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  • in reply to: Scarecrow, I'll miss you most of all… #89119
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    I too thought of starting a post along the same line. However I thought there would be little point in that the only “people” who seem to frequent this site now is the hackers, spammers, bots and so forth. It’s nice to see a real person here.

    I just found yanap a little while back as someone had posted a link to a very sorry example of something. I can’t remember if it was lighting or colour or something else. I guess I missed out on the good times and it seems very few photos are posted for critique and no “real” posts are made in the forum.

    Lastly, I’ve actually been wondering if the site is on the verge of disappearing altogether. Yes there are some ads (which I don’t see due to “noscript” but again, mainly it’s not real people coming here.

    Oh, and I wonder how long it’ll take for the spammers to start doing their thing here. I too have plenty to critique of my own. No matter how someone might poke at my stuff, I truly am my worst critic.

    in reply to: Wedding photographer? #89107
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    Yeah, lots of good response to a few questions. But here we are nearly a week later and the OP is nowhere to be seen. Just another post seeking a google clickback.

    in reply to: Fauxtogs who should end up on the main page… #89069
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    What if I take photos of model trains?

    in reply to: Wedding photographer? #89040
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    Well, I thought someone came by (it’s been forever) to actually ask a legitimate question. I could be wrong but the link at the bottom of your post suggests to me from experience that you really just want a link back.

    I’ll answer the question anyway.

    Yes, there is a way. Find a photographer that doesn’t have to make a legitimate living at it. Find one who doesn’t care if wallymart prints the photos. Hey, there’s a reason you’re going to put an album together for less. Primarily, it’s because it’s worth less and the prints (depending upon the photographer) will reflect that.

    How much is a good photographer? Probably more than you can afford if you’re asking the question. Obviously it will vary from region to region and according to ability.

    BTW, I always so no to those who email and ask “can we have the raws so we can edit and print ourselves”?

    in reply to: Tell me what you think about my wedding photos? #57536
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    And the winner for the biggest hunk of spam in the universe goes to…….

    in reply to: Could've, should've, would've #54294
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    The shots were technically a bit “meh” but at least there is one.  No excuse for the white balance issue though and there really never is in my book.

    In any case, weddings really can be a challenge.  With experience much of the day is routine but boy, all the things that go sideways are loads of fun.  What many people don’t realize is that I (and other wedding photographers) have to do more than just take technically decent shots of the day as it unfolds (expected and unexpected) and what we direct.  Ultimately, the couple must end up with an album that gives the illusion that NOTHING went awry when in truth there is always something that did.   As for the unexpected moments, that’s what second shooters and sixth senses and as much communication and prep you can fit in are for.  It is indeed very draining as you’re always hyper aware of events around you even as you are focusing on something else.  And in the end, when the couple gets that album and say, “I don’t believe you got that, I’m so happy”, you’re supposed to act as if it’s nothing when it was hard work added to experience.

    The only misses I’ve had were generally from people not being where they should have been.  For example, ring bearers rarely bring the rings according to plan and will step behind the minister and so forth.  Enter the second shooter.  Saved my butt a few times I’ll tell you.  Other than that, I hope I don’t jinx myself but the only other thing that comes in the category of near misses is the first kiss.  I’ve had more than a few that would be misses for sure if not for rapid fire shutters.

    in reply to: Tell me what you think about my wedding photos? #33297
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    I get “not found”.
    Either it changed or things didn’t go well and he’s moved on.

    in reply to: Fauxtogs who should end up on the main page… #31588
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    Yeah, I don’t get it. Are you saying people shouldn’t bash bad photography and you are presenting one that is sub-par and needs a little attention for critique? Or are you saying people shouldn’t bash bad photography and you are presenting yours as “good”? Either way, the robot photography page is full of the usual faux stuff. While the “about” section claims, “We want you to have photos like your grandmother’s wedding portrait. Classic. Beautiful.”, I’d say the wedding album photos are simply the same fare I’ve seen a million times on every faux’s site out there. Horrid.

    in reply to: Simple Cash Advance Loans Easy Way Out of Financial Crunch #31584
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    “short text loans.”
    How much to borrow three vowels?

    in reply to: Fauxtogs who should end up on the main page… #28687
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    ABMC12…There are many words but I’ll settle for “Atrocious”.

    in reply to: Does anything else matter besides a good portfolio? #27127
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    Well, when you’re hiring a photographer, the thought is that the photos and the abilities to take them are of paramount importance. At least in my mind, if your product or service is abysmal, then what does price matter? Of course, price is important and to me that would be the next part of the equation along with what particular services are provided.

    That all said, poor spelling and poor grammar skills turn me right off. There is very little excuse for either. To me that just displays your laziness and/or inattention to detail and those are both qualities not needed by a photographer. If you can’t communicate with all the time in the world in which to gather your thoughts, how well do you perform when you have dozens of people needing guidance on the wedding day? Of course that does not apply to anyone for whom English is not their primary language but has presented their website in English as a courtesy to what might probably be their primary clientele. In that case though, seeking a little help to ensure that everything is in good shape won’t hurt.

