Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

LFA

XjoEnX

iTrader: (2)

Critique or opinions? Always trying to improve.

mdkxtreme

^ Some good isolation shots. I think the S2K looks like a point and shoot location since there's too many distractions (trees, shack, power lines).

Also, for your water mark. I think you can remove the "112" in "joenguyen112". The extra numbers make it looks like a username rather than a mark on your picture. Since you have a logo above your name, it's already distinctive. You don't need to add the "112" to make it a more distinctive watermark.

XjoEnX

iTrader: (2)

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind both with background and the watermark. It's my username on Instagram and I post all my pics there too. But I do see what you mean now that someone finally said it. It does look off with the numbers.

mdkxtreme

If you heavily post on instagram and is trying to gain followers, then I can understand the IG username as your watermark. A lot of my friends do that too.

is300eater

took some pics of my friend Danielle awhile ago and overlooked this... I like it, but not too keen on the way the light hits her face, casting a weird shadow on her nose
http://www.flickr.com/photos/63271580@N00/11796063526/http://www.flickr.com/photos/63271580@N00/11796063526/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/63271580@N00/, on Flickr

einsatz

^ Nice textures in the background. Would probably like the photos more if there wasn't a bumper sticker in them :-p

einsatz

Cliche, but what the hell...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ep_jhu/11720560036/http://www.flickr.com/photos/ep_jhu/11720560036/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/ep_jhu/, on Flickr

pttl

I think the "single-ing out" stems from your prior, somewhat self promoting, "I do photo shoots" thread. On top of that, you were always bumping your own thread, as if to say..."pay attention to me".

Well people started paying attention to everything you posted.... but from a critical viewpoint. Just my perspective.

MattB07TL

^ x2

MattB07TL

I'm tired of talking about this woo is me $hit.. Let's just drop it. Just keep shooting,posting and forget about it.

wndrlst

Thanks!

QFT. Except the last sentence. I'm perfect, of course. And, thanks to my gender, I am never wrong.


But seriously. I LOVE to get critique. I've subjected myself to it heavily on a professional photography board, and never fail to learn. Occasionally, it makes me want to vomit, but I always appreciate it when someone actually takes the time and energy to tell me what they think about my photos.

It can be incredibly valuable to know what does or does not resonate with a viewer about an image. It's true that much of that is very subjective. For example, I find a lot of your images to be just slightly underexposed. Even that is subjective. Maybe you do it on purpose. Maybe it's your style. Maybe it's the monitor you use to process. Who knows. Maybe it's just me. I often like bright images. I blow highlights occasionally. I know and accept this about my photos. I've learned over time that I'm okay with it. Some of accepting critique is about learning what makes your photography tick *for you*. That's okay. Things don't have to be technically perfect to be good or to be art, or even to sell to a portrait client.

However, being open to the thought that you can improve the impact and strength of an image is how you grow as a photographer. It may be a subjective critique to say that a background is distracting or you've cropped a limb in a distracting or compositionally "wrong" place, but if 98% of your visually literate viewing audience sees it that way, maybe it's something to watch for next time you take photos.

Frankly, I think it's kind that people take the time to try to help each other grow on these photo forums. They don't have to.

I agree with this, too. If you march onto any new forum as a newcomer and say "look at me!!" people are going to look at you.

As I see it, you have three choices:
1) You can disappear from this subforum and go play in a more vanilla playground where everyone gets a trophy every time.

2) You can stay here and carry on as you have been and continue to take shit for your attitude.

3) You can do a little thinking on what's been said. Filter through it all and take helpful critiques at face value (this post included - sincerely), rather than as insults. Tamp down the drama, melt into the crowd a bit, and post like someone who wants to share, but (and this is important) who also wants to appreciate what others have to share. Maybe you'll learn something.


Okay, enough unicorn glitter-farts from me today. Back to shenanigans.

MattB07TL

asianspec

iTrader: (1)

funderpants couldve led off with this and i'd be fine with it.

wndrlst

Take me seriously dammit! I'm not just a pretty face!!!

srika

The intention of this thread has always been to share photos - any photos - and any discussion - however spirited - is welcome. I do think the fact that there can also be "snapshots" posted in here can affect the degree of criticism offered, I mean if someone posts a casual shot in here it's probably not intended to be picked apart tooth and comb. BUT, this is not to say there can't be comments on it.

