THIS is how you comment and critique photography.

[CHADbee]

i wanted to share something. people always ask how to get better at photography and i tell them its not by posting pics on here lol doesnt mean you shouldnt share you pictures here but if you really want to get good you need to be on some photography forums and this is why.....this is from one of my threads on mycanikon.


here are the pictures i posted....


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8






here is one of the comments i got.....

great images... so... I will be very critical, with minor changes/suggestions... and will give you reasons why... wink/smile...

1. I like this image a lot... although I would fix/change the hot spot in the sky, move some of the cloud texture over, adding tone might work, but, the area might be too large... I would tone down the tarps, to the same tone/density as the building, and the ones behind the car even darker... clone-out the green light on the roof of the building, and the two white spots, to the right on the building roof... clone-out the stones in front, or at least the white ones... I would also clone-away the highlights, the three white spots on the front fender, the one upper right front fender, and the lower one on the door... these are specular and do not match the softer ones on top of the car...and I would also remove the highlights on the tires...

2. I really like the composition here... and the mood of the lighting... I would remove all the specular highlights under the spoiler and around the tail lights... only have tones of red... I would add a good deal of contrast to the sky, so it's mood matches the car... and fix the color of the clouds they are now cyan/green, they can be either neutral white/gray or warmer... the cyan/green conflicts with the car color ( opposites... )

3. this one is my least favorite... the "7" and the wheel is the strongest part... as your eyes enter from the left, there is too much space, before the "7" too much depth of field, as the clutter behind the fence merges with the car... since the viewer's eyes enter from the left, "as we read" not enough space on the right, to keep your eyes in the image... again, the light on the building and white stones...

4. I really like this interior shot... a slight depth of field problem on the steering wheel, make a selection of the left side, the textured grip, and add enough sharpening, to match the right side, or enough to "create" focus...
I would clone-away the reflection of the vent, on the windshield, and neutralize the green tint on the right side of the windshield... Now, I understand the car is red... but, I would change the color of the mirror to black, the red color, pulls my eyes out the window... also I would remove the red reflections on the dash, air vents and steering wheel, and I would also remove the red needle of the gauge... leave only the red in the "R" and lastly tone down the corner of the seat to almost black... darken the lower left corner too...

5. this is my favorite... I love "edge tension" important parts near the edges... this can be very problematic or very powerful... must use it carefully... not knowing if this is cropped or not... I would move the crop up on the bottom, till the space was equal to the left of the door handle to the bottom of the door handle... it matches the space from the right edge to the window, and then, if you have it, move the top crop higher, to the point where the red meets the window frame... triangles are very powerful in composition... then darken down the windows to almost black, with no reflections or words/factory/glass words... not NAGTROC... then lastly remove the tiny specular highlights around the edges of the door, and handle... and tone down/almost remove the highlight of the rear window frame...

6. also like this one... again, remove the specular highlights, the five dots of white on the nose, the lines around the wheel well, the edge of the door... I would also remove the highlight on the front edge of the tire... darken down the moldings behind the wheel, and in front... remove the three stones, and fix the concrete in the front... even though it is part of the car, I would remove the seam line between the headlight and the side light, and the little black nib on the hood, on top... then add some more drama to the sky, and make the sky/clouds more neutral...

7. again, the specular highlights on the car, rear fender, trims... again a depth of field issue, as the clutter merges with the car... rear, spoiler, roof, nose... then, clone-away the stones...

8. very nice... just clone-away the specular highlights, on the front fender and spoiler...

on cars when you have length long highlights that are soft/diffused from the sky, it is always better to remove the specular ones from lights/flashes... by nature, we only have one light source the sun/sky... when you see others it adds confusion, and they tend to be very obvious... only in "people's eyes" should you see any catch lights from strobes or flashes...

great images... here and on your website... look forward to seeing more...

THAT is how you C&C a set of photos!!!!!!

[quickdodge®]

THAT is how you C&C a set of photos!!!!!!

