Congratulations from me, too, I liked this shot and am glad you inverted it, though I like it that way too, this way has more drama IMO, only, of course!! LOL
BTW, my first entry was the exact same numbers, with only the last two switched, 5.493, hope you have much better luck in your next 20 than I did/do!! LOL
Thank you very much for your wonderfully indepth critique of my photo.. yes, I did wish I had given it a different title... but the rotation was one I was and still am, pleased with... the decision to remove the detail in the sand was also one I gave a lot of thought to but in the end it created the feeling I wanted... I fully appreciate how confusing it was to many and probably some of my future entries will be as well..... grin.. but that's why I love photography so much, it supports the creative bent in all of us... after viewing your portfolio, I am impressed with your work .. I see that you have a very busy life so taking such care/time as you did in making comments/suggestions on my photo is something I am very thankful for. regards, mac
The first three parts of this critique are written based purely on examination of your photo. I don't read your photographer's comments, or your voter comments, until I've finished the first three sections. "Final thoughts" is written with your score, comments, and voter reaction in mind.
TECHNIQUE I find this a very difficult photo to critique. I studied it for a full minute or two and still couldn't tell exactly what I was looking at, even after reading your description. It wasn't until I copied it to a picture viewer and rotated it 180 deg that I had my "ah ha" moment. I could tell, of course, that those were clouds but couldn't interpret the reflected creek part that was at the top. Technical issues? Well, much of the photo is completely dark, and the illuminated parts have significant overexposure. That's a lot of dramatic contrast in an image that is otherwise difficult to decipher. It makes for a bit of an abstract, which I'm guessing the average voter, like me, was left a bit stymied.
COMPOSITION Now having had some time to really look at this photo, I can't understand why you rotated it. The instant recognition that it conveys unrotated - it's clearly a small channel of very calm water reflecting a dramatic sky - becomes confusing and unclear upside down. Given that you named your photo "night sky reflections" it seems you might have shot yourself in the foot by rotating it. Maybe others didn't have the difficulty I did recognizing the scene, but I was quite thrown off by it. If your purpose was abstract, than you probably would have chosen a different title, no?
EMOTIONAL IMPACT As you've probably guessed, my primary response to this photo was more one of confusion than emotion. I had the benefit of studying it for a critique; I wonder if the typical voter gave it enough time to really "see" it. In a challenge of 600 plus, I'd think not.
FINAL THOUGHTS Let me say first of all that I hugely appreciate the fact that you left a photographer's comment initially, and then came back and left a more detailed "post-mortem" comment after the challenge. Reading your comments now - as well as the voters comments - helps me to understand your motivation. Your original, unrotated and unprocessed image contains significant detail in the sand that was lost in the final edit. In your post-processing (curves??) I would have tried to preserve some of that detail. Clearly your commenters liked the image more if they appreciated its abstract nature, and less if they were confused by the orientation or context. Your final score of 5.4 doubtless reflects that confusion in their minds. I agree with those who thought it would have scored better unrotated. Still, I admire your experimentalism. Keep shooting, this was an interesting photo and I enjoyed studying it for this critique!!
I gave this a 6. In retrospect, not sure what I was thinking about the 'ground' (but perhaps realized at the time it was flipped - don't remember), but I recall deciphering what I thought was some type of fence railing .. or such - and this taken through that railing. Obviously way off after seeing your comments, etc. Brave first entry (re the flip and abstract etc). Certainly wasn't one of the 'few' I had picked as yours as I was voting. At any rate I liked the perspective, lines, 'texture' and most importantly, the way the toning enhanced the image - hence my score. Good result for your first Challenge, as expected.
Thanks so much to the people who left comments. and to those who voted..... Yes, I know I could have left it 'right' side up but.... when I was a wee child, I always wanted to walk in the clouds where I thought the angels lived.. this photo gave me that feeling. So here I am, many years later, photographing my childhood dream.
here it is as I photographed it originally
Here it is before I rotated it
I would like to tell all the voters who said it made them feel dizzy or disorientated that I am so sorry....... I just have a deep love of abstracts.
This image looks upside down. Almost like something you would take when you're lying down and looking up to the heavens. The cloud formations are nice and the touch of blue works but I'm feeling this will suffer from the voters due to it's orientation.
Wow, great abstract. It's the top half of the photo that really makes this work. Not quite sure that the exact duotone you chose has complemented this, but the composition has worked well. Not sure about your burnt out highlights at the bottom.
This looks like it should be gorgeous, but I need more context to solve the reflection - can't see what's what or what the dark bars are. Nice color choice tho.
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