>>> LPS#3 Feedback Thread

[Shay Stephens]

You are in for a treat this round, as there will be a vast cornocopia of feedback coming at ya! It should start rolling in in a few hours.

[Andy]

My Top 10 picks:

Bubbles in Bubbles, Sunset Reflection - rddphotos
http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/271...44140763/Large

Hypnotic, colorful, creative. I want to keep looking.

Chicago, A Beans Eye View
http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/271...44154790/Large

Architecture is BORING! This shot - not. I'm instantly drawn in, I
want to see everything! The shot is sharp, clear, crisp. Love the rich
blues. The empty space serves to help focus the viewer. And the "real"
tower upper left, anchors everything.

Pizza Delivery - JimW
http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/271...44154275/Large

Disturbing! Most irregular. I'm drawn to the photo, and can imagine
all sorts of bad endings.

Children's Fountain - ginger_55
http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/271...44154027/Large

Highly irregular! Call the dog-catcher :) Great capture, very Elliot
Erwitt-esque!

Gnarly Wedge - Netgarden
http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/271...44153611/Large

Oh this captivated me the moment I saw it. It is like an abstract
painting almost. I love the flowing movement of the water.

Luminescence - annnna8888
http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/271...44154306/Large

Great take on a common subject. Use of fisheye or uwa lens really nice!
love the lighting and color. The perspective makes the shot.

perhaps more prunes - PaulThomasMcKee
http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/271...44148106/Large
Drives home "irregular" for sure! Grabby and disturbing at the same time.

One of a Kind - Ken Lapp
http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/271...44141290/Large
Nice take on the subject, and a classic composition well done.

Blue, Boston Massachusetts - eoren1
http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/271...44148116/Large
lovely night scene, beautiful blues and reflections.

Watercolor - davev
http://dgrin.smugmug.com/gallery/271...44154198/Large

Make lemons out of lemonade! Very painterly, good use of blah colors
and flat light. The egret is an added bonus.


OK and here are all the rest. Yes, I'm direct, honest, and sometimes sharp. I tried to convey what I thought when I evaluated the photos critically.

I believe I got every single one, all 110 entrants - but if I missed you, it wasn't on purpose! Just let me know :)

all shook
up
Comp, execution, fine. Good idea. It just didn't speak to me as others did.

Pen-ee S
Neither irregular or picturesque to me.

disjointed
No clue, didn't grab me.

Security
Blanket
Nice idea - not conveying either subject to me. Would have liked the
light to be across the eyes not the mouth.

teetering
travels
I think it suffers from underexposure. The idea is creative and fun.

Fields of
Gold
Pretty. Nice sky. I'm wanting more light on the flowers. Still, it's
really a nice image! I think it works better with either a traditional
compo, 1/3s etc, or an exact midline compo for the horizon.

Way Away
A nice plane. So?

TreeBark
Clinical, not interesting to me at all.

Mama's
biggest fear public water fountains
Nice family snapshot but it's not contest-worthy. Neither irregular or
picturesque.

Pennsylvania
RR Bridge
Nice scene, the overhanging tree detracts, not adds, work on the
composition.

Old Grain
Silo
Could be great, but it's missing foreground interest. Lovely BW though.

Road
Kill...?!?!?
Almost picked this. It is irregular. But others nudged it out. Nicely
done!

Smokin!
Good take on an old saw. But it didn't grab me for top 10, sorry.

Snoqualmie
Railway
Neither irregular or picturesque. Fairly clinical, sterile. Step back!

Asylum
Grabby. Disturbing. Irregular. But I wanted more, I feel the crop,
compo is too close up. Show the same figure in a big bed, and you have
a great shot.

Beam me up,
Scotty
They aren't rocklike to me. I was confused a bit.

untitled
seascape
Was in my top picks. Would have been a contendah, i was just too
bothered by the lighting in the foreground (pleasing) and the plugged
shadows on the far rocks.

Ravenous
Ravens dine at the blue plate
Not engaging. Birds looking away. Not funny. They don't look like
they are eating, they look bored.

Linens from
the Outlet
Not picturesge or irregular, at least not without the title. Not enough
anyhow.

Frosted
Falls
Don't like the purple water. It suffers also from a clinical,
tele-look. Step back, viewers aren't dumb, they'll find the good stuff
in a well composed landscape shot :)

Irregular
Income
Too small!

What is
it?
Exactly. And why did you enter it in irregular or picturesque?

Down On The
Farm, Smoky Mountain NP
Lovely scene. Leading lines are nice. This would benefit from pivoting
the camera to the left, and eliminating the unfortunate empty blah
foreground in the lower right. And some better light (landscapers are
are at the mercy of nature!)

