The official photo critiquing thread (everyone welcome)

[Xdisaster240sX]

This thread is for anyone who wants to have their picture(s) critiqued. Its simple, Try to post up one picture at a time so that people have the time to look it over and respond to that particular picture. If you do post something, DO NOT take anything to heart. Everyone has their own opinion and are welcome to express it. If youre critiquing a photo, post up suggestion or changes you think the photographer shouldve or should take into consideration when setting up the photo or editing it. Every photo should be property of the poster and should not be stolen or borrowed from the interwebz. IT MUST BE YOURS!
With this being said...lets see how this thread idea works out

This was a guy I meet a couple years ago named Rob. I had two GTRs in one day. The shoot sucked due to the model bailing the morning of and the location turned out being terrible but I managed to grab a few decent shots.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

^Good shot. Needs more models hahaha.
Actually, for some reason, NICO isn't letting me zoom way in. I'm trying to determine where the focal point is, but the tail lights looks a little blurred to me. Maybe the focal point is above the rear wheel or something.

[Xdisaster240sX]

Top of the rear wheel

[MaximA32]

Just because I like this car so much:



And this is probably my cleanest pan:

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I'd say on the First one, you've got a bit too much foreground (and background to be honest). I think you could get away with putting the camera a lot closer to the car. 2nd pic looks pretty good to me.

Here's a few of mine:
Nopi:





For shens -

[PapaSmurf2k3]

and here's a wedding reception I shot. I was also a guest, so I got a little tipsy as the night went on.


Biggest problem of this shoot was that it was outside, in Mississippi, in the summer. Everyone had really shiny skin, so a lot of time was spent cleaning that up.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Here's some from a baby anouncement shoot I did:


Biggest problem with this shoot was that the mother had just had her spine operated on, and really couldn't walk, so her dress was all wrinkled up from sitting all day. I tried to shoot around it, and cleaned up what I could in photoshop.
Here's one where the dress really isn't cleaned up:



What do you guys think about darkening effects like this, yay or nay? :
[

[Desert Rat]

Here's a few from a trip I took last year.

This one was actually taken on my phone....


An a couple others taken on my Nikon...

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I've never really been able to determine what makes a good landscape shot. They all look pretty good to me (provided they have adequate lighting).

I'd like to see a version of the first one with less foreground. Maybe if it was cropped to halfway through the water.
And I would think the last one could benefit from a little less sky... maybe half?
I always seem to fool with mine until I get a version of cropping that I like, so its a little tough to look at one and just say "I think it would be better like this", cos I could be totally wrong, and hate it if that were to happen haha...

[laxands13]

I'm far from a professional photographer and this was actually just meant to test my new phone's camera, but I like the way it turned out. I like this thread and can't wait to see where it goes!



Doug

[Ace2cool]

James, I can't find much to complain about in any of your car photos, except the model shot seems to be a tad on the overexposed side. You were probably doing full frame metering, as the sky looks great, right?

The wedding reception, I LOVE the dynamic lighting and color contrasts. The last shot in that set though, the bokeh, I wish there was more. Almost looks like a giant artifact at glance.

On the darkening effect, not too sure. I'm personally not a fan, but they have their place in the world. It really just helps to distinguish within a portfolio or give a portfolio more depth at glance IMO. Exception: when the background is suited to the effect, like a rustic backdrop or something of the sort. I think that background would have given the picture better depth, from what I can see of it.

Another thing to note in that baby announcement set is the woman didn't look as comfortable as the guy, and her smile seems forced in a few, but you said she just had back surgery, so I could see that being a factor.