Here is one problem I see with this. Not everyone is as well-versed in photography as someone "in the field." People like the respondent look for things to critique. They look for out of place pixels and how out of contrast a cloud is. I don't. In this, I'm just the average Joe looking at pictures. While I don't care about how crystal clear a photo is, I do like to point out some of the obvious. Like taking a picture of a car, but having the front and rear of it cut off. Or having the dreaded angle shots. Or blurriness.

You posted how to critique a photo from an actual photographers POV, but I believe more of the picture viewers are going to be the average person looking at the pictures. We're not going to care if you move the cloud that's the second one to the right in the background to a smoother texture level.

You see what I mean? Later, QD.

[Dirty Octopus™]

Wow!

i think his critique just made me a better Point and Shooter!!

[Tarzanman]

Wow!

i think his critique just made me a better Point and Shooter!!

It doesn't matter all that much what you're taking photos with. Just learn to work with whatever you have on hand.

[CHADbee]

Here is one problem I see with this. Not everyone is as well-versed in photography as someone "in the field." People like the respondent look for things to critique. They look for out of place pixels and how out of contrast a cloud is. I don't. In this, I'm just the average Joe looking at pictures. While I don't care about how crystal clear a photo is, I do like to point out some of the obvious. Like taking a picture of a car, but having the front and rear of it cut off. Or having the dreaded angle shots. Or blurriness.

You posted how to critique a photo from an actual photographers POV, but I believe more of the picture viewers are going to be the average person looking at the pictures. We're not going to care if you move the cloud that's the second one to the right in the background to a smoother texture level.

You see what I mean? Later, QD.

i 100% understand but with photography the smallest stuff can be a huge deal. the difference here is most people cant spot why X photo is better than Y photo but they just know it is. this guy told me every single tiniest thing that could be done to improve this set of photos and he made my jaw drop....his eye for it is amazing to say the least.

because your not a photographer, and 90% of people that look at my junk arent either they arent gonna be able to tell me small things like that to help....but if i did those things most people would liek the photo more but not know why.

Wow!

i think his critique just made me a better Point and Shooter!!

dude...he's a beast....ive seen him do this to many people on that forum and everytime im in shock of how right he is and how he can see that stuff, its blow my mind.

It doesn't matter all that much what you're taking photos with. Just learn to work with whatever you have on hand.

true!

[5speed]

I can critique like that. I just don't do it. Too much time.

[Glade]

I can critique like that. I just don't do it. Too much time.

yea...me too

[quickdodge®]

i 100% understand but with photography the smallest stuff can be a huge deal. the difference here is most people cant spot why X photo is better than Y photo but they just know it is. this guy told me every single tiniest thing that could be done to improve this set of photos and he made my jaw drop....his eye for it is amazing to say the least.

because your not a photographer, and 90% of people that look at my junk arent either they arent gonna be able to tell me small things like that to help....but if i did those things most people would liek the photo more but not know why.

For myself, and I think a lot of others, I don't care how perfect the shot is. If it's not blurry, not partials, not way out of color, then I'm good. A nice clear shot is fine with me. I don't need HD to enjoy a picture.

But I get where you're at, man. Later, QD.

[Dirty Octopus™]

It doesn't matter all that much what you're taking photos with. Just learn to work with whatever you have on hand.

lol why are you telling me this?

[Bacon]

Every shot of yours I have ever seen is nothing short of amazing. This particular set continues just that....

...however, as for the first picture. I don't know shit about photography so excuse me with what I say. When you edit the pics to brighten the car up a little, this particular car being such a bright red seems too bright and almost dull on some edges like the top. I can see that the shading of the car shows the sun shining through the clouds onto the car. I don't point out too much detail and probably wouldn't know the difference between your current edit and a new edit if you went with what smalltrees said. It might be just me that sees it. Still a great shoot.

[Slow Motion]

It's crazy how that guy could see all of the things you did in photoshop. While reading I would go back to the pic and see if I could find what he saw. Sometimes I could and other time I failed to see the changes needed.
Also Chad, saying things like " 90% of people that look at my junk" really doesn't make me want to look at any more of your photography, even though I've liked many of the photos you have taken. If you think that the pictures you take are junk then what's the point of you displaying them for me to look at? I would just rather you get better then show me what you can do. But, I do like to see progression towards better pics. I'm not a good photogropher or anything but, the average person can and will notice changes in your style as you get better at what you do. I just don't think that downgrading yourself anywhere makes a case for me to look at your pics or request services. Just my 2. I still like what you do though.

