>>> LPS#17 Feedback Thread

[DoctorIt]

Hey gang, another round well done

I don't have the time to put up any of my own comments at the moment, but I'm posting this thread for the other judges. Maybe even Shay will get off his sick-bed and throw you some juicy bits of feedback.

[seastack]

Well ... quickly at this point ... a general observation, and obviously this may be based partially on my own bias ... but I found myself wishing a number of images had been converted to black and white - stark and dirty decay, texture. Decay, especially, seems to cry out for good black and white conversion. Some of the images were already nearly monochrome in color, so black and white would have enhanced the feeling of decay, the texture, without really losing anything by dumping the color. In fact, I often temporarily convert color images to black and white to better see if I have a good basic image. Sometimes they end up staying black and white.

Nice images and as always, an honor to view people's work :))

tom

[leaforte]

Thanks to the judges for doing such a great job on such short notice! Way to go finalists, and great job all entries.

[schmoo]

Folks, sorry for the delay in judging this round. It really was so veryvery last-minute but congratulations to the semifinalists!

In the past I know the judges have given a little feedback to everyone who entered and this is probably helpful to you. I am by no means comparing myself to Shay, but since feedback so far has been limited here are my $.02. Please take everything with a grain of salt!

******

davidweaver - Middle Ground
Very abstract. I'm at a loss...

MJRPHOTO - The Barn
Good concept but the composition doesn't quite grab my eye.

Giphsub - Winters Chill
Nice color and texture! I certainly feel chillier looking at these

Dalantech - Inside a Soap Bubble
I think this is a lovely shot - good patterns and details and colors but how it seemed another degree away from the theme...

Greensquared - One-Eyed Jack
Absolutely hilarious! Although the face is hard to see at this stage, it makes the decay more obvious.

vinson - Inside a rotting apple
Cool concept and the title helped me "see" what this was. composition was a bit confusing otherwise. I thought it was amber, not apple

menebo - Great Expectations
Great idea and great title! Image seems a little flat, however.

Moni - Loves me not
I think the title is great. The flowers don't look too decayed, however.

Llywellyn - Fractured
Spooky and yet very mythical also. For some reason I am reminded of the Green Man.

bgaras2001 - tomorrows future
Great execution of theme as well as the technical aspect. I thought I saw a shot very similar to this for the LPS4 Artificial/Organic round...

PaulThomasMcKee - WABI-SABI WINDOW
Great! No complaints from my end

HoofClix - Abercrombie's Wood
Nice forest - but not sure which object is the subject. I think the way the light/shadows are falling makes this more difficult

Aaronzhere northere - going subterranean
The theme is not very obvious here, though I love the scenery seen in the water drop

RogersDA - Fading glory
Nice treatment in PP, but I don't think the composition is quite optimal

sherstone - Return to the beginning
Excellent! The falling snow makes this even better

bentnose - Growing Up is Tough!
The image should have been embedded in the entry comment, for starters. It's a great snapshot but I feel only slightly related to the theme

ntt - life
This could be a great stock photo for a lab supply catalog. I find it very humorous, great lighting, nice subject

entropysedge - fish in entropy
I'd like to see this sculpture myself, as it's adorable. Other than the rust being there, I don't think it says "Decay," however

tlee - Pink Bubblegum II
Very cute! And a great take on the concept of "growth"

hamster - Brick wall biology
Great concept and I like the textures here. Could use a little more pop, perhaps?

mwalters - Requiem for Decadence
The decayed flower, I see. I do not see how the rest of the photo contributes? I seem to think that the rose is a memorial to the building, somehow.

achambers - Vienna Barn
I see where you were probably going with this but I think some crop & pop might gift it a lift!

Leonardo - glow / homage to ancient craft masters
Very moving, very somber. I assume that this was for "decay," however? I don't think it's clear

samsplace - Dancing with Fire
You got good movement and heat in the fire but I think there were a couple of ways this image could have been made more powerful. Fill the frame, get close, change angles, etc.

flybynight - One Too Many
Wonderful atmosphere. Dark, solitary, hopeless. Comp is a bit busy with all the fenceposts vs the one man.

pemmett - Corroding the Cranium
A bit soft but a cute snap of the girl. Very little about the theme is coming through to me, however.

ifocus - Santa Claus and the little boy
I admit I'm not good at these kinds of things. I like the rust and I love the color, but the Santa and the boy I'm just not seeing

quark - The Banana Turns
I love the classic quark diagrams. Humorous and always true!

Shudderz - A Tractor's Sunset
Quite obviously decay but I think the scene could have a bigger impact by stepping closer and isolating part of the machine, or maybe even b/w?

dannymiranda - Berries in Stone
A little soft and the large ratio of subject to background leaves me feeling a bit unbalanced

chandi - Post-Season
Great title and idea. I do feel the sadness of the season being over but do baseballs decay?

cjmchch - divorce
The title totally makes this shot, I think! I can't help but wish something prettier than a paper towel was used, though

pyroPrints.com - Don't Fear the Reaper
Lovely!

