Photo offered for criticism

[Raymond]

Thought I would try putting one of my photos on here to see what people think.

I took this June 27, 2004, on the summit of Mount Lafayette.

 

[Mark Schaefer]

I like this photo very much. While a photographer taking a picture of another photographer is a bit of a gag; for me (and I believe most viewers) it almost always works as it does here. Further this photo is a study of hikers taking photos from a summit. Everyone in the photo is actively engaged in one or more photographic acts (taking, posing, or reviewing). I like that the couple on the right is reviewing a photo -- it provides the info that this is a current photo from the digital age. This a very good job of observing and recognizing a very good photographic opportunity - and possibly waiting for it to occur.

It also helps to be able to bring along an attractive companion who can model. I like the bright jacket color which provides a bright contrast to all of the subtle earth tones and to what might otherwise be a rather bland landscape.

A couple of things that appear strange are the horizon and cloud layers. At first glance these look a little off level. I believe this is just a natural phenomena of a receding horizon on the left and nothing more than that. I lined up the trail sign against the edge of my computer screen, and it is plumb upright. Also all the hikers appear to be standing plumb vertical -- so I don't believe you have an alignment problem. I point this out because I have taken similar photos that at first glance appear to be off horizontal. My photo instructors and/or editors would tell me my horizon was off. Sometimes it was, but very often the only fault was a receding horizon, and it took a bit effort to convince them that I was right. Although then their response often was: "Well, it still looks off". Perhaps I am just be over cautious in pointing this out. Most people viewing your photo probably will have no problem with the appearance of the horizon -- which I believe is correctly aligned.

 

[Grumpy]

Mark Schaefer's comments are on the button. I like this photo, too, and find it amusing. The not-quite-centered centered main subject really works here.

I'm inclined (no pun intended) to think the camera was slightly tilted when this frame was shot, and so the horizon is not level. It's not terribly bothersome in this case, but it would be interesting to see what happens with a bit of cropping to level it.

G.

 

[Chip]

I like this picture also, comments would be very similar to above re. color and sense of humor. I also noticed the horizon and believe it detracts from the pic. Even if it is as Mark suggests, I think a 1 or 2 degree adjustment would be enough so that it's not a distraction.

 

[kmorgan]

Nice color and detail.

Kevin

 

[DougPaul]

A couple of things that appear strange are the horizon and cloud layers. At first glance these look a little off level.

It is off. Line up the horizon with the bottom of your browser window.

The camera is being held at a compromise between the person in red (who is leaning to the right) and the horizon.

Doug

 

[kmorgan]

Rotate 3 degrees clockwise and crop...

Kevin

 

[Raymond]

Thanks for the comments, everyone. You had me convinced, Mark, with your remarks about the receding horizon, but not the others. I tend to not pay the horizon as much mind as I should unless it’s something really obvious, like the sea. Could I claim that the angled horizon and clouds add dynamism?

As not much else seems to be happening here lately, I’ll put up another photo for your scrutiny:

This one was taken September 10, 2003, at Lake Jimmy in the Adirondacks.

I might mention that I bought Susan that poncho with the idea of it looking good in photographs. Often, with my old Kodak digital camera, it came out looking magenta, but every now and then it appeared red, as it should.

 

[Mark Schaefer]

Yes, I had convinced myself about that horizon also. But Kevin got it to square up nicely. It is possible to over analyze such things, and I find that is when I may really throw the horizon off as I am composing a photograph in the field. It is perhaps a bit of dynamism, but more of unease.

OK, the new photo. That parka really helps again. It was a very good purchase. The fog also helps. Not only does it provide excellent mood and an indication of early morning, but it also covers over many distracting details in the background.

The one criticism is the direction that Susan is looking. She is looking out of the frame. It creates the gnawing question as to what she is looking at, and leaves the impression that we may be missing something.

Overall, this is a nice photo which has a lot going for it. This pontoon bridge is an interesting location. It is a place where many Adirondack 46er hikers have fond memories including myself.

 

[Grumpy]

Well, I really like both of these pictures, which do a wonderful job of evoking the experience of “being there.” As I’ve said before, pictures of pretty scenery are nice, but the ones I turn to over and over again in my own collection are those with people in them.

The Lake Jimmy photo is very evocative. The mist-fog is so A-d-i-r-o-n-d-a-c-k! How many moments like that have we experienced?

I sort of agree with Mark Schaefer’s remark that the figure looking out of the frame to the left could be distracting. Yes, it would be better to have her looking toward the right. But I can accept this as it is. The vibrant splash of red is a wonderful counterpoint to the muted colors of the scene in general.

What I’d like to see in the Lake Jimmy photo is some – you guessed it – cropping. This photo has several horizons in it. The water’s edge (far) creates a very strong horizon right at the center of the photo. (It is nice and level, which is good.) Try cropping from the top until the blank sky is gone, leaving nothing but the woods as a background. Not only does that move the horizon to a better spot, it helps make the photo just a bit more dramatic (in my view).

Thanks for sharing.

G.