St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

ciclista's WPC Entry has been selected for a Photo Critique 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 1628 - Soft Light RESULTS http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-400775-1.html#6727948
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Deep shadows in soft light from north-facing windows. Canon 70D, 18-135 mm lens at 35 mm; 1/160 s, f/4.5, ISO 800.

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BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

I've seldom done this before, and certainly never with such a fine image; I hope my comments are appropriate.

First, I would have adjusted the aperture slightly to bring the right side of the image into better focus. To maintain the shadows, adjustments to the ISO and shutter speed would certainly be necessary.

Second,there is a spot at the edge of the left (top) ear where the edge seems to be completely lost. I would, for a final image, try some very slight dodging in that area. A viewing of the area with several tools in Lightroom show that the edge of the ear is still visible, but in the image I see on the smaller screen, the line is completely lost.

I cannot recommend specific amounts of change because I have neither the eye nor the talent to make such minute changes without destroying an otherwise fine work of art.

ciclista Loc: Nashville, TN

Thanks for the suggestions, Mogul, and for the the generous comments. I could have used a smaller aperture to get greater depth of field since the focal length was only 35 mm and image stabilization would allow a longer exposure. I try to avoid ISO greater than 800, but it might have been useful in this case. I'll try to pay attention to this in the future.

Regarding your second suggestion, I used the radial filter tool and was able to bring out the edge of the ear a bit, after much tweaking. I hadn't used that tool before, so it was good practice.

Thanks, again, Mogul.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY

If you shooting from a tripod, these is absolutely no reason not to have ISO at 100. I agree a I would have stopped down the aperture such that the back was in focus. The other option if possible with your lens is ti open it even wider such that only the head is in focus the the rest is even more blurred. In either case, wide open or closed down, you don't care what shutter is selected(unless it's less than 30 seconds) as there is no motion.

The ear, if wanted, can be gently teased out with a LR brush. Again it gets down to taste but I like just bit more contrast between the B&W. I enclosed a picture just as and example and not intended to anything great but rather different. I often find words describing mods are often vague so an example is of stronger.

Very nice effect!!!!

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ciclista Loc: Nashville, TN

Thanks, PithyDoug. Nice job on the ear. I agree that increasing the contrast and raising the highlights helps this photo. Unfortunately, placing the statue in the soft light of the windows prevented me from using a tripod, but a longer exposure (and smaller aperture) would have been possible handheld, and would have improved the overall focus. I agree that when photographing live animals, the eyes are the thing, but in this case I think that keeping all of the statue in focus would be better. The eyes are not so revealing!

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

I like the little creature, you have a nice subject there. I think the deep shadows/heavy contrast work against your soft window light. I would put a reflector board opposite the window and fill in the shadows a little. I think reducing the contrast would bring out the softness of the light better.

ciclista Loc: Nashville, TN

Thanks for the comment, Bridges. This becomes a matter of artistic objective, of course. Since my objective was to emphasize the curves, rather than the texture of the surface, and add drama, I chose to increase the contrast over the original image, relying on the softness of the light to make soft shadows that would emphasize the curves. Another critique that I received (see above) suggested that I should have increased the contrast even more. Decreasing the contrast or using "surround lighting" would have decreased the sensation of the curves, but might have been beautiful in other ways. Certainly, the photo of the young girl, in this contest, was lovely in the uniform soft light surrounding the model.

pithydoug Loc: Catskill Mountains, NY