How can I improve this shot? The "constructive criticism" thread ;)

Discussion in 'Photography 101' started by ArnyVee, Oct 29, 2009.

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  1. ArnyVee

    ArnyVee Member

    Alright folks,

    I want to get better with my "eye" for photography. So, I figured that I'd start a thread that we can add pictures to and get some comments as to how to improve certain shots. With so many professionals here, I'd love to get the advice. :)

    From the angle taken to the post-photo editing....what can we do to fix or make the photographs better?

    So, here's my first shot.....how do I improve it? I want all constructive feedback, so don't hold back. Even if it means that I should've stayed away from the shot altogether. :)

    [​IMG]
     
    ArnyVee, Oct 29, 2009
    #1
  2. ddindy

    ddindy Member Staff Member

    Great thread idea!

    For your shot, I would start by rotating it a little to the right to see how it looks. ; I always look for something vertical (like one of those fence posts) to use as a guide when rotating.
     
    ddindy, Oct 29, 2009
    #2
  3. mSummers

    mSummers Member

    I agree with Dennis, the shot looks unlevel. ; I also think its cropped too tightly around SSE, especially at the top. ;
     
    mSummers, Oct 29, 2009
    #3
  4. WDWFigment

    WDWFigment Member

    I am far from a pro, so I probably have no idea what I'm talking about, but here's what I see.

    Quick fixes:
    1) increase exposure, gamma, contrast, and blacks
    2) increase vibrance
    3) crop a tad tighter on the left and right

    I think the composition is okay from a technical perspective, you have something in each third. ; I might consider going lower and aiming upwards more. ; As a general matter, I have a predisposition against straight-on shots that show only around 50% of the top of SSE (unless they incorporate a monorail to take the focus off of SSE). ; I don't know why, but they just don't do it for me. ; The worst perspective for this, in my opinion, is behind the Fountain of Nations. ; I think the blame is on those tarps, but I have never seen a shot from that perspective that I cared for. ; I've never had any success back there, either (okay, tangent over).
     
    WDWFigment, Oct 29, 2009
    #4
  5. Tim

    Tim Administrator Staff Member

    Re: How can I improve this shot? The "constructive

    I love this idea. ; Would this make a good "board" idea? ; Please make suggestions but also answer arny's question so as to not hijack the thread. ; ;
     
    Tim, Oct 29, 2009
    #5
  6. PolynesianMedic

    PolynesianMedic Global Moderator Staff Member

    I definitely think that I would increase the vibrance in this shot. ; There are a lot of great colors in there that just need a little boosting.

    Tim, I think that this would be a great board idea. ; It is a great way for those of us that are new or newer to photography to learn how to become better.
     
    PolynesianMedic, Oct 29, 2009
    #6
  7. ArnyVee

    ArnyVee Member

    I'm glad everyone likes the idea. And yes Tim, I think it would be a great idea to incorporate this into a board.

    Thanks to all for the suggestions on the pic. By the way, when you say "rotate" the shot, do you mean to physically zoom out and stand more to the right or left of the angle? Just want to make sure that I have the terminology down :)
     
    ArnyVee, Oct 29, 2009
    #7
  8. Grumpwurst

    Grumpwurst Member Staff Member

    I think what they are talking about is using your post-production software to realign the picture. ; As one person said they try to use some object in the picture you know should be plumb as a guide when realigning to know when you get vertical alignment
     
    Grumpwurst, Oct 29, 2009
    #8
  9. WDWFigment

    WDWFigment Member

    Great board idea.
     
    WDWFigment, Oct 29, 2009
    #9
  10. Grumpwurst

    Grumpwurst Member Staff Member

    Great board idea as long as it sticks to constructive criticism that includes a way to improve the shot or post-production fixes. ;
     
    Grumpwurst, Oct 29, 2009
    #10
  11. WDWFigment

    WDWFigment Member

    I know for me, personally, the most utility I have gotten out of this board is the occasions when I solicit CC on a shot I post, and you all offer advice about which I would have never thought. ; I think it's generally a pretty friendly group around here, but if people don't want others offering CC on their photos (I know a number of people who don't), they just wouldn't have to post on the board. ; I know I would use it a ton.
     