I think we can grow from this, I think aside from regular comments, if we are specifically open to C&C or even want to hear more about it, we should make it a point to request it. It's been done before so consider this more of a PSA. I think as a society we have become so sensitive to this kind of thing and I must say photographers specifically are QUITE sensitive to their art. And probably many things in general. I think receiving C&C does require some training and guidance at this juncture, there are explanations that can make the process constructive for everyone involved, and that's how it should be. I think others have made great points in here on that front.

Hope everyone is having a nice start of the year!

This was a casual shoot we had last night, was just hoping to get some fun shots. You may remember her from some wedding photos I had last year. Amazing model I love shooting her. If anyone has any C&C on this photo I'm completely open to it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/11802884173

Sarlacc

I have two comments for that shot.

1) it's not level
2) Just imo...dirty street snow is not very appealing and really kills it for me.

srika

fairly agreed on #2, I'm definitely doing B&W's on this - will help in minimizing the "dirty snow" effect

Sarlacc

Its not just color, its the texture and placement. Being right by a curb and seeing the plowed and driven over look is just belch to me. Its obvious its not clean pure snow.

I would actually keep the color as its appealing with all the mixed sources and warm tinge...I would actually play with the color balance and test cooling it off a tad to see if that does anything. Definitely take out some of the magenta.

srika

and this is kind of where the "snapshot" considerations come in - it's just not that serious of a shot for me to consider all of those things.

so while I don't mind hearing your thoughts on it, it's not making me feel any need to adjust anything on this photo, just because it's a casual shot. I spent maybe 3 seconds checking the white balance, for instance.

One thing I've noticed though, I have been leaving more of my photos warmer these days - for whatever reason - it's been a mix of doing that and then when I want to show a more neutral scene I usually go with B&W. But this is what makes photography so appealing, the level of customizations possible for any given photo.

Mizouse

I've noticed the warming trend in your pics as well

Mizouse

Is it because you're so cold up there with the -13°?

srika

actually I just remembered come to think of it, one of main reasons we went out for photos, was the snow. So the snow was an integral part of the subject. So it's not like, "oh, there's snow on the ground and its ugly, this shot would have looked better taken in the summertime." lol

Sarlacc

That doesn't even make sense.

srika

we went out for photos because of the snow.

wndrlst

Rubin, I'm just curious - is that ambient light only, or did you supplement? I like the urban winter feel. And definitely like the color. I don't think it would work as well as a black and white.

srika

thanks - yeah it has flash, you can kinda see the effect on the chrome bumper and near there

and personally I think any snow photo is a good candidate for B&W

is300eater

suppose you had gel'd the flash, would it blend it more with the ambient light?

wndrlst

Thanks. I think it's nicely done (thus, couldn't tell). I saw light on the bumper, but wasn't sure if it was coming from another source - so many options in the city. I imagine the light on her face really benefited from the flash.

Eye of the beholder of course for the color/b&w..I just enjoy the warmth the streetlights add to an otherwise cold scene.

srika

yeah, that would be the way to get the WB of the background in key with the WB of the subject - for whatever reason I never got gels - I adjust that kind of thing in post - I did get gels for the barebulb flash I recently got though - will have to try that out some time
yeah you can do those photos without flash too, it would just be a different look - and would require different processing

and most definitely on the eye of the beholder thing, it's what makes us different from one another

btw how funny is it that Sarlacc is giving advice on how to take criticism. ROFL good shit

srika

left these shirts out to dry for a bit too long...... woooooooops

ACCURATEin

ACCURATEin

ACCURATEin

stogie1020

ACCURATEin,

Does the green thing behind the car in your first pic transform into an interstellar fighting robot?

ACCURATEin

srika

Chicago Today.

1920: http://www.flickr.com/photos/delobbo/11809437443/sizes/o/

ACCURATEin

ACCURATEin

Polar vortex over Chicago.




Yeah I have a photo of it in robot form somewhere.

ACCURATEin