DigaPixBlog

When using a wide angle lens we generally are trying to get a large expansive scene in to the frame.  Often when we use these lenses the scene has scope but lacks a strong subject.  The trick to wide angle photography is to have something of interest in the near foreground to lead the viewer into the composition and add scale.

This photograph works on a number of levels.  First the pattern in the foreground leads the viewer into the scene with a strong graphic.  The building is distorted by the curve of the lens but this works with the graphical leading lines.  Once we are into the composition we see two individuals, both dressed in red relating to each other from across the square.  The woman on the left is a strong action point as she walks into the scene while the man on the right is taking the action of photographing in her direction.  The lighting and the dramatic sky are stunning.

There is one small modification I would like to see the photographer make.  On the right hand edge of the frame there is half a man in the scene.  Just a micron of cropping would take this distraction out of the illustration.

Click on Image 

    Marked Up 

Share This

There is a certain excitement about shooting a photograph.   We get cough up in the moment when the image becomes all important.  The light is fading, the subject moving or anyone of a hounded reasons we have to get the shot now.  We know what we want and sometimes in the exhilaration of the moment we overlook things that may detract from our perfect image. 

This travel photographer has found an iconic subject of Ireland, a monument with the Celtic cross.  The late afternoon lighting brings the greens alive as it skims across the surface of the grass.  The light falling on the rear of the monument caused it to stand out against the pail pastels of the lavender sky.  I particularly like the curves found in the tall grass behind the stone structure. 

There are a couple of things I would like to call to the attention of the photographer.  The horizon of the sea is tilted to the left at a notable degree.  Also if the shot had been taken just a little lower the photographer could have eliminated the road in the picture and had just the grass on the knoll against the sea and sky line. 

Click on Image 

   Marked Up 

Share This

Photographing the unexpected can result in interesting concepts or junk depending on the eye of the beholder.  Some may say “WOW I never thought of seeing that way before” while others will say “why did you take that?” 

I love the concept of this image.  It captures the feeling of a relaxed cruise with your partner.  The way the feet come together and point in the direction of the ship’s wake adds a strong graphic element.  The shades of blue from the sky to the sea to the chair work as unifying layers of color.

There are a couple of items the photo-artist may want to consider.  First the horizon is tilted.  We are not used to seeing the surface of the sea at an angle.  So either tilt it more to make it look deliberate or crop it horizontal.  The second distraction is the red finger nails of the person on the right hand side of the composition.  The red keeps pulling the eye to that side.

Click on Image 

   Modified 

Share This

Patterns can make an interesting subject but they often work best when they are used as a backdrop or a primary subject.  This allows the subject to standout amongst the repartition of their surroundings.

This photo-artist has found the ultimate pattern of waves and color.  The primary subject is placed far to the right allowing room for them to move through the frame, in this cast at high speed.  The expressions of joy on their faces add to the feeling of the fun on the ride down an exhilarating slide.  I particularly like the way the photographer has tilted the graphic to add even more tension and movement to the composition.

I played a little with the color saturation and when I increased it by 100% there was no discernable change in the hues of this rainbow of color.  The artist could have named this image ‘Riding a Wild Rainbow’.

Click on Image 

Share This

Many great travel photographs tell a story, one the viewer can create without any descriptive narrative from the photographer.  If the photographer has to tell the viewer about the meaning of the image it is not a good photograph, it should be universal, so any viewer can understand the photographer’s intent.

This photograph of a guard outside the Greek Parliament is an excellent example of a shot that works.  Not only the costume of this solder lets us know this is a sentry in Greece but the countries colors of blue and white are seen in the background along with that nations distinctive script.  I like the feeling of strength in this image enhanced by the vertical lines and format of the composition.

The unique pose, with his foot extended toward the camera, is what makes this image truly different.  Most photographers would have taken the shot as a profile and left it at that.  But this photo-artist was able to find a new and interesting way to capture what could have been just another travel shot. 

Click on Image 

Share This

When we see an interesting scene and have only seconds to photograph it we often do not see distractions and flaws in the view finder.  But after the image is up on our computer we have the opportunity to review and correct problems with our photographs.  This can, in many cases, be solved with cropping or cloning out the imperfections.

The photograph submitted here has a couple of nice things going for it.  The first is the converging curves of the train and the river pointing to the over pass up stream.  And the sky has interesting cloud formations.

There are a couple of suggestions I would like to make to the photographer.  The first is the person’s arm in the lower left hand corner of the image and the white sign near the train.  These objects are distractions and take our attention away from the nice graphics of the curves.  You might also take a look at punching up the color by using the curves and saturation controls on your computer photo manipulation software.  This will liven up the contrast and colors.

By cropping we can solve two problems at one time.  The first is the removal of the arm in the corner.  Also by cropping the image into a narrow horizontal we will accentuate the graphics of the converging curves.

