Photo Critique #96

Photo Critique #96

on Aug 5th 2011 with 34 comments

Friday Photo Critique is our weekly community project, where we publish a photograph submitted by one of our wonderful readers, then ask you all to offer constructive feedback on the image. It’s a great way to learn more about photography, express your viewpoint, and have your own image critiqued!

Quick Ground Rules

  1. Play nice! We’ve deliberately chosen photographs that aren’t perfect, so please be constructive with any criticism.
  2. Feel free to offer any type of advice – composition, lighting, post-processing etc.
  3. You can also link to photographs that you feel offer a great example of this type of image shot exceptionally well.

Without further ado, here is this week’s candidate for Friday Photo Critique!

The Photograph

Photo Critique

Photo Details & Inspiration

  • Canon 550D
  • 1/50
  • f/3.5
  • 50mm
  • ISO 800
  • Auto white balance in RAW
  • Aperture priority mode

The objective was to create a post-apocalyptic look. I took three pictures with a flat picture style, combined them to a HDR, and then did some heavy black and white post processing.

Photographer: Tim Vanderwaeren

Please let us know what you think in the comments – how would you have approached the scene or taken the photo differently? A massive thank you to everyone who commented last week.

The most constructive and helpful comments will be featured on the site. Interested in submitting your own photo? You can do so here!

 

 
Enjoyed this Post?

Subscribe to our RSS Feed, Follow us on Twitter or simply recommend us to friends and colleagues!

By

Rollover to read this author's bio or click through to see a full list of posts by this author.

I was raised in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. After high school, I left for Western Kentucky University where I obtained degrees in photojournalism and cultural anthropology. I am currently employed by CityBeat, an arts and entertainment weekly in Cincinnati. The work I am doing here is very rewarding and I suspect it will continue to be. I am available for freelance work in all areas of photography.  

Plus Premium
 
 
  • http://www.27design.co.uk Matt27

    This is incredible

    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bapika/ Tim

      That’s pleasant to hear, thanks!

  • tmtke

    The composition and the planning of the shot is nice. However, I have some complaint:

    1. I think f/3.5 is not the best choice for this, while the sharpness is not at the peak for this kind of a lens, and more depth of field and sharpness/contrast required according the idea.

    2. The HDR (I hate this word, let’s just say tonemapping) is ruined a lot on the image, because of the glowing highlights and the lost separation of the subject (the guy I think is the subject, not the walls, though they are so-good-looking-dirty :))

    3. B/W is okay, but with losing the color information, the separation is disappearing from the picture also.

    If you’re checking the image from a little distance (or you half-shut your eyes), the head is almost melting in the lamps.

    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bapika/ Tim

      I see your points of critique. It was not my initial plan to make this black and white, but I was experimenting and the B&W just gave it the feeling I was looking after. The lights were not something I paid alot of attention to, but i agree with you, the head does fade away a bit.

      Thanks for the comment!

  • Michael Owens

    I love HDR – and I love B&W. I also love this image.

    But. In this instance, I feel the B&W HDR actually ruins it – perhaps if this was in colour, well, it would seperate the subject from its surroundings.

    I assume it was a grey car-park or walkway of some kind? Which would make the subject pop even more!

    So, if it was in colour, your subject would stand out more. Everything else about this shot is wonderful to me, aesthically, very pleasing – just the B&W washes out anything emotionally for me.

    Sorry. But great photo none-the-less! If you have a colour version, I would love to see it!

    (Remember this is my personal opinion – nothing more haha)

    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bapika/ Tim

      Hey there! Yes it was a very grey car park, good eye! Unfortionally my friends clothes were not really ‘poppy’ so it was though to really make him stand out. I plan on retaking the picture but planning it more, since this was captured in a bit of a hurry. Thanks for the kind words and sharing your opionion, much appreciated!

