Potential Submission Critique please???

DaveRich · November 30, 2004

Well... Its now or never, eh..

Here's my thought of a shot for the new photo challenge.

Suggestions / Comments / flat out flames, please??? ;-)

--exif--
Make : Canon
Model : Canon PowerShot A300
DateTimeOriginal : 2004:11:30 20:40:15
DateTimeDigitized : 2004:11:30 20:40:15
ExposureTime : 1.00Sec
FNumber : F3.6
ApertureValue : F3.6
Flash : Not fired(Compulsory)
FocalLength : 5.00(mm)
--exif--

wxwax · November 30, 2004

Hi Dave

It's a nice pic and a cool idea. Here are a couple of things that might enhance the shot. Your subject is dead center right now. The rule of thirds makes for a stronger composition. There's a thread about that in the Hall of Wisdom forum. Also, on my monitor the cat looks a wee bit dark. Your coloration is nice. But making the cat slightly lighter might help: I do realize there's an aesthetic issue here, and that this is open to interpreation.

Sam · November 30, 2004

DaveRich wrote:

Well... Its now or never, eh..

Here's my thought of a shot for the new photo challenge.

Suggestions / Comments / flat out flames, please??? ;-)

--exif--
Make : Canon
Model : Canon PowerShot A300
DateTimeOriginal : 2004:11:30 20:40:15
DateTimeDigitized : 2004:11:30 20:40:15
ExposureTime : 1.00Sec
FNumber : F3.6
ApertureValue : F3.6
Flash : Not fired(Compulsory)
FocalLength : 5.00(mm)
--exif--

Your not going to get any flames here. If you do I'm gone, but it ain't gona happen.

Ok I know nothing about photograpghy, but that never stoped be from voicing my opinion.

I see a very nice dark, soft moody photo. I would try cropping out some off the bottom. Say 15% or 20%. I don't think it stands up well to the shadow chalange, but would be very nice with the right framing, and wall location.

It reminds me of some paintings I have seen, and it really conveys the mood, and story.

Nice job,

Sam

DaveRich · November 30, 2004

wxwax wrote:

Hi Dave It's a nice pic and a cool idea. Here are a couple of things that might enhance the shot. Your subject is dead center right now. The rule of thirds makes for a stronger composition. There's a thread about that in the Hall of Wisdom forum. Also, on my monitor the cat looks a wee bit dark. Your coloration is nice. But making the cat slightly lighter might help: I do realize there's an aesthetic issue here, and that this is open to interpreation.

After chasing the cat for an hour with a can of offwhite spray paint, I think I can rule out making him any lighter.. :-)

Seriously tho, thanks for the comments... That was a spur of the moment photo, and I don't know if he will let me pose him like that to get another shot..

I have a few days, right?? I'll keep thinking on it.

Many Thanks
Dave

wxwax · December 1, 2004

I hope you don't mind, Dave, but it's such a pretty shot, I took a quick stab at it. Here's sort of what I was thinking. The cat could be even lighter, to be honest.

Michiel de Brieder · December 1, 2004

lol, don't mind the icon
'burn'

Okay, in all seriousness. I think you've captured a great image!! I'd would only experiment with some cropping if I were you, because I think the lighting is just fine (YAEEMMV (yours and everyone elses mileage may vary

)) I held some A4's on top and bottom to 'crop it on screen' and I would like to see a pano version with a bit off bottom and top and right side... I don't have a photo editor here, or I would have given an example of how it would look (I'm not sure about it myself, it's just a hunch

)

Good luck deciding on a final version! I'm very anxious to see it (even if it remains the same

)

ginger_55 · December 1, 2004

Dave, I just want to tell you that I love your shot of the cat on the bed. I think it is a classic. Saw it earlier this morning, but I can't stop thinking about it.

So, I wanted to tell you. I have no advice on the cropping. I like both your version and the other one, chances are that there are many I might like depending on the frame et al. The lighting is so classic IMO, that is the important thing for the feeling the photo conveys, I would make sure to keep the lighting balance in the photo however you crop it. I love it.

ginger

DaveRich · December 1, 2004

wxwax wrote:

I hope you don't mind, Dave, but it's such a pretty shot, I took a quick stab at it. Here's sort of what I was thinking. The cat could be even lighter, to be honest.

The one problem I think may arrise from making him any lighter, is washout.
His white fur is VERY White, and messing with the brightness / contrast on him just makes it look messy..

Maybe there is another way to 'lighten him' ?

I use PSP 8.1...

Thanks for all the wonderful comments tho.. :-)

wxwax · December 1, 2004

Try using the Cletus Method. When I played with your original, I raised the levels and then played with the Cletus Method to darken the cover and lighten the cat. I avoided the white bits of the cat. Adjusting brush size, soft edges and intensity gives you a ton of flexibility.

ginger_55 · December 1, 2004

I am thinking of lifting the print now while it has that old fashioned dark look.

That is just me I guess, and if it is changed, I might want to lift that one, too.

Smile, ginger

I lifted Sid's crop.

DaveRich · December 1, 2004

ginger_55 wrote:

I am thinking of lifting the print now while it has that old fashioned dark look.

That is just me I guess, and if it is changed, I might want to lift that one, too.

Smile, ginger

I lifted Sid's crop.

Lifted???? :-)

Not familiar with that term (if its a specific photography term).

I do have a specific question tho..
I don't remember reading anything about this being a photoshop / psp / etc free contest, so I hope this is a valid question.

Is it OK to combine several shots digitally to make one shot?

For example, if in that shot, the cat was sleeping, would it be acceptable to take the shot as it was orginally taken, then turn the room lights up higher, to get more color out of the cat and the bed? That would kill the shadows tho, so the two could be combined to keep the warm colors, but 'brighten' them up a bit, and still keep the shadows in the shot?

Thanks.

Dave. :-)

Sam · December 1, 2004

Ok here is different version. Also I found several hot pixels. I think I cloned out 3 or 4. You may wish to check this out.

DaveRich · December 1, 2004

Hot Pixels???

Sam wrote:

Ok here is different version. Also I found several hot pixels. I think I cloned out 3 or 4. You may wish to check this out.

Not sure about that term.. If you mean pixels gone bad, yes.. There are 5 spots that I know of that are going bad on my CCD Sensor. I usually just use a size 3 or 4 clone brush, and wipe them out with whatever is right next to them.

Another reason to get a new camera.

I am thinking, tho, that this line of photography is not ideally suited to this challenge.. So i am plotting and planning on something a tad different.

tmlphoto · December 2, 2004

The lighting is great. Very moody. I would agree with some sort of crop. I think their are several viable options without getting to severe. Definately worth playing around with IMHO.

Brett · December 3, 2004

I think this shot really has potential with some tweaks, it could do very well. Personally the cropped photo stands out the most, except the poor quality.