So..what sucks about this shot?

[peederj]

Be careful about flying off the handle overinterpreting a comment, JerryBruck! I was clearly commenting on the look of the image, not making generalizations about the skill of Bulgarian photographers (of which I have little knowledge).

Be careful what you say about Bulgaria, @peederj, because it turns out Bulgaria is full of about the most soulful photographers on planet earth.  Fifty years ago they may have been restricted to pin-hole cameras I don't know, but today they have metal gear with little wires just like we do.  What do you think of this?

http://photomoment.bg/photo/82375

Yes?  Then I could also show you, right away, 100 more, in every style and on every subject carrying as much or more impact -- Bulgaria!  Add in Russia, Belorus, Ukraine, Turkey, even Moldova and you have a feast that just never ends.  5dMkii is popular in those regions among professionals but you will see astonishing results from less rarified kit and every kind of junk, pin-holes too I kid you not.

What is the "American perspective," anyway?  Is whatever's left over Socialist Realism?

[Kamera Obscura]

SandyMandy,

Your picture is fine considering how little experience you have.

I hear some complaints about PP. Remember the good old days in the Dark room, were the artistic juices could flow and you could be really creative. Like putting a Ladies nylon stocking over the light. Well today, it applies as well. The idea that PP could somehow be considered cheating or not pure, is very anal.

Be creative from start to Final image. Use all tool available to your disposal.

Best,
dario.

[smirkypants]

The idea that PP could somehow be considered cheating or not pure, is very anal.

Be creative from start to Final image. Use all tool available to your disposal.

The vast majority of people who use "photoshop" as a pejorative are very similar to people who hate math or 19th-century English textile artisans who destroyed mechanized looms.

[AJ]

Hi there,

I'm a photog who's written many hundreds of critiques on photosig.com  With that said, here's my $0.02

I think it's a charming photo that really shows the love between mother and daughter.  I think composition is good.  The hands, lips, and woman's ear are all on a diagonal, and this works well.  The photo looks a tad underexposed and the blackpoint is very heavy.  I'd like to see some rich dark shades rather than solid black.

The region of the child's lips is very dark.  It seems to get lost in the photo, and yet this is the part that makes the photo charming.  It's hard to see the child smiling.  I suggest trying some dodging here to brighten this area and to draw more attention to it.  The same holds true for the child's eye.

[scrappydog]

...The photo looks a tad underexposed and the blackpoint is very heavy.  I'd like to see some rich dark shades rather than solid black.

The region of the child's lips is very dark.  It seems to get lost in the photo, and yet this is the part that makes the photo charming.  It's hard to see the child smiling.  I suggest trying some dodging here to brighten this area and to draw more attention to it.  The same holds true for the child's eye.

+1.  I was thinking most of this but did not communicate it well in my prior post.

[Marsu42]

I'm a photog who's written many hundreds of critiques on photosig.com  With that said, here's my $0.02

I didn't know photosig, but it looks interesting. But looking at this thread, I am doubtful how valuable getting your pictures reviewed online might be - you end up with tons of contradicting opinions, and I wouldn't know what to make of it because I don't see the people face2face and cannot decide what the person's personality and background is. What's your take on online photo reviews?

[JerryBruck]

@Marsu42: PhotoSig is a website -- mainly for what seem to be beginners -- whose business plan is the volunteer coaching of all by all.  Non-paying members must write critiques (with minimum word-counts) in order to post their own photos, so everyone's a critic.  I won't attempt to describe the atmosphere there -- go visit.

I thought that sandymandy got some good and useful advice here in answer to his query, plus encouragement, plus a preview of some of the vibes that often go along with photography these days.  Of course he'll have to sort it out, it's in the nature of things that there's no single answer to his sort of question, isn't that so?

[Marsu42]

I won't attempt to describe the atmosphere there -- go visit.

... pity, might have saved my some time :-o

I won't attempt to Of course he'll have to sort it out, it's in the nature of things that there's no single answer to his sort of question, isn't that so?

The problem is: How to sort it out? If I'm attending a face2face group review session, everybody brings one picture and all get reviewed by everyone. I can see the people, get a better idea of their personality and match this with their opinions. When looking at online opinions for non-tech issues (unlike "is the 24L sharper than the 35L" etc) I'm rather lost, but maybe I'm just lacking practice here.

[JerryBruck]

The problem is: How to sort it out?
[/quote]

Well that is the problem.  Was it Picasso who said that genius is knowing whose advice to take?  I suppose a beginner can sign up for school or attach themselves to a guru or just take from here & there...  For me the personality of a teacher wouldn't matter, nor the quality of their talk -- only their photos would. 

I think you can make good progress from staring at the kind of work you like and trying to match it, trial and error, the long way, true, but also the way of lucky accidents.  And there's nothing wrong with sandymandy's approach of throwing out an appeal for advice -- so long as you don't expect The Answer.   The answering babble will harbor leads, for him in particular and his to find. 

[KeithR]

The vast majority of people who use "photoshop" as a pejorative are very similar to people who hate math or 19th-century English textile artisans who destroyed mechanized looms.

I've said before that I use PS as much as anyone: but it's not a replacement for good photography.

[KeithR]

This is not a honest critique, this is you being an a**hole. I'm dying to see your wonderful shots, you might be an awesome photographer.

Don't talk such whiny crap.

And here you are - my website: www.capture-the-moment.co.uk

[RLPhoto]

I don't care for the B&W processing. The only time I use black and white is if the color in the photo is drawing the viewer out of photograph or color weakens the underlying primary composition. Idk what color looks like here though.

Id like to see it in color and perhaps a tighter shot with the ear not in the frame.

Id give it a 8/10. Good effort but little things like that add up to a weaker image.

[AE]

Hi.  Just looked at the photo and had the thought that the real interest is in the middle third, sort of centering on the diamond created by the child's hat, the adult's index finger, the adult's hairline and scarf.  On the left I would crop just left of the diamond (just a little bit to the left of where the scarf and index finger meet, doing without most of the finger), on the right left before (just left of) the hair that drop vertically, doing without the ear.  I think the 'message' is in this area.  Just an idea.

[Hillsilly]

I think its a good shot and I like it.  But, it is a photo of people I don't know. If it was my wife and child, I'd be delighted.  I'd frame it and putting it on wall.  But would I put your photo on my wall?  No.

With close up photos of people, it is difficult to gain widespread acceptance unless it is a photo of someone famous (or unless you are famous).  While people can appreciate it is a good photo, it only has relevance to those pictured and close family members.

I wouldn't take the rejection too personally.  The fact that the judges didn't accept it doesn't detract from it being a good photo.

[sandymandy]

okay, thank yall. Sadly my mission of taking photos on the easter brunch event didnt work out at all. Most people didnt want shots to be taken so i just gave up and enjoyed the brunch instead