I have asked anyone to critic my photos if they like. This one I am particularly interested in all the critics and would like to have more room for discussion. I took the photo very underexposed, and turned it to black and white in Apple Aperture (no plug-in used, no photoshop). I posted the second photo with high contrast HD format, but also have other crop/more detail B&W options as well. Which one would you choose, or what would you do? Feel free to download the original file and play. I love this kind of interaction, so feel free to tell me what you think, and I would take "all these are crap" (which is also a very genuine feedback).
I'm not good with the color or pulling the detail from the shadows, but this is the crop I prefer. And yes it may be a personal thing, most of photography is. :)
@tigerdreamer Thank you Karen. I thought a square format would be good too, but was probably too attached to the space on the right to give it a go. The white teeth is cool! And retaining the colors at the back give a sense of Bangkok nighs (this is very near, 5-mins walk, to Patpong, the red district area with bars and everything).
Not to keen on how the dish's, bags have been lost when converted to b&w. I don't really do processing but I tried a graduated filter (adjusting exposure) running from the top right hand corner to the bottom left to bring out the detail on the man using Lightroom. Also cropped some from the right and bottom to get him position in a more rule of thirds position.
Then converted that to b&w in Silver Efex.
And then back into Lightroom to try and remove some of the noise
@agima Thank you. Get why you like #2. Love it when you say "I am not a fan of the image in general. For me it is way to busy and without a defined subject". Yeh. We need frank feedback around here!!
I can't talk processing because I don't have this level of software to play - but I can answer the query about language.
In English, the verb is to criticise, someone who criticises is a critic, they make a criticism or they are critical. But criticism normally has negative connotations - like permanently finding fault. A critique is still a discussion on how to improve but tends to imply constructive criticism. With that spelling it was almost certainly imported from French and English is different in distinguishing between criticism and critique.
To be absolutely honest, Nod, I personally would have thrown the photo in the trash after downloading it and a first attempt at trying to correct the exposure. Why? Because there is way too much confusion. The subject is not clear and what the subject is doing is equally unclear. And then there is all the distraction around him. To further delve into this interesting discussion, what is it about the photo that you liked? Why did you think it was worth saving and working on in post?
@aspada Thank you. I like his face. It reminds me of the Thai version of "hungry ghost" (เปรต)... enjoy :-) People say they like to come to ask for "spiritual donations :-) ha ha...
@nod oh wow.... thanks for the info on these "preds" as they are called in the english version youtube video. Rather spooky stuff. Soooo.... if you like his face why don't you go back to ask him if you can do more shots of him... If you were my "get pushed" partner this week that would be my challenge to you... a clearer portrayal of this character.
Brutally honest. I have no idea what it is. Why's it called Scarface? I cannot understand what is meant to be shown in the picture. What is it that you are portraying? I prefer the first one though.
@miley89 scarface because of the underexposed patch on his face. If its a Thai forum I'd call it "thought I saw a hungry ghost". There is no deeper meaning in this photo. Thanks :)
I think it's going to be one of those annoying shots that you wished you nailed. You are obviously not happy with it or you wouldn't have asked for critique right? Throw it out. Accept the loss.
@miley89 Miley, I asked for critics because I want opinions, if people like it, so-so, or want to toss it (like yourself and Amy, and possibly many more), or if they would do it differently, and how it would look with different post-processing, i.e. like what Jase has done (he may not like the photo anyway).
For this shot, I still like the one I posted, and to be really truthful to myself after reading the comments, I wouldn't change it (for other shots, may be), and I also like the one Jase @38mm has come up with with all the details in B&W. I can retake it, but it's a street shot. And for street shots, I might take photos of the guy again, but they will be totally different. :-)
I like the blunt honesty, thank you.
PS
- If I could change, I would try higher ISO but I don't normally go higher than 640 with this tool.
- And no, I didn't think I have nailed it. I like the high contrast B&W post-processed, and especially his face, his eyes.
@chewyteeth Dave, thanks! I also think the one Jase came up with is a better B&W photo. Love Silver Efex also, but I don't have a license now and don't have the skill to pull out those details. Damn!!! :-)
well - i struggle with the random and chaotic street photo... i see enough of them about that i have to think they draw an audience, and i like yours because random tho' it may be, it carries a wonderful sense of the dramatic... like something you might see in an ad somewhere... that said, what i find compelling is that it makes me want to search for the story / meaning - and i think i may end up feeling manipulated if it turns out there isn't one ;p
if you want to focus on his face, i would probably aim for a tighter crop and turn it into a portrait... not sure if the iso is low enough to pull that off, but might graininess be your friend in this instance?
@northy Thanks Northy. After writing the reply to Miley above, I have been searching for the reason why I liked this one and still like it now when some said toss it in the bin, and when I could have gone for Jase's version which is a better B&W with much more details pulled out.
Probably like some of the photos I posted, I think it is less to do with the whole photo itself but more with my mood when I took/choose/edited them. Instead of tossing it in the bin, retake it, or chose the ones with more details, I went for the one with the face that looked like a Thai ghost and eyes that looked nonhuman, most details thrown out and the background with mostly white and black - contrasty and no compromise. I think that that was how I felt at that time :-)
I almost didn't read on after looking at the photos. My eyes go straight to the junk in the foreground and it took awhile for me to even see the person. I see why you want the photo though...in the color one, I liked some of the funky greens, reds, and nightlight, and plainly the guy is interesting. You need a reshoot.
@5unflow3r Thanks Trina. No I don't need a reshoot :-) Just a joke. I have to think more about how others "see" my photos (objectively), rather than how "I" see them (subjectively). But I still stubbornly like this one for what it means to me. Your comments, as well as those above who have been kind to provide feedback, are very valuable for my future shots, and I really appreciate them. Thank you so much.
OK...Having been challenged to do something I found a minute to do something...I think part of what I didn't like in the first place was the harshness, not just the blown out corner; so I had to try to soften it too.
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Then converted that to b&w in Silver Efex.
And then back into Lightroom to try and remove some of the noise
And now I'm going to have my breakfast :)
I am not a fan of the image in general. For me it is way to busy and without a defined subject.
In English, the verb is to criticise, someone who criticises is a critic, they make a criticism or they are critical. But criticism normally has negative connotations - like permanently finding fault. A critique is still a discussion on how to improve but tends to imply constructive criticism. With that spelling it was almost certainly imported from French and English is different in distinguishing between criticism and critique.
http://www.google.com/search?q=เปรต&hl=en&client=s
@38mm
Are you able to retake it?
For this shot, I still like the one I posted, and to be really truthful to myself after reading the comments, I wouldn't change it (for other shots, may be), and I also like the one Jase @38mm has come up with with all the details in B&W. I can retake it, but it's a street shot. And for street shots, I might take photos of the guy again, but they will be totally different. :-)
I like the blunt honesty, thank you.
PS
- If I could change, I would try higher ISO but I don't normally go higher than 640 with this tool.
- And no, I didn't think I have nailed it. I like the high contrast B&W post-processed, and especially his face, his eyes.
if you want to focus on his face, i would probably aim for a tighter crop and turn it into a portrait... not sure if the iso is low enough to pull that off, but might graininess be your friend in this instance?
Probably like some of the photos I posted, I think it is less to do with the whole photo itself but more with my mood when I took/choose/edited them. Instead of tossing it in the bin, retake it, or chose the ones with more details, I went for the one with the face that looked like a Thai ghost and eyes that looked nonhuman, most details thrown out and the background with mostly white and black - contrasty and no compromise. I think that that was how I felt at that time :-)