Whip Agne

[binghott]

please dig into this photo. there's a lot that i like here, but a lot that bothers me too. i want to see what you all think.

http://binghott.smugmug.com/photos/139206581-L-3.jpg


thanks for lookin

[SloYerRoll]

I think you did a great job composing the model and background person practicing Tai Chi. Also composing so you captured both eyes. Especially w/ the exagerated lashes.

While you did a great job aligning your perspective, the lens you used looks like it has issues w/ barreling. Might want to avoind this lens unless your going for that look (which I realy like)

B&W conversion needs help.

Don't mind the highlights. THis helps sets the mood for me.

-Jon

[gefillmore]

I pretty much agree with jon-

neat pic of agne with the guy in the bg-

and the highlights are ok-

I would like to see agne a little better by crop and pop-

also more black and contrast-

[HarlanBear]

I agree that it's an interesting idea. Issues for me are the obvious distortion on the columns, and I don't see what you need beyond the columns on the right. Perhaps depth, but I think it's a distraction. Different shot if you lose the BG on the right, though. Also, cars in the left BG are a bit of a distraction since I like the isolation of the people and that gets lost with the cars, IMO.

[TylerW]

The bicycle in the background makes the tai Chi guy feel more incidental than a part of the shot. It makes me feel like you didn't bother to exclude him from the picture, instead of intending to include him.

The lost highlights in the ground texture are taking away from the shot as well, in my opinion. any way to get those back?

[Marc Muench]

I find the dude in the back taking away from what ever mood is being set by the model. I don't mind the lens distortion as it actually fits with the funky nature of the image. I would like to see the dude partially covered by one of the colums maybe? I would also like to see more light, that is just more of the existing soft light on the models face.

Was there a reason for the dude in the back ground or was it spontanious fun?

[Mike02]

Its too busy; there shouldnt be a guy in the background, I can see if the entire area was empty, this would be a much better portrait.

On the other hand:

I do like your model's mood, and position. It just looks like waiting a few more seconds would have made this a way better portrait. Just imo. :P.

[Swartzy]

As a photo: The open space on the left with only columns doesn't work....artistic or not...doesn't convey a mood other than...empty. The person in the background doing what ever (Tia Chi?..who cares) makes no sense in regards to the subject. The bicycle makes even less sense to the overall image.

This shot seems (to me anyway) to beg for a subject...any of them...the columns, the guy in the background, or the girl. I would favor the girl...less columns and clone out the other things. The cars on the street behind her back take my eye right to them. She seems a bit soft as well (focus wise).

Don't like hanging out here alot as it seems to turn out into rules and PS techniques...so wanted to at least give you how the photo effects me as a viewer without the technical aspects.

Good luck.

[Gary Glass]

Simplify. Use Photoshop's perspective correction tools to straighten the columns. The photo isn't about the columns or your fisheye lense. Clone the bicycle away. Crop some of the blown out space on the left. What are you left with? An engaging thematic contrast between a young girl full of ennui and a old man dancing with Tao. That's a photo! I'd also make it contrastier, but I like contrast.

[dogwood]

Well, just my two-cents, but what (or who) is your subject here? :scratchThe man in the background or the woman in the foreground? To me, they're both competeing for my attention and I'm not sure where I should be looking since they seem like completely different subjects. Again, just my opinion, but I'd either get rid of the guy/bike or get rid of the woman. It's just too distracting with both.

[Andy]

As a photo: The open space on the left with only columns doesn't work....artistic or not...doesn't convey a mood other than...empty. The person in the background doing what ever (Tia Chi?..who cares) makes no sense in regards to the subject. The bicycle makes even less sense to the overall image.

This shot seems (to me anyway) to beg for a subject...any of them...the columns, the guy in the background, or the girl. I would favor the girl...less columns and clone out the other things. The cars on the street behind her back take my eye right to them. She seems a bit soft as well (focus wise).
That's a good crit :thumb

Don't like hanging out here alot as it seems to turn out into rules and PS techniques...so wanted to at least give you how the photo effects me as a viewer without the technical aspects.

Good luck.Dunno why you'd be gunshy, you did fine. More!

[binghott]

wow, thanks for all the comments! you guys are the greatest! :bow i can't respond right now, but i promise i will very soon. . .

