St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Edwardi'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 1605 - Freedom RESULTS http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/photo_contest_ratings.jsp?pcnum=207

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

(Download)

Szalajj Loc: Salem, NH

The shot is great in theory.

While the subject matter works, did the execution meet the original goal?

Decide if the main subject is supposed to be the fence post, or the barbed wire.

If I was to re-shoot this again, I would try to get the barbed wire somewhere in the shot into better focus, as I feel that would show the barrier to freedom.

By raising your f-stop to a slightly higher number, and proportionately adjusting your shutter speed, you could get a little of the barbed wire in focus, instead of only the fence post. Placing your camera on a tripod, if it wasn't already, will enable you to focus down the length of the subject matter while you make those adjustments.

Shooting for Black & White conversions requires a good eye for sufficient contrast. With this shot, the contrast is almost there, but could be just a little stronger.

Having just a little more of the barbed wire in clear focus will help to improve the contrast, but don't over do it. I'm talking just minor adjustments, nothing drastic. This shot is almost there.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

I think this is a great interpretation of an idea. The use of shallow DOF intensifies the thoughts represented here.

Nightski

I like the shot with the DOF used. Just enough of the razor wire is in focus. I like that you have shot through the middle of the tunnel of wire. I think you could lose the space on the right to bring the viewer in a bit more.

jim hill Loc: Springfield, IL

The concept is excellent. And the not so even space of the wire is also excellent.

I would think that more contrast wold be helpful along with an increase in mood with drakening. There is nothing nice about razor wire so drastic symbolization would serve the piece quite well.

Also, the space to the left is a distraction. It might be cropped into the left post - whether to leave any of it or not wold be a matter of personal taste.

Ii is much easier for me to demonstrate what I would do if it were mine. If you are interested you may click on this link to view my interpretation of this photograph. It may not be what you had in mind at all.

http://files.acrobat.com/a/preview/e15d4539-8842-4001-85b2-423a7b676d4c

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

My impression is that this is an amazingly simple yet explicit image that express one extremely important aspect of freedom, the lack of constraint on one's from or to anywhere.
The simple coils of concertina razor-wire has a shallow depth-of-field in which enough of the sharp, piercing, slicing points are perfectly portrayed to male I clear that the many other OOF coils are equipped identically and would serve as an absolute deterant to any simply-equipped traveler. Also, on one side there is bright, open sky ...presumably over a bright, attractive destination, while the other side of the dread coils of wire there is darkness and no evident space....the realm from which one would hope to leave.

So, to my mind, it is an extremely effective image about freedom, by emphasizing how it's denial is enforced.

Dave in SD

Nightski

After reading Dave's post, I recind what I said earlier about the crop. I very much like the bit of "freedom" showing on the left side of the image.

Edwardi Loc: Monterey Bay, California

Thank you all very much for your detailed observations and advice. Honestly i shot several angels and i had a tough time choosing which image to submit, but overall i was satisfied with this image & all the raw emotions & different levels of comprehension it represents to me & hopefully many other ppl. Namaste

Edwardi Loc: Monterey Bay, California

I was unable to view your rendition

Erdos2 Loc: Vancouver, WA

I like the image quite a bit. Others have suggested good minor improvements to make the photo really be all it could be.

I am torn on whether the blank space on the left is needed or not. While it shows where the freedom is, this type of barbed wire is only made for one purpose, so it alone may still convey the lack of freedom.

Sometimes there is a better photo inside the photo and a tighter crop might help bring it out. Try cropping the left post off completely and bringing down the top 15 to 20 percent. And maybe take a tiny bit of the right blurry part out, but not all of it. You might like the results (or not). You might feel that the message is still there or it is now lost. Maybe that new image would be better for another purpose.

As for the contest, don't be discouraged with the voting. In forums like this, people tend to vote based on how they feel about an image in the first second or so, if that long. Images that take more thought are often overlooked. The title is good and it helped convey the message in the photo without saying too much.

Good shot, keep showing your photos.

Jerry

Edwardi Loc: Monterey Bay, California

Thank u Jerry. I appreciate the feed back good to get different points of view

Edwardi Loc: Monterey Bay, California

I was ubable to view ur rendition

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I could get it by copying and pasting the address.