submit a photo to the urban75 critics

[alef]

Here is a picture from me, Baffled

Feel free to comment folks; I am very thick skinned.

Hocus Eye

I can't figure out what's going on! If the Sony and other signs were reversed and the phones4u wasn't then I'd assume the woman in the beige coat is to your back right and you're looking at her reflection in a shiny monument. Is the Sony sign being twice reflected? Ah, perhaps you're looking into a piece of art with mirrors on either side, so the Sony sign is actually to your right and reflected first into a side mirror then into this plaque?

It's a very cluttered photo, looks like about three exposures on top of each other. But because so much is going on and there's the whole reflection issue I think of this as a riddle, something to be solved, which I like.

Need a bit of levels adjusted, looking a tad washed out to me.

 

[alef]

HocusEye, did you flip the image? My multiple mirrors idea is too complex. Perhaps the engraved lettering is reversed for some reason, and then it all makes sense if you flip it.

 

[pengaleng]

buttercup

 

[mauvais]

Here's one from this week's holiday - I have some more, but need to sort through them, and this one stands out to me as being the best anyway.

Link

Photoshopped already to remove distracting debris and to sharpen it from the deliberately soft image direct from the camera. Taken with a D70, Sigma 70-300 APO II.

 

[Paul Russell]

Hey, Alef this thread is very popular!

Here's a pic I took a few days ago:

http://www.paulrussell.info/june05/june05fs/S2545.html

I included my own critique of the photo within the photo...

 

[alef]

Hey, Alef this thread is very popular!

This thread has significantly livened up my dull weekend kicking around here while Skim and other urbanites are having fun in ITALY!! :jealous:

Here's a pic I took a few days ago:
http://www.paulrussell.info/june05/june05fs/S2545.html
I included my own critique of the photo within the photo...

Excellent! Perhaps posed street photography is underrated? All the blue in it makes it look a bit a jeans advert... well one that's gone wrong perhaps.

Paul, are you going to join in and wear the critic's hat?

 

[Cadmus]

Here's a pic I took a few days ago:

http://www.paulrussell.info/june05/june05fs/S2545.html

i luv ur site

 

[Corax]

buttercup

Beautiful, Teeps.

I know nothing about photography, but I love simple shots like this. I suppose I feel that by capturing the beauty around us that most people pass by, it might persuade some to look around them a little more.

I need some sort of project to work on I think. I have the attention span of a small spinach plant, so I tend to get half way through PS tutorials and then get bored if I haven't got a specific reason for learning it. I've got all sorts of groovy ideas for things to do with PS, but ideas ain't worth a lot without execution, eh?

 

[Corax]

i luv ur site

Nice'n'simple ain't it?

Don't want to derail - can anyone point me towards a thread advising on setting up a simple (free) site? My xhtml is basic, but existent - and I'm getting annoyed with being tied to Photobucket's format. Ta.

 

[Corax]

Are pet portraits allowed?

Hey, it's a good shot, no?

 

[jeff_leigh]

Nice'n'simple ain't it?

Don't want to derail - can anyone point me towards a thread advising on setting up a simple (free) site? My xhtml is basic, but existent - and I'm getting annoyed with being tied to Photobucket's format. Ta.

try here http://www.fotopic.net/

 

[Corax]

try here http://www.fotopic.net/

Thanks, but not what I'm after - I want more control than that.

I suppose I'm just looking for a free homepage...

[/derail]

 

[Hocus Eye.]

Explanation of my earlier picture

Here is some information in response to the questions about my picture. The picture is of a brand new 'sculpture' to be found in Exeter High Street. It is a kind of pyramid which has mirrored faces upon which are engraved a series of riddles. These words are written in mirror writing so that you have to read them in the mirror face opposite. I think the whole thing is called 'Riddle'.


I photographed the object the day after it was put there so it was new to me and to most of the people in the street looking at it. I have to admit that I could not really work out the answers to the riddles. I have not flipped the picture I just took the shot from close up and I was making a further riddle out of an existing riddle. I wanted to show the faces of the mystified viewers.

To see the object in context here is another picture from further back.

Hocus Eye

 

[suzi]

land of the giant tulips

this is probably my favourite photo that i took so far this year, i guess i could touch it up in photoshop but that's not really my thing. i'm crazy about kodak colour at the moment.

 

[KeeperofDragons]

Great photos makes me realise that I have a great deal to learn so here's a couple for you to pick at.

Pyramids of Clements

On the Rack!!

KoD

 

[Crispy]

Great photos makes me realise that I have a great deal to learn so here's a couple for you to pick at.

Pyramids of Clements
KoD

I really like the subject in this one, but I think the shot could be better composed. Those pyramids are surch interesting shapes, you should be able to make a picture containing just them and a background. Maybe elevating the camera, coming closer, or cropping more tightly might help. Maybe just wander round them, keeping an eye out for interesting patterns.

 

[Soreenkid]

window liquor

I took this at the time with a plate infront of the lense, with the intention to convert it to B&W (never shoot B&W in digital), but I was quite happy with the way it turned out, I think I left the macro on by mistake.

 

[Corax]

I think I left the macro on by mistake.

Stunning, fiery stuff.

I'm sticking to compliments - I'll leave the critiquing to the competent photographers.

What's the deal with this macro thingy though? If I leave it off, I notice when taking close shots, but when I leave it on, it seems to make bugger all difference to the normal shots (iyswim, which is doubtful as I've explained that so badly. [ @self]).

