Need honest critique: I have a camera club competition coming up soon and will submit two images. The subject is open, and we are allowed any post-processing the artist wishes to do.

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Need honest critique

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Dec 30, 2011 05:42:25 #

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

I have a camera club competition coming up soon and will submit two images. The subject is open, and we are allowed any post-processing the artist wishes to do. Please take a look at these and let me know if you see any thing that needs improvements.... are the colours natural and do they look good on your screen, exposure on your screen ok, and compositions suitable? If you were rating these images between 1 and 10, with 10 as high, what would you rate these images?

Image #1..... of the hawk: taken 12/12/2011, nikon d300 18-400mm lens with focal distance of 310mm. Speed priority at 1/250, f5.3, and iso 800. Hand held no flash.

Image #2.......of the mushrooms: taken 11/24/2011 with same camera but nikon 105mm lens. Amp. priority with f45,iso200 and speed 1/30th. Used tripod.

THANK YOU!

Hawk

Mushrooms

Dec 30, 2011 06:19:07 #

Chuy Loc: OUT OF TOWN

Very nice. Excellent shot of hawk.

Dec 30, 2011 06:33:36 #

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

#1 - Entire subject matter in focus. I like that with the mutted background. It's definetly an 8 due to many photos of birds available.

#2 - My favorite. Masterful color, focus with great detail. If it was mine, I'd seriously consider it as as entry but enlarged. It's definetly a 10 due to effort, colors, detail and subject availability being scarce.

Sarge

Dec 30, 2011 06:40:18 #

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

Thank you chewy and sarge69 for the quick replies. What do you mean sarge69, enlarged? Should I crop in more?

Dec 30, 2011 08:43:39 #

donrent Loc: Punta Gorda , Fl

Of the two, I vote for the Mushrooms... Your shot at ground level is right on... Great color... No background disfusion... Plain and simple...

The Hawk: Well, I just don't get that "wow" feeling... It ,to me is just a picture of a bird...

Dec 30, 2011 08:55:54 #

Chuy Loc: OUT OF TOWN

I like the pose on the hawk,Its just something you don't get to often. Animals just do not like to cooperate. My friend on the left is a different story,he follows me every where and when i leave he flys along side my truck. His name is orvil.

Dec 30, 2011 09:17:13 #

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

#1. Unusual angle when you see the back of the bird, down to the tail feathers and face. In focus! Those eyes are fierce! Blurry background! Like the crop!

#2.Mushrooms-Has a nice shape! Nice colors! Focused! The line in background and ground doesn't look best!
I'm reaching. Just, don't have experience in the area.
Pat

Contest Disclaimer:
Self professed level of expertise...
"Snap Shot Guy"

Dec 30, 2011 09:21:08 #

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

For the contest, do you just simply present a photo with no explanation or, can you talk/print out about what inspired you to take your shot?

Dec 30, 2011 09:22:23 #

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

Thanks donrent and chewy. I agree the hawk image is of just a bird doing nothing but looking at you........there is a story but I won't be able to tell the judges, lol!!

I like your aviator chewy, and orvil.......bet there is a story behind that name too. This hawk flew into my storm door and lay dazed for a little while on my back porch. When he flew off, he landed on one of the bird perches in the back yard and posed for a little while for me. The closest I've ever been to a hawk!

Dec 30, 2011 09:23:10 #

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

Just present the image, no information until after the judging.

Jay Pat wrote:

For the contest, do you just simply present a photo with no explanation or, can you talk/print out about what inspired you to take your shot?

Dec 30, 2011 09:23:41 #

photogrl57 Loc: Tennessee

Both excellent photos. I would have to agree on the colors in the mushrooms, but I am very partial to animal photos. Love the hawk. Tough decision both winners in my book. Good luck.

Dec 30, 2011 09:25:53 #

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

nice hawk, killer mushrooms

Dec 30, 2011 09:27:12 #

Wanda Krack Loc: Tennessee, USA

THANKS photogrl57 and Bruce with a Canon!!

Dec 30, 2011 09:47:48 #

Cornishpete Loc: Illinois

Hi Wanda. I'm with a 7 or 8 for the hawk but admit I wouldn't know what would have made it a 10. I do like the diagonal of the tree branch which hold the eyes into the subject.

The mushroom image is like nothing I have ever seen and this gets an 8 and if you cropped off the bottom of the image to remove some of that blurred part of the ground then clone some of the in-focus dirt down to cover the remaining blurred part I would then give it a 9 or 10. What I really like is that you have chosen a POV that gives us an image that is somewhat surreal like a Salvadori Dalhi painting.

Dec 30, 2011 10:10:10 #

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

Wanda Krack wrote:

I have a camera club competition coming up soon an... (show quote)

I like the bird. Like the diagonal lines (feathers n branch) like to contrast between those lines and the vertical of the bird - yes the whole bird. Like the light, the background, and the eyes' the shrooms are just shrooms and not even magic. Enter them both!

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