WPC 1536 - Labor* CRITIQUE: BeaverNewby 's WPC Entry has been selected for the Photo Critique Forum* to find out what could have done to make it better. Be nice, but be honest as this...

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

BeaverNewby's WPC Entry has been selected for the Photo Critique Forum* to find out what could have done to make it better.

Be nice, but be honest as this may help everyone with their craft. Thank you everyone!

From WPC 1536 - Labor* RESULTS http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest_ratings.jsp?pcnum=186

* If you are new to the Photo Critique Forum please read the Section Rules http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-279264-1.html
.

Labor often underestimated as to importance! 55mm, f/5.6, 1/250 sec., ISO-200.

(Download)

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

Overall very nice and well composed. I think what could have made this a stronger image is if a moment had been selected with both workers doing something dynamic and interesting, not just one of them. Or at least the worker on the right facing the other worker, rather than glancing off into the distance, away from the camera. This would have created a more cohesive representation of labor, suggesting coordinated team work.

Canonman333 Loc: Far Northern End of California

The shadows lack detail. Perhaps shooting in RAW would have given you a bit better ability to deal with the dynamic range. PP to bring out the detail in the dark areas is needed. Bringing out the face detail in the man facing the camera would have turned a general photo into one that was more "personalized", I think.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

St3v3M wrote:

BeaverNewby's WPC Entry has been selected for the Photo Critique Forum* to find out what could have done to make it better.

Be nice, but be honest as this may help everyone with their craft. Thank you everyone!

From WPC 1536 - Labor* RESULTS http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest_ratings.jsp?pcnum=186

* If you are new to the Photo Critique Forum please read the Section Rules http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-279264-1.html
.

I have heard moving to the right on the exposure scale does wonders for lost shadows? Don't know for sure but this might have been a place to try that idea. Never tried it myself.

But the shadows are lost plus any detail of these fellows faces.

Other than that, it is a fairly nice placement of things within the frame.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

St3v3M wrote:

BeaverNewby's WPC Entry has been selected for the Photo Critique Forum* to find out what could have done to make it better.

Be nice, but be honest as this may help everyone with their craft. Thank you everyone!

From WPC 1536 - Labor* RESULTS http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest_ratings.jsp?pcnum=186

* If you are new to the Photo Critique Forum please read the Section Rules http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-279264-1.html
.

Looking at the garbage truck the light and colour look right.
But the garbage truck on its own is not enough to carry this image.
It needs the human element, and the human element is too dark in the face of the guy on the left and in the trousers of both of them.
Other than that its an OK image, but not startling.
A little more "work" rather than "between work" would have filled the brief better.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

To me this looks like a snapshot. To make it an image for a competition titled 'Labor' it would need to be a lot more dynamic - get in closer, show a bit of strain or muscle being used and, given the subject matter, a touch of 'grunge' would go down well.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

St3v3M wrote:

BeaverNewby's WPC Entry has been selected for the Photo Critique Forum* to find out what could have done to make it better.

Be nice, but be honest as this may help everyone with their craft. Thank you everyone!

From WPC 1536 - Labor* RESULTS http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest_ratings.jsp?pcnum=186

* If you are new to the Photo Critique Forum please read the Section Rules http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-279264-1.html
.

The subject is good but the shadows are far too dark, there is no detail on the guys face and the others shadows need lifting too. My main problem with this picture is that you have missed, or didn't wait for, the oft quoted adage by HCB "The decisive moment"

Graham

jaysnave Loc: Central Ohio

I agree with those who think the image needs to be more dynamic and composed differently. It does not strike a cord that says "labor". Yes, exposure could be improved but this image is more lacking in composition. I would have most likely asked the guys permission to take the photo as one of them was tossing the garbage container into the truck. I would have crouched low and shot up as the container was in the air capturing worker, container, and truck. Facial expression would be a nice bonus.

BeaverNewby Loc: Memphis, Tn

rook2c4 wrote:

Overall very nice and well composed. I think what could have made this a stronger image is if a moment had been selected with both workers doing something dynamic and interesting, not just one of them. Or at least the worker on the right facing the other worker, rather than glancing off into the distance, away from the camera. This would have created a more cohesive representation of labor, suggesting coordinated team work.

Thanks for the comment, I know this picture doesn't show it but the guys were hustling. The guy on the right is working a hydraulic lift which lifts the trash container and empting it. The guy on the left is mid stride. I have another frame sequence which shows both men facing the truck operating the lift, one can being lifted and the other just beginning to be lifted. That image "may" be more "dynamic" but both guys had there backs to me. I could only choose one. I appreciate your comments.

BeaverNewby Loc: Memphis, Tn

Canonman333 wrote:

The shadows lack detail. Perhaps shooting in RAW would have given you a bit better ability to deal with the dynamic range. PP to bring out the detail in the dark areas is needed. Bringing out the face detail in the man facing the camera would have turned a general photo into one that was more "personalized", I think.

Thanks for the comment. I did shoot in raw, but just not very good at optimizing the images. I am working to get better at it.

BeaverNewby Loc: Memphis, Tn

jim hill wrote:

I have heard moving to the right on the exposure scale does wonders for lost shadows? Don't know for sure but this might have been a place to try that idea. Never tried it myself.

But the shadows are lost plus any detail of these fellows faces.

Other than that, it is a fairly nice placement of things within the frame.

Thanks for the comments. I am working on that technique but just not comfortable with results yet.

BeaverNewby Loc: Memphis, Tn

lighthouse wrote:

A little more "work" rather than "between work" would have filled the brief better.

Thanks for your comment. I am not sure I understand the comment though. Please re-state.

BeaverNewby Loc: Memphis, Tn

magnetoman wrote:

To me this looks like a snapshot. To make it an image for a competition titled 'Labor' it would need to be a lot more dynamic - get in closer, show a bit of strain or muscle being used and, given the subject matter, a touch of 'grunge' would go down well.

The equipment is labor saving in that the workers don't lift the trash containers. But they do a coordinated "dance" when the crew is two man. One drives the truck, Gets out and handles the container on one side. The other may walk several blocks handling the containers on the other side then switch roles. In a residential areas like ours they stop hundred of times in an 8 hour day.
I appreciate you comments.

BeaverNewby Loc: Memphis, Tn

jaysnave wrote:

I agree with those who think the image needs to be... (show quote)

Thanks for the comment. see my response to magnetoman

BeaverNewby Loc: Memphis, Tn

Graham Smith wrote:

The subject is good but the shadows are far too dark, there is no detail on the guys face and the others shadows need lifting too. My main problem with this picture is that you have missed, or didn't wait for, the oft quoted adage by HCB "The decisive moment"

Graham

Thanks for the comments. I have other frames that I rejected for different reasons. I think I will work on lifting the shadows on the other frames which may be better than the one that I selected.