Member of the Month

partyandBS
December, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

Help me decide what to print! (also critique my work!)

profile picture
_RNS_
Posts: 172 - Karma: 736
Hey guys,
So I recently took a trip to Sedona, the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park. I have to decide what picture to ge printed onto Aluminum. I can't pick, so I need your help to decide. This thread can also double as a critique thread, so I can improve my skill set.

Thanks,
RNS Photography

All of the photos were taken with a Canon 7D with either a Canon 17-40 f/4L or Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS II.







Mar 11 2013 6:12PM
23 0
profile picture
Belzebub
Posts: 451 - Karma: 812
In my personal opinion i think you should pick zion mist(im a sucker for dark,misty,b/w landscapes). The bird in the tree was the other of the two I liked the most, with lots of detail in the feathers and the branches.
Mar 11 2013 6:18PM
1 0
profile picture
gusestomp
Posts: 1377 - Karma: 746
I liked:

The bird in the tree
Zion Mist
The Grand Canyon

Mar 11 2013 6:45PM
1 0
profile picture
RimJobber
Posts: 3313 - Karma: 10,058
I liked Zion mist and the last two. The last two would be especially sick if you edited them and brought the color of the rock out
Mar 11 2013 6:55PM
1 0
profile picture
quixotic
Posts: 6937 - Karma: 2,980
I think a lot of the shots are bland and boring and didn't evoke any sort of emotional response from me. Creating emotion is one of the biggest things with photography. Find an interesting subject matter and through the use of lighting and colors create a picture that makes the viewer think.

I'd say the two best ones are the close up of the bird and the zion one. I liked the close up of the bird because there was a lot of detail and I paused on it instead of clicking past right away because I wanted to see all the detail. I liked the zion one because of the mist and the ominous and mysterious tone it had to it.
Mar 11 2013 6:59PM
1 0
profile picture
_RNS_
Posts: 172 - Karma: 736
Thanks guys! Seems the consensus are the photos of the birds and the mist photo.
Mar 11 2013 7:47PM
1 0
profile picture
_RNS_
Posts: 172 - Karma: 736
Alright, thanks for advice. I'll be sure to use this.
Mar 11 2013 7:49PM
1 0
profile picture
slc_utahboiii
Posts: 1755 - Karma: 1,441
Zion mist in my opinion, the others are good but some of the backgrounds seem a little cluttered and the rule of thirds wasn't used as much, but i really liked the zion mist! good job over all for sure
Mar 11 2013 7:55PM
1 0
profile picture
_RNS_
Posts: 172 - Karma: 736
I tried to use the rule of thirds. I use a grid in my VF and also when I do post work in lightroom. I try to line up the subject with the intersection point on the lines. Should I not put the subject at the intersection point?
Mar 11 2013 8:11PM
1 0
profile picture
_RNS_
Posts: 172 - Karma: 736
http://www.flickr.com/photos/openslope/8551904017/in/photostream/lightbox/

Added one more, what do you think?
Mar 12 2013 4:40PM
1 0
profile picture
quixotic
Posts: 6937 - Karma: 2,980
all I see are two rock walls and some water... and if I look really hard I see a demon face in the left center on the rock wall, however that is most likely my eyes making something up and not intended. it's really boring. what am I supposed to see? What is the focal point of the photo? How am I supposed to react? What is the purpose behind this? Is this supposed to make me feel a certain way? What was your reasoning behind this?

I'm not saying every photo has to have some huge purpose, but all of your photos are just point and shoot. I'd suggest browsing the internet for great photos and write down why you liked them. Then look at your list and try to create those reasons in your own photo. Is it the colors? The depth of field? The subject matter? The focal length? The emotion?
Mar 12 2013 4:50PM
1 0
profile picture
quixotic
Posts: 6937 - Karma: 2,980
Sorry if I'm coming across as harsh... just giving my opinion. Take it or leave it, doesn't matter to me.
Mar 12 2013 4:52PM
1 0
profile picture
_RNS_
Posts: 172 - Karma: 736
No worries, I take all critiques harsh or not. The point of the last photo was the reflection.
Mar 12 2013 4:56PM
1 0
profile picture
TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
I think most (if not all of these) are underexposed. Not by much, but by enough to make them seem boring. Bring up the exposure and contrast a little, and they will feel much better.
Mar 12 2013 5:16PM
1 0
profile picture
TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
example - I did nothing but took a screenshot of your pic and did a little simple levels adjustment:

Click for larger image
Mar 12 2013 5:20PM
1 0
profile picture
_RNS_
Posts: 172 - Karma: 736
Thats something I have been struggling with since I started using my mac. It always seems that the photos appear underexposed on others computers, but on mine, they appear normal. Any advice for this? Should I rely solely on the histogram? Do i need to calibrate my monitor?
Mar 12 2013 5:21PM
1 0
profile picture
TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
zion mist will print the best. Just crop it differently, the perceived horizon is off and it looks like the rocks are 10 degrees leaning to the right
Mar 12 2013 5:21PM
1 0
profile picture
_RNS_
Posts: 172 - Karma: 736
damn, your right.... thanks!
Mar 12 2013 5:22PM
1 0
profile picture
_RNS_
Posts: 172 - Karma: 736
will do
Mar 12 2013 5:23PM
1 0
profile picture
_RNS_
Posts: 172 - Karma: 736
http://www.flickr.com/photos/openslope/8553148830/in/photostream/lightbox/
better?
Mar 12 2013 5:31PM
1 0
profile picture
TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
Yep, looking a lot better.

Remember that shooting the photo is only half the process (albiet the fun part). Part of the art of photography has always been taking a piece of film, processing it, and printing it - a printed piece is the finished product. In digital photography, the darkroom is replaced with the computer, and the printing is often replaced with a screen. Don't feel like spending time processing your photo to realize your vision with it is a bad thing! I would play with the color, contrast, levels, all that and see what works. You'll find out what you like and what you don't quickly.
Mar 12 2013 5:44PM
1 0
profile picture
_RNS_
Posts: 172 - Karma: 736
Alright. Thanks a lot for your advice! I really appreciate it.
Mar 12 2013 5:59PM
1 0
All times are Eastern (-5)