Help me decide

[Roberta]

cannot get photos to link to post so followed email on how to. So these are 4 shots I need 1 more for my open section of photo club what do you think

[Guest]

Re: Help me decide

I don't understand what you are asking for, Roberta ?

Presumably you need to submit 5 photos for a photo club competition.

Are you asking for suggestions from your gallery?

[Roberta]

Re: Help me decide

I need to submit one and I cannot make my mind up which. I'm happy for critism.
Roberta

[Guest]

Re: Help me decide

The sunset was caught at the right moment and certainly has the most appeal to me.

But then Sea Eagle #1 shows camera skill.

Outcomes are always a matter of what the judge/s like, pure subjectivity.

[Wee man]

Re: Help me decide

I would go with Mark on the sunset, the bird in flight is excellent but does not jump out at me as much as the sunset. If the last one was cropped to show more of the bird and post it also might be in there. Hope this helps.

[gregles]

Re: Help me decide

I like the first Roberta it is full of detail and vibrant colour. I have rotated and cropped it very quickly but it is just a suggestion



A mono conversion could also be worth a try?

Greg

[sponner]

Re: Help me decide

sunset for me too

[yorky]

Re: Help me decide

I think I would go for the tree trunk. The eagle is fine but it isn't exceptional.

[Seonnaidh]

Re: Help me decide

Mmmmm.
Writing purely as an ex photography judge I can see both strengths and weaknesses in all the four submitted for evaluation.

(1) Needs cropping as has already been suggested. Beforehand the fact that the lower
slightly left of central area has been clipped is to me irritating. Better a stronger
crop. It's plus points are its composition when rotated and it's harmonious textures.

(2) As presented the sunset leaves me unmoved. Too much dark foreground. I know
I might be banging on like a dinosaur but I was always taught that blocked up shadows and burnt out highlights were a mortal sin. Hence I shy away from images with too much of either in them. You may, of course be able to lighten the shadows a wee bit which would help matters a great deal. The strong points of this image are the composition of the clouds and the sun's rays through them. Unless I could bring some detail into the shadow areas I would give this one a miss.

(3) The Eagle image is well worth considering as you have dealt with exposing a dark subject against a much brighter background very well. However, it lacks animation.
Yes we are all aware that it is flying thus must be animated but in today's market of
very high quality and profuse wildlife image offerings we really do need to grab the viewers attention with a much higher level of activity. I would perhaps crop a wee bit from the top of the image.

(4) Because I am unable to view no 4 in much detail ( can't get it any bigger on my screen?) I feel unable to comment on sharpness of focus and details like that. But, I do feel there is far too much picture and not enough content. The image is about the bird landing on a fence post and it's reflection in the water. I would make a portrait crop of this and then I personally think it may well do much better.

Please do not carry away any emotional baggage over my comments. I certainly do not wish to appear harsh or destructive. If you like the images and either myself or anyone else does not, then we are the one's with a problem not you.
I wish you every success in your club competition and please let us know how you get on.

[Roberta]

Re: Help me decide

Mmmmm.
Writing purely as an ex photography judge I can see both strengths and weaknesses in all the four submitted for evaluation.

(1) Needs cropping as has already been suggested. Beforehand the fact that the lower
slightly left of central area has been clipped is to me irritating. Better a stronger
crop. It's plus points are its composition when rotated and it's harmonious textures.


Never thought of rotating. No excuse really I saw it while behind the reins up in the bush. so I stood up and took it.......I will revisit possibly the tree on foot if I can find it and also edit the photo


(2) As presented the sunset leaves me unmoved. Too much dark foreground. I know
I might be banging on like a dinosaur but I was always taught that blocked up shadows and burnt out highlights were a mortal sin. Hence I shy away from images with too much of either in them. You may, of course be able to lighten the shadows a wee bit which would help matters a great deal. The strong points of this image are the composition of the clouds and the sun's rays through them. Unless I could bring some detail into the shadow areas I would give this one a miss.

The dark foreground and what worried me also was the halo round the sun

(3) The Eagle image is well worth considering as you have dealt with exposing a dark subject against a much brighter background very well. However, it lacks animation.
Yes we are all aware that it is flying thus must be animated but in today's market of
very high quality and profuse wildlife image offerings we really do need to grab the viewers attention with a much higher level of activity. I would perhaps crop a wee bit from the top of the image.

point taken
(4) Because I am unable to view no 4 in much detail ( can't get it any bigger on my screen?) I feel unable to comment on sharpness of focus and details like that. But, I do feel there is far too much picture and not enough content. The image is about the bird landing on a fence post and it's reflection in the water. I would make a portrait crop of this and then I personally think it may well do much better.

I was going for the reflection, again I'll have a go

Please do not carry away any emotional baggage over my comments. I certainly do not wish to appear harsh or destructive. If you like the images and either myself or anyone else does not, then we are the one's with a problem not you.
I wish you every success in your club competition and please let us know how you get on.

No I will not take on any baggage, if you don't ask you don't learn. Not that I think i will get anywhere this year as I've gone up a grade, I'm better on the tasks as that focus's you, but the opens I procrastinate
Roberta

many thanks all

[Imageryone]

Re: Help me decide

If you crop the sunset to put the Sun on the bottom right third, it keeps all the wonderful rays, but gives a much more balanced, colourful and dynamic image.