The problem with making a big deal out of the people who are nasty is that it is exactly what they want, Toby. I do understand though and will try to deal with that sort of thing quietly.

Bob! Nice to have your input. I appreciate your sentiment. It IS my hope that people with your experience will attempt to see what the OP was trying to do .. or at least ask if it is not clear .. and then help them achieve the image that shows the one thing that made them stop and snap the shutter.

It is a hard thing to put yourself in someone else's shoes, especially when we all have our own unique vision of the same subject. I truly believe that trying to see through another person's perspective helps the viewer to grow as a photographer.

Well if only she could move a few inches and shoot you that look again!

Composition? Could it be a black and white?

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I am wondering why you didn't position her so that the flowers filled the background. Was that possible? With the proper DOF you would have had a very nice bokeh of color behind her. Having a split background is distracting. The use of a reflector could have placed some soft light on her face. The best light and sharpest focus helps your subject shine.

That's exactly what we would like. So glad to hear it.

You are so right. Once that shutter clicks, that's it .. until the next click.


I have an image somewhat like this one. It was taken in the fall when the colors were amazing. My subject was the giant pine tree among the maples and other brightly colored deciduous trees. I wondered though .. would the image have impact as a black and white? Would my subject be obvious if it wasn't the only non brightly colored tree? Maybe color carried the photo.

If it doesn't add to the composition get rid of it. All you need is those three plants. I love that part. Less contrast and light on the background. A tighter frame would accentuate the texture and lines in the plants.

👌

Please share your thoughts, especially those on the b&w processing.

It has been brought to my attention that things might go more smoothly if the Critique Section Rules are enforced a little more faithfully. A couple of things causing the issues are posting edits and posting more than one photo in a thread. It is the goal of the Critique Section to give special attention to a photo that has been thoughtfully captured and processed. I realize that we are all at different skill levels. All skill levels are welcome and it is my hope that those who are experienced will encourage those trying to learn. Arguments between two big egos does not help the person posting their photo. Let's give all our attention to the person posting the photo. I will delete edits and I will simply delete the entire thread if there is more than one image posted. I do not want to choose which image to leave and I am not going to waste time PMing the OP. Post one image. Period.

Here is a link to Critique Section Rules
https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-279264-1.html

I think everyone here has covered the issues, so I would just add this. Most of the time a camera is set so that it's strongest focal point is dead center. I think it's why people put the subject and the horizon in the middle so much. I catch myself doing it. Focus on your subject, hold the shutter down half way while you move your camera around and consider the compositions in the frame.

One more thing. Black and white composition is so much more critical than color. I think if this was in color, you may have had a very different reaction to the reflection. The colors of the leaves and rock may have carried the reflection. It's my opinion that black & white demands an unequivocal subject.

I do like this one much better. Nice lighting. I still would have only three tealights, but that's just me.

This is lovely. The light on her face is very nice. I would tone down the light on her foreground shoulder, but overall a well done portrait.

...and I would like to see some of the keys in focus. They wouldn't necessarily have to be the foregroud keys, though I've been preaching about foreground blur with shape. In this instance I think it might be cool to have some keys at a third or a half way through in focus. Selective focus. The keys on a piano are the star of the show after all.

I couldn't have said it better.