General Critique

[Summer Derrick]

Here are a few of my best images. I would like to know what I can improve on with these and in general. Please critique these for me if you have a minute.

Thanks!!

[Joe Dickerson]

Prelude; This is my amature opinion. I like all of the shots they are great!
Photo 1 - I am distracted by the dark shadow of his face below his eyebrows, Chopping ever so slightly his hair on the top of his head, the lighting either creates the illusion or reality of her right pupil being dialated and her left eye being darker and the pupil larger, the glare of light on her lower lipstick.

Photo 2 - I like it just the way it is, warm light on the subjects and cold harsher light outside/backdrop.

Photo 3 - Not sure of the shadow on the wall that is in the mirror, cute girl!

Photo 4 - Love the light coming from the front with the shadowing on him and the shot but distracted by the bright spot on his shirt behind his head, a little less of the shot on the left side/crop some of the board and wall out it carries to far and takes away from the impact of the subject.

Keep up the great shots I have always been a big fan of your people pics.

[Summer Derrick]

Thanks Joe! Great observations. I am rarely so detailed but wish I could be. I think I can fix most of the problems. The funky pupil is my crappy PS job. She was pregnant and I told her I would narrow her face for her. I didn't think it looked bad but she was really paranoid about it. : ( I did notice the light on the wood workers shirt and I should have just cropped it in. I think I got lazy. Thanks again. Keep the critique coming!

[al perry]

Love them all. 3 and 4 are my favs. 4 would be a great ad for the router if it had a brand. Love the ideas that the scissors make race through my head on 3. I really like the lighting of 4.

[Summer Derrick]

Thanks Al. I did have the brand on the router but cloned it out to use it for stock. Too bad I don't have the slightest idea about how to convince Ryobi to use my shot! : (

[al perry]

If I were to do anything on 4, it would be to darken or crop the bright spot on the collar near the back of his neck. Great shots.

[Jeff Hillhouse]

Great photos. #4 is my favorite. The only thing I'd like to see, is the light on the bottom 2 fingers on his right hand is a bit too harsh, maybe tone it down next time, or move it a little to get a more even lighting. #3 is cute, the shadow on the wall is a little distracting. #2, to me looks like it's taken in front of a backdrop, or PS'ed over another image. The white balance doesn't seem to match. #1, I think is great (other than the already mentioned difference in the pupil), but I think once again, move the light source a little, or add another fill flash, to rid the shadow across the guy's face.

[Summer Derrick]

Thanks, Jeff! I never noticed the harsh light on his fingers, you're right. #2 actually was taken in front of a window. I offset the WB on purpose in camera. Set my camera's WB to cool and then lit the subject with a warm colored gel. I was hoping it would contrast the difference between the harsh big world and the warm arms of a mother.... maybe I'll try this again with a little less warmth. Thanks again!

[Brad Sharp]

If you want to get a some really good critiques upload some of your images to http://www.photosig.com/go/main. It's a sight strictly for critiques. You have to become a member, but it's free, and you won't get any spam from them. You are only allowed to upload 1 image every 72 hours, but if you critique other's photographs, and others think your critique is helpful, you get points - which will allow you to upload additional images. I've always been able to upload as many as I want in a day, just by making some critiques. I thinks it's a very helpful site. You can see other photographers photographs, and what the critiques are given.

[Summer Derrick]

OOOOO, that's a great site, thanks!!

[Brad Sharp]

Yea, I really like this site. Not only can you get your photos reviewed - but you get your critiques reviewed as well, and you can see if, and/or how yours is different or similar to other critiques.