    Would I hire someone who made one spelling mistake? Sure. Would I hire someone who didn’t know the difference between “you’re” and “your”? I’d have to meet them in person and think about it. The rest of the world probably wouldn’t notice or care but I’m obviously an extreme stickler. To me it says a lot about someone when they can’t communicate precisely.

    in reply to: Fauxtogs who should end up on the main page… #26700
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    I’ve seen better websites and I’ve seen worse. As far as that goes, I’d recommend she delete the line “I am extremely indecisive!” from her “About-Facts about the photographer” section. I don’t think that’s a great quality for a wedding photographer. And though I’m sure many people out there won’t care, her being a “natural light photographer” tells me that she will run into problems one day when there is none.

    Other than that, I see little drastically bad with her photos (though I only looked at wedding/engagement/couples/portraits). The first two only had the one couple and though there were some decent standard shots, I can see how someone could call some of them overexposed. Well, I’ve seen worse and you could probably put that down to the bright style of the photographer. Personally I’d dial it back a bit, along with the washed out low contrast look that is so prevalent these days. Like all good fads, hopefully this too will pass.

    in reply to: Fauxtogs who should end up on the main page… #25927
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    WCS….Dewey seems to have a style all his own and that’s probably a good thing as it will ruin as few weddings as possible. And yes, it always classes up your event website when you also list your treadmill and sunglasses for sale. Why use Kijiji when you can pimp your stuff to your clients?

    PC…Now that’s a find. I’m curious to know if it was deliberate or just the usual faux oversight.

    in reply to: 500px Editor Choice #25707
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    Don’t care. There are important things in life about which to care and just as many multiplied by infinity which matter little or nothing. Other people’s opinions matter little to me. That’s not meant to sound superior in any way. I just see society has become (more than ever) willing to allow themselves to be led rather than to think for themselves as to what is good and what is simply garbage and not worth wasting a moment of your precious life on. People should be spending more time on “what matters to me…what do I like…what do I care about” as opposed to allowing others to tell you. Exchange of ideas, information and so forth is great. It’s how we learn and I do come across great stuff every day and I’m grateful for the people who do share that and gives me an opportunity to become a better photographer. Unfortunately, the brainwashed masses do love to be told what is good/bad/right/wrong/popular/bygone/etc. Ad nauseam. People tend to think less for themselves about what matters and what should matter to them. Someone pushing their selection of what they think is great photos (or really, just about anything else in life) just makes me laugh about how sad their little lives must be that they need to do this in order to somehow elevate their ego. I only care about tripe like this when it directly or indirectly affects my life. Someone “picking” or pimping certain pics is sad and pathetic indeed and if nothing else just gives you the “head’s up” that anything they have to say in the future is most likely worth ignoring.

    in reply to: Opinions #25602
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    David, you have some powerful images which I like. My critique is as follows…

    Red hair…one of the few that is most like a portrait, I find the crop a little distracting. The rule of thirds is a rule that can be broken but in this case might be better if it wasn’t. Probably just me but having her not plunked dead center doesn’t work for me. Otherwise, nice expression.

    Oceans…almost the same critique. With the lady facing slightly to her right, I would have cropped the left of the photo more to have the viewer follow her gaze out into the ocean.

    Looming…same. Unlike Oceans, I’m not sure why she is there. Is the focus her or the scene? With Oceans, I get the mood but here there is little in the way of provocation of thought other than I wonder what she is thinking. I then need more of her to follow through with that or more of the scene to make her a speck in the world. As is, not the best of your bunch, to me.

    Wasting…for me it’s the same. It’s about the crop. I’m left unsure as to the focus of the photo, the scene or man. I know it’s both but you should have a dominant idea and complimentary parts of the image. Is it a field with a man or a man in a field. They are not the same thing. And yes, everyone crops their photos differently however, cropping is about ensuring that people immediately are drawn to the part of the image that matters most, the idea, and then explore the rest which hopefully expands upon it.

    A sky…this is just about it. Although I’m not a fan of the low contrast, this is the shot. A boy full of wonder looking to the sky. The crop is good, the leading lines, the empty space…it’s all good. The only other one that appeals to me like this one is “can’t refuse” and maybe “hunted”. The rest are pretty much the same critique wherein the crops are less than ideal to my eyes. I are pretty sure your main focus is the landscape but you have to realize that in these photos, placing a person there is a point of interest in an otherwise singly idea-ed photo. Imagine you had a ship on that dramatic sea. You would naturally look to it. No matter how wonderful that sea and sky, you will look at that person and wonder why she is there. What I’m getting at is that if you are going to put a person in that photo, there needs to be a reason for it. That person isn’t just a rock or wave. We will wonder the purpose of that person and if it isn’t clear, the photo suffers. If that person is not placed well, the photo suffers. The only photo that appeals to me where you have a lady dead center is “point”. This breaks rules but it works because of the light, the lady and the vignetting. However, try to crop off about half of the foliage to the right of her and tell me if you think that makes her stand out even more. I don’t mind it as is but losing some of the photo on the right (and even some the the trees at the top), makes me walk right to her.

    I hope this helped a little and remember, these are just one person’s opinions.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 100 total)