Bill Houghton Loc: New York area

I don't always agree with on some of points of view out side the Photography realm. But here she is tack on.

I would also like to add that if you are going to be doing this professionally, and play with the professional toys, The Hang up the Picas, and get yourself some professional Post Processing toys. Picasa is good, but does has it limits as a free program. You will find like in LR5 where you can hone in on individual areas to bring the most out of photo. Just My Two Cents.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

Yes, I agree partly, but giving him a few strokes wouldn't hurt you and maybe some gentle helpful comments would have been nice; but instead he probably felt torn apart by your critique!
:|

chrisewers Loc: born UK. live in USA.

For what its worth. The critique was very frank and accurate. The only thing I would not have said was the last comment. Although true it could have been more polite. It also was not needed as the critique was enough. However, I am sure the person posting would have felt a lot happier if some suggestions even of the type - go look at this book or this website would help. Telling someone their work sucks but with no plus of "but this will help fix it" is not much use. He already knew there was a problem or he would not have posted.

GPoyner Loc: North Dakota

Before we come to the rescue of the OP maybe we should see if the OP need rescuing. I say this because if Annie gave me this type of feedback, I would not be hurt - nor would I need rescuing; I would be happy that I received critique that was direct and to the point.

Yes it would be helpful to have pointers or direction on how to improve; but we do need to remember that we all do have lives outside of this forum and thus sometimes (if not more than often) our and those providing feedback are short on time. Thus that is where a PM would work in getting more in depth help.

Lets not jump on those who are giving helpful and sometimes straight no frills critique.

Thanks GP

UP-2-IT Loc: RED STICK, LA

Good luck with your chemo, I have the T-shirt in the closet you are welcome to borrow but then you will now have your own hopefully!

UP-2-IT Loc: RED STICK, LA

The bad taste goes back a long way GP, the no frills critique was quite evident just missed the helpful part.

DickC Loc: NE Washington state

Yes, there are several prima-donnas on this forum who feel they are so lofty as not to be a little helpful instead of near hateful.....oh, and don't forget who we are!

Annie_Girl Loc: It's none of your business

unfortunately this is my second go round, once 2 years ago and now again. grrrrrr I'm a fighter so I know this is just a little side step in my life journey.

UP-2-IT Loc: RED STICK, LA

Sometimes the journey can be a long one but hang in there. Mine was 3 years and surgery but the end results was worth it.

sbailey Loc: Denver, CO

Beautiful!

Neubee Loc: Wisconsin

Annie--
You are right about the portraits but you could have used a tack hammer instead of a sledgehammer. Correct the OP but don't bust their chops.. LOL
I will post some portraits for you to check out in the near future...

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Bill, quality aside, anybody can learn quality, all you need to do is take a few classes, and your quality will come around.
The problem is that you are billing yourself as a nature/landscape photographer. If you start working on your portraits and exhibite then instead, then those that want portraits will call you. You have a built-in captive audiance to see your work, your foot is in the door, but they are not seeing what you need them to see.
Annie may be right, but quality is easy part to overcome. What is criticle is creativity, so they call you, and not Annie! :lol:
SS

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

As far as getting work is concerned…It's work. I talk periodically to what I consider to be the finest photographers in the world. Everyone will tell you that their business does not just come in because they are good. It's constant work. Some is through referrals or a prior customer coming back. Much can be through social media like twitter, Facebook, Pinterest… The bottom line is you need to get followers, across many forums and social medias. Everyone is not going to like your work no matter what you do. You just need enough people and the right people to like it.

A couple of myths and generalities that need to be corrected.

Skin tones need to be correct… No they don't. There is no such thing as correct skin tones… Some of finest commercial and editorial images in the world are colorized. Skin tones may reflect more Magenta, or Blue, or Green. Some people may not like it but it does;t make it wrong. I could fill this thread with world class images with many color overtones. This comes down to style.

I do agree that the Magenta Color does not work so much in photo one. If you pulled it back a tad I think it would work great. The pose in one is spot on. Most people have a real problem with this. You did really really well with the pose.

As far as sharpness… It's really hard to tell. Without the original. I understand you not posting that image.

Secondly. There is no such thing as a correct exposure. There is only an exposure that the artist wants to convey. Not only is this my personal believe but Joel Grimes as well. I personally don't use a meter anymore. I shoot tethered in studio or just meter with my camera in the field. You cannot use a technical instrument to make an artistic decision
I am not discouraging using a meter when you start out. It typically helps people to get more of an attractive lighting scenario in the beginning. I don't paint by numbers or photograph by them either. My eye is the ultimate determining factor as to how I want my exposure to be.

Thirdly, Your light is off in the second photo only slightly. The hair light which is clipping across the ladies hair and forming a hot spot on the mans forehead is off a tad(too hot). As far as focus I can't tell again because of the original being missing.


These images have a quality that many images I see do not have here. They're posed well and have nice expressions.
The other items I mention will just come with time. I would strongly recommend you go over to 500px.com and start looking at images. You can also go over to Viewbug.com and look at images there. I would suggest you look at the Judge's images as well.

May your journey be fruitful!
Regards,
Russ Elkins

P.S. One other thing I forgot about business. Other photographers who do not do what you do will refer you if they like your work. This happens to me quite a bit. It helps that I can travel. I don;t do weddings food or merchandise. I also don't do bubbles. I just referred a photographer to the Wyndham hotel chain. They contacted me to do a bubbles shot for there hotel rooms. (I don't do bubbles or splash)

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

On open forums such as this there are so many different personality types. Some have a thick skin, some do not. I consider myself as having a pretty think skin but I will say when I see a sledge hammer used when a tack hammer would work it makes me not want to share. After awhile I'm sure many people who would love to interact leave and you are left with an abundance of 'A' personalities who like to argue :shock:

Food for thought

PalePictures Loc: Traveling

No Question,

I am a student of Dale Carnegie. Influence never happens at the point of a gun. Unless you have voluntarily chosen to duel. A question is not a duel.