  • Ett Venter

    I’m with Michael on this one. If this wasn’t an HDR, but still in B&W, I think it would have been infinitely better. The composition is so good, but the HDR factor just ruins it for me :(

    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bapika/ Tim

      Thanks for the kind words man! I understand where you come from, but the hdr displays what I tried to achieve more than a normal black and white, wich in this instance looked a bit flat.

  • msd23

    Hello

    Great Photo,

    I’d say less blur, and remove the reflection (white lines) on water

    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bapika/ Tim

      Hey! What lines are you refering to? The white parts in the water are actualy spots on the ground with no water. Thanks anyway!

  • writersbloc

    Some really nice symmetry going on here and the ground reflection really makes the photo sing. The high contrast black/whites are working really well for me, I just think you over did the tone mapping a bit, especially on all the concrete. That’s my completely subjective opinion and there’s nothing wrong with what you did.

    I always find with HDR though, it helps to step away for a bit and come back to the photo later. When you’re working on an image for a while you tend to keep pushing the effect beyond your original intention

    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bapika/ Tim

      Hi! Thanks for the nice words! I might have overdone it a bit and agree that it might be better to ‘take a step back’. At the time it looked right, as I myself loved the dirtylicious look of the concrete walls. It’s as you say: completely subjective. I also hope your writersblock will stop asap!

  • Asim

    Sorry, I am still a beginner (as compared to most of your folks); my only question is how did you get such depth of field with 3.5 aperture?

  • dj

    Actually, a full color version of this wouldn’t at all achieve what you are trying to do. This is great as it is and the effect is striking. It seems that most of the comments so far are saying the same thing – that there isn’t enough contrast between the male figure and the background. Any technique that would make that stand out should do (the reflection could come along for the ride if desired) – dodge/burn, single spot color on the focal point only, darkening pants further and washing out BG immediately behind him … Looks good and obviously took some time and thought to achieve.

  • Bob

    Again, personal opinion, but i don’t believe that color would do this photo justice probably all gray? The black\white contrast (plus composition) makes this an interesting shot.

  • http://www.shaneparkerphoto.com Shane Parker

    I love B&W and hate HDR. If the HDR crap was removed, it’d be a great photo. IMHO.

  • Brandon

    I feel like the subject (the guy) gets lost in the image. Everything is so sharp and contrasty (a la HDR). I think this image would have worked with a shallow DOF around the subject with the pillars and leading lines framing him. If you wanted a contrasty image, then pump up the contrast.

  • http://www.garyhellerphotography.com Gary Heller

    I love the composition and symetry, but feel the HDR processing is over the top. It lost depth because everything in the distance is just as lit exposed as the fg which happens a lot with heavy HDR. Shadows and highlights become flattened and meaningless.

    I also wish the person/subject were wearing something other than a contemporary athletic wear. Old suit, ripped jeans and torn coat, etc would go better with what I think you were trying to convey here with the apocolyptic feel.

    All in all, a pretty good image nonetheless.

  • Liam

    Would love to see this with only the figure colorised

    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bapika/ Tim

      I did not think of doing that, but it’s a great suggestion! In this picture the guy wears black/grey clothes, so it would not have the effect you are looking for I think. But i plan on retaking the shot with the subject wearing something more interesting. Thanks for the comment!

  • http://www.cargocollective.com/ GCS

    For a street photo this is great.

    I would just take out a bit more noise and maybe have made the model do something rather than look so mug and or remove him altogether

    Other than that, great work!

    Check out some of my work here:

    Video: http://www.sonorocreative.com
    Photo: http://www.cargocollective.com/fixr

    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bapika/ Tim

      Hey! Thanks for the comment! I agree with you, the guy doing something might have been more interesting. I was looking at your pictures and they really all seem to tell a story, very striking also.

  • http://www.facebook.com/xplod.designs Xplod Designs

    I love HDR – and I love B&W. I also love this image.

    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bapika/ Tim

      Then we should marry asap!