 

[KeeperofDragons]

I really like the subject in this one, but I think the shot could be better composed. Those pyramids are surch interesting shapes, you should be able to make a picture containing just them and a background. Maybe elevating the camera, coming closer, or cropping more tightly might help. Maybe just wander round them, keeping an eye out for interesting patterns.

Thanx for that, I did take several angles but as these were on a roof it was impossible to keep the buildings out of it. Even cropping proved troblesome, unfortunately I can't take any more as they were taken down when the building was sold

KoD

 

[spitfire]

Here's a shot of a glider in a very strange place, just discovered www.flickr.com which seems a pretty cool place to host pix. I've only had two hours experience but it seems alright.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33464223@N00/18885610/

 

[jeff_leigh]

Here's a shot of a glider in a very strange place, just discovered www.flickr.com which seems a pretty cool place to host pix. I've only had two hours experience but it seems alright.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33464223@N00/18885610/

i like the curved structure of the hangar roof, maybe if you played with the levels in p/shop you could see more detail

 

[spitfire]

yes, I see what you mean. Would be nice to get a bit more detail in the top corners. I'll give that a go, thanks.

BTW that's the roof of the Imperial War Museum, top floor. Funny old place for a glider.

 

[alef]

Here's one from this week's holiday - I have some more, but need to sort through them, and this one stands out to me as being the best anyway.

Link

Photoshopped already to remove distracting debris and to sharpen it from the deliberately soft image direct from the camera. Taken with a D70, Sigma 70-300 APO II.

Macro nature photography isn't really my cup of tea so I'm not a natural critic for this one, but will try. The composition makes this about both the frog and the flower, although I actually find myself looking at the black water a lot because it's so unusual! Presume this was taken at night, or near dark? The lighting is quite extreme, really bringing the objects out of the water. It's sort of a sweet picture with foreboding undertones... growing on me the more I look at it.

 

[alef]

I took this at the time with a plate infront of the lense, with the intention to convert it to B&W (never shoot B&W in digital), but I was quite happy with the way it turned out, I think I left the macro on by mistake.
http://www.oxygenkiosk.net/albums/stuff/window.jpg

Another great Firky shot, remember this one well, it rightfully came in the top few for one of the monthly competitions last summer. I think it's an effect well worth playing with some more. Could try a face on the other side, though that might be too much at once.

Please join in and give some critiques, Firk, you've got a great eye for photography.

 

[Firky]

Another great Firky shot, remember this one well, it rightfully came in the top few for one of the monthly competitions last summer. I think it's an effect well worth playing with some more. Could try a face on the other side, though that might be too much at once.

Please join in and give some critiques, Firk, you've got a great eye for photography.

Cheers,

Yeah, I took the shot ages ago for the competition (can't recall the theme), but it was a happy accident, almost quite like the effect - I just don't really know what to do with it, and I'm not a fan of photographing people.

I'll stick some critque in, but I'm more of a gonzo snapper than a photographer

 

[chriswill]

Here is a couple

Rhys


Josie

 

[Corax]

Inspired by this thread, I went out and took a couple today.

Treeflare

Reach

Neither altered at all, although any tips on PS, and also getting the best from a quite basic cam (Olympus D390 - 2megapixel) gratefully received. Guess I'll want to upgrade it at some point, but I'm sure I can get a lot more out of this first. I'm poor at the moment anyhow, so it'll have to do.

 

[mauvais]

Macro nature photography isn't really my cup of tea so I'm not a natural critic for this one, but will try. The composition makes this about both the frog and the flower, although I actually find myself looking at the black water a lot because it's so unusual! Presume this was taken at night, or near dark? The lighting is quite extreme, really bringing the objects out of the water. It's sort of a sweet picture with foreboding undertones... growing on me the more I look at it.

Cheers - no, an odd effect that, and I don't know how to replicate it. It was shot in the daytime, on a sunny day in some tropical flower gardens, and the area in question was neither particularly dark or bright. The EXIF says I used center-weighted exposure, but I think the main thing is the water was mucky and deep. Cheers for the feedback, glad you like it!

 

[wordie]

i like the curved structure of the hangar roof, maybe if you played with the levels in p/shop you could see more detail

No, no, don't play with anything. You don't need anymore details. That's a ***king top shot spitfire. Don't change a thing. If it's big enough print out a limited edition of say, 150, frame them with a simple black frame and sell each one at £149.95 on e-bay and at aircraft displays!

Yes, I am being serious!

 

[wordie]

Cheers - no, an odd effect that, and I don't know how to replicate it. It was shot in the daytime, on a sunny day in some tropical flower gardens, and the area in question was neither particularly dark or bright. The EXIF says I used center-weighted exposure, but I think the main thing is the water was mucky and deep. Cheers for the feedback, glad you like it!

What's happening in your pic mauvais is that the black water has isolated the leaves so that they appear to be floating in space, rather than water and that's what appears to have attracted Alef's eye... A nice effect, but personally I'm more taken with the clarity and detail of the flower (blossom) and the depth of field.

Interestingly enough, and it would be even more interesting to see the histogram, is how the highlights on the flower are on the verge of burning out, while the shadows, especially beneath the frog have all but disappeared.

[rant] One of my major complaints with digital as opposed to film I might add......

This image would have been unacceptable film quality 10 years ago, or badly printed/processed. Today, it's acceptable. Why?

(That's not a criticism of your shot mauvais....)

[/rant]