Full Version: Photo Critique Page
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1]
5 Jan 2006
To: ALL
My wife, Robyn, is an accomplished photographer, who has won critical acclaim amongst her peers, as well as paying customers. :-)
She's a member of an online Photoworkshop, in which she's received high praise for her ability to objectively critique photos.
I began thinking, with the average person owning a digital camera and the demand for quality photographs, to be used in sublimation projects, brochures etc., ever on the rise, why not make her unique services available to our forum members.
If there's a strong demand, Robyn says she's up for it.
What do you think?
In the meantime, you can view some of Robyn's work at www.raggiovisivo.com
From: MIKEY (JADEPUTTERS) [#2]
6 Jan 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1] 6 Jan 2006
My first thought would be what exactly does she do and how would it work. The attached photo for instance that I took of some bighorn sheep near Yellowstone a couple of weeks ago. In order to fit this forum I had to reduce the size to 10% and the resolution to 72dpi. May make it difficult to evaluate. What did you have in mind?
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#3]
6 Jan 2006
To: MIKEY (JADEPUTTERS) [#2] 6 Jan 2006
Nice capture!
I should have clarified. The critique page would be an upload page, to which our 50KB limit wouldn't apply.
Robyn would offer her constructive criticism/praise, and other members would be encouraged to offer their critique(s) as well.
How often do we see people, in search of the "right" shot, ask for stock photo sites?
Let's face it! These days, most people have a digital camera and the means to print their own images or upload them to a web site, etc.
Why not, with the help of Robyn and other astute forum members, create and increase the quality of your own?
Robyn's not here at the moment, but I'll ask her to comment on your photo when she returns.
Edited for clarification.
EDITED: 6 Jan 2006 by DGL
From: Mick [#4]
6 Jan 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#3] 6 Jan 2006
From: Shaddy [#5]
6 Jan 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#3] 6 Jan 2006
So for further clarification... this would be for all the forum members to also download and use? Not just for her to offer opinions on how it looks or how to make better?
Sounds interesting.
Shaddy
From: MIKEY (JADEPUTTERS) [#6]
6 Jan 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#3] 6 Jan 2006
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#7]
6 Jan 2006
To: Mick [#4] 7 Jan 2006
I'm no expert at critiquing, but who can question Mother Nature's beauty?
Sweet!
From: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#8]
6 Jan 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#1] 6 Jan 2006
David,
Not sure where photos would be posted but I have mine stored at www.pbase.com. The cost is $23 a year and each person could post low resolution photos there and if someone wanted to use an image they could make arrangements for larger file.
Not sure if you're thinking along these lines or just to have a place for Robyn and others to critique.
One of my favorites taken while fishing.
http://www.pbase.com/conksout/image/44752658/medium
EDITED: 6 Jan 2006 by INKSQUIRTER
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#9]
6 Jan 2006
To: Shaddy [#5] 6 Jan 2006
I may have mis-spoken by saying "personal" upload page.
Yes, it would be a page for all interested forum members to upload their photos, at a bigger picture size and higher resolution.
I realize there are ways to achieve a good on-screen image, using a relatively small file size, but some people are befuddled by that process.
We're willing to use more bandwidth to streamline the process.
Ideally, we can have a means of automatically sizing an assigning a resolution. I believe it's possible.
I can already see, by the early submissions, we'll have to limit the number of photos, i.e. X# of images per person, per week. :-)
If you're referring to an upload page that could be used to build images into forum posts, as opposed to attachments, that would be a "personal" upload page and something definitely under consideration.
EDITED: 6 Jan 2006 by DGL
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#10]
6 Jan 2006
To: Shaddy [#5] 6 Jan 2006
That would be up to the individual photographer. The uploaded photos, by virtue of being uploaded, are copyrighted property of the photographer.
I'm talking about uploading images, primarily for the opportunity to have the image(s) critiqued.
EDITED: 6 Jan 2006 by DGL
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#11]
6 Jan 2006
To: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#8] 6 Jan 2006
As I told Mick, I'm no photographic authority, but I like what I like and I like that image a lot!
From: Shaddy [#12]
6 Jan 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#9] 6 Jan 2006
How often do we see people, in search of the "right" shot, ask for stock photo sites?
I thought you meant, not personal, but once you upload, everyone could download and use it. I mean technically once you see it on the screen, anyone can use it, but just not legally/ethically. would this be a site where once you upload to it, it belongs to , let's say the EE forum, and everyone that's a member?
So far, I'm not against that idea, I'm actually intrigued by it. I just wanted to know if that's what you meant.
I've used Coppermine with some success as a way to manage uploading and making galleries. Here's my little site using it, and here's the Coppermine Demo site, where you can see how configurable it is. It uses PHP and their forum is excellent for helping those who want to help themselves (just don't hijak a thread, you'll get yelled at, hehe).
You can have many many users, and assign certain levels of privacy groups (like, guests can see only small sized pics, registered users can see full sized. Only certain groups can make comments, etc... Even certain groups can have private albums where others can only post to general ones, or, certain groups can see) You can use this program to change the size of the pics as well (it's default is for you to upload a large pic, it makes a thumb and a medium sized pic, you frist see the thumb, then click it to see a medim, then click that to see the actual, I believe my medium option might be disabled)
Anyway, unless you already have a plan (WHAT? Dave already has a plan?) hehe. You should check it out.
Shaddy
Shaddy
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#13]
6 Jan 2006
To: Shaddy [#12] 6 Jan 2006
Obviously, there's interest in the concept and what might arise from it.
In the morning, I'll allow my wife to elaborate on what's been popular and what works well on the www.photoworkshop.com site.
Duplication of effort?
