Help needed - not sure about these ones...

[mattp]

On the website I use to host my pics, I have a section called "Photography" where I put the images I'm reasonably happy with. I also have a "Storeroom" section where I put things which don't seem to be quite right, or which need some work.

These shots are ones which are languishing in the storeroom at the moment, but which for one reason or another I keep coming back to. I'd be grateful for any unbiased opinions to help me sort out my own thoughts about these.

The first, a bike attached to railings, is so full of patterns it has almost become abstract, but is it too busy, or just dull!



The second is a bit stranger. I walked past a doorway in central London and some building work was going on inside. There were a couple of guys working in the dark, and the only light was coming from these neon tubes. I liked the effect, but feeling a bit embarassed I did a loop while I sorted out the camera settings, and then paused just long enough to get a shot of the lights without them seeing me!



Finally, a shot taken from my bedroom window of a person hurrying along in a sudden downpour. I don't know if the water on the window spoils it or not, but I like the tones of the wet paving stones.



So there you go, if you think they are rubbish don't spare my feelings!

Many thanks,

matt

[Liz]

Here goes........

The first one - I think you're right about it being too busy. I like the reflections of the sun and shadows on the ground. But there is not enough of them, and I think the bike is a distraction.

The 2nd one - I like the lighting on this one. I'm not the one to critique it though because I don't see much other than the lighting in the image. Others may think it is a nice abstract. I'm not an abstract person.

No. 3 - I really like this one. It has a mystique' about it. I don't find the water on the window spoils it. If it were mine, I think I'd bring it out of the storeroom. Just my personal thoughts.

Liz

On the website I use to host my pics, I have a section called "Photography" where I put the images I'm reasonably happy with. I also have a "Storeroom" section where I put things which don't seem to be quite right, or which need some work.

These shots are ones which are languishing in the storeroom at the moment, but which for one reason or another I keep coming back to. I'd be grateful for any unbiased opinions to help me sort out my own thoughts about these.

The first, a bike attached to railings, is so full of patterns it has almost become abstract, but is it too busy, or just dull!



The second is a bit stranger. I walked past a doorway in central London and some building work was going on inside. There were a couple of guys working in the dark, and the only light was coming from these neon tubes. I liked the effect, but feeling a bit embarassed I did a loop while I sorted out the camera settings, and then paused just long enough to get a shot of the lights without them seeing me!



Finally, a shot taken from my bedroom window of a person hurrying along in a sudden downpour. I don't know if the water on the window spoils it or not, but I like the tones of the wet paving stones.



So there you go, if you think they are rubbish don't spare my feelings!

Many thanks,

matt

[jar_e]

Matt,

I don't have time to critiqe each one, but I love the first one. Patterns gallore. Nice black and white work, and I love it how it is. Your last one is neat too, and a nice effect in black and white!

Nice shooting,

Jared

[PlantedTao]

Well the first one is too busy with no point of interest, although black and white makes the picture interesting, nothing really holds my attention. If the bike was cropped out it would give it a more abstract feel and I love abstract.
Which brings me t the second photo. Great eye on this...I like the abstract quality but would have loved to seen different angles and compositions. I'm like you and get a little impatient when people are around and I don't compose my shots as well. The lighting looks very unique and it would of been cool to get the workers as well. I like abstract but I think this could of been better composed.
The last is my favorite...good feeling to it. Can't explain it but the drops add to it, gives it a voyer effect. You captured a good moment in time that holds my attention. I would of loved this picture if the guy had more clarity and the drops hit the rest..but that's being too picky. ;)
Cheers

[mattp]

Thanks for your thoughts.

The third one is growing on me the more I think about it, I have a feeling this one is probably going to get 'promoted'. PTao - it was that wish for more 'clarity' on the figure that had kept me umming and ahhing, but I'm starting to think that this gives it a certain anonymous, everyman quality that is in keeping with the shot.

I think its fair to say shot one is just too busy, nowhere for the eye to settle.

Shot 2 is a toughie. There was very little scope to play with the composition without getting right into the doorway of the building, which would inevitably have meant explanations to the two builders. Some people are great at that sort of thing, but I'd have felt silly trying to explain that I liked the arrangement of their neon tubes and the quality of the light they gave off!

