[Leica] Searching -- Critiquing!

[images at comporium.net (Tina Manley)]

LUG -

Isn't Ted amazing?  He does the same thorough critic with each of the
hundreds of photos in the Leica seminars.  I am in awe and have no idea how
he does it.  I know whether I like a photo or not immediately, but I have no
idea why.  Ted does and gives helpful comments on how to improve.  He's the
best photography teacher I know!!!

Tina

On Sun, Aug 29, 2010 at 12:02 AM, <tedgrant at shaw.ca> wrote:

> Gene did say:
>
>> This is what I wanted and as long as I get some pointers on how to improve
>>> my photos, I will never take it personally, as I do want to learn.  I
>>> keep
>>> waiting for a comment from Dr. Ted, but so far, I guess he either likes
>>> my
>>> stuff or has not bothered to look.  Or, I'm too terrible for him to
>>> narrow
>>> it down.  ;-)  Either way it is great to have him back.<,
>>>
>>
> Thank you Gene for the welcome back.
>
> However I did not pass your picture posting on purpose as I can only be
> here
> so much time each day, then I'm ordered to leave! :-) :-( Both good and
> bad.
> However mon ami I have and am looking as I comment! :-)
>
> WINTER BARN #2:
> No question the best by far! "SHOOTING FROM THE SHADOW SIDE!" Because of
> the trees and the tree shadow mid foreground! Quite obvious which is the
> better merely by clicking back and
> forth for comparison.
>
> Number 2 without question is "ART" and could very easily be framed and hung
> in a family room or in the home of an urban resident.
>
> Julia's Eyes:
> I like this but would prefer it even more so if we could see a smidgen more
> of her eyes. I suppose that comes from when I photograph people I always
> try
> not to cut through the eyes.
>
> If the subject is wearing eye glasses, no part of the frames should ever
> cut
> through the eye or eyes! Still an interesting photo, however next time try
> for a clean eye line. It does make a major difference because we humans
> learn so much about others from the subject's eyes. We know when they are
> lying, ill, emotional and it goes on!
>
> Tetons:
> Interesting, however the really black foreground or lower portion of the
> frame I find disturbing. I think more so because I can't tell what it
> is and it doesn't seem to add anything? I have just looked again and if
> anything I think maybe a tad brighter might help as I think it's forest?
> maybe a lake? tucked in there giving some reflection in the mid third left
> in the frame? It doesn't fall into one of your better pictures, probably
> more into a "snap shot category from the car as you were driving along
> the highway and the scenery looked kind of cool. You stopped and went...
> "CLICK!" It looked better to the eye than in a photograph.
> Trust me it happens to all of us!
>
> Thistle:
> Not much to say here other than when you have "spines" or pointy things
> sticking out they shouldn't be cut off by the edge frame as you've done
> here. They should come from the seed pod and end clean and clear from the
> edge of the frame. How much? It doesn't matter as long as it helps create
> an
> interesting composition. If you chop them off it spoils the composition.
>
> Wild Flower:
> OK this works as a simple clean composition of a wild flower, dark back
> ground helps make it stand out stronger and sharper. If one is into hanging
> wild flower photos in the family room it could fall into that category. It
> falls into the "nice picture" range and not likely anyone is going to be
> jumping off their chairs over it!
>
> Yellowstone Swan:
> Even though the swan is clean and white and catches the eye and it should
> be
> the smack you in the eye main point of focus..... IT ISN'T! !  That great
> big root system on the left grabs your attention and holds your eyes there,
> rather than staying with the  "Yellowstone Swan!" That is after all the
> title of the photograph. Right?
>
> How to correct this if the swan is considered the main point of focus?
>
> That's a toughie without being there, but I think probably wait the few
> minutes until the swan is coming out from behind the root system and clean
> of the roots all together. Maybe just make it into a reflection in the
> water
> and the real bird with green weeds filling the background! Or something of
> that nature unless some other smaller size roots are about and can be
> balanced as a secondary part of the photograph.
>
> OR? Shoot the swan sooner before it got so close to the roots? In other
> words with a bigger gap between bird and roots. Because right now it almost
> looks like the swan will crash into the roots? maybe?
>
> OK I hope this helps as I'm ordered out of here. good night. Talk later.
> cheers,
> Dr. ted
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
>


-- 
Tina Manley, ASMP
www.tinamanley.com