MrsCue - He Loves Me Not
(Photo is not showing up for me anymore)

pyry - Decay of Imagination.
I think we've all been here before, which makes this a great shot!

shatch - Cavity!...No Problem
Great story being told here and perfect execution. I also love the take on the theme "decay"

Rockporters - Late for Dinner
I'm not sure what I'm looking at. Is it moldy bread or some kind of squash?

leaforte - Sarcophagus
A very interesting title. I wonder why the flower in the vase is on the floor?

Red Dog - To everything There Is A Season...
The scene seems a little jumbled to me. The stone, the leaves, the plants... which one gives the message?

[schmoo]

And continued...

****

fashiznitsngrins - Steppin' Up
Great concept! I just wish the bottom shoes weren't cut off and that the angle was something a little more dynamic than straight up the vertical.

DrDavid - Death in a Nest
I think this is perfect as is!

millerlisa - Beauty at the Door
A good snap of a flower on its way out. I don't see the theme in here, though

NewCreation517 - "Everything Seems So Significant ..."
I admit I'm confused. I think I'm missing something about the title and the subject

Awais Yaqub - Eyes that have seen much
Excellent use of the theme and execution of the photo!

vandana - " I see new hair !"
Hilarious! I love it and the eyes in the corner just make it.

Flyinggina - Winter of Desolation
Very desolate, indeed. A great depiction of the death of the earth during winter

jwear - Piscine Spirit
Nice capture, even though it wasn't exactly moving! Love the way the fish and the earth become one.

nelsonstuff - Still Standing
Lovely vista, but it seems a bit dark. Which is odd considering there so so much snow. The 50/50 composition doesn't quite work for me

LiquidAir - Imprint
I actually like the use of selective color because it emphasizes the contrast of the straight lines versus the circles. Very nice!

drdane - Back to the Earth (Crispy Compost)
This photo is very soothing and pleasing. It also looks as though the red leaves are growing out of the others, which is very cool

MarkTodd - Salad in the Field
Interesting perspective, and I like it! Definitely a fresh, clean view, as well as take on the theme

Aequitas - Death of a forest
I like the treatment and the view very much. Looks like there was some great light, too. But i'm looking for a definitive subject.

Tentacion - Slow Death
Powerful message! I can practically smell it from here, yikes

The Curious Camel - Soon to be three
Very nice expressions on their faces. I think it's a very sweet and loving photo

Justiceiro - Still no life, with Bathtub- 9th Ward
Great sense of humor, of course! I like the composition of the bathtub, window, building, reflections on the wall. It works really well here, even if the exposure is a bit on the dark side.

imax - Out With The Old
Very very interesting lighting here. I'm not sure it helps the subject, though. I'm still a bit unsure of what I'm looking at! A building or a garbage can...?

sunita - The beginning of the end
I like the simplicity of this shot quite a bit! It looks fresh at first, but on second glance it's anything but.

Jet - Overgrowth
A peaceful scene that is very rich and green for me, who is in the start of winter. It's refreshing to see, even though the scene is a bit wide for my taste and the angle is slanted.

SunsetSailor - Up Rooted
It's hard to ignore the sense of power in this scene. Even though the tree is on it's way out, I still don't quite think it conveys "decay"

Remember47 - Natural Death
Again, I'm not really feeling the theme. It looks pretty festive, though!

annnna8888 - Untimely Kiss of Death
I like the concept of frost growing on something that isn't dead yet. I especially like the backlighting on it! It really brings out the details.

NanaMo - Against all odds....
The title and the subject work together so well here. The fact that the sprouts are so delicate make the situation even more precarious. Bravo!

jziegler - No more cows
Nice abandonment! It's quite confusing though, again not sure what part of this I should be looking at.

TylerW - Late Bloomer
Wonderful! Sharp, focused, colorful, great textures and contrast. The title gives even more life to the one bud.

photochaos - Decaying Beauty
Quite colorful, indeed! The super-red tones contrast very well with the dull background.

Ozone - Primary Decay
The tilt on this shot bugs me a bit, but i love street art and the door is a nice touch.

Nikolai - Circa 1859
Perfect portrayal of the little things that make up history! The textures in the hook are unbelievable and the smooth BG brings this out. Great job!

Travis - Fall of Man
Such a striking, powerful image. To me it looks like a perfect blend between Roman warrior and modern athlete. The PP is distict but it works well here to give it that surreal edge.

janephoto - Here today, gone tomorrow . . .
Simple and effective. I love the drop falling off the bottom, though I wish the background were even more free of distractions.

Me&MyCandi(5D) - 'Boy To Man'
Great collage! A nice take on the theme. It makes me want to know what else is displayed on the wall since I know there are more artifacts out of the frame.

