First post: Ok City memorial (56k warning)

[txdude35]

PLEASE be brutal in your critique- I won't learn any other way. Re-edits/reposts welcomed.
1.
http://jefft48.smugmug.com/photos/31054313-L.jpg

2.
http://jefft48.smugmug.com/photos/30831557-L.jpg
3.
http://jefft48.smugmug.com/photos/30347668-L-1.jpg

[JimM]

I like 2 and 3 a lot. Number one lacks a clear subject and has a large, unrulely line going through it. Nice idea, but it hurts the photo.

[txdude35]

I like 2 and 3 a lot. Number one lacks a clear subject and has a large, unrulely line going through it. Nice idea, but it hurts the photo.
Thanks. I've been trying to tone down the sidewalk in #1, but its just too blown.

[JimM]

Thanks. I've been trying to tone down the sidewalk in #1, but its just too blown.
You might want to try to crop out the sidewalk entirely. I know you lose the relection, but it would still be a nice shot? You could remove the sidewalk completely with PS too? Though this would not be the actual scene then.

[David_S85]

#1 just plain doesn't work. Too many competing objects, subjects, and compositional misdirections.

#2 comes the closest to the monuments taking center stage and bringing forward the reason for the photo, but there's just too few monuments there to get the point across. However, a shot of just one monument, with blurring others in either foreground, background - or both - might work well too.

#3 doesn't clearly illustrate the monuments as main subject or theme either. Yes, they're in the center, but my eyes wander around too much; church, sky, water, etc. Looks like an above average cemetery shot.

Are there any shots you have that show an almost endless depth of monuments leading into a vanishing point? (such as a wide angle view close to one or a few monuments leading away to tiny monuments into the background and oblivion?) Perhaps at an odd geometric angle? For such a somber subject, I would think that the composition must almost be one of shear simplicity, yet convey the vastness of monuments within that space.

Might want to gleam some ideas from photos of Arlington National Cemetery.

[txdude35]

You might want to try to crop out the sidewalk entirely. I know you lose the relection, but it would still be a nice shot? You could remove the sidewalk completely with PS too? Though this would not be the actual scene then.
I cloned out the sidewalk and tried to extend the pool, but no reflection. Extended the grass, but just didn't look right.
Maybe it would have been better if I wasn't shooting at high noon on a bright sunny day.
Thanks for your input.

[txdude35]

#1 just plain doesn't work. Too many competing objects, subjects, and compositional misdirections.

#2 comes the closest to the monuments taking center stage and bringing forward the reason for the photo, but there's just too few monuments there to get the point across. However, a shot of just one monument, with blurring others in either foreground, background - or both - might work well too.

#3 doesn't clearly illustrate the monuments as main subject or theme either. Yes, they're in the center, but my eyes wander around too much; church, sky, water, etc. Looks like an above average cemetery shot.

Are there any shots you have that show an almost endless depth of monuments leading into a vanishing point? (such as a wide angle view close to one or a few monuments leading away to tiny monuments into the background and oblivion?) Perhaps at an odd geometric angle? For such a somber subject, I would think that the composition must almost be one of shear simplicity, yet convey the vastness of monuments within that space.

Might want to gleam some ideas from photos of Arlington National Cemetery.
Thanks for your input.
I have tried many things on #1, and you're right- it just doesn't work.
#2- I could try blurring the background, maybe that'll help.
#3- I'll take above average cemetery shot.

You might be able to tell from 1 and 3 that the geographic area is _very_ tight, and there are no odd geometric angles to work with. I tried getting a diagonal shot of a row, but there's just not enough space to make it work. There simply isn't a "vastness of monuments" over rolling hills like Arlington, or a good ultra wide angle (have to have ultra wide due to 1.6 crop factor) in my bag. I tried to capture some of the essence of the place with my limited skills and equipment. Hopefully I'll do better next time.
Again, thanks for your input.

[David_S85]

Sometimes, yes, shoot areas can be a challenge. I haven't actually been there - just seen it on TV (sure seemed bigger), but you never know what focal length they're using on these short TV segments.

The first things always going through my brain as I am returning from a shoot is how I'd do it differently the next time (different time of day, time of year, different clouds, less people, other lens, bracketed shots, etc.). And usually for me at least, that next time never arrives, unless it's a local haunt.

But you got a lot out of the shoot and the experience, and that's what's beneficial.


Thanks for your input.
You might be able to tell from 1 and 3 that the geographic area is _very_ tight, and there are no odd geometric angles to work with. I tried getting a diagonal shot of a row, but there's just not enough space to make it work. There simply isn't a "vastness of monuments" over rolling hills like Arlington, or a good ultra wide angle (have to have ultra wide due to 1.6 crop factor) in my bag. I tried to capture some of the essence of the place with my limited skills and equipment. Hopefully I'll do better next time.
Again, thanks for your input.

[txdude35]

Thanks. I did learn much from this shoot and the feedback I have received. That first shot has been getting hammered on the three forums where I've posted it. I know what I was trying to accomplish with it, but it just didn't work and next time (hopefully) my execution will be better.


Sometimes, yes, shoot areas can be a challenge. I haven't actually been there - just seen it on TV (sure seemed bigger), but you never know what focal length they're using on these short TV segments.

The first things always going through my brain as I am returning from a shoot is how I'd do it differently the next time (different time of day, time of year, different clouds, less people, other lens, bracketed shots, etc.). And usually for me at least, that next time never arrives, unless it's a local haunt.

But you got a lot out of the shoot and the experience, and that's what's beneficial.

[klabarba]

Andy gonna get you:rofl