    WDWFigment, Oct 29, 2009
    #11
  12. mSummers

    mSummers Member

    I think having ; a separate board for CC is a great idea. ; Its impossible to tell if and when someone wants CC unless they ask. ; Having a board specifically for that would be a great way to keep those threads together and could be a great resource for anyone who is just starting to learn the art of photography.
     
    mSummers, Oct 29, 2009
    #12
  13. Craig

    Craig Member Staff Member

    yes!! then everyone will know if its safe to critique and/or if wanted!!
     
    Craig, Oct 29, 2009
    #13
  14. gary

    gary Member

    i think a seperate c & c board is just the way to go, i know sometimes i want c&c and some shots i personallyt like just fine, and sometimes i know it needs work, but i just don't quite know where to start
     
    gary, Oct 29, 2009
    #14
  15. zackiedawg

    zackiedawg Member Staff Member

    CC board is a great idea - a place where it is definitely known that any and all critique is welcomed.

    Arny, I agree on the rotate idea...and I agree that most here are likely referring to post-processing the shot by rotating the shot more to the right. ; The idea would be that the roofline of the Communicore/Innoventions building would be perfectly horizontal, and the palm trees in front of it would be perfectly vertical. ; You would have to re-crop the photo after rotating...so it may not work if the photo the way you posted it is the full original - you might not have enough room to crop. ; In fact, when shooting, that's a good thing to keep in mind - sometimes leaving a wee bit of room around your subject gives you some leeway to crop a bit to get things perfect.

    A little more saturation and a bit of contrast might be nice too...but that's personal taste.

    Here's a basic idea what I was thinking on the rotate:

    [attachments posted prior to 4/27/2010 have been deleted by admin. be sure to link images to make sure they don't get removed]
     
    zackiedawg, Oct 29, 2009
    #15
  16. ddindy

    ddindy Member Staff Member

    By rotating, I guess the best way to explain it is think of going back to take the same picture from the same spot, but tilt your camera a little to the left. ; That horizontal roofline is a strong element and it makes the whole picture look a little off kilter.

    Here's an example using GIMP. ; Note the vertical guidlines that I added to help me align using the vertical fence post. ; The crosshair marks the center of rotation (which I didn't change). ; It looks like rotating about 2 degrees to the right is all that you need.

     
    ddindy, Oct 29, 2009
    #16
  17. ArnyVee

    ArnyVee Member

    Wow, you see....already learning!

    And, Justin, that little bit of tilt/rotation makes the picture A LOT better. :)

    Thanks guys! Let's kick off that CC Board off and learn from the pros! ;)
     
    ArnyVee, Oct 29, 2009
    #17
  18. PolynesianMedic

    PolynesianMedic Global Moderator Staff Member

    Well until the actual forum is available, I will post this here, and ask for help. ; I tried this shot many ways, and they all came out the same way, so here is the shot and please let me know how I can get the shots that you have all posted with the detail and craters. ; I did try f/16 for this shot, and still got the same. ; Thanks for the help!

    [​IMG]
     
    PolynesianMedic, Oct 30, 2009
    #18
  19. Roger

    Roger Member Staff Member

    What was your ISO and shutter speed on that one Jeff?
     
    Roger, Oct 30, 2009
    #19
  20. PolynesianMedic

    PolynesianMedic Global Moderator Staff Member

    Here is the data on the shot:

    Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT
    Exposure: 1
    Aperture: f/5.6
    Focal Length: 300 mm
    ISO Speed: 100
    Exposure Bias: 0 EV
    Flash: Off, Did not fire

