Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/01/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Rob Mason's PAW 2003, Week 2... > Here is my second offering to the PAW for the year: > > http://www.leica-gallery.net/rcm/image-37730.html > > A few days ago, I posted my first ever PAW entry, and I got several > responses indicating that the photo was a good one except for the fact that > the face of the subject was too dim. My skill as a photographer is still > being refined (read "developed"), so I do not know if I could have done more > at the time of shooting to remedy the problem. The only solution now is to > doctor the photo via computer. My question is this: What is the best > elementary program for photo refinishing? Is Photoshop the only worthwhile > tool available? > > As always, comments, critiques, and smart-ass remarks are welcome and > encouraged.<<< Hi Rob, do not take any of this as smart ass comment! The first question you as photographer should ask when you look at this picture is: "What was the motivating factor to make this exposure?" What triggered you to shoot what we see here? Because as I see it, there isn't any point of interest. Break the shot down... the lady on the extreme left is clearly out of focus and could've been cropped out before posting. the lady and chap in the centre appear to be your point of interest are in focus but without any point of interest or what they're doing. The picture looks like the kind of shot that when you got home and show it to family and say..." here's Mary and Joe during the emergency response drill." And the family would recognize them because they know who they are and would understand what you were showing. We don't, well OK me, as a photo editor, do I understand what you're trying to illustrate? It's an exposure of some people. As there isn't any relevance to anything this a bunch of people jammed together looking around are doing without your words of " Same cruise... Muster drill to review emergency procedure (think Titanic)." So? Where's the point of interest? This is shot because you're in the group doing the same as the folks in the picture....can't move about looking for a better angle and that being the case, I can understand the problem. But could you not see the officer giving the instructions and frame him between the heads of the passengers? Or if the girl in focus is with you or the one out of focus, show her tightening her life vest or in some manner doing something with it.... ? Or something ? This is the kind of situation that really requires a wide angle lens, 21, 28, 15. I realize some folks don't have all the glass at their finger tips as some do or a professional might. That's just a point of instruction for the next time. It would be helpful from a learning point if you could explain why and what was the motivating reason you made the exposure? Then any number of experienced photographers here could give you a better reason of what to look for or in how to have improved this shot. Maybe this critique will be seen as somewhat helpful and avoid a blizzard of "critique posts, critiquing the critiquer!." I trust this is a little helpful and it would be a whole bunch more helpful if you come back and tell us what you were trying to show. thanks, ted - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html