"Money"

[walterick]

Hello

I originally shot this for the "Battle" thread in the Viewfinder. I thought I might put it in here to get some feedback. It is an (obviously ) emotional picture for me so I am once again looking for objective feedback. I look for critique around:

Emotional element
Creative element (composition, theme, etc)
Technical element (sharp, exposure, DOF, etc)

And any other critique you have to offer. I apppreciate full honsety, please don't pull your punches.

Thanks!
Rick

[mtbbrian]

I don't know Rick, it is a bit too high key for me, there is just all of this white.
I really see where you are going here, kind of sensual kind of moeny thing.
But my eye just goes right to the big hot spot on the right first and kind of sticks there, because it just so hot.
Then it goes to the quarter, but only stays there for a brief moment, because there is little detail in it.
I think if you toned down the lighting some, maybe a lot, this would be better.
How's that?
Oh and, I just now came up with a new "posting guidleine" just for you..
You can't post a photograph in this forum that has already been posted and commented on, in another forum..
;)
Just kidding!
Brian
Really, just kidding.......

[photophorous]

Hi Rick,

I have to agree with Brian. It's too blown out for me. If there was more detail in the quarter, the rest might be acceptable. As for the composition / emotional content, I've seen the "Battle" thread, but I just don't get it. If you're going for a "kind of sensual kind of money thing" as Brian mentioned, I would think you'd need some $100 bills at least.

Of couse, just because I don't get it doesn't mean others won't.

Paul

PS. I tried to do a money shot for the "battle," but it came out so bad it wasn't worth posting.

[jar_e]

I agree with Brian, just too white for me. I love the composition, and the potential is great, but just too bright!

Jared

[walterick]

Okay, so I'm hearing it's too bright

Let me see if I can do a reshoot this weekend. Maybe Brian will let me post it if it's new

Thanks for the replies!

[Yoyo Szeto]

Hi Rick,
I also think it is too high-key. I like the abstract feeling of it. The hand looks like a landscape to me. It appears to be a dune.
yoyo

[cyberlord]

The hand looks like a landscape to me. It appears to be a dune.
yoyo

Yoyo,

Take another look. I don't think it's a hand.

Tim

[jar_e]

Yoyo might be right...is that a body that the quarter is on, Walter?

[walterick]

Yoyo might be right...is that a body that the quarter is on, Walter?

Yes. It's the neck

[gahspidy]

I'll agree with others comments about the brightness. It is too bright and the quarter having no detail is losing the viewers attention. I'm not getting the punchline of this image. I know it is supposed to be about sex and money, or something like that, but the sexual aspect is very mild, and the money. . . .well, a quarter used to go a long way some years ago . . . . . I do feel the overall composition and framing is fine, though

[Ronnoco]

I do feel the overall composition and framing is fine, though

So Gary given this view, explain to us, how a quarter and sex are related! If you can't, then you are going to have a hard time explaining how the composition is fine.

Ronnoco

[Lava Lamp]

I read in the intro where you said it was emotional for you, W.R. For me, I don't feel any emotion looking at it -- it's too abstract and I looked hard for a while trying to tell what body parts were there and failed. It feels like a good ide you thought about for a while and would probably execute very well with a few more attempts, but one that doesn't work in this particualr iteration.

[gahspidy]

So Gary given this view, explain to us, how a quarter and sex are related! If you can't, then you are going to have a hard time explaining how the composition is fine.

Ronnoco

hmmm, I don't see where the difficulty in understanding my comments comes from . . . .If rick felt he needed clarification, i would be more than happy to try and make my thoughts on his thread clearer.
In general, a quarter and sex are not related. however, someone can begin to relate them in a way such as I felt Rick did here in using the quarter to represent money, and the human body to give a sensual/sexual element to it. Perhaps Rick may correct me if this was not his intent, but it was my perception. As far as me liking the composition, I do. I feel the point of view/angle of the image works, I like the placement of the quarter on the body as well as it's placement in the frame, and I like the overall aesthetic he had achieved with the soft tones,contrast, and overall concept. What I did not like here was the use of the quarter representing money ( I might have thought it more powerful with a rolled hundred dollar bill, etc) and the bright blown out portion of the right side of the image.
I thought i had conveyed these very same thoughts in my original comment, but if not, I would hope that Rick might understand me more clearly now. After all, this is his thread and my time and comments were meant to benefit him, as well as all other well meaning members of our forum.
btw, it is rude to post a comment on someones thread without acknowledging their work.
Come down off your high horse, Ronnoco and join the humble rank and file of the great members of this forum. You have lots of good advice to offer, only your presentation needs work at times.

[walterick]

Let's give it a break guys. Gary, and all else, I appreciate the responses. Ronnoco, I have to agree with Gary here that his point was clear and you're a little off base in calling him out on it. These are just opinions. I respect yours too but I ask that you leave other people's alone, at least in my threads. Feel free to leave a critique of your own in my next thread if you wish. I am retiring this image now and do not wish for any more dialogue on it. I will post a reshoot when I can taking into account everyone's responses here which I found very helpful.

Thanks for all the feedback
Rick

[OldSchool]

Hey Rick,
Not to beat this horse some more...but here I go.

What makes a high key shot work is not that it is over-exposed, but that most tones are bright with subtle shadow. Your composition here had over-exposed areas (no information). Most all pointed this out.

I think your concept is worthy of further study and look forward to the next submission.

BR,
Tim

[walterick]

Your composition here had over-exposed areas (no information).

Yes, I got that

I am considering several of the points brought up in this thread and look forward to picking up the dialogue again with the reshoot.

Until then, adieu!