[JLiu]

While I agree that you appear to be on the right track as a budding photographer – especially at 16 – forgive me if I call you out on the “none of this work is HDR.” You may not have, perhaps, used Photomatix or HDR Efex Pro as part of your editing process (although I would challenge that as well given the tone mapping), but it’d be hard for me to accept that some of those weren’t composites in some shape…

[JLiu]

It can be difficult to determine if someone is truly asking for real CC vs. someone who is just vomiting their work for appraisal on a Facebook wall. I’ve found, more often than not, that the ones who are truly looking to improve tend to identify the weaknesses first…or, at the very least, know that something is off and are asking about that.

If someone posts a completely OOF shot and asks for a critique, I feel it’s rarely, if ever, worth bothering to offer anything – this person is obviously the “tone deaf” equivalent of photography. Unless this person is asking why the focus seems off, there’s not really much you can do to help.

If someone posts an over-edited shot that’s at least in focus, this is someone you can probably work with…but that all depends on whether or not the person wants to be worked with in the first place. Some people don’t strive to be anything more than mediocre.

Regardless, it’d be wise to know what type of person you are with regards to how you critique. If you’re “abrupt,” be prepared to precede your critique with that comment so that the recipient at least knows the stabbing will be brief. Perhaps this might help the person to ask questions about why you feel that way and open up communication as opposed to feeling like you’re some cynical clown with not much to say.

[JLiu]

Don’t succumb to it, IHF. The world still needs people like you to keep the people who strive to be better-than-average in check. The passive-aggressive BS will undoubtedly just go over their head.

For me, I’ll leave a critique (when it’s requested) and see how they take it. If it’s a childish reaction, I don’t even bother ever commenting again…or really looking at that person’s work. Can’t work with people like that.

[JLiu]

….why would there be concern about noise in the AM? Were you shooting pre-dawn in overcast conditions? Not worth your time. Move on.

[JLiu]

“If only we could inspire some of these fauxs to aspire to something greater…..”

If only it were that easy. It’s hard to find anyone that really cares to excel much anymore. For crying out loud – they give out ribbons for 20th place.

 

[JLiu]

Bluntly put – you cannot be a fauxtog if you are not charging for your services. If you’re taking pictures for yourself, you’re a hobbyist. There’s nothing wrong with being a hobbyist.

[JLiu]

Personally, I’ve never liked the figure of eight as an abseil (or belay) device – that badboy gets hot and can turn into a mess if the rope is remotely kinky.

Very nice! I’m a climbing instructor based out of Maryland, USA.

[JLiu]

Hahah…I had to take a look myself after I read the comment. Very interesting setup.

And…sorry to hijack the thread…but where do you all climb?

With regards to your shots, I’ll comment on the two most recent shots:

Stars with crane in the foreground: Be careful with over editing – you can see a halo around the crane, especially around the right edge. The exposure time is just a hair too long for the shot, so there are some very, very short star trails on the larger stars. Also, given the necessity of high ISO for this type of shot, noise is prevalent…but that’s subject to the limitations of the camera body. Post process with a couple different noise reduction programs should help on that end.

Sunset with silhouette beach foreground: The drama in the skies is great – good job keeping the composition of the foreground to the lower third to give more attention to the skies. Make sure the horizon is perfectly level, but I think for this case the curve is indicative of barrel distortion – this is easily corrected in post. Solid capture of a sunset…and that’s it. It’s just a sunset. There’s really not much else. While that may be the intent, the shot would really benefit from a stronger foreground that leads to the subject…along with a more de-centered subject.

[JLiu]

Just for clarification, you started your first post with the following:

I am both a photographer and a journalist…though I’ve always been much more of  a writer.

How could you not expect to be criticized on your writing if you profess skill in that field? That’s as asinine as the sign language interpreter for Mandela’s funeral service. Pro tip – if you claim to be good at something, prove it. Also, I find it difficult to believe you haven’t come across similar reactions to any of your work considering you write for several NY newspapers – they tend to reject with caustic impunity.

Like many before you, instead of asking the person who left you a brief, nasty critique to expand on that and possibly learn or discuss further, you decided to take the defensive route and have a pissing contest regarding your many accomplishments. I fail to see how this helps you improve – both as an individual and as a photographer.

There will always be haters. How you decide to handle those people will be how you are judged.

[JLiu]

I’m a bit fastidious with color representation, so I tend to check on 4 different mediums (main calibrated monitor, uncalibrated monitor, iPad, and laptop screen) before I even post online.

If using Photoshop (and editing for digital display and not physical print), it’s best to use the “Save for web…” option – I believe this converts the file to sRGB colorspace (not 100% sure on this…too lazy to check).

[JLiu]

Just a small town faux,
livin’ in a lonely world,
She took her 5dIII
Shootin’ anyyyywherreee

[JLiu]

I just sold the Nikon D3s, D700 and Nikkor 85/1.4.  I’m now rockin’:

Nikon D800
Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/15 ZF.2
Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/21 ZF.2
Sigma 35 f/1.4 DG HSM
Nikkor 105/2.8 AF-S Micro
Nikkor 70-200/2.8 VRII
3x SB-900
And a lot of LEE filters.

I want to move to medium format, but I’m gonna wait while I get better at the landscape shooting.

@Sharra – that’s a sexy list.

[JLiu]

@emf – I’ve always thought about having some “stock” images of perfect skies in case the weather isn’t cooperating. You’d have to take a bunch of shots from various angles to make sure the light is correct, so that threw that idea out the window for me. I’ve been really, really lucky with the places that I visit, but I also plan with a lunar calendar for the times we travel – perhaps that has helped? I dunno.

As far as how I feel about composites – I’m honestly fenced. On one hand, you can recreate what you think the shot would look like with perfect skies. On the other hand, the shot means so much more if you’re experiencing firsthand what it actually does look like with what you’ve got. Tough choice. If I can, I just come back to the same spot later in the day and hope for the best. If it’s not there, then I’ll try to leave sky out…”Play with the hand you’re dealt” approach.

@ebi – I know…I still refuse cutlery regardless of the size of the pizza. I suppose I’m the savage. Do you get to eat any of that or do they tend to substitute a lot in the food photography you do?

[JLiu]

Sharra – for every “wow” landscape I have, there are hundreds (if not more) “meh” or “I suck at life” shots. That’s the beauty of landscape photography! Luck is definitely a factor. You can be perfectly set up with the best composition, but the lighting is off, or the sky is flat, or the wind is too strong, etc. Just keep shooting. As emf suggested, post something up for critique.

Ebi – thanks for making me hungry. I have enough problems with the food network. Also…what savage eats pizza with a knife and fork?!

[JLiu]

scd – One of these will come in handy: http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/level-camera-cube/
Even though my camera has a digital level, I still use this analog, blocky cube because it just works.

[Author]

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