Does anyone have a picture that they really liked but it seemed no one else felt the same and you wonder WHY? Well I want to give everone the oppurtunity to post THAT picture and then someone else maybe give a reason or 2 on what could have made it more appealing:) I will post mine first............
Your subject is beautiful and elegant. She just looks uncomfortable in that chair that is slanted downhill a bit. I could see her and that chair inside or an sunny porch.
@keke1rosie I think your concept is fantastic, but the image is a bit too busy/messy. The eye is led by the area of greatest local contrast, and also leading lines - unfortunately, that is the tree (in both cases). Those things need to lead the eye to your subject, rather than pull the eye away from it. The extended foot is another distraction, because it is in a bright spot of light. My eyes are unable to stay on your subject, which is a pity. There are some things that could have helped here:
Shallow DOF - if you'd used a wider aperture and had more seperation of your subject and background, the background would be less of a distraction, while still creating interesting shapes.
Local contrast - you could use a reflector to make your subject stand out more from the background, or fill flash (if used carefully). A scrim or shade to block the light where her foot rests could have been helpful too, or simply keeping her all in even lighting and removing any "hot spots" ffrom the foreground.
Composition - this is more than just framing and posing, but also choosing the right focal length, and making use of the light. The pose is a little "closed" for my liking, but not bad. You could have tried a tighter frame, and using the leg and arms as leading lines. The chair could have been slightly angled, or the subject more angled to contrast the lines of the chair. The exposure seems slightly under (though the skin tones are good), and the dress has lost its form because of this (shadow clipping, or close enough to it).
Overall, I think it's an excellent attempt, and something to revisit. There is much potential in the image.
@moonpig - Agreed - a slightly wider shot would have told more of the story. There is so much going for your image, but it is a little isolated because one can't readily see the context. I think, also, you've underexposed. The subjects are backlit, and so (once again) the eyes are drawn to the background where there is greater contrast. I think more light, and a looser framing, would have improved the image dramatically. Still, I think it is a wonderful image, and perhaps was overlooked because the thumbnail could not tell the story well enough to entice viewers.
@candelabra I think your diptych works for you because it tells a story you already know, but perhaps not for others because it doesn't show enough of that story. You have two (very) close-up shots of your pooch presumably playing, but it sort-of amounts to "one eye in focus, something blue, and a chair leg" and "puppy's head and a mauled soccer ball". It may speak oodles to you of the dog's personality, but I think a stranger would find it confusing and pass it over. They're a little bit "detail", a bit "action" and not realy anything of "context". They also lack contrast and shape (the right image is a little better in this regard, but it seems haphazard rather than composed), and because your camera has exposed for the white hair, the shadows lack detail (and so the eyes seem mostly lifeless in shadow). There is no real connection for the viewer to make. I think you need more light, more space, and more context, to show others what you feel when you see these images. And I don't think it would take much for you to do that. Use that lovely light, and you'll be on the right track.
To be fair, I should add one of mine. Now, don't get me wrong, this got a pretty good response in respect to comments, but for some reason lacked the views that other images of mine received around that time. I wonder if it is simply too "plain" or lacks an emotional connection.
@jinximages I don't think that it's "plain" but I do think it lacks the emotional connection that I've gotten used to from your images. This one to me also seems a little to blurry and out of focus. I don't like the way the lighting is either really. To dark in the wrong places, to bright from behind. The girl lacks a certain definition I think. Also I don't think the bare feet work well here. Maybe if it were a little sharper with toned down lighting and slightly brighter shadows???? I dunno. Maybe it's just me.
@harsha I REALLY like the second one. The way the sky looks is just AMAZING. The first one though kinda looks a little plain to me. Maybe a little to much sky in that one, or I don't really know. It just doesn't really strike me much.
@candelabra I have to agree with Jinx on this. I don't really understand what you were going for here. I see a cute puppy up really close with dead eyes holding something blue, and then a really cute puppy a little farther away with dead eyes holding a tore up soccer ball....I would definantly want to see more of the story and the playfulness of the puppy in the pictures.
@moonpig Overall it is a very nice shot, but I think it would have been much better if you had slid the whole thing just slightly to the left to include more of the second guy.
@keke1rosie I would just get rid of the chair in this shot all together and put her on like a cute blanket or just sitting in the grass. I feel that the chair is way to distracting. She also looks very uncomfortable and not very happy in the picture.