Veins
Nice closeup, neat lines, though underexposed and clinical. Light,
light, light!!!!

Broken
Pattern
Nice idea. Better light on the lights though!

Cracked
Too clinical. Too close up. Not engaging.

Haceta
Lighthouse
Technically poor. Even under this weather, give us some contrast!

Hands
across time
Neither irregular or picturesque, sorry.

Ranier
Sunset
I want more foreground. It serves to anchor the scene.

Postcard
Nice idea! I want a better exposure though.

Earth Sun
Sky .. Irregular Results
I don't like the processing, it takes away from the scene. This would
have been gorgeous as a two shot vertical pano.

Sweet
Spot
Nice fun shot. That's all.

Hybrid Cherry Blossom
Clinical and too cutesy for competition IMO.

don't you
just love Colorado?
I love these cows! But the scene needs more for me. Step back, give the
viewer more!

Found
Nemo![
Well it's not a clownfish. It is pretty. But it's not sponge-worthy.

Trapped
Within
Nice find, but it's not jumping at me. Sorry.

Poised
Elegance
Not irregular. Not picturesque. Is a lovely loon, better even if he
was facing the viewer.

Morning
Radiance 6am
Nice compo, lovely reflection. Just not a top 10 for me.

Life
lines
Nothing to anchor me, or keep me here. Move along, just some orange and
black stuff.

naturally
Not irregular. Not picturesque. A nice portrait though.

Double
cut
Double what???

Gone to seedI found it
to be too contrived - and the blue bg is bothering me. The idea is
irregular, but sorry, it just rang "too cutesy" for me.

Clinging to
Life
Yeah, so? Suffers from too much shadow, not enough detail contrast, and
I'm kind of lost with this shot.

Rural
Sunset
Way too much shadow in the foreground.

While you
were sleeping (I was awake and dreaming)
Coulda been a contendah. The rock centrally composed, blocks me from
the rest of the image though.

Sunrise in
Manila
Overcooked in so many ways.

Vintage
Meadow
What am I trying to see here? And I'm a NYer, been to this spot many
times. You didn't grab me.

Follow the
light
Lovely capture. Top 10 if there was something in the foreground on the
water. Yes, harsh of me, I know. But you need to know what takes it
from "good" to "great."

A Dentists
worst nightmare
A gator. Close up and clinical.

The
Lookout
Was in my top 10, got nudged out. Pretty, fantasy-like shot. Sky's a
bit overcooked for my tastes.

Black
Sheep
Geese. Ok. Common, ordinary, you didn't grab me. Work harder at
giving your viewer more for their money!

Lemonscape
This image would benefit from a different perspective. Too straight-on.

Violation
of Copyright Violation!
Kind of dark, nice idea, but just didn't make my cut.

Family day
at the beach
Have a seat, this isn't picturesque or irregular.

Hot stuff
Neat idea, something about that green ....

Paris Lamp
Posts
Where are the people???????????

Uniforms
Colorful, nice patterns, the one tie in the center - irregular. But it
didn't get my top 10.

Orchids in
Evening
Blown highlights. Work on that lighting. And the bg, top right and
bottom right is distracting.

Price of
Pollen
Not irregular or picturesque to me. Bee looking away doesn't help.
Suffers from underexposure - need more light IMO.

Dakota's
Eyes
A bit unsharp, Missing the mouth, nose. Crop more, or step back and get
all of Dakota. The eyes should pop!

View from
the Window
Pretty, eye candy. Was in my top, but got edged out.

Sonoran
Desert
Too much dark foreground. Too centrally composed.

Ghost
Rider
These are great fun shots, but hard to execute. I'm missing a ghost of
car or something, don't know....

Snowed In
in April
Kind of clinical. Probably benefit from stepping back.

Waiting
I'm waiting, too... for MORE of this lovely scene. This is a good shot.
What would make it great? MORE. Next time, make a 2 shot vertical
pano. Or use a wider lens and give me some more. You don't have to
shove the tree at me, I get it :) Lovely lovely scene and drama.

Waterfall
Lovely scene, nice flowing water. A person in a red hat on the bridge
would give it scale and make it irregular and picturesque :)

In blue.
Missing an anchor.

The
Individualist
Nicely done. A bit underexposed for me. And way to close up I think.

Lonely
Times
Almost got it from me! I think it just needs better post processing to
make it a really good image.

Unpredictable
Sorry, I don't get it.

Spring
Snow???
Not enough snow. Slow is not blue (bad white balance). The X pattern of
the new growth is confusing, not additive to the composition.

Seasons
Awkward composition. Not enough snow to give me a sense of irregularity
that means something.

Clean cut
Too close! Give me more! Viewers are not dumb, let them see more :)

Spring in
Vermont
Too close. Too central.

