Monthly Masters Critique - July 2015
Jul 3, 2015 00:53:44 #
Hey everyone,
From the post Monthly Masters Critique http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-320354-1.html
I thought we'd start out with something iconic -
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raising_the_Flag_on_Iwo_Jima
- taken on February 23, 1945, by Joe Rosenthal
What do you see? How does it make you feel? Do you like it, why or why not? If you could, how would you change it? Would you put it on your wall?
Here are two posts to get you thinking -
10 Questions to Ask When Taking a Photo http://digital-photography-school.com/10-questions
20 Questions to Ask Yourself to Improve Your Photography http://photography.tutsplus.com/articles/20-questions-to-ask-yourself-to-improve-your-photography--photo-11393
From the post Monthly Masters Critique http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-320354-1.html
I thought we'd start out with something iconic -
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raising_the_Flag_on_Iwo_Jima
- taken on February 23, 1945, by Joe Rosenthal
What do you see? How does it make you feel? Do you like it, why or why not? If you could, how would you change it? Would you put it on your wall?
Here are two posts to get you thinking -
10 Questions to Ask When Taking a Photo http://digital-photography-school.com/10-questions
20 Questions to Ask Yourself to Improve Your Photography http://photography.tutsplus.com/articles/20-questions-to-ask-yourself-to-improve-your-photography--photo-11393
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima - February 23, 1945, by Joe Rosenthal
Jul 3, 2015 01:31:37 #
An iconic piece of journalistic photography. To me it shows the soldiers efforts were not in vain, a victory despite the sacrifice of life to get there.
Technically, the image is nothing special, its blurred, its dark, but the picture is very special. I read a little about the photograph and the circumstances and conditions that it was shot - both skill and luck entwined together to record history is it was being made.
Technically, the image is nothing special, its blurred, its dark, but the picture is very special. I read a little about the photograph and the circumstances and conditions that it was shot - both skill and luck entwined together to record history is it was being made.
Jul 3, 2015 01:46:30 #
Searcher wrote:
An iconic piece of journalistic photography. To me it shows the soldiers efforts were not in vain, a victory despite the sacrifice of life to get there.
Technically, the image is nothing special, its blurred, its dark, but the picture is very special. I read a little about the photograph and the circumstances and conditions that it was shot - both skill and luck entwined together to record history is it was being made.
Technically, the image is nothing special, its blurred, its dark, but the picture is very special. I read a little about the photograph and the circumstances and conditions that it was shot - both skill and luck entwined together to record history is it was being made.
So it's more about the emotion than the image? That's interesting and wonder how many photos we see that we like because it makes you feel something or brings up a memory.
I think that's important to remember! Thank you, S-
Jul 3, 2015 07:43:26 #
I think this one is too well known and the circumstances too emotional to offer "critique." Images of war, a war's end, natural disasters - I don't see how one can dispassionately analyze the composition or technical aspects when there is so much emotion involved.
Regarding liking images because they evoke a memory - even my little red flyer wagons posted last summer brought comments of happy childhood memories :)
Regarding liking images because they evoke a memory - even my little red flyer wagons posted last summer brought comments of happy childhood memories :)
Jul 3, 2015 07:54:44 #
Linda From Maine wrote:
I think this one is too well known and the circumstances too emotional to offer "critique." Images of war, a war's end, natural disasters - I don't see how one can dispassionately analyze the composition or technical aspects when there is so much emotion involved.
Regarding liking images because they evoke a memory - even my little red flyer wagons posted last summer brought comments of happy childhood memories :)
Regarding liking images because they evoke a memory - even my little red flyer wagons posted last summer brought comments of happy childhood memories :)
One of the reasons I chose the image was to see if we could look past the emotional response and to try to critique it as if it were new.
I see iconic images like trees, where we're so used to seeing them we almost look past them. Its time to stop 'remembering' and take another look.
Putting your memory aside, what do you see? Is it technically correct? What would you say if I submitted it as an original? Would you change anything?
Take another look as-if you've never seen it before. That's the challenge, with this image, and with everything you encounter in life - See It Anew! S-
Jul 3, 2015 08:02:36 #
St3v3M wrote:
Hey everyone, br br From the post Monthly Masters... (show quote)
One of the most instantly recognizable journalistic photos ever. It would not pass muster for technique these days- not "tack sharp", grainy artifacts, detail not clear etc etc. But the supposed shortcomings are over-ridden by impact. Some of the impact is certainly from what we KNOW about the scene represented and our emotional reaction to that.
But I do think much of it is about composition. There is a slightly right of center triangle formed by the men atop a triangle formed by the hill. The shape of the flag and the clouds repeat this general form (with the help of some vignetting). The men pushing forward to the right in order to raise the left-lea/right-blowing flag conveys power and dynamic movement. The composition is what makes the image come to life for us.