That's up for debate, but I envision bringing that aspect, which includes elements, somewhat along the lines of the site you've shown us, under the EE umbrella.
EDITED: 6 Jan 2006 by DGL
From: photomato (ROBYN) [#14]
7 Jan 2006
To: ALL
I believe the Critique Section feature could be a great way to not only show off your best work, but also those images that didn't come out quite like you had envisioned, for in the critique, I hope to be able to assist the photographer with making the image better. With objective observation, photographic theories and the use of cutting edge technology, growing and expanding your photographic knowledge is appealing to a lot of folks, from beginners to high-level amateurs and beyond.
At a resolution of 72, an image of 5x7 should be large enough to really get the feel of the image, the detail, dimension, clarity, sharpness, tonal ranges and so on.
I ask that everyone upload a maximum of 2 images per week, to enable everyone to have a go at a critique. That will also assist me in giving my best to each image and still be able to do some laundry, take care of the Stuntengraver (devil) and pursue my own photographic visions! ;-)
The photographs you upload are the property of the photographer, not EE, and are protected by copyright once uploaded to this site. They are not to be downloaded for any purpose without the express consent of the image's creator. Please contact the photographer directly for their permission to use or reproduce their image(s) for commercial purposes.
Robyn G. Raggio
Raggio Visivo
www.raggiovisivo.com
From: photomato (ROBYN) [#15]
7 Jan 2006
To: MIKEY (JADEPUTTERS) [#2] 7 Jan 2006
First of all, you have a very nice capture of some of nature's most interesting creatures. The background of snow is a nice counterpoint to the darker tones of the rams, while not being too intrusive.
I do have a suggestion which involves Photoshop, which is almost imperative as a tool in any complete photographic arsenal. The image is just a tad bit dull, not in interest, but in a thin veiled haze over the image and that completely disappears with the simple use of Auto Levels.
Levels or curves can also be utilized to achieve this result. Removing that pallor enriches the depth, dimension, volume and density of the image while enriching the color. The detail and texture of the horns and the fur is accentuated. The catchlight in the eyes, which is vitally important in transmitting the concept of life in any creature...from bugs to humans gains in impact.
The composition is a bit abrupt, with the cutting off of the legs at the haunches. I realize that this includes the rams in the distance, but backing off just a bit and including all of the rams would be an option for the overall depiction of the scene and the environment in which the animals live. Just enough to get the hooves in. There is an additional image that can be gleaned from this shot, which is the heads of the rams themselves, with just a bit of the rams directly behind them, say one horn of each, split down the middle of each face and a generous portion of shoulders underneath.
Gives a sense of place with the other members of the herd, conveys the dynamic of their challenge for dominant place in their social structure and explores their wonderful features with a closer scrutiny. Try cropping around those faces and working with the wonderful textures of those horns and the fur.
When in rare, wonderful situations such as this, take as many of any particular scene that moves you as far as your point of view (POV) is concerned, so you can peruse them later and pull core images out of your daily take.
As far as center placement of the subjects is concerned, it works pretty well here, but there is a guideline, not a hard and fast RULE, even if it is called one that helps with composing. The Rule of Thirds. Splitting the field of vision or layout of the image into thirds. Placing the subject slightly off center, removes the oft-used and predictable center placement and it's balance with just a bit of assymetry, which catches the viewer's eye and hopefully their prolonged interest.
I hope you find this helpful.
Warmest wishes,
Robyn
Raggio Visivo
www.raggiovisivo.com
From: photomato (ROBYN) [#16]
7 Jan 2006
To: Mick [#4] 7 Jan 2006
That certainly is a dynamic sky! The colors are vibrant, rich and well seen. The one suggestion I have is with the crispness and clarity of those distant hills. The focus seems a wee bit soft. Sometimes when hand-holding a shot taken at the beginning or end of the day, the exposure time, in order to reproduce the scene adequately, is long enough to almost guarantee a wee bit of camera movement. A tripod would be a good bet in situations like this, if you are really looking for tack sharp rendering.
Also, the camera, if set on auto, will choose the widest aperture to achieve a reasonable shutter speed unless you set it manually, which is always a good thing to learn how to do to have greater control. That wide aperture is going to cut down on the depth of field or that area of the scene that is in crisp focus. The wider the aperture, the shallower the depth of field. Since it is metering for that fantastic sky, which is pretty much infinity, the mountains in the foreground may appear a bit soft, especially in lenses that are designed for multiple focal lengths or distances. Newer digitals have stabilization features, which do help a bit, but when the light is quickly dimming, one has to call into service all means of assistance possible including changing the ISO setting to a higher speed. At least 400 would be beneficial in these challenging lighting situations.
Nice clean atmosphere out there in Colorado! Reminds me of a line from a Moody Blues song..."Breath deep the gathering gloom, watch light fade from every room." The image isn't at all gloomy, but the lyric seemed appropriate for an end of day shot!
All the best,
Robyn
From: photomato (ROBYN) [#17]
7 Jan 2006
To: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#8] 7 Jan 2006
Robyn
Raggio Visivo
www.raggiovisivo.com
From: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#18]
7 Jan 2006
To: photomato (ROBYN) [#17] 7 Jan 2006
Robyn,
I'm getting all teary eyed, that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me :-)
And to think I was in a fishing boat at the time....doing two things I like.
From: photomato (ROBYN) [#19]
7 Jan 2006
To: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#18] 7 Jan 2006
From: BrianC (INKSQUIRTER) [#20]
7 Jan 2006
To: photomato (ROBYN) [#19] 7 Jan 2006
Actually,
where we go fishing we catch so many I have to take my camera just to take my mind off fishing.
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