Bygones
??? whooosh - that's the sound of this photo going over my head.

Abandoned
Too close! Step back! Don't shove the subject down the viewer's throat.

Fire
wheel
Nice ferris wheel shot But the pole distracts. And the foreground, too.

Palm
Sunrise
Yahwn. And the horizon is off-kilter.

Fresh Apple
Blossom
Perfect shot! For a text-book on Apple Trees. It's too clinical and
not engaging.

Water's
Edge
This could be sooooooo good. The unfortunate loss of the leading line
left center, detracts. Watch your composition!

Ooops
Definitely irregular. A contender with an angry woman in the shot.

More or
less
Techincally well done! Would be good for ad-work. It just didn't grab
me for irregular.

Broken
Fence
Only wanting for a pair of lovers walking down the lane.

I just
gotta be ME!!!!
Make the red one stand out in a SEA of yellows. Too close up.

Morning has
broken - through the clouds atop a crater
Plain jane central compo - not enough sun peeking through.

Matanuska
Glacier
It's missing the bottom anchor.

Which way
is up?
Could benefit from more exposure, better lighting.

Cloud
Dancer's Storm
Composition needs work, you tried with nice leading lines but then I
bump to the tree, and I'm lost.

Fortunate
Un.

Polished
Water
Too small.

Youth
Not as good as the other tulip entries :)

Ragtag
band of colors
Not irregular to me. Not anything really. I'm struggling here.

Eggs for
breakfast
Try different compositions. This one isn't grabbing me.

Dusk-LPS#3
--> http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=59067 Don't cheat, we will find out

Motion
Blur
Not picturesque. Not irregular.

Easter Egg
Hunt
Too tight!

...but
only slightly
Hilarious! Was in my picks, and then edged out.

Majestic
Waters
Too close, and too blown out.

Look over
there momma...
Could work, with more of the scene....

[eoren1]

Andy-
You do know that we were all half-kidding about getting feedback on all of the entries....right
What an incredible gift to everyone that entered - not to mention a herculean effort
I'll be the first (and definately not last) to say THANKS!
E

[Andy]

Originally Posted by eoren1

Andy-
You do know that we were all half-kidding about getting feedback on all of the entries....right
What an incredible gift to everyone that entered - not to mention a herculean effort
I'll be the first (and definately not last) to say THANKS!
E

You're (all) most welcome Yes, it's a lot of work, but don't forget, I'm enriched by doing it, too. I love critiquing, it really helps me, as an artist, to keep my "edge."

[pyroPrints.com]

Arggggh, well done, matey =c)

Thanks =c)

[shatch]

Man Andy!...

Thanks a ton for taking the extra effort to not only extract 10 out of that but provide critiquing on all of the entries.

Very impressive and thanks for the critique.

[tlee]

Andy, thanks for taking the time....it's appreciated!

[sanford tullis]

Thanks for the extra work on the comments! It gives us a chance to to see our work through the eyes of the judges. It's a new chance to improve.

Just like Arnold "I'll be back!"

already have to many ideas for number 4

[Tessa HD]

I didn't think you were actually going to comment on every single entry! What a task! I can only imagine how long that took. I enjoyed seeing your perspectives - thank you.

Tessa

[Shay Stephens]

The following feedback was sent in from Nir:

i'd have to be in an exceptionally 'picturesque' mood to comment on all ten of my choices, so i'm just going to say what i think of the image i chose for #1. but before that let me say it was a very difficult job narrowing down over 100 to just 10. the first 50 were relatively easier to filter. after that another brutal round narrowed it down to 17. then i attached the titles to the 17 remaining to gain another perspective - the photographer's interpretation.

most of the images are simply fantastic! i thank shay for asking me to judge at this early stage because i am sure the next rounds will gain participants and submissions and judging will be more difficult.

back to my choice for #1 - "perhaps more prunes?" by PaulThomasMcKee: this image hit me from the very beginning. i found the tones, the mood and the situation pulling me in (hope you don't think i'm kinky ). my view was of the "irregularity" of the situation - don't think i've ever seen an artistic photo of anyone on the toilet before. so for me this was one to definitely join the 17. then, when i attached the title "perhaps more prunes?", i understood for the first time the photographer's perspective.

dictionary.com:
9. deviating or experiencing deviations from a normally regular or cyclic body function, as bowel habits or menstruation.

in my eyes it all fits so well! a beautiful image, an irregular situation to view, and, with the title, it nails the definition! this image with its title did for me what shay describes here

PaulThomasMcKee - this is written prior to lps#3 results published. i have no idea how your image will do but i congratulate you for this composition!
__________________
__________________

nir alon

jerusalem, israel
images of my thoughts

[photogmomma]

Andy! Thank you SO much for taking that much time out to comment on every single photo! That is just wonderful of you..... And exceedingly helpful!