Aurora- Life Cycle of the Potato
Great concept and you're on the right track with the studio setup. But the cast gets in the way, as does the overall softness.

TPBinKC - "I'm HOW big?"
A good way of illustrating "growth," however without the title I would not have understood the story the shot tells. I didn't see the hand over the boy's head until just now!

saurora - Hard To Handle
Nice high-key street shot, and the interest in the dog creates a lot of good tension. I don't see the connection to theme in here, though.

[Travis]

Schmoo, thank you for the critiques! It has been quite awhile since we had a full rundown. I'm sure that it will be much appreciated by all.

[schmoo]

I hope it is in some way helpful! I did not include some of the ones that people had removed from the entry thread. I know this is partially my fault for taking so long since I know there is no requirement to keep entries after the top ten have been picked.

[Angelo]

so many entries, so little time!

I'm working on critiques!

[schmoo]

Originally Posted by Angelo

so many entries, so little time!

I'm working on critiques!

[AaronNelson]

Schmoo, thanks for your time and effort!
(i knew my entry was reaching for the topic...i thought it was worth a shot...water from the rain storm said growth to me....i will be more on topic with my entries...)
thanks, Aaron

[Angelo]

Originally Posted by schmoo

oooooooooohhhhh, schmoooolicious!





This was a tough challenge to judge


OK, who I voted for:

place__title_______________________photog

2._____tomorrow's future____________bgaras

10.____a tractor's sunset____________shudderz

8._____decay of imagination__________pyry

9._____cavity... no problem___________shatch

4._____eyes that..._________________awais

7._____new hair___________________vandana

5._____piscine spirit________________jwear

1._____still no life bathtub___________justiciero

3._____primary decay_______________ozone

6._____fractured___________________llewellen


I will add comments shortly, promise and then I'll try to get to all the other entries.

[LiquidAir]

Originally Posted by schmoo

LiquidAir - Imprint
I actually like the use of selective color because it emphasizes the contrast of the straight lines versus the circles. Very nice!

Thanks! In this case the selective color was completely natural. The stump was old, wet (right after a rain storm) and completely colorless all on its own without any help from me. I actually had a nice chat with my neighbor who told me he decided not to remove the trunk out after cutting the tree down because the kids on our block have so much playing with it. I don't know how old it is (its been there longer than I have lived in the area) but the wood has bleached to the silver color of driftwood over the years. When it gets wet all the texture pops out as parts of the end grain turn black.

[sunita]

Thanks for the feedback, Schmoo! Really appreciate it!

[photochaos]

Originally Posted by schmoo

photochaos - Decaying Beauty
Quite colorful, indeed! The super-red tones contrast very well with the dull background.

Thank you very much for your feedback, Schmoo!

Marcelo

[Llywellyn]

Originally Posted by schmoo

Llywellyn - Fractured
Spooky and yet very mythical also. For some reason I am reminded of the Green Man.

Thanks for the feedback, chica! Your comparison is interesting--I'd actually decided a while ago to try to bring some myths to life in my photos for these entries, as I'm a bit obsessed with mythology. Nice to see it's coming through a bit.

[cjmchch]

Thanks for the feedback Schmoo. It's interesting you thought the background was a paper towel, it was actually an embroidered overlay on the bed.

[NanaMo]

NanaMo - Against all odds....
The title and the subject work together so well here. The fact that the sprouts are so delicate make the situation even more precarious. Bravo!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks so much Schmoo!!!

I know everyone really enjoyed seeing your critiques! We were spoiled and when they missed a few we all were sad. It is fun and or constructive to see what the judges saw in our entries. AND you saw just what I was trying to convey...the delicate sprouts in the snow.....

BTW.....made a great salad!

Thanks for all your efforts,
Maureen

[NanaMo]

Originally Posted by Angelo

oooooooooohhhhh, schmoooolicious!





This was a tough challenge to judge


OK, who I voted for:

place__title_______________________photog

2._____tomorrow's future____________bgaras

10.____a tractor's sunset____________shudderz

8._____decay of imagination__________pyry

9._____cavity... no problem___________shatch

4._____eyes that..._________________awais

7._____new hair___________________vandana

5._____piscine spirit________________jwear

1._____still no life bathtub___________justiciero

3._____primary decay_______________ozone

6._____fractured___________________llewellen


I will add comments shortly, promise and then I'll try to get to all the other entries.

...drat! Would really love to thank you BUT.....lol......will look forward to your comments.

Thanks for your judging time....I am sure it is a challenge.

Maureen

[Jet]

Schmoo, thanks for the time & effort put into the feedback you giveIt is appreciated, especially by newbies like me
Haha yep everything is green here in Aus, as summer kicks in. And yes I really need to put more thought into the way I crop things
Thanks

[shatch]

Thanks Schmoo for taking time to critique! I can only imagine the time and energy it takes to produce such a list. Thanks again!