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Hey guys,
as requested, this is a thread for you to post your photo and let other members post some critique and comments.

Here are some guidelines:

When you post up your photos:
Try to only post 1 photo at a time. Post up the photo you want people to criticise on the most.
Also try to post as much details as possible, such as:
- what camera, lens, flash(es) you used.
- the cameras settings
- what (if any) postprocessing you have done to your photo.
- any story/problem you had when you took this photo
While it's not necessary to tell us everything, the more you tell us about your photo, the easier for the other members to understand more about your photo and give relevant comments

When you give critiques and comments:
Make sure your critique is constructive and helpful to the original poster,
e.g. "your photo sux" is not considered as a constructive critique
"nice photo!" is not really a constructive critique as well

If it is a portrait, never comment on the model. We only want to criticise the photo, not the model in the photo

Try to follow the following structure when you are giving your comments.
1. Composition
2. Technical
3. Lighting/flash
4. Postprocessing
5. Others



And welcome to give some critiques and comments on this "Critique my photo" section as well

Awesome thread!
*off to look for photos*

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D80 + 18-135mm DX
1/640s / ISO 400 / f13 / no flash

I sort of think we should critique photos in a structured way...like
1. technical stuff (right ISO/focus/aperture/whatever camera setting)
2. composition
3. lighting/flash - power/colour/angle...

I'm probably not the right person to talk here but somebody could consider doing the above. I think it's a good practice.

And it doesn't have to be your photo. I think we can just grab any photo (as long as we reference properly...no copyright issue?)



ArcspacE
1. Is it my eyes or the compression?? The ladder at the bottom looked not as sharp as I would have thought on F/13?
2. Maybe a bit more sky at the top?

---

D700/35mm F/2 prime at ISO4000, F/2, 1/30s (couldn't use the flash in this environment) RAW

Original




Post-processing


What I did:
1. fix the colour balance
2. unsharp mask and (tried to) reduce noise
3. lighten up the dark shadow on the left cheek of the model created by her nose

Arcspace: I saw you were using ISO 400 and 1/640s. I would probably just use ISO200 (base ISO is it?) and can still shoot at 1/320s. And yes i agree with C80, a bit more sky at the top would probably be better.

c80: I find the shadow (on the face and body) quite distracting. but you did a good job in removing some of it in postprocessing

okay my comments:

Arcspace:

Composition: i may move myself to the right a bit so that ladder is right in the center of the picture? I agree a bit more sky would help balance the composition

Technical: i would use ISO200 as well for better picture quality. I'm not sure if it'll look better. Maybe a slightly smaller aperture like f/16 ?

Lighting/flash: Lovely sunlight, nothing to complain

Postprocessing: -

Other:you need to clean your sensor



c80:

Composition: I think the overall composition is quite good.

Technical: ISO4000 @ f/2 1/30s oh my god it must be quite dim there. But yes again i think it's quite a sensible setting

Lighting/flash: There are two annoying shadows on the model, one is caused by the hand and the other is caused by the nose. The nose shadow is annoying mainly because it goes upward and and is really quite obvious. Turning the model's face slightly to the right (her right) can minimise the shadow but it's quite hard to completely eliminiate it as the candle light on the table is your main light source. Re the shadow on the body, i would either put the candle a bit further away from the model so her hand won't cast that strong shadow on her body. Or i may ask her to swap the left/right hand pose so her right hand is under the chin and left hand is holding that little glass.

Postprocessing: I find the colour balance a bit too red in the processed photo. I personally would prefer a slightly yellow-ish colour tone to create a more warm/romantic feeling and also more authentic to the original lighting i guess?

Thanks for the input guys, the ISO400 was still 'left' from the game I went to so I forgot to check. Usually shoot at ISO200.

c80,
1. Well spotted and set - little clutter and a good balance of context vs subject
2. I would have gone for f2.8 but I guess it was really dim. Well captured considering the environment
3. I seem to enjoy the unedited version more - the lighting appears more natural and softer. Although you've cleaned the shadows really well in the second. Perhaps the white-balance is a little off, not sure.

Overall, I quite like it.

(07-14-2010 10:15 PM)c80 Wrote: [ -> ]I sort of think we should critique photos in a structured way...like
1. technical stuff (right ISO/focus/aperture/whatever camera setting)
2. composition
3. lighting/flash - power/colour/angle...

I'm probably not the right person to talk here but somebody could consider doing the above. I think it's a good practice.

And it doesn't have to be your photo. I think we can just grab any photo (as long as we reference properly...no copyright issue?)

thanks for the feedback c80. i've just added updated the guideline at the top.

re grabbing someone else's photo and ask for comments, i think it may not be a very good idea. Reason is the person who took the photo have not asked and probably don't want other people to criticise his photo?

Thanks guys for the feedbacks and yeah...maybe just keep to photos taken by ourselves.

Everybody complains that my photos are too "red"...damn I need monitor calibration!!!!!

c80: are you using XP or Windows7? windows 7 has a built-in monitor calibration feature. it's not super accurate but it's a lot better than nothing!

arcspace: haha i made the same mistake all the time. Raised the ISO but then forgot to drop it back down later. at least you were only using ISO400.. i've done a lot worse!

Okey, i have done some shot today for my couple ring... i used 1 Sb600 firing from the back. and use my D90 build in flash in front. it's first time i try it.. lighting is not very bright. it was in my room and around 5pm. i need to bump ISO up and slow up the shutter.

#1

ISO: 500
Shutter: 1/60
Aperture: F5

#2

ISO: 500
Shutter: 1/50
Aperture: F5

After the first 2 shots, i swapped the flash to the other side and adjust some angle.

#3

ISO: 1000
Shutter: 1/60
Aperture: F5

#4

ISO: 1000
Shutter: 1/60
Aperture: F4

#5

ISO: 1000
Shutter: 1/50
Aperture: F5

hope everyone enjoy and give me more comments to improve

thanks