[WrenTheBlurry]

Andy, let me add my voice to the thanks for you taking the time to make a comment about EVERY photo, wow! That was most helpful, and so good of you. *cheer*

happy day,

wren

[DRabbit]

Andy, you rock :) - commenting on every photo was some task, I'm sure. I know I appreciate the feedback very much.

Originally Posted by Andy

More or less
Techincally well done! Would be good for ad-work. It just didn't grab
me for irregular.

Thanks for the comment. I totally hear ya on your interpretation, but I appreciate the compliment that it would be good for ad-work. Based on how my last two weeks have been it's amazing I got an entry in at all, but I really do enjoy participating in these rounds!

Congratulations to all the winners!!

[Nikolai]

Thank you, Shay, Nir and Andy!

Andy: !

[windoze]

Well like Shay says ..... failure is feedback and feedback is the breakfast of champions. Im gonna get quite chubby with all these breakfasts!

Seriously, Andy thanx for taking the time to honestly comment how you felt about each entry. In Hawaiian, Mahalo means Thank you!



troy

[ericgtr]

Nice constructive critisism, thanks for taking the time.

[Tentacion]

"Nice idea - not conveying either subject to me. Would have liked the light to be across the eyes not the mouth."

Thank you for your critique, perhaps I may agree with your opinion of maybe not conveying either subject, but I tend to disagree with your opinion of the lighting.....IMO the emotion of the child was the mouth "pouty lip, sadness, also the glimmer of a tear in the left eye" which shows the emotion of the moment and why he wanted and/or needed his security blanket. Also the dark lines of the blanket follow the flow of dark lighting that crossed his eyes bringing the viewing in and out of the pic., metaphorically showing the darkness of an emotional moment. But that is my opinion, and how I percieved with my minds eye what I saw when I captured the photo, this again proves how everyone percieves what they see differently.

Your opinion is much appreciated and I commend you on taking the time to offer commentary on so many entries, that is indeed above and beyond the call of duty.

CONGRATS to all of the Winners...Great Work, so glad to see that a few of the photos I picked as winners showed up in the list.

Good Luck to all in the Next Round!!!

[Shay Stephens]

These are my thoughts on the finalists photos

sherstone - Life is a roller coaster of ups and downs "teetering travels"
A fun photo, I like the all metal feel of it, and the composition is great. It could use a little brightening up for me.

Tessa HD - Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge
Very attractive, I like the contrast and color.

Speck26 - untitled
Really beautiful, I like everything about it.

PaulThomasMcKee - "...perhaps more prunes..."
This is wonderfully understated, from the title, the pose, to the mood and somber lighting and color. This one made me think.

BeachBill - View from the Window
It's bold and colorful and the composition is interesting as is the lighting. Beautiful.

ginger_55 - The Children's Fountain
A funny picture that makes the viewer react. I like the B&W, it has a classic Rockwell appeal to it.

photogmomma - Waiting
The novelty of the shot has a lot going for it. One wonders when the tree is going to fall over, and perhaps it might in that coming storm.

klphoto - Lonely Times
I fell in love with the composition of this photo. I do wish for a better exposure or perhaps some contrast.

JimW - Pizza Delivery
Highly irregular, this photo grabs my attention. Well done in keeping the clown mostly hidden and having the persons head in front of the door partially visible. It feels like I am there.

annnna8888 - Luminescence
Can a photo be too lovely for words? If so, this one comes very close to doing that (like Speck26's did). The use of the fisheye lens and low angle really add life to this shot. And the glowing petals are pure magic.

I have to say, the quality level has noticeably improved this round! Bravo for the hard work you all put in to your photos and titles. We are getting close to the first semifinal round, and it looks like it will be an incredible event.

[Elaine]

Congratulations to all the finalists! And thank you to all the judges and to Andy for commenting on everyone's entries! Amazing!

Elaine

[NanaMo]

Originally Posted by Andy

My Top 10 picks:
.

Andy, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to critique each entry!!!! You obviously have listened to people who asked for CC!!! We all feel special that you took the time to give us all feedback.

Of course, I am sad my cows did not make the cut but when I took a longer shot it seemed really to deminish the cows and they no longer seemed to be the focal point....BUT you be I am going back to try again and really show the Colorado mountains (actually Pikes Peak could potentially be in the background if I can sneak it in between the trees). You are sooo right...with the caption I had...how did someone know it was Colorado??? Thanks for pointing it out....

First time I have ever been involved in a photo contest....this Dgrin contest, that is...have entered each one so far....and by golly, plan to make it in one of the qualifying rounds!

Thanks for such a wonderful, educational photographic experience!!!

Maureen