This one is mine, I know I didn't post it that long ago, but the few that I have posted since have gotten more views than it did. I love this shot though and a few of the ones that I thought were not so good have gotten many more views.
@jinximages - I love the idea of this one, but I think the lighting is too contrasty. The silhouette of her figure is great, but I would have liked to see some detail around her hair and the light behind her to be less bright. But I love the graininess!
@lildancervixen - it is framed very well and the lighting is spot on - the only thing I don't like about it is the child's eyes are shut.
@lildancervixen Thank you Grace. :) I shot it at 25600 ISO - hence the lack of sharpness, and massive amounts of noise/grain. It was a grab-shot, still, I found it striking, and wondered why it did not seem to appeal as much to others as it did to some. I believe you are right - it lacks the connection. Cheers. :)
@keke1rosie I agree. It is a beautiful shot, but she does look uncomfortable. A simplier background could also help put the focus on her face right away. @lildancervixen he is adorable and I love the blue of the pool. Did you crop this? Maybe if you did, you could put him slightly off center and make the picture a little more interesting? @jinximages This is beautiful. I agree that maybe if there was a little less contrast it would help? But overallit is an amazing and unique shot.
I have so many pictures that I like a lot and get really excited about posting and then I don't get comments.
This is just the most recent example. Maybe it is just because there are so many similar shots out there? I just thought I would give it a try and I liked it. But, I LOVE daisies!
this was kind of early in my project, but i loved it because it showed the relationship between our huge german shepherd and our smallest family member:) i loved the light and the fact that the baby seems to be angled towards the dog-the quote seemed perfect. i has been viewed a lot since, but never really caught on, lol....
@cohare - i just love this image:0 so elegantly simple...maybe the reason it did not get much fanfare is the very fact that it is so elegantly simple:) maybe the white on white did not stand out on the thumbnail...i really can't say more- the light, comp and focus are perfect...i just love your photos:)
@4storiesLiz (fotomama): I love your shot. So sweet Love how the light reflects off of their heads. Makes me wonder what they are looking at.
@cohare I love the white on white and the lighting! I find it very elegant, soft. I love your POV. Not sure why it did not get very many views...although there are are a lot of flowers, they are all different and beautiful in their own way.
@lildancervixen Grace Noyes: Adorable! I would have liked to see the image cropped to see more of that big grin! Super cute shot!
@keke1rosie kegan: I like the idea...but the chair and woman may have been better with a white background. She appears uncomfortable and too posed perhaps. Okay...this is coming from a nobody (myself), however. :) Great topic of discussion here!
Here is mine:
@4stories@timandelke@kaustin thank you. This was one of those pictures I knew I had on my camera and was so excited to edit at the end of the day (i usually edit at 9pm after the kids are asleep) so- I was happy with it. @4stories I think this picture is beautiful. It is full of emotion and tells a story. Like Krista said, it makes me wonder what they are doing. @kaustin This is crazy. You can see the movement in the wings. I like the white pop of the flowers and the green background. Maybe if you staurated the background a little more there would be more contrast and the bee and flowers would pop more? I am a nobody too...so take it for what it is worth!
I liked this one and it wasn't very popular. I've seen some amazing sunsets on here and know I am nowhere in their league but didn't think this was THAT bad :)
@keke1rosie I agree that the location/angle are awkward. Maybe if you cropped the photo in to her head down to elbows only it would feel better. And also maybe b&w or sepia.
@candelabra Your dogs eyes are so deep inside all that fur that I think you need a completely different kind of lighting. It is too dark and shadowed here. Maybe come at him/her from below, as he is looking down at you, and with outdoor light.
You know, I was thrilled with this as an sooc and it got quite a few views (for me anyway), but hardly any comments. Is it boring, a cliche, - these thoughts occur to me. I'm learning more about editing, but I also still love pretty ordinary things . . .
and this pic for today...my friends don't think it's good and maybe it isn't, but i I captured nice picture of Jon with my crappy camera and it's special to me
got no comments on this, but i love it... what with the 666 painted on the road.
Its Speed Camera 666, i just find it funny/surreal/something about an official signage that is odd.
I had to do some photography for a basketball tournament for work (I'm a secretary in a radio station) and I loved this picture, but it seems everyone else hates it....
Just want to say reading the detailed critiques here is really interesting. Feel like I could learn a lot from reading this kind of thing. I find critiques in painting class perhaps the most helpful thing that happens there - and it's useful regardless of whether the piece is my own. Thanks to all of you who contributed here.
