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Photography - Critique: any tips for this shot - toys

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      CommentAuthorfaithphotos
    • CommentTimeApr 13th 2009 edited
     
    I like the idea of this category in the forums - a chance to get a little more feedback on images. This image I am actually pretty happy with, but would value any input to help me take my images to "the next level". It was taken indoors in a fairly dark place, so I bumped up the ISO a bit but didn't seem to suffer any noise with my camera (Nikon D90). I did very little post processing - maybe just some contrast in Photoshop Elements.

    Anyway, let me know what you think!!
    cowtown: toys
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    Thanks for posting this bright image, full of of the liveliness we expect these toys to bring. I might gently suggest posting a photo you're NOT "pretty happy with," since "the next level" is a pretty vague concept. It's hard to offer suggestions without a sense of what you think might be amiss in a photo or what areas you are looking to work on. Or, can you say more specifically about what you would like to do with this photo that it doesn't already do? That might be a good place to start a discussion.
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      CommentAuthorowlmountain
    • CommentTimeApr 13th 2009 edited
     
    First of all, thank you Chris for posting your image, I'm so glad this forum is slowly taking off. And I do hope it won't be your last contribution here, not only in terms of asking for a critique but also giving it. Judging by your impressive portfolio you have definitely a lot to offer.

    So, let's see what we can see...

    My first impressions:
    ..lots of startling colors, repeating patterns in a diagonal composition, I like that, this looks like fun, and your title "Cowtown"(I just love it !!... OK.. OK.. let me say it again COWTOWN !!... that even sounds cool!!!) and your description adds to the story in the image, and my mind starts racing....!!..

    .. and then I hear the screech of the breaks and.... see the yellow sticker, "3 bucks" !!!.... this somehow distracts me from enjoying this image... And I bet you, there will be somebody here arguing that the yellow POST-IT with the price, actually adds to the story...(go figure ???)

    Some technical staff:
    At this resolution, even if I strain my (old) eyes I can't see any noise, so I trust your judgement (...and I'm sure you shoot in RAW... so if there is any, you can correct that to some degree).
    But the bigger issue is this, you mentioned that it was taken indoors in a fairly dark place and I'm afraid it shows, the images is underexposed. So if you're willing to play with your RAW file, see if you can increase the exposure.

    cheers
    Roman
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    Thanks for the feedback guys, I appreciate hearing different points of view on my image. I know that suggestions can be very subjective, but that is what is so great about exchanging ideas in this way - it opens up new "eyes" to see what we have photographed and makes our work more diverse.

    GJC - thanks for your input - I don't have any concrete ideas on what I need to improve as a photographer, but will put up an image I am less happy with to get some feedback (I figured I start with a "better" image and ease my ego into it!!).

    Roman, thanks for your thoughts as well. I actually was torn myself on the $3 sign, but kept it in because it to me captured the essence of Cowtown (it is as fun as it sounds!). I actually do not shoot in RAW (yet) - something I know I should do but at this point in my development as a photographer I want to focus on (no pun intended) my skill in taking pictures and not as much with the post processing (and the extra space all those RAW files take up).

    As far as your comment on the exposure, what would you suggest to improve? I usually look at what a brightness adjustment looks like in Photoshop Elements before I save the image for posting, and in this case the brighter image (for me) lost some of the reflections and deep colors that I liked in the "darker" version.

    I hope this forum continues to take off - I like the idea of a bit more detailed discussion than the "great image" comments we usually see in the main photoblog. I usually try to offer some more detailed "critisism" there but always worry about how people may take it - at least here in the forum we should see more of an open discussion.

    Chris
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      CommentAuthorowlmountain
    • CommentTimeApr 15th 2009 edited
     
    Hi Chris,
    About adjusting the exposure, what I had in mind was to tweak a little bit the exposure slider and not the brightness, but only to a point as not to blow the highlights too much. That's where observing the histogram while you do it is so important. I don't know if such a slider exists in Photoshop Elements but there must be an equivalent to it.

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