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Photography - Critique: Critique Game - "Stairs to where...?"

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      CommentAuthorowlmountain
    • CommentTimeJul 16th 2009 edited
     
    As usual, I picked a portfolio at random to find another subject for our little game here. And by the way, I'm totally blown away that so many people signed up here... this is fantastic ! Anyway, browsing through this portfolio I truly had a hard time to pick a photo, the collection is just outstanding ! I wish I was creating art like that. Check it out guys, it's really worth it!!

    So then, from the portfolio of the artist: Stuart Gibson

    Please, tell me this:

    1. What can you say about the photography rules and techniques
    (composition, lighting, rule of thirds, story telling, etc., etc....) used in the image ?

    2. What can you learn from this image ?

    ...are you a dreamer ??...then,

    3. What mood does this photograph put you in ?

    Click to see large view
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    The mood this photograph puts me in is... scared of the dark! They are the stairs to - what? The total black at the top of the stairs lets your imagination run wild! ! I love the single light illuminating the stairs from behind the tree.
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    The mood - for me it is a bit too dark. The stairs heading into the dark patch does not help much, and the off-center light, it seems, emphasizes the overall darkness even more. Also, the base of the stairs are at an angle to the edge of the photograph, adding to the feeling ob instability, and thus to the gloomy feel of the pic. And, is that a boulder in the left foreground? - another unsettling piece in the pic.
    • CommentAuthorfood4thoth
    • CommentTimeJul 25th 2009
     
    I think it is too dark as well. The light behind the tree works pretty well. The place doesn't appear spooky enough for me to feel some real emotion either.
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      CommentAuthorowlmountain
    • CommentTimeJul 28th 2009 edited
     
    I, on the other hand, really like this image. The total darkness adds to the mood for me. The harsh light is cleverly hidden behind a tree and casts strong and interesting shadows. The stairs leading to darkness.... well, it's a matter of taste, but for me here, it works, considering overall mood of the shot.
    Esthetically, it is a sound composition, with a light source being off center, in the right upper third and stairs counterbalancing it on the other side.
    The main theme is not only the stairs but also the texture of the rocks and surfaces revealed by the light and those are the key tones here. Properly exposing those, especially at night, shows the skills of the photographer here.
    It could be a matter of debate whether the left part, including the boulder, should be cropped out but I think, the strong shadows and texture on the slope to the left of the stairs add interest and balance to the whole image.
    • CommentAuthormats
    • CommentTimeAug 9th 2009
     
    The lighting is perfect just to illuminate the whole place... particularly the mound/shrub on the side. Some cropping is a sound suggestion. I like it.

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