If this still doesn't work for you, I would be interested in seeing your crop. I think that the photo poster should decide if s/he wants to see alternative crops and PP posted, so please ask before posting, in general.
Ok I'll give it a try, here's my harsch view. Bare with me Carsten:
What do you want to show? I see nothing. The image is dead. On one hand there's no life, on the other there's no isolation/deserted drama shown either. Photographicaly I see no depth. Despite the possible dodge/burn actions to strenghten contrasts in the dissolving vegetation/horizon on the right. Nothing is happening, and since that's the case I would expect at least a dramatic sky - or just something. Even a hipsta-type of processing could (perhaps) give something back to me as a viewer. The people far away walking the beach defy any try of showing this as a deserted place, adding to confusion what this image is meant to be/show. What's goal with the image?
My 2 cents immediate thoughts
-- Wilhelm
EDIT: before posting I saw the wider crop, giving more panofeel showing more water and less of nothing (sand) taken away. It's better, but my key questions stands, what do you want to show, is there a purpose for the image?
Yes, actually And thanks for the honesty. This is a very popular vacation spot (Ostsee), normally filled to the brim with tourists, but we went off-season, so the emptiness is very intentional, and exactly what I want to show. What these places look like without all the people you normally can't avoid getting in your shots.
I like the shot, I like the clean processing and I like it best with a wide/panorama-ish crop. I'm not really into imbuing images with "meaning" or "motivation", as long as the image evokes emotion, I'm good, and this one does. It might be the contrast between colorful and sharp foreground and steadily fading background, or the overall muted/desolate look. Nevertheless: I like it.
(I know, I'm worthless at critiques, as I'm an intuitive photo watcher, not much of a theory masturbator :P )
Philippe, with your crop and my new aspect ratio, the main difference appears to be the slight white balance tweak, and the closeness of the tower. In your version, it is very slightly closer, but not so much that it changes the character of the shot, IMO. As such, I agree with your idea, and prefer my second version to my first. Thanks for the heads-up.
Ulrik, no worries, I don't need anyone to do my theory master... err... whatever Thanks for the compliment. Yes, the empty grey mood is what I am depicting. This is a wildly popular place in summer and even at Christmas, but in November there are so few people there. We were there for the hotel and town, which had a spa, pool, and lots to do for little kids, not so much for the beaches, although we did go for walks. Quite a nice vacation.
Ok after axing Carstens image I'd better stick my neck out. Honestly the panoversion lifted it (beach shot) a lot in my eyes. Which tells at least me that composition sometimes is as much as the motif itself.
Back to my neck. This is a shot that I'm quite happy with. In this country's mythology it's supposedly Europes first "skyscrapers" (1924). I'm sure someone found a narrow-enough definition to make that true, perhaps a unique mix of concrete or something.
Even though I like it I can see that it lacks some qualities I see in some images here at FM (not by me). It's a WA shot (uncorrected on purpose), and the sky is brought down a bit (but perhaps not as much as it may seem). I'm sure some dislike uncorrected WA's and also the PP, so please shoot hard. I'll learn.
I like the shot, and I like the colours and I like the PP. I don't like the distortion, neither barrel nor perspective, and I miss something at the bottom. I feel that the crop is too tight at the bottom. Since you are roughly at the same height as the middle of the towers, judging by the roof you are on, the possibility to keep verticals straight should have existed, at least theoretically.
Hmm, very interesting conversion! I do like the colour in the original, but this works too, I think. In fact, the B&W moodiness does fit thematically to the idea of abandoned places. Perhaps I should make two versions of each and see which strategy works better in the long run. Thanks for the idea, hadn't occurred to me!
bigkidneys wrote:
Ok, I'll throw something in here. Trying my hand at long exposures. The weather was horrible yesterday here as windy with little to no clouds and have yet to receive my ND filter making these types of shots easier. I know nothing is rather interesting in the shot but it was mostly aimed at trying a long exposure to see the outcome. Only PP was the sky as it was just too bland but may have overdone it with this color. Any thoughts and insight to what could be done better?
I really like it how it is! Maybe if the orange of the sky would be a little more pastel, like the water, but other than that, I don't see anything I would change, apart from maybe including the base of the near post.
Thanks guys. Will mess with it later today to see if I can get it a bit softer. I used the 40 Ltd on the shot. I have the 15 Ltd on the way but am realizing you don't always have to have a wide angle to get a dramatic shot. Gonna try some today with the Ltd lenses on the 5N to see how they look.
Thanks Carsten, like that you like the colors. I see what you mean about more ground base. I totally agree.
Kidneys, I really like #1 but perhaps like Carsten mention more pastel needed to tune down the sunset to make it work with the lover portion. Great image!
For the next shot dont fancy the BW at all. You made her look spooky - far too pale and the checkered shirt just screams for attention. As do the tree texture. The air to the left of the tree serves no purpose, a square with a centered daughter is a starter to make that image work. My cents.
Kidneys, I didn't comment on the portrait the first time, because I wasn't sure what wasn't working for me. The skin tones are very nice, but I think that William is right and the crop is not strong. I also think that the pose would be more flattering if she didn't look like she was trying to hold up a leaning tree Try putting her on the other side of that tree, and make her lean back and relax on it.
Thanks guys. I think I may have used too much skin smoothing on the portrait and just really liked the way the eyes popped in the B&W conversion. Thanks again for the comments and will work on this stuff in the future.
And thanks for the honesty. This is a very popular vacation spot (Ostsee), normally filled to the brim with tourists, but we went off-season, so the emptiness is very intentional, and exactly what I want to show. What these places look like without all the people you normally can't avoid getting in your shots.