    File Size: 1237 kB
    File Type: JPEG
    MIME Type: image/jpeg
    Image Width: 3456
    Image Height: 2304
    Encoding Process: Baseline DCT, Huffman coding
    Bits Per Sample: 8
    Color Components: 3
    Orientation: Horizontal (normal)
    X-Resolution: 72 dpi
    Y-Resolution: 72 dpi
    Date and Time (Modified): 2009:10:26 21:32:00
    YCbCr Positioning: Co-sited
    Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE
    Date and Time (Original): 2009:10:26 21:32:00
    Date and Time (Digitized): 2009:10:26 21:32:00
    Metering Mode: Multi-segment
    Color Space: sRGB
    Focal Plane X-Resolution: 3954.23341 dpi
    Focal Plane Y-Resolution: 3958.762887 dpi
    Custom Rendered: Normal
    Exposure Mode: Auto
    White Balance: Auto
    Scene Capture Type: Standard
    Macro Mode: Normal
    Self Timer: Off
    Quality: Fine
    Canon Flash Mode: Off
    Continuous Drive: Continuous
    Focus Mode: One-shot AF
    Record Mode: JPEG
    Canon Image Size: Large
    Easy Mode: Manual
    Digital Zoom: None
    Contrast: +2
    Saturation: +2
    Sharpness: +2
    Metering Mode: Evaluative
    Focus Range: Not Known
    Canon Exposure Mode: Aperture-priority AE
    Lens Type: Unknown (-1)
    Long Focal: 300 mm
    Short Focal: 75 mm
    Focal Units: 1
    Max Aperture: 5.6
    Min Aperture: 38
    Flash Activity: 0
    Flash Bits: (none)
    Focus Continuous: Single
    Zoom Source Width: 0
    Zoom Target Width: 0
    Photo Effect: Off
    Manual Flash Output: n/a
    Color Tone: Normal
    Focal Type: Zoom
    Focal Plane XSize: 23.04 mm
    Focal Plane YSize: 15.37 mm
    Auto ISO: 100
    Base ISO: 100
    Measured EV: -0.12
    Target Aperture: 5.6
    White Balance: Auto
    Slow Shutter: None
    Sequence Number: 0
    Optical Zoom Code: n/a
    Flash Guide Number: 0
    Flash Exposure Comp: 0
    Auto Exposure Bracketing: Off
    AEBBracket Value: 0
    Control Mode: Camera Local Control
    Bulb Duration: 0
    Camera Type: EOS Mid-range
    Auto Rotate: None
    NDFilter: Unknown (-1)
    Self Timer2: 0
    Flash Output: 0
    Canon Firmware Version: Firmware 1.0.3
    Owner Name: Jeff and Amanda Dierking
    Serial Number: 2920715770
    Canon Model ID: EOS Digital Rebel XT / 350D / Kiss Digital N
    Num AFPoints: 7
    Valid AFPoints: 7
    AFArea Width: 189
    AFArea Height: 188
    Original Decision Data Offset: 0
    File Number: 740-4083
    Bracket Mode: Off
    Bracket Value: 0
    Bracket Shot Number: 0
    Noise Reduction: Off
    WBBracket Mode: Off
    WBBracket Value AB: 0
    WBBracket Value GM: 0
    Filter Effect: None
    Toning Effect: None
    Tone Curve: Standard
    Sharpness Frequency: n/a
    Sensor Red Level: 0
    Sensor Blue Level: 0
    White Balance Red: 0
    White Balance Blue: 0
    Color Temperature: 5200
    Picture Style: None
    Digital Gain: 0
    WBShift AB: 0
    WBShift GM: 0
    VRDOffset: 0
    Sensor Width: 3516 (52-3507 used)
    Sensor Height: 2328 (19-2322 used)
    Black Mask Left Border: 0
    Black Mask Top Border: 0
    Black Mask Right Border: 0
    Black Mask Bottom Border: 0
    White Balance RGGB Levels: 2074 1017 1021 1837
    Color Temperature: 4312
    WB_ RGGBLevels Custom1: 2338 1021 1025 1559
    Color Temp Custom1: 5200
    WB_ RGGBLevels Custom2: 2338 1021 1025 1559
    Color Temp Custom2: 5200
    Set Button Cross Keys Func: Normal
    Long Exposure Noise Reduction: Off
    Flash Sync Speed Av: Auto
    Shutter- AELock: AF/AE lock
    AFAssist Beam: Emits
    Exposure Level Increments: 1/3 Stop
    Mirror Lockup: Disable
    ETTLII: Evaluative
    Shutter Curtain Sync: 1st-curtain sync
    Compression: JPEG (old-style)
     
    PolynesianMedic, Oct 30, 2009
    #20
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