I found much to admire in the picture you chose, but am not at all surprised by the votes. I think nudity, even if quite tame and muted, is going to provoke a rash of ones. Similarly with a provocative, not conventionally 'pretty' subject and composition.
When you look at the top 10 (or even top 50) in a free challenge you won't really see shots like this. (more the pity...)
I'll step up and confess I was one of the 17 that gave you a 4. Here's why:
1. I felt your models face was somewhat out of focus.
2. Your models expression was less sultry and more evil/pissed off which is rarely a good thing for portraits.
3. A whole lot of distracting wallpaper and not enough model filling the frame.
4. Main issue is that the lighting is very flat and boring. There's a bright spot on her shoulder, but other than that, her face and much of the rest of the scene is lit very blandly.
Other than that, there just wasn't a whole lot of interest in the image. Some careful thought on the composition and execution would've benefited greatly...but as is, it strikes me exactly as you stated "an outtake".
Since I'm the one you bounced your shots off of for feedback, and I suggested the one you entered, I should follow up.
I think it did pretty well coming in at over the 5.5 mark. I knew the expression and hair whipping around would not be to everyone's liking, but you pulled in plenty of folks that did appreciate it, and a high commenter's average. You also got a great detailed comment from Ubique. There probably are a few things you could have done to give the shot a little more visual appeal, but you will learn those PP tricks over time as you find your own style and preferences.
I thought the bra shot would get low voted for the partial nudity and I found her face came off to me unappealing in that one. I think it would have pulled a low 5.
I was happy with the shot, and was more than happy with your advice re dark and moody.
Re the flat and boring light yeah maybe on the face, but overall the are shadow and highlights, I can't see a blown out hotspot on her
Shoulder??
I knew the hair would annoy ppl and did clone it out on one but prefered it true to the camera image, I thought the subtlness of the nudity was appealing as you have to look closer.
The question was more to selecting a picture for a FS, do you think the others would have done better non are mega pics it's a dull miserable month up north in england so not been out much with camera,
I was very chuffed with ubiques comment and order of the thumb, Id rather score a 5.5 and get ten comments than score high and no comments. That stripes pic is lovely, well deserved 11th
Did everyone else only get 130 votes with 270 entries?? Thought be more voters
The only safe type of entry is a landscape. Preferably a wideangle long exposure to show silky flowing water. Now that I've suggested that, I expect to hear from someone who low votes such entries.
The only safe type of entry is a landscape. Preferably a wideangle long exposure to show silky flowing water. Now that I've suggested that, I expect to hear from someone who low votes such entries.
I low voted a couple of those in the Freedom Open contest. I guess you can interpret a regular ocean as freedom, but, seriously...have a little creativity rather than just posting something you happened to take and titling it "FREE OCEANS OF FREEDOM."
I low voted a couple of those in the Freedom Open contest. I guess you can interpret a regular ocean as freedom, but, seriously...have a little creativity rather than just posting something you happened to take and titling it "FREE OCEANS OF FREEDOM."
There is a fine but fuzzy line between a shoehorn and a creative take on a topic.
The only safe type of entry is a landscape. Preferably a wideangle long exposure to show silky flowing water. Now that I've suggested that, I expect to hear from someone who low votes such entries.
i dont vote them low, but i definitely dont over value them.
