make for good criticism. All you did was tell him that it was bad. The mountain range across the water in the top left is a tad blown out, but other than that I'd say it's a pretty good Rollscape. I too wish you had a little more top/bottom room but it's not killing it. Them golden greens, man. Large features that cast shadows always get me going. The layers of haze in front of the peaks that extend out from the bottom right to the top middle are nice too.

uuuuurbexing [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697281292/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8013/7697281292_b4ec244e70_c.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697281292/]aug1-1[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/nrobertsphotos/]n.roberts[/url], on Flickr [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697280618/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8164/7697280618_a61429c461_c.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697280618/]aug1-2[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/nrobertsphotos/]n.roberts[/url], on Flickr [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697280400/][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7130/7697280400_0556d0db4e_c.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697280400/]aug1-3[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/nrobertsphotos/]n.roberts[/url], on Flickr [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697280510/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8004/7697280510_0f15919fe5_c.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697280510/]aug1-4[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/nrobertsphotos/]n.roberts[/url], on Flickr [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697281182/][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/7697281182_1f97348d6f_c.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697281182/]aug1-5[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/nrobertsphotos/]n.roberts[/url], on Flickr [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697280756/][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7254/7697280756_86b126cdc8_b.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697280756/]aug1-6[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/nrobertsphotos/]n.roberts[/url], on Flickr [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697280886/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8291/7697280886_5c30aebec7_b.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697280886/]aug1-7[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/nrobertsphotos/]n.roberts[/url], on Flickr [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697281082/][img]http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8160/7697281082_89f34b4893_b.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/nrobertsphotos/7697281082/]aug1-8[/url] by [url=http://www.flickr.com/people/nrobertsphotos/]n.roberts[/url], on Flickr I'm starting to edit my photos just a bit more and would love C&C on that especially, and the pictures in general. If'ns anyone wants to see any of the unedited pictures for the sake of comparing editing, I'll get those when I get home from work.

for me, all the urbexing photos I've seen are 95% documentation. And then you get the 5% which are creative and cool and out of the box, you know? Personally the picture of the picture of that girl interests me the most, but not from the way you've captured it or anything. Your pictures are good for an urbex website, but i feel they lack creativity.

[QUOTE=bopie;37048583]That's a bit extreme, no? Harsh criticism does not inherently make for good criticism. All you did was tell him that it was bad. The mountain range across the water in the top left is a tad blown out, but other than that I'd say it's a pretty good Rollscape. I too wish you had a little more top/bottom room but it's not killing it. Them golden greens, man. Large features that cast shadows always get me going. The layers of haze in front of the peaks that extend out from the bottom right to the top middle are nice too.[/QUOTE] i realize that it wasn't exactly good crit, but i was about to go smoke my first cigarette of the day, so i rushed the post. it's hard to explain why it's not as good, but it almost seems kind of bland compared to some of your other work.

Roll, I was [url=http://vimeo.com/30427769]this[/url] when I saw your photo, completely overwhelmed. This shot is so atmospheric - deep shadows cast, clear skies, warmed greens - I want to be there.

[QUOTE=BlazeFresh;37048682]Personally the picture of the picture of that girl interests me the most, but not from the way you've captured it or anything. [/QUOTE] Uh, thanks? I guess? I definitely try to approach an urbexing situation like I would any other, it just so happens that I'm working in an abandoned building rather than out in the country, or wherever else I might be. The temptation is very strong, though, to just "document" as you say, but in my experience the wider shots are usually less interesting/unique from an artistic perspective, but are interesting in a documentation sense. edit: Also, I found that picture of the girl (along with some other pictures) in there. Pretty interesting to think about all the people who've been through there (and there have been tons of people, a lot of asshole kids who destroy the building more than it already has been.)

[QUOTE=The Salmon;37049269]Roll, I was [url=http://vimeo.com/30427769]this[/url] when I saw your photo, completely overwhelmed. This shot is so atmospheric - deep shadows cast, clear skies, warmed greens - I want to be there.[/QUOTE] Yeah, Scotland's pretty pretty.

[QUOTE=Mindfuck 2;37036712]Yeah I've been there one year ago on the peak. Even better question, have you been to Soho and the area arround the elevator? Sick bar life.[/QUOTE] Was there a few years ago, but I was too young to enter the places.

For Urbexing try and get really symmetrical shots. Probably the best examples to look at would be Chernobyl, as it's a widely recognized area so there are lots of photographs of it. Find what make those interesting and apply them to your work. But my advice is to treat it like any other interior photography, just decrepit

What are you guys' thoughts on this format? [url]http://i.imgur.com/1h9CM.jpg[/url] Not IMG-tagged because huge

[QUOTE=GuruLongie;37054541]What are you guys' thoughts on this format? [url]http://i.imgur.com/1h9CM.jpg[/url] Not IMG-tagged because huge[/QUOTE] It looks like a still from a movie. i.e., not good for photography.

I took a shot at re-editing this one. I think it turned out much better. Do you guys agree? CC is appreciated. [IMG]http://i47.tinypic.com/1jtc48.jpg[/IMG]

I think it looks better in terms of lights and darks, but typically warmer colors look better.

[QUOTE=Sirrus;37055000]I think it looks better in terms of lights and darks, but typically warmer colors look better.[/QUOTE] The best thing is to get contrasting tones; both warm and cold. It's a very good and clever way to make images easily appealing, and it can be subtle. I did it here, as an example: [url]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/75010084/OCanada/10_1.jpg[/url] Warm morning light stikes the hillside while the road reflects cold, blue light. The image would be much more dull of the road had warm tones, or the hillside had cold ones.

[QUOTE=Sirrus;37054686]It looks like a still from a movie. i.e., not good for photography.[/QUOTE] What kind of reasoning is that?

That reasoning tells you that the image has documentary merits, not emotional or artistic. I don't like the black letterbox format, I'd rather just crop those black lines away, but also the image tells me not a thousand words, but little more then location. Location is all they need for movies, though. But a photograph must capture more; the essence of the mood and ambience that comes with the location. A good photograph you can not only see but feel, hear, smell and touch. That comes with extreme light, motive and composition. [editline]2nd August 2012[/editline] The black lines add nothing and are pointless. Sometimes a small frame can add something by trapping the eyes, most of the time not. Those lines do nothing.