Critiques

steveegg (406) 2008-09-02 7:52

This is a very inviting composition, created mainly by the vibrant colours and the destination of the road being out of sight. The bottom of the tree being hidden by the summit of the hill also makes one want to see what else is over there.

steveegg (406) 2007-12-21 9:06

Hi Nadine,

It's great to see a photo of your family getting ready to celebrate Christmas. Perhaps your related to Amelie?

With all best wishes.

steveegg (406) 2007-12-20 8:22

Hi Mehmet,

This image shows that photography is so much about the light. Here, you have a fabulous band of light diagonally across the frame and the foreground sheep picked out in outline, but darker to match the darker area top left. And I think your position of the shepherd I think is pretty much perfect - I wouldn't put it further to the left as this would make it too central and remove some of the dynamic power of the shot.

steveegg (406) 2007-12-20 8:15

I think your pictures are gorgeous, particularly when viewed together. You have a very particular and sparing use of light that gives an air of mystery to your subjects. Here, this simple task of spinning becomes an arcane act, rendered as a painting that would not look out of place in a Rembrandt collection.

I am full of admiration and not a little jealousy.

steveegg (406) 2007-12-20 8:08

That's a lovely view of a vast sky. I particularly like the colour gradient in the blue sky - was that natural or did you use a filter? Also, the rooftops at teh bottom of the picture seem to be tilting to the left.

steveegg (406) 2007-07-13 13:07

Nice colours

steveegg (406) 2007-04-27 3:18

Hi Michal,

It's interesting how man-made items can sometimes look wonderful and sometimes awful. In this case, even though the vivid red and yellow of the boat make it really stand out, it still looks almost as though it's a natural part of the environment - like it belongs.

Maybe it's because we've lived with wooden boats like this for so long now they've become as natural to us as sand and sea. Or perhaps it's because it's Spring, I'm feeling in a good mood and everything looks good just at the moment! Whatever the reason, I find this image very appealing, not only because of the subject but also the composition (the positioning of the boat in particular) and the dynamism of the breaking wave.

This is also a great photo for TE as it completely goes against my expectation of Poland which I expect to be overcast if not raining, perhaps snowing. A pathetic stereotype I know, but this image helps put me right.

steveegg (406) 2007-04-19 14:37

Hi Mehmet,

This is a very striking photo with beautifully graduated colours and a silhouette that inspires me to make up a story. Indeed, there's almost a biblical story it invokes of Joseph and his pregnant wife going to Bethlehem.

I think I'd be tempted to crop a little more from the left - the sky to the left of the sun doesn't seem to add much to the overall effect and so could probably be removed to focus more on the sun and silhouette.

steveegg (406) 2007-04-14 18:08

Hi Mike,

The dynamic range of this shot is much better than the more recent posting and definitely conveys the tranquil mood you're looking for. It's also a better composition with no foliage at the bottom, though the horizon is still tilted.

Something else I've notices is that this and the previous posting are both very small files (around 50-60kB) whereas the limit is 200kB so I think you're overcompressing the files which means you're losing detail.

steveegg (406) 2007-04-14 18:04

Hi Mike,

Having looked at the thumbnails of your photos I can see the interesting different look of this island under different conditions.

However, there are some technical issues with the shots when viewed close up which are preventing them from having the impact they could. In this shot the dynamic range is limited (i.e. the whites are not very whote and the blacks not very black) which results in a rather hazy and indistinct image. The composition is also a bit strange with only the tops of the trees and bushes in the foreground and the island right in the centre. You might do better to try out the 'rule of thirds' where you try to place the focus of attention a third in from two of the sides; also it's a good idea to get something specific in the foreground (e.g. rocks, trees) to provide interest, a lead in to the image and a sense of depth. Finally, the horizon is tilted down to the right.

Despite these criticisms, which I trust you will find useful and in line with one of the purposes of TE - to improve our photography skills, it's still great to see this part of the world which is so remote for me and one I hope to visit some time. All the best.