Aids Memorial, my first print I'm thinking of selling.

[c.cloudwalker]

Off camera flash on that thing? It's way bigger in real life.

If I lit up caves with one flash unit, I'm pretty sure you can do this statue.

I apologize for offering CC where it is unwanted.

It sure doesn't seem to be wanted but, tbh, I don't think C&C was asked for.






Edit = C+C is not criticism, it's critic and comment which is not quite the same.

 

[KmH]

Off camera flash on that thing? It's way bigger in real life. I'm happy with the composition and final result it looks how I envisioned it.

It has to much sky for my tastes. Bitter hit the high points. Your intended main subject comprises to small a portion of the frame and is actually the tertiarty image element, again as Bitter pointed out.

The composition has the feel of 2 separate, joined photo's because the top of the scupture and the highest portion of the buildings are to close to the middle of the frame.

As someone else mentioned a slightly lower perspective may well have helped, as my eye to is drawn to the quartenary image element, the whatever-it-is behind the base of the sculture.

The success level of the photo will help guide you in future efforts.

Lastly, sharpening for print looks a bit 'crispy' compared to sharpening for electronic display.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Now the blog post said "first print I'm thinking of selling". I would like some comment on this; would this image catch your eye? Is it something you'd consider buying?

It sure doesn't seem to be wanted but, tbh, I don't think C&C was asked for.

You are right Cloud. He specifically asked if this image would catch my eye.
To answer, no. I see nothing special about it to warrant a closer look. Is it something I would consider buying? Absolutely not.

 

[white]

Now the blog post said "first print I'm thinking of selling". I would like some comment on this; would this image catch your eye? Is it something you'd consider buying?

Personally, no. It's a decent photo, but I don't like the symmetry. It feels static; doesn't move or say anything to me. I just bought Tulsa and The Americans, though, so maybe I'm the wrong guy to ask.

 

[sam_justice]

The criticism certainly makes me want to reshoot it, I will give it another go when I get a chance. I've edited out the stuff behind the statue. Shooting at a lower angle would be the best approach as some of you have said.

 

[Blake.Oney]

I'd try at least one shot with the flash and see how editing it out of the goes if you have to shoot it with the flash in the shot. I really like it, though. I really want to see the reshoot. May even buy a print.

 

[sam_justice]

Edit = C+C is not criticism, it's critic and comment which is not quite the same.

Critic is short for criticism, and critic isn't a word that is used on its own. It's a noun, something can't be "critic". I think the word your after is critique..
Urbandictionary.com has the best description of critic
"A critic is someone who has no discernible talent so tries to make someone else feel as useless as he/she is."
Urban Dictionary: critic

As for all the comments (Bitter Jeweler, RobNZ etc), I respect them all as photographers and like the work they produce. I am not dismissing the comments they made, I admit I put my defences up to quickly and I apologize.
I will reshoot this image, but instead of lighting the statue I was walking past it this evening when it was dark and it has beautiful ambient lighting. I will take a closer, lower angle. I think that was my weakest point of the composition, just setting up the tripod and clicking instead of thinking about different angles.

I want to say thanks for all the positive comments as well, it really means a lot.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

I agree with bitter, sam. I think this is a great example of how focal lengths can help your perspective, not just your angle of view. That statue is dwarfed by everything yet you stated that the statue is actually quite large when bitter suggested flash, to me that sums up the problem. Get a little less of everything else and go closer to the statue ( and wider if possible so you actually dont lose much of the frame, just force the statue to look larger in the foreground.) What focal length was this?


By the way, I love the concept and the scene overall.

 

[phiya]

Upon initial viewing I thought this was a nice image, but not something I'd jump at paying money for. I like the suggestion of moving lower and closer to the statue. It will help to make it the main focal point of the image, and it will draw people's eyes to it more. People's eyes are always going to be drawn to a dramatic sky. I think it's correct to say you need to work to make them look at the statue, and I think the best way to do that would be the lower, more dramatic angle, and being closer to the statue. Good luck on the reshoot.

 

[sam_justice]

I agree with bitter, sam. I think this is a great example of how focal lengths can help your perspective, not just your angle of view. That statue is dwarfed by everything yet you stated that the statue is actually quite large when bitter suggested flash, to me that sums up the problem. Get a little less of everything else and go closer to the statue ( and wider if possible so you actually dont lose much of the frame, just force the statue to look larger in the foreground.) What focal length was this?


By the way, I love the concept and the scene overall.

It was 18mm, as wide as my lens will go. But I agree, if I'd gotten closer and lower the statue would appear much larger. I think in the reshoot I will get rid of the buildings either side of the image as they really don't serve any purpose. At first I liked the warped lens distortion matching the warped feel of the statue, but like most have said, they are distracting.

 

[phiya]

When I first viewed the image I thought it was a nice shot, but not something I would jump to spend money on. I think the idea of getting the shot from a lower and closer perspective will help to make the image stronger. The viewers eye is always going to be drawn to a dramatic sky, no matter what you do. I think moving the shot to the lower-closer angle is going to help draw their eye to the statue first, and the sky second. The OCF for the statue may help with this as well. Good luck on your reshoot!

EDIT: Hrm, sorry for the double post - my internets were acting up and I didn't think that it went through.

 

[GooniesNeverSayDie11]

Yeah, something in the 10-12mm range would work wonders I think. It would probably increase the distortion a bit, but that should be an easy fix. When I first started I bought a wide angle for landscapes and never understood the perspective relationship. So I sold it thinking "I never need that wide of a shot, mountains are usually in the distance anyway, and my 18-55 is wide enough" and cursed myself later on haha.

 

[sam_justice]

Yeah, something in the 10-12mm range would work wonders I think. It would probably increase the distortion a bit, but that should be an easy fix. When I first started I bought a wide angle for landscapes and never understood the perspective relationship. So I sold it thinking "I never need that wide of a shot, mountains are usually in the distance anyway, and my 18-55 is wide enough" and cursed myself later on haha.

I don't have anything lower than an 18 :-( I would love a hugely wide fisheye (not for the effect out of cam but the lens corrected one).

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Cool, since you are more receptive to ideas...

Look at your first image, and crop it landscape. The sky is half your image. The building tops are at the half line. Crop it in half and come back and tell me if you think it helps draw more attention the the sculpure, by making it more predominant? It's no longer overpowering the buildings either.

Ok, now do a portrait crop, at the edges of the buildings. I know you like them, I just want you to see a different view. now you can make the sculpture appear large, against a dramamtic sky. Again, not telling you this should be the final image. Just as a study. I also think dropping the horizon line of bushes, to the top of the base or just below that edge, may be helpful.

Personally, for something like this, I would do these studies, regardless of the sky, nail down the final look, then go back as often as I could to get the "perfect" sky. This is where patience comes in, and helps really make a photograph. You have a concept, now you have to work it.

 

[sam_justice]

The portrait looks really nice, compliments both. I think I'll shoot it that way. I'm leaning towards a night shot more now thinking what I can do with the sky (stars etc)