@reba - i really like it too! i love the droplets of water...and the thought of what you are going to do wth these blueberries now that they are washed.
@jessica - i don't know much about proper critiquing and what not, but the scene is too busy. I had to really LOOK to see who the actual subject of the photo was. Maybe you could have focused more on him and blurred at least the observers..?
@moonpig i am commenting on the chair photo, Its the chair for me that doesn't fit, I like the pose the tree in the background,the chair seems too fancy, what about the same everything , and a wicker chair or a bulky rough bench?
@ehenry95 I love the dark and silence of the street.
The bee photo, i didn't notice the bee at first, I noticed the flowers . The flowers are beautiful, the bee a little out of focus. I think its very good though as is. I tried to take a pic of a bee today and I look like a fool in the yard, i was not quick enough
@mcdougall I noticed the big ring of the sun in the photo overtop of your trees, I can't tell you how to correct that, shooting in to the sun is difficult
@keke1rosie I definitely understand the concept you were going for here. I LOVE that kind of photography. I think what would have made the photo just perfect would be:
-ensuring the chair is level (I feel like the focus of the photo should most often be level as the eye will more likely be drawn to it.)
-a more relaxed pose (maybe sitting back and/or leg over a chair arm?)
-take the photo on a less sunny day, I feel like the overwhelming brightness in the back might take away from the rich colours of her, the chair, the tree, etc.
I'm no pro, but those are some suggestions.
Nonetheless, I LOVE the photo!
@jessicaelaine Love the varied colors in this shot and the action is great! My critique would be to pick a focal point (possible the players) and really try to get a clear focus, would love to have seen a shot that did not cut off their legs. I'm obviously not a pro, so don't mind me ;)
I got a few comments on views on this one, but not as many as I would have thought. I really love the silhouettes. I don't like that her dress fades into the ground where she is standing, maybe if she has been standing higher or wore a fluffier dress to show more definition, idk.
@missvicki Well you're right, the chair really doesn't work in that photo, and maybe it wouldn't work anywhere. But that tree I have problems with too because the one branch is really big and textured and detracts from her face. However, this outdoor setting might work if the tree were less in focus? That way you have the lovely natural surrounding, but not all that business. I like your idea of a bench. A bench might pull the whole thing together!
@keke1rosie This (at least for me) looks much better. I agree it does seem a little grainy but over all it's not that bad. She is very elegant and pretty. There's just something about her expression that still reads a little uncomfortable. It does look better though =) very pretty.
@keke1rosie Ah, yes and no. It is grainy, like you said, or more accurately - noisy. This can be overcome with anti-noise software (Noiseware, NoiseNinja, Lightroom 3 noise reduction sliders etc) but you will lose detail and sharpness, which can't be helped when you crop an image down so much. The crop certainly draws the attention to the subject by eliminating much of the background and other distracting factors, but the awkward crop of her left arm is a new distraction. An even tighter crop would help (but in this case, in-camera rather than in PP as the image wasn't shot for a CU and won't really work as one) but defeats the purpose of using that chair and location - it removes the subject from it, meaning that she could have been anywhere and no-one would know. I would just reshoot it, if possible, and not try to salvage in this case. For good editing you need a good SOOC shot, and editing includes cropping, so I think it is best to just refer to it in making a new image (using the knowledge of the good and bad points of this one to create something new).
@kaustin I love your shot! I wonder if the crop were slightly tighter, and the contrast were brought down a hair, the bee might "pop" a little more. It is lovely though! @jinximages I love the concept of your shot. Really, it is stunning. I wonder if the contrast may be a little too much though....extreme bright, and extreme dark. Maybe if the light were just a tad less, there would be a little more detail visible. I love this shot though, and I love that she has bare feet and find the whole thing really inspiring!
Here is my shot. I loved it. I know there were some comments and some views, but I wondered why it didn't stand out more in the over-all scheme of things? :)
@cohare I think your shot just got lost in the thumb-nail or something. It is perfect! @4stories I think this one is spot-on too. So sweet! @sleepdozer57 I think the angle of the photo confuses me. The first thing I did when I saw the shot was slightly tilt my head. I like the movement in it though! @keke1rosie I think the new crop makes a world of difference in the shot. May I suggest either bringing down the contrast a hair, or possibly the saturation? I think it would help the subject and soften the edges a little.
again ...yesterday's picture. I think it is one of my best. I think the mistake I made was posting 2 similar shots and maybe it was overload of the same picture idea so that people just didn't open the image up? Either way...I love them both
@cholbert This is beautiful just the way it is. Maybe if you tried doing the same picture in muted colors it would have gotten a different reaction? But, I do love the bright red sneakers. Maybe the sky is too blue that it is taking away from the boy, the fence, and the mountain. Maybe see what it looks like with just a white sky? This is all coming from someone who know very little about this stuff...it is just my reaction. But it is a great shot.