[Bacon]

Any chance we can see an example of that guy's images for comparison? He obviously knows his stuff about photography.

[CHADbee]

Every shot of yours I have ever seen is nothing short of amazing. This particular set continues just that....

...however, as for the first picture. I don't know shit about photography so excuse me with what I say. When you edit the pics to brighten the car up a little, this particular car being such a bright red seems too bright and almost dull on some edges like the top. I can see that the shading of the car shows the sun shining through the clouds onto the car. I don't point out too much detail and probably wouldn't know the difference between your current edit and a new edit if you went with what smalltrees said. It might be just me that sees it. Still a great shoot.

thank you.

95% of people that look at that shot the way it is and then if they looked at the same exact shot but with the suggestions of small tree's would NOT see the difference in the shots but most people would like the second one better but not know why. the human eye and brain is a very complex thing and one thing as a photographer you have to understand what is pleasing to look at.

perfect example is....when shooting a car you always leave MORE room infront of the car than behind it in the frame of the photo. do you know why? most people dont. its because the human eye is used to seeing a car in motion, thats what it was built for. if there is less room within the picture infront of the car than behind it then the car will "feel" trapped within the frame and have less room to be in motion, that will make the photo less pleasing to you.

thats what most people dont understand, there is a fucking science to this shit.

It's crazy how that guy could see all of the things you did in photoshop. While reading I would go back to the pic and see if I could find what he saw. Sometimes I could and other time I failed to see the changes needed.
Also Chad, saying things like " 90% of people that look at my junk" really doesn't make me want to look at any more of your photography, even though I've liked many of the photos you have taken. If you think that the pictures you take are junk then what's the point of you displaying them for me to look at? I would just rather you get better then show me what you can do. But, I do like to see progression towards better pics. I'm not a good photogropher or anything but, the average person can and will notice changes in your style as you get better at what you do. I just don't think that downgrading yourself anywhere makes a case for me to look at your pics or request services. Just my 2. I still like what you do though.

ah man i was just making a joke about that, like how guys refer to their C6Z06 as their "slow POS" or something like that lol

i know what great photography is and while im very very very far from the best out there i put alot of work into my "junk" and im very proud of it

[G.C]

can we see pics he did? I really want to see what he can do if he can give you advise like that.

[CHADbee]

i just had time to look for some of his shots and couldnt find any. in his profile it said....


custom printer and darkroom magician for 25+ years...

Location
Seattle

Interests
photography, Bonsai, computers...

What make/model camera do you use?
Sigma, Nikon...

Types of Photography
landscapes, glamor & nude, automotive

How Serious Are You
semi-pro

[boostedb16]

i agree with stuff like this make's you a better photographer. i dont mind hearing it from someone that can back it up. it dont bother me one bit when you "chad" pm me and let me know what i am doing right/wrong. i have seen the same type of critique on this forum from people that dont really take anything amazing.

[Tails]

Aw i feel left out... chad doesn't pm me and tell me what i'm doing right or wrong

Very accurate critique btw.. that's impressive

[james]

Here is one problem I see with this. Not everyone is as well-versed in photography as someone "in the field." People like the respondent look for things to critique. They look for out of place pixels and how out of contrast a cloud is. I don't. In this, I'm just the average Joe looking at pictures. While I don't care about how crystal clear a photo is, I do like to point out some of the obvious. Like taking a picture of a car, but having the front and rear of it cut off. Or having the dreaded angle shots. Or blurriness.

You posted how to critique a photo from an actual photographers POV, but I believe more of the picture viewers are going to be the average person looking at the pictures. We're not going to care if you move the cloud that's the second one to the right in the background to a smoother texture level.

You see what I mean? Later, QD.

I understand what you mean. I wish we could have a subforum for people who are really interested in the art/fine art aspect rather than the "sweet pics, dawg" crowd. It seemed for a while that anything posted in the whoreslounge (or anywhere else on IA) was just getting redirected here. Let me tell you--- super annoying. I haven't really been back in a while.