A Proper Gander ....
by tonyw

Comment:
Funny, I had a friend suggest a similar idea -- but didn't have the goose! I was going to prop a stuffed gander against a wall. Very good capture of this goose. Good background but perhaps too centric.

Spreading of Roots
by Cathy

Comment:
Not sure I see propaganda here.

trees: harmless?
by Miah

Comment:
Funny title. Well composed but too contrasty and overexposed.

Why start smoking when you can take the easy way out!
by Dufus

Comment:
Good message and composition. I assume you planned the overexposure there, and I think that works too. I wanted to do an antismoking one myself, but didn't want to contribute and buy any cigarettes.

Random Thoughts..
by buzzrock

Comment:
Well that's certainly controversial and somewhat entertaining! And I guess it's propaganda. It's well taken, but these kind of shots to make the challenge to me (at least personally) are a little shallow in concept.

true example of propaganda in Appalachia
by wkmen

Comment:
Hmm, that's someone elses propaganda.

The Power and Beauty of a Woman
by Emeraulde

Comment:
Well, I am not sure if your title was to evoke a response. While this woman has a great powerful look, the cigarette to me is a weakness. And a cigarette makes one anything but beautiful. So I am not sure what to make of this topically, though it is very well taken. The bit of smoke to the right center is a distraction (as is the whole cigarette).

"I'm Sorry... It won't happen again" (Propaganda of an abusive spouse.)
by FactoryX

Comment:
Wow. Believeable and powerful. Some technical notes: I would guess you were going for dark tones, but I think a bit more contrast would have helped. Also, I think the light falloff towards the left is a bit too delineated and sudden. If it were mine, I am not sure whether I would have cropped it or tried for a more gradual drop off. Overall: Superb!

That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles
by DiamondPete

Comment:
Very imaginative, and a good literalistic interpretation of the phrase. Photographically, this isn't clear for some reason. Also, the white part of the cookie is overexposed. If your camera or software support's histograms, that's a good way to watch for these things. Look for an exposure where the histogram approaches but does not quite reach the right exposure limit.

Supplementary information exchanged via email in response to the authors query (put here with the picture for the benefit of others):

----------------------------------------------------------

It' s hard for me to tell why your photo doesnt look clear from the small
photo, but here's some theories:

1) It may be noise. Long exposures on most digital cameras result in a
noisy image, much like using high ISO values. Or if you were set to a high
ISO value, or used automatic exposure where the camera can vary the ISO
value for greater sensitivity, that would introduce noise.

2) It may be oversharpened. That cause contrast halos to appear, which can
actually make a photo less clear. Especially one with a lot of detail or
some noise to begin with.

3) It could be the result of JPEG artifacts, from using too high a
compression ratio (or as the setting often goes, too low a quality setting).
I can't tell because its small; I see something that looks like a block
effect on the table, but it also could be a texture or pattern.

No, I don't think the overexposed regions is why it's unclear, but the long
exposure could have something to do with it if the floor, room, or tripod
vibrated at all, even ever so slightly. For example, if its on a tripod, on
a wood or plywood based floor, and someone trodded by, there could by a
slight vibration which could cause lack of clarity.

As far as the histogram article, my G2 makes it really easy to spot
overexposed areas when using the histogram function. You see there are
overexposed areas in the thumbnail, and it goes a step further and flashes
the overexposed regions in the thumbnail. I don't know if your S20 supports
that. My son has an A60, and it doesn't have this function.

Here's an article online that might be some help.

//www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/understanding-series/understanding-histograms.shtml

I also recommend Scott Kelby's series, The Photoshop Book for Digital
Photographers, and the equivalent one for Elements (which is what I have.)

Still Pampus
by Cathy

Comment:
FROM THE CRITIQUE CLUB:

You've found a great subject. Now ask yourself, what's special about these, and how can I show their uniquely interesting properties, or make the artistic statement I am searching for.

To me, the white puffs work great where you have blue sky. They look soft, almost (perhaps stretching it to make a point) cloud like. If you could have found a direction to show a few of these against the sky, following good composition rules, you would be half way there.

Then there's exposure. That's definitely trickier with this white subject in bright sunlight. You have to watch for overexposure. In this shot, you have overexposed areas, which a histogram on your camera would have showed you, if the Optio S4 has one. If not, it's a great idea to bracket your exposures, once you have composed. Taken one 1 stop, or 1/2 stop lower, and 1 stop, or 1/2 stop higher, as well as the one your meter finds. Some cameras, like mine, have a bracketing function, where you set the range, and it will take three exposures when you press the shutter.

It's small enough I can't really judge focus here. But even if your exposure was right, you could have easily used a lower shutter speed and a higher F stop here to give you more DOF. 1/60 or 1/125 would have frozen any slight movement of the plants in the wind, and the higher F-stop would give you greater DOF.

This subject would make a great shot I believe, and would be good practice experience if the above is new to you. So what are you waiting for... ;-)

I hope this is helpful!!!!