Unlike getting my 35mm shots developed and keeping everything, no matter how bad, I find a constant temptation with digital to delete the things I'm not happy with. I'm trying to get out of that habit, as you never know how a shot will look if you revisit it in a few years. For that reason I'll be hanging on to all of these, even if I do have mixed feelings.

Thanks again

matt

[Liz]

I'm starting to think that this gives it a certain anonymous, everyman quality that is in keeping with the shot.

You could call it "Everyman" or something with "everyman" in it. Nice!

you never know how a shot will look if you revisit it in a few years. For that reason I'll be hanging on to all of these, even if I do have mixed feelings.

That is very true. Some of us wish we "had" that wisdom at times. I tend to delete too - this is a good reminder. I've often come across an old picture that I would have thrown out and was very happy I didn't. It seem to "grow in optical quality" with age.

Liz

[mattp]

Liz - "Everyman" it is :-)

Seb - thanks for taking the time to comment, its very interesting to hear your reactions, and I'm particularly glad that I'm not the only one who saw something in those neon tubes!

As always you have all proved yourselves a very helpful and valuable resource!

matt

[Seb]

Here goes........

The first one - I think you're right about it being too busy. I like the reflections of the sun and shadows on the ground. But there is not enough of them, and I think the bike is a distraction.

The 2nd one - I like the lighting on this one. I'm not the one to critique it though because I don't see much other than the lighting in the image. Others may think it is a nice abstract. I'm not an abstract person.

No. 3 - I really like this one. It has a mystique' about it. I don't find the water on the window spoils it. If it were mine, I think I'd bring it out of the storeroom. Just my personal thoughts.

Liz

Hey Matt,

I have some difficulty judging about these pictures. They are all unusual (which is good) and they all grab my interest in their own ways but some of them feel incomplete.

About the first one. I rather like it. The patterns are great. I do perceive the bike as being the subject but I find that I either don't see enough of the bike or don't see the bike in a good angle. Personally, I would try to shoot this more loosely in order to have more of the bike in the scene. If it doesn't work, you can always get rid of the bike and make this a pure abstract (I think that it would easily work but this may not be what you were looking for...).

About the second picture. I almost have difficulty to know what I am looking at but the unique lighting make this picture hypnotic. I can understand why you were compelled to shoot the scene and I say kudos for doing it. To sum things up, I'd say that this shot is all about the mood. Ultimately, the subject nearly is of no importance, the play of light and shadows make the picture work.

The third picture probably is the most conventional of the bunch (so to speak...). This is my favorite one. I think that it is very well composed and I love it for the reason that PlantedTao already stated. The rain drops do not ruin the picture at all. They had to the mood.

Seb

[gahspidy]

Matt, I do not find the first shot too busy, but personally it does not hold my interest too long. The second shot I feel has some interesting qualities, such as the lighting and darkness, but I do not know what I'm looking at and therefore lose interest.
The third shot is great just as it is. . . .get it out of the storeroom and into the photography area. I like it alot.

[opus]

My first thought was that the first one needed to see either more or less of the bike. It's cropped in an awkward place, in my opinion. The bike could either be a very dramatic contrast, or it could be part of the pattern, but right now it's neither.

The second one, the glow is interesting, but the placement of the elements is too random to provide visual strength. Again, this is just my opinion.

The third one I think is FANTASTIC! It looks SO impressionistic! The patterns are strong, the lighting is strong, the elements are strong, and the placement of the water droplets looks intentionally mysterious. This one could almost be a painting hanging in the Tate Modern.

[mattp]

Kelly, Gary - thanks for commenting. I think that third one has earned its promotion now!

Regards,

matt

[mdmc]

I like the first one but there seems to be too many subjects. The bike. The street and whatever it is next to the bike. I think a different angle to include more of the bike and less of the road would be an improvement. the second one, even though you have explained it, I still dont know what it is a pic of. Graphicly its good but what is it.
The third I like, the wet road and the feet of the woman walking. For me, the third ones a keeper!
Mark.