(i felt bad for not responding yet, but wanted to let yall know i read em)

more comments are always welcome!

[gefillmore]

I still like the guy in the bg (and the bike)-

gives it a surreal quality?-

[Gary Glass]

I still like the guy in the bg (and the bike)-

gives it a surreal quality?-

Agreed. (Though the bike has got to go!) However, it all depends what the photog is trying to accomplish. To me, as I said above, this shot works thematically as a contrast of the two figures. Without that, what is it? A portrait of a girl?

[Manfr3d]

Personaly I think that there are too many
elements in the scene what dont stand for
themselves. I like images that speak as a
whole not by its isolated components (
dude in bg, girl, building geometry).

[DavidTO]

Wide crop as is, I'd fix the perspective distortion and clean out the bike and the dude. Add some contrast, too.

With a narrower crop, losing the ends of the building, I'd keep the guy. I like it when the crop focuses your eye on the two people in the image.

[Scott_Quier]

FWIW, I'm going to disagree with much of what's been said (and agree with other stuff :-) ). To me, this shot is all abot the contrast between the young lady and the man.


Crop JUST to the left of the girl. Everything beyond the edge of her coat is out of scope.
The bicycle and the guy go together. I can't really express why I feel this, I just do. Maybe, because it shows the man to be a more traditional contrasted with her more modern appearance?
Correction of the barrell distortion is a good idea.
A little more contrast would probably be a good thing. Her skin tones look a little drab.

[binghott]

i truly love dgrin. thank you all so much for taking time to look at and critique my photo! you are the greatest!

FWIW, I'm going to disagree with much of what's been said (and agree with other stuff :-) ). To me, this shot is all abot the contrast between the young lady and the man.

Crop JUST to the left of the girl. Everything beyond the edge of her coat is out of scope.
The bicycle and the guy go together. I can't really express why I feel this, I just do. Maybe, because it shows the man to be a more traditional contrasted with her more modern appearance?
Correction of the barrell distortion is a good idea.
A little more contrast would probably be a good thing. Her skin tones look a little drab.

scott, i think you nailed my feelings exactly.

i would not have posted this shot with the guy and bike there if i did not like it. i like the contrast between her and the guy. i did not put him there, i saw him and placed agne accordingly. maybe more of the bike would help.

i should crop off the left side, those cars are annoying.

the barrel distortion is one of the main reasons i posted it here. you are all correct, i need to fix that. and i will.

this picture should have more contrast. i don't know what happened, i may have posted the wrong version, or i might have just messed up.

hopefully i'll get a chance to edit the shot and post a new version soon.

once again, thanks for your help everyone!

[Scott_Quier]

Thanks for the double compliment.

BTW I'm not the greatest (yet :D ), not even great, but I keep trying.

[binghott]

Thanks for the double compliment.

BTW I'm not the greatest (yet :D ), not even great, but I keep trying.

i mean, you (all dgrinners) are the greatest!:thumb

[Scott_Quier]

i mean, you (all dgrinners) are the greatest!:thumbI knew that. Just messin' around.

cheers!

[binghott]

I knew that. Just messin' around.

cheers!

ok good, i thought so, but had to be clear that i'm not picking favorites!

[junglejim]

If you take the picture as taken as a portrait of a pensive woman. I like everything except the guy in the background and the bike. I find the fact that the mood he presents is too different than the mood of the woman. the crop fits what I would do and I like the result.

Question: was he just there or did you get him there?

[pathfinder]

I can't find anywhere in the image that focus is sharp, and it seems to me that something here should be sharply focused to help me make sense of this image. I tend to think the girl should be sharp, but she seems OOF also:dunno

[binghott]

Question: was he just there or did you get him there?
thanks for the comments, jim. as for your question, he was just there and i shaped the photo around him.

I can't find anywhere in the image that focus is sharp, and it seems to me that something here should be sharply focused to help me make sense of this image. I tend to think the girl should be sharp, but she seems OOF also:dunno

thanks for the comment. i agree with you about the sharpness. i wasn't sure if it was just my eyes playing tricks on me, but the image does look oof. i assure you that the color original version is sharp. i feel like my images become blurry when i use the smugmug b&w effect. :dunno i guess i should be converting to b&w in photoshop anyway.