Thanks for the critique! The only thing I could figure is that his skin looks a little yellow but other than that, I love the color in it!
And the one you just posted of the little girl is LOVELY! Seriously! The only suggestion I could make is to get rid of that bright orb/reflection above her head.
@keke1rosie I agree with Jinx -- I love that I can see her face more, but then it is a little grainy. I can't believe you are 11! Is this for a school project?
@jinximages THank you for your great comments-suggestions. The girl picture for me attracts your eye to one spot and then doesnt go anywhere. @lildancervixen great shot but I have to agree on the shut eyes and could be cropped to have less pool and more child. @mlassiter125 my eyes goes to your text. If I scroll down it becomes more interesting. @cholbert I like the boy but the background seems over exposed or something- @cohare I agree with the orbit over her head. Crop that out or something and it becomes awesome. I am going only by what I like- thanks for this thread- learning alot.
I think that people are capricious. If you're trying to please everyone, you'll please no one at all. Don't worry about views. You can't control what other people do or think, you can only control yourself.
That being said, it's not as though I never check the comments or the number of views. I really enjoy the comments I get and I really enjoy the whole 365 project.
I loved this one, it's one of my favorites. I love the lights that burst like a star. Second I it was 4 buses and I put the camera on the tripod and caught them streaming across the bottom.
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All of my friends hate this but they can't tell me why.
Shallow DOF - if you'd used a wider aperture and had more seperation of your subject and background, the background would be less of a distraction, while still creating interesting shapes.
Local contrast - you could use a reflector to make your subject stand out more from the background, or fill flash (if used carefully). A scrim or shade to block the light where her foot rests could have been helpful too, or simply keeping her all in even lighting and removing any "hot spots" ffrom the foreground.
Composition - this is more than just framing and posing, but also choosing the right focal length, and making use of the light. The pose is a little "closed" for my liking, but not bad. You could have tried a tighter frame, and using the leg and arms as leading lines. The chair could have been slightly angled, or the subject more angled to contrast the lines of the chair. The exposure seems slightly under (though the skin tones are good), and the dress has lost its form because of this (shadow clipping, or close enough to it).
Overall, I think it's an excellent attempt, and something to revisit. There is much potential in the image.
@moonpig - Agreed - a slightly wider shot would have told more of the story. There is so much going for your image, but it is a little isolated because one can't readily see the context. I think, also, you've underexposed. The subjects are backlit, and so (once again) the eyes are drawn to the background where there is greater contrast. I think more light, and a looser framing, would have improved the image dramatically. Still, I think it is a wonderful image, and perhaps was overlooked because the thumbnail could not tell the story well enough to entice viewers.
@candelabra I think your diptych works for you because it tells a story you already know, but perhaps not for others because it doesn't show enough of that story. You have two (very) close-up shots of your pooch presumably playing, but it sort-of amounts to "one eye in focus, something blue, and a chair leg" and "puppy's head and a mauled soccer ball". It may speak oodles to you of the dog's personality, but I think a stranger would find it confusing and pass it over. They're a little bit "detail", a bit "action" and not realy anything of "context". They also lack contrast and shape (the right image is a little better in this regard, but it seems haphazard rather than composed), and because your camera has exposed for the white hair, the shadows lack detail (and so the eyes seem mostly lifeless in shadow). There is no real connection for the viewer to make. I think you need more light, more space, and more context, to show others what you feel when you see these images. And I don't think it would take much for you to do that. Use that lovely light, and you'll be on the right track.
@harsha I REALLY like the second one. The way the sky looks is just AMAZING. The first one though kinda looks a little plain to me. Maybe a little to much sky in that one, or I don't really know. It just doesn't really strike me much.
@candelabra I have to agree with Jinx on this. I don't really understand what you were going for here. I see a cute puppy up really close with dead eyes holding something blue, and then a really cute puppy a little farther away with dead eyes holding a tore up soccer ball....I would definantly want to see more of the story and the playfulness of the puppy in the pictures.