  • Ionut Cirja

    You tried to get too more details and that seems to be disturbing. Also, there are some lines that cut the subject. For example, look at the one who cut his head, because that is the most annoying.

    Thanks

    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bapika/ Tim

      Hello! I totally agree with the line cutting his head, it was something I havent thought of while taking the picture. I think the amout of detail gives the photo its character and is not disturbing. But as someone said above, everything is subjective. Thanks for the comment!

  • Valerie

    Firstly, I like this. I like what you’ve tried to do. HDR is a controversial technique, but I think it works well for the feel that you’re going for. Black and white is also proving a controversial choice for this shot, but I tend to think it works. Also, black and white HDR images are not common, so good for you for finding something a bit different. My only real issues are with composition. I like the vertical placement of the main subject and his reflection in the puddle, but I agree that his head is being chopped in half by the line of the ceiling and he just isn’t, for me, sitting well in the space around him. If it’s a composite and you have the option to move him around a bit, or even just scale him, I think you might find that he drops into place somewhere maybe slightly further to the left and probably down a bit. He’ll probably stand out better as well. Also, your horizon lines are a bit off. With strong geometric lines like these in a shot, they need to be either absolutely perfect, or far enough off level to be clearly deliberate. At the moment, I get a little queasy from this shot. Now I’ve said a couple of things (the subject is not comfortable in the space, the slightly off-level horizon makes me queasy) that you might well have been aiming to achieve on purpose. But messing with the rules requires a lot of skill to do well so it doesn’t just look a bit clumsy. Good for you for trying, though, if you were. If not, then other than those little things which are fairly easily fixed, I do really like the HDR, BnW and overall feel.

    • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bapika/ Tim

      Hey Valerie! Thanks alot for the positive words and indept critique, I really apreciate it!

      Yes, it appears people either love or hate hdr. I find it gave the most justice to the environment, giving it that almost surreal look. What you say about the lines chopping his head, I agree. It’s something I didnt pay enough attention to while taking the picture. Its good that people made me aware of this, now I keep this in my mind every time I take a picture.

      Composition wise: I cropped the photo a little bit with the rule of thirds in my mind. His feet are actually exactly on the bottom left position where 2 lines ‘cross’. Can you explain what you mean with the ‘horizon being off level’? Is it the fact that his feet are lower than the farrest point or that the picture is not perfectly horizontal? I tried to be creative with the composition, so that people get really drawn into the picture. I think I can say the composition is a result of me being a bit clumsy (as you said), but I tried to achieve something different to begin with, so it was also sort of intended. Fifty-fifty let us say?

      Once again I thank you for your comment. I also hope my answer cleared up some of your thoughts!

      Tim

  • http://eriehousepictures.carbonmade.com kurt

    Complain and critique all you want.. this is the very first unique and creative friday photo critique.. ever…

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/bapika/ Tim

    Wow man, that means alot to me! I love your about page on your website!

  • http://www.tkphotography.at Boomer

    The idea is good, like some have said there is a bit room to improve on it.

    Placement of the person so that the line does not cut through his head.

    Think moving it so that the left pillars also start in the front might improve the feeling of symmetry and really frame the person. (Maybe change to landscape for it)

    If HDR or not is more of a personal taste. But the grungy BW look is a nice choice.

  • Vivian

    Tim, I like this picture just the way it is. You didn’t make this picture to be a “realistic” capture of what you saw. Yes, changes could be made. It could be different in many of the ways suggested above. However, I see this as an original, unique expression. Very creative! Very cool! Very fun!

  • vrgblzs

    I like this picture. Only one thing I would change: why not place something at the spot the guy is staring at? It could be anything (a rock, a piece of rubbish, a small toy etc…)

  • Goose

    I love black and white (we can’t argue with Ansel Adams, can we?). I love the composition. Personally I would’ve asked the model to turn his back to the camera, stand upright and to stare into the far end of the pic.

    Nonetheless, it good!