Click on Image   

      Marked Up 

Modified Saturation      Cropped 

Share This

I am told by the photographer that; “The Okevango Delta is a broad river delta that empties into Botswana’s Kalahari Desert, the only river to end in a desert the in the entire world.”  How many of you world travelers can say you’ve been there?

This photo is a rule breaker and then again it is not.  There two subjects we need to contend with.  The canoes and the expanse of grass land doted by islands.  I am excited by the placement of the canoes and the open water so far to the right.  This is unheard of but it works in this photograph.  We get the feeling of the waterway leading us into a vast expanse of grassland and marsh.  The landscape to the left of the waterway says that man is insignificant in this setting.

Perhaps the photographer will consider a few suggestions.  There is a strong reed stem in the center of the image that rises above the horizon and enters the tree line.  You may want to clone the tip of this pointer a little shorter.  The sky could use a little more saturation.  With this type of sky it can be done with as simple a technique as the gradation tool.

Share This

Portovenere is an Italian port town that dates back to the first century BCE.  In 1997 it was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. 

The photographer has combined two images on the computer, the water front architecture superimposed over an oil painting.  The pastel colors in the photograph blends nicely with the underlying painting.  This photograph of the buildings and the bay tells us this must be a prosperous truest community.  The exposure and contrast of the photograph is excellent.

I think the concept of combining the two images is good but the structures shown in the painting appear to be sitting on and weighting down the buildings in the photograph rather than sitting behind them.  I think this is caused by the dark brown line in the painting at the crest of the buildings in the middle of the water front.  The church spires appear to be sitting in front of the painting. 

The photographer might also take a look at the right side of the frame.  The painting is protruding through the photo. This does not appear to be intentional because it does not happen on the other side of the image.

   Click on Image 

         Marked Up 

Share This

The moment passed in a second and would never come again with this child in such contemplation about the task at hand.  You couldn’t set up a shot with this much reality as the photographer’s eye captured at this precise instant.   

Her posture and placement are excellently framed in the door way.  The muted colors of the building and stairs blend nicely with the pastels of her clothing. 

This is such a nice image I would like to make a couple of suggestions.  It is my understanding that this was originally shot on film and then digitized.  There appears to be some brake down in the shadows at the top of the stairs that is probably there on the original film.  This often happens with second generation images.  It might be possible to have the photograph rescanned at a higher resolution to bring back some of this detail.  Inthe upper right hand corner there is an aquamarine colored triangle that was probably caused by the scanning that could be corrected.

Also you may be able to lower the luminosity of the yellow broom straw.  It is so much brighter than the rest of the image that it could be taken down about a stop to come closer to the soft pastels of the rest of the image. 

                                                           Click on Image

                                Shadow Detail       

Share This

                                                                                    The colorful dress of this woman was probably the thing that attracted the photographer’s attention to this scene.  I like the subject’s placement in the left hand third of the image with plenty of room to continue into the frame.  The green vegetables and stocks of grain give a nice repeating pattern through the photo.  The fact that she has a reaper in on hand and leaves in the other tells us she is working the field and not just passing through it. 

The soil appears to be white sand and lacks tone or texture that results in a washed out appearance to the image.  I would recommend darkening the print as much as possible and cropping out some of the foreground to lessen the effect of the bleached out soil.

                                                               Click on Image

                                            Cropped        

   Modified per reader comments 3% 

  Mofified per reader comments 50% 

Share This

                                                                                                                                                           This travel shot would work well in a series illustrating life in the subcontinent.  I like the framing of the woman through the door and her posture observing the world go by.  The sandals in the entry way are a nice touch. 

There are a couple of things I might suggest to the photographer.  The door way verticals are not parallel to the side if the frame.  This would possibly not be an issue except that the edge of the opening is so close to the edge of the frame it becomes noticeable immediately.  Also some of the right hand wall could be cropped out without loss to the concept. 

The overall color appears to be washed out or under exposed.  This can be changed on the computer to bring out the lively colors in her dress and deepen the tone in the structure.

                               Click on Image

               Cropped           

Share This

Travel gives us opportunities to bring back exciting, exotic and out of the ordinary images.  Too often we bring back photos that may have exotic subjects but when taken out of context have little or no artistic value.  I am happy to say this is not one of those photographs. 

This monochromatic selection  of a  girl walking along the road with her eyes closed in almost a dream like state tells us her story at one glance.  The photographer managed to capture the moment just as her left foot is about to strike the ground carrying her forward into the scene.   

The only suggestion I have is perhaps cropping a little off the bottom to remove all or most of the asphalt highway.  But the photo-artist is more than justified to keep the layout as it stands. 

A fundamental rule of photography is that if you have to explain a picture it is not a photograph.  This image needs no further explanation to stand on its own. 

.   

                         Click on Image

                             Cropped     

Share This