@moonpig Overall it is a very nice shot, but I think it would have been much better if you had slid the whole thing just slightly to the left to include more of the second guy.
@keke1rosie I would just get rid of the chair in this shot all together and put her on like a cute blanket or just sitting in the grass. I feel that the chair is way to distracting. She also looks very uncomfortable and not very happy in the picture.
This one is mine, I know I didn't post it that long ago, but the few that I have posted since have gotten more views than it did. I love this shot though and a few of the ones that I thought were not so good have gotten many more views.
@lildancervixen - it is framed very well and the lighting is spot on - the only thing I don't like about it is the child's eyes are shut.
@lildancervixen he is adorable and I love the blue of the pool. Did you crop this? Maybe if you did, you could put him slightly off center and make the picture a little more interesting?
@jinximages This is beautiful. I agree that maybe if there was a little less contrast it would help? But overallit is an amazing and unique shot.
I have so many pictures that I like a lot and get really excited about posting and then I don't get comments.
This is just the most recent example. Maybe it is just because there are so many similar shots out there? I just thought I would give it a try and I liked it. But, I LOVE daisies!
@cohare I love the white on white and the lighting! I find it very elegant, soft. I love your POV. Not sure why it did not get very many views...although there are are a lot of flowers, they are all different and beautiful in their own way.
@lildancervixen Grace Noyes: Adorable! I would have liked to see the image cropped to see more of that big grin! Super cute shot!
@keke1rosie kegan: I like the idea...but the chair and woman may have been better with a white background. She appears uncomfortable and too posed perhaps. Okay...this is coming from a nobody (myself), however. :) Great topic of discussion here!
Here is mine:
@4stories I think this picture is beautiful. It is full of emotion and tells a story. Like Krista said, it makes me wonder what they are doing.
@kaustin This is crazy. You can see the movement in the wings. I like the white pop of the flowers and the green background. Maybe if you staurated the background a little more there would be more contrast and the bee and flowers would pop more? I am a nobody too...so take it for what it is worth!
http://365project.org/izythunder/365/2011-05-14
and this pic for today...my friends don't think it's good and maybe it isn't, but i I captured nice picture of Jon with my crappy camera and it's special to me
http://365project.org/izythunder/365/2011-06-08
this is one of my favorite shots, not much comments or views though..
oh, and this one:
got no comments on this, but i love it... what with the 666 painted on the road.
Its Speed Camera 666, i just find it funny/surreal/something about an official signage that is odd.
I love the colors, the contrast, the texture......am i alone on this..?
@jessica - i don't know much about proper critiquing and what not, but the scene is too busy. I had to really LOOK to see who the actual subject of the photo was. Maybe you could have focused more on him and blurred at least the observers..?
The bee photo, i didn't notice the bee at first, I noticed the flowers . The flowers are beautiful, the bee a little out of focus. I think its very good though as is. I tried to take a pic of a bee today and I look like a fool in the yard, i was not quick enough
-ensuring the chair is level (I feel like the focus of the photo should most often be level as the eye will more likely be drawn to it.)
-a more relaxed pose (maybe sitting back and/or leg over a chair arm?)
-take the photo on a less sunny day, I feel like the overwhelming brightness in the back might take away from the rich colours of her, the chair, the tree, etc.
I'm no pro, but those are some suggestions.
Nonetheless, I LOVE the photo!
I love the colour tones in this one:
I think this is a great shot, may look really cool in black and white.
I really liked this one because If you look in the water droplet you can see an upside down tree and building.
Here is my shot. I loved it. I know there were some comments and some views, but I wondered why it didn't stand out more in the over-all scheme of things? :)
@4stories I think this one is spot-on too. So sweet!
@sleepdozer57 I think the angle of the photo confuses me. The first thing I did when I saw the shot was slightly tilt my head. I like the movement in it though! @keke1rosie I think the new crop makes a world of difference in the shot. May I suggest either bringing down the contrast a hair, or possibly the saturation? I think it would help the subject and soften the edges a little.
I'm not going to post like 70 pictures here.
Thanks for the critique! The only thing I could figure is that his skin looks a little yellow but other than that, I love the color in it!
And the one you just posted of the little girl is LOVELY! Seriously! The only suggestion I could make is to get rid of that bright orb/reflection above her head.
I love this one. Not many views. Made me a little sad. :( maybe it is too boring?
And two views:
That being said, it's not as though I never check the comments or the number of views. I really enjoy the comments I get and I really enjoy the whole 365 project.