Jul 3, 2015 08:11:30 #
minniev wrote:
One of the most instantly recognizable journalisti... (show quote)
My personal reaction to your reply is that I think in the age of 'PhotoShop' we tend to focus too much on the post processing and too little on composition and impact. Given the choice between a technically perfect image and one that makes me stop and think, I would choose the later.
So far then, we have Emotion and Composition as base points to learn from! This is excellent and I hope to learn more!!! S-
Jul 3, 2015 08:15:05 #
St3v3M wrote:
My personal reaction to your reply is that I think in the age of 'PhotoShop' we tend to focus too much on the post processing and too little on composition and impact. Given the choice between a technically perfect image and one that makes me stop and think, I would choose the later.
I totally agree! Our obsession with the tech can blind us to the beauty. Drives me crazy. Of course, there are times when a photo of something beautiful can be ruined by poor technical choices (or poor post processing), so there has to be some balance.
Jul 3, 2015 08:18:00 #
minniev wrote:
I totally agree! Our obsession with the tech can blind us to the beauty. Drives me crazy. Of course, there are times when a photo of something beautiful can be ruined by poor technical choices (or poor post processing), so there has to be some balance.
Life Is A Balance! S-
Jul 3, 2015 09:34:43 #
St3v3M wrote:
So it's more about the emotion than the image? That's interesting and wonder how many photos we see that we like because it makes you feel something or brings up a memory.
I think that's important to remember! Thank you, S-
I think that's important to remember! Thank you, S-
I think most art is fundamentally about communicating emotion. On a list of important criteria for evaluating art, image quality and lens selection are far down on the list in comparison to what an image makes a viewer feel. Or at least it seems so to me.
Jul 4, 2015 03:28:47 #
jgordon wrote:
I think most art is fundamentally about communicating emotion. On a list of important criteria for evaluating art, image quality and lens selection are far down on the list in comparison to what an image makes a viewer feel. Or at least it seems so to me.
Wise words! S-
Any observations on the image?
Jul 4, 2015 07:09:21 #
To me it does't matter that the technical aspects are not perfect. Man is not perfect. It represents mans struggles against all odds to be successful and not give up hope. If this image were technically perfect, to me it would loose some of it's meaning. It brings tears to my eyes just to write this, that's the emotion that this image captures.
Jul 4, 2015 07:46:13 #
Searcher wrote:
An iconic piece of journalistic photography. To me it shows the soldiers efforts were not in vain, a victory despite the sacrifice of life to get there.
Technically, the image is nothing special, its blurred, its dark, but the picture is very special. I read a little about the photograph and the circumstances and conditions that it was shot - both skill and luck entwined together to record history is it was being made.
Technically, the image is nothing special, its blurred, its dark, but the picture is very special. I read a little about the photograph and the circumstances and conditions that it was shot - both skill and luck entwined together to record history is it was being made.
Very well stated, Sir!
Jul 4, 2015 08:13:19 #
Rosenthal was born and grew up in Washington DC. at a time when Greek architecture and art were highly influential in the American landscape. Could it be that these influences helped to shape his ultimate decision to pass this particular photo ( flag at an angle ) to his superiors who also must have had a part in distributing the photo to American newspapers? (Just asking to further the discussion)
The impact of the photo will always evoke emotion because of the great sacrifices made by the soldiers but I believe Rosenthal had to make a conscious choice on some level.
The impact of the photo will always evoke emotion because of the great sacrifices made by the soldiers but I believe Rosenthal had to make a conscious choice on some level.
Jul 4, 2015 08:32:24 #
Excellent composition, and it's better in B&W than it would have been in color.
The victors are standing on rubble from the battle, anxious to get their flag of victory raised. With the wind blowing from the left, even the flag is trying to help.
The men show determination in their efforts, with one soldier down low at the base, others pushing on the staff, and one stretching to reach so he can participate.
The bright sky, with dark along the sides, almost vignetting, emphasizes the scene in the center. There is nothing else in the scene, which emphasizes the event and also hints at the devastation of war.
If a painter had thought to paint a scene like this from scratch, he would be hard pressed to come up with better composition.
EDIT: Congratulations on picking the perfect image for July Fourth.
The victors are standing on rubble from the battle, anxious to get their flag of victory raised. With the wind blowing from the left, even the flag is trying to help.
The men show determination in their efforts, with one soldier down low at the base, others pushing on the staff, and one stretching to reach so he can participate.
The bright sky, with dark along the sides, almost vignetting, emphasizes the scene in the center. There is nothing else in the scene, which emphasizes the event and also hints at the devastation of war.
If a painter had thought to paint a scene like this from scratch, he would be hard pressed to come up with better composition.
EDIT: Congratulations on picking the perfect image for July Fourth.
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