Of all the Critique shots you've posted, this leaps to the front of the pack for me... I know it'll be too dark for some tastes, but it really sets the mood.
The fence makes the whole shot... Whoever this one is from, I'd like a link to more of his/her stuff :)
From the softness of the image, I will say that this is an infrared shot. It is a good subject, and composition, but I do not like the contrast or the tint.
This is excellent composition. I love how everything -- the path, the steps, the light in the top-left corner, bring the eye into the main subject. Since this shot is all about light and texture the use of black and white was an excellent choice. The green tint is unusual but effective -- I don't know why but I like it.
I also notice that as I view the photo I tend to come in to the photo at the top left corner (which is natural) and the light leads me right into the building, at which point I'm led down the left side, at which point the fence brings be back in the the building, and I'm led around the dark area in the center uo and around the building counterclockwise. Though highly unusual, the dark doors/windows in the middle help to guide the viewer and the dark right edge keeps the viewer in the photo. I could easily look at this for quite some time (and have). This would make an outstanding framed print, I love it.
this shot looks heavily toned to me. it also looks kind of freaky, but i suppose that could be because i just watched a scary movie! lemme look again...nope. still scary. however, i do like the way it was taken in front of the fence. i also really dig the stark light and shadows. unfortunately, i chose the wrong time to critique this as i will never be able to look at it again without thinking of that stupid movie.
ok. looking again in the light of day, i still think it is spooky, but not quite as scary. the green tint gives it a freaky aspect like the "outer limits" tv show used to do to random pastoral scenes in its intro. and i'm quite sure there is a ghost on the front step!
* This message has been edited by the author on 9/6/2002 3:41:58 PM.
I like it - interesting light and an interesting building. There's a soft fuzzy feeling to the light which gives a woodland feel I think. The uneven fence is good too - gives the scene a ramshackle feeling. The building itself is interesting - it looks like a shed with windows. The only clues to it's purpose are the arches on the door and windows - is this a church?
I like this photo. The lighting is phantastic. It seems to "glow" a little (e.g. on the doorstep) and this creates the feeling as of this is a haunted house. I also like the gothic style of the windows which fits. What I don't like is the background on the left side. I would have cropped it out. I would like to hear more about this photo, how it was done etc. Please, John :-)
I think I recognize this photo John. Don't worry, I can keep a secret. I love the composition of this photo. It is soft and romantic looking, as if it were part of a fairytale setting.
Oh, can I add this to my favorites list? So beautiful. Little Chapple in the Dell. The light on the door step is brighter than any thing 'cept the sky. Do you think it was manipulated? Between that and the darkness in the windows the photo says to me 'Rarely used but still Holy'.
I really like this photo as well. It does have a nice amount of surrealism withe combination of the light and dark. The glow on the doorstep is one of the pieces that really caught my eye also. I can't really explain why, but the fence is quite interesting to me also. I just simply love this particular shot :)
My first impression was that there is a loss of detail in the shadows. Then it occurred to me maybe the brightness on my monitor needed adjusting. For me the important question is: is there a control by which we can calibrate our monitor to a standard so we can see how the photographer intended the image to be viewed. I've worked with the zone system in film photography and have seen gray scale charts. Can or are they used for this purpose in digital photography where the media is a monitor?
I think the infrared look has been created through some relatively "heavy handed" dodging and burning. (Only a guess -- I don't know for sure -- but it is an educated guess based on what I'm seeing.)
I think your guess is correct Petella. John, for me the fence is working as a rough mirror of the virtical and diagonal lines of the building thus starting and ending the visual spiral that leads to the door stop and up to the wreath. Does the wreath have a special significance?
edited with additional thoughts.
* This message has been edited by the author on 9/6/2002 11:42:49 AM.
I find the light patch at the top left very distracting. Far from drawing my eye INTO to the image, my eye is continually be drawn up and AWAY by the light.
Forgive me for being the negative one here... but..
I think the entire image is just too dark. I dont like the tonal range nor do I like the contrast (boy, that sounds redundant). I do really enjoy the subject matter though.. the technical aspects of this image doesn't appeal to me that's all.
Depends on your point of view I guess... Is your priority set on setting mood at the expense of good exposure? Or is good exposure your priority and you find another way to set the mood of the image?
This is my photo and I wanted it just like it is:) Thanks for all the comments...both good and bad.
I took the photo and turned it b/w. I then gave it the color tone. I duplicated the layer and put a heavy gaussian blur on that layer... then make that layer a softlight layer. I duplicated the layer until it gave me the look I was after. That's it.
* This message has been edited by the author on 9/7/2002 8:15:58 AM.
Originally posted by Shiiizzzam: This is my photo and I wanted it just like it is:) Thanks for all the comments...both good and bad.
I took the photo and turned it b/w. I then gave it the color tone. I duplicated the layer and put a heavy gaussian blur on that layer... then make that layer a softlight layer. I duplicated the layer until it gave me the look I was after. That's it.
Great work, an excellent photo! I gotta get good at Photoshop like that!
-Terry
* This message has been edited by the author on 9/8/2002 9:04:06 AM.
I really like the affect here, it lends to the mood, and the basic photo (without post processing) looks like it would stand on it's own. Have you printed this?
Originally posted by Shiiizzzam: This is my photo and I wanted it just like it is:) Thanks for all the comments...both good and bad.
I took the photo and turned it b/w. I then gave it the color tone. I duplicated the layer and put a heavy gaussian blur on that layer... then make that layer a softlight layer. I duplicated the layer until it gave me the look I was after. That's it.
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