This is Why I Own a Shotgun

LShooter · May 6, 2013

My oldest was getting ready for a school banquet so I decided to snap a few; of course, my wife and little one wanted to get in on the action:

ronlane · May 6, 2013

LShooter, I would suggest a rifle (see my avator) to avoid innocent people from getting hurt and keeping them FAR away from all three of the lovely ladies you have at your house.

Very photogenic ladies at that. #1 is really cool.

runnah · May 6, 2013

Have you looked into moats?

jwbryson1 · May 6, 2013

runnah said:
Have you looked into moats?

Nice avatar, RunnEL.

amolitor · May 6, 2013

Ignore the noises under the basement. It's definitely not anyone tunneling.

These are lovely (and not just because of the subject), but feel slightly.. I can't put my finger on it. Dark? Flat? Undersaturated? I wish they had a trifle more pop in some dimension I cannot identify. It's possible that you have lovingly processed them for a soft and moody look, in which case, great work! They feel soft and moody!

LShooter · May 6, 2013

Yes, I did process them for a soft and moody effect. Took out some clarity, some contrast and some saturation.

Rebekah5280 · May 6, 2013

#1, 2 and 4 look like they belong in the same set. #2 is a tad too dark IMO. I like the "dark and moody" thing, but this one needs to be brightened up a little bit, especially if you are going to print it.

#3 I'm not a fan of the yellow tints that are being reflected where their shadows should be (under the arm, chin below the eyebrows) and it looks too bright as well to the point where their skin tone just looks white. Which doesn't match the beautiful skin tones you captured in the other three. I would also dodge the glasses so they are not darkened.

I love the dress. Beautiful! I'm sure your daughter is please with what you captured.

Disclaimer - This is just my opinion. Take it or leave it.

Granddad · May 6, 2013

A shotgun, a shovel and 40 acres out back... My daughter HATED that joke when she was that age (she's now married to a guy I was convinced was an axe murderer, still married after 9 years with 2 sets of twins - The shotgun and the shovel are still easy to get at, just in case).

Derrel · May 6, 2013

I often use selective color to counteract localized color shifts that happen when using Gaussian blur layers or when reducing the clarity into the negative zone to soften images and add that lovely 'glow'.

Designer · May 6, 2013

LShooter; you didn't specifically ask for critique, but here is my 2 cents' worth:

#1 Daughter in mirror is a confusing image, in that I have to try to "make sense" of what I am looking at. The far shot that results is not as flattering as it might have been.

#2 I wish you had added some light onto her face.

#3 Very nice, except for the stray plant material and the busy background.

#4 I think would have been much better in vertical format.

LShooter · May 6, 2013

Thanks guys. And my view of opinions is reflected in my signature.

But since some of you commented; #1 should force your eye to move around the scene and think. That's why I shot it that way. I've already been approached about having that photo in a fine living magazine. #2 I wanted to be dark, so I shot it that way. A histogram is a suggestion, not the rule of law. #3, I agree, but the space was limited and they wanted a shot there; it's all natural light with a bit of diffusion and the sun was really golden. I don't do Photoshop so the leaves have to stay. I try to create my image in the camera and make a few minor tweaks in Lightroom if needed. #4, vertical portraits are outdated and great only for business headshots, not art and beauty. Of course, your milage may differ.

Derrel · May 6, 2013

LShooter said:
Thanks guys. And my view of opinions is reflected in my signature. But since some of you commented; #1 should force your eye to move around the scene and think. That's why I shot it that way. I've already been approached about having that photo in a fine living magazine. #2 I wanted to be dark, so I shot it that way. A histogram is a suggestion, not the rule of law. #3, I agree, but the space was limited and they wanted a shot there; it's all natural light with a bit of diffusion and the sun was really golden. I don't do Photoshop so the leaves have to stay. I try to create my image in the camera and make a few minor tweaks in Lightroom if needed. #4, vertical portraits are outdated and great only for business headshots, not art and beauty. Of course, your milage may differ.

Opinions are like a$$holes... everybody has one.

pixmedic · May 6, 2013

LShooter said:
Thanks guys. And my view of opinions is reflected in my signature. But since some of you commented; #1 should force your eye to move around the scene and think. That's why I shot it that way. I've already been approached about having that photo in a fine living magazine. #2 I wanted to be dark, so I shot it that way. A histogram is a suggestion, not the rule of law. #3, I agree, but the space was limited and they wanted a shot there; it's all natural light with a bit of diffusion and the sun was really golden. I don't do Photoshop so the leaves have to stay. I try to create my image in the camera and make a few minor tweaks in Lightroom if needed. #4, vertical portraits are outdated and great only for business headshots, not art and beauty. Of course, your milage may differ.

Art being subjective is good and all....just bear in mind that you are posting on a photography forum, in a section that is generally a place where one posts photos they want C&C on. there is a "just for fun" section that is for photos you just want to share and are not looking for critique on. When you post photos, you should expect different sorts of C&C from the different views people have on photography, as well as being respectful of other people opinions as much as you expect them to be respectful of yours.
If your answer to every critique is "this is art there are no rules", you can pretty much expect interest in your work to quickly fall off.