A sheep

[hardmongo]

I met this fella today... He asked me gently if I would like to take a picture, and I said yes. So now we would like some critique. Thanks!

Featured Photo for the week of August 7th, 2006. Congratulations! - Photo-John

[Greg McCary]

Great framing. It seems a little dark but it I am not on my home monitor. But I like it. Good work...

[Devin MacShawn]

I get an uneasy feeling when I look at this. Not in a bad way, in a good way. Like watching a thriller or somthing. I get a feeling somthing bad is going to happen. I should have popcorn with me when I look at this.

But seriously, this is an excellent photo. Creepy, but I'm digging it.

[Photo-John]

I LOVE THIS PHOTO!

Pardon my shouting. But I love it. I don't think it's too dark. Normally, that would be the kind of criticism I would offer. But the lack of real whites just adds to this image, in my opinion. I agree that it's a little spooky, and I like it. It's got a sort of illustration feel to it - like a chalk drawing on black paper. The texture is wonderful. It's very visceral to look at. I can feel the texture of the wool. I also like how you've made an icon of the sheep. This is a wonderful animal portrait, I think.

Was this shot at night, by the light of a streetlight? That's what it looks like to me. I've taken pictures in that kind of light and it's very directional. It looks like sodium vapor light to me - the orange street lamps.

Oh yeah - congratulations on being the Featured Photo. There were a bunch of good ones but once I saw this one, nothing else mattered. It was a clear decision for me.

[Galningen]

noise in b/w shot desnt matter that much as just adds to that analog-feel of the photo, but this is just too much.

less noise would raise this photo a lot.

[nezza_32]

Very good shot! I think that the background is maybe a wee bit dark, but as the person bove said I love the creepy fewel and the texture really makes the photo. I also love the sort of antique feel to the picture the un-sharpness really give it a great rustic farm-ish quality. Your lower angle also adds to the feel of it, excelent job!

[KyRain]

I am blown away by this photo ...the gentleness and dignity of the sheep is presented
it doesn't come across creepy to me at all; it comes across as great!

[Photo-John]

I keep looking at this image and loving it. I am glad that some other people appreciate it too. I am wondering if this is a scanned print and what looks like noise in the background is actually paper texture? It looks like it might be a print on dark paper or a duotone. If so, it works really well. I would frame this and hang it on the wall. I think it's beautiful. I also like the last critique. I agree that there is a dignity to this photo that's very nice.

[Sebastian]

LOVE the grain...

Awesome shot, well cropped, well exposed.

Some "critique" huh?

[Yoyo Szeto]

Hi HM,
The photo is really nice. I especially like you took the photo in the style of portrait and treated the sheep as a person. The shot reminds me of the works of Nick Brandt (http://www.nickbrandt.com). Congratulations!
yoyo

[mike642]

The contrast in the wool is great, it really defines it!

[Photo-John]

Hi HM,
The photo is really nice. I especially like you took the photo in the style of portrait and treated the sheep as a person. The shot reminds me of the works of Nick Brandt (http://www.nickbrandt.com). Congratulations!
yoyo

Great reference, yoyo! I love his work! I think I may start a thread on the art forum about it

Thanks for the inspiration!

[Galningen]

I keep looking at this image and loving it. I am glad that some other people appreciate it too. I am wondering if this is a scanned print and what looks like noise in the background is actually paper texture? It looks like it might be a print on dark paper or a duotone. If so, it works really well. I would frame this and hang it on the wall. I think it's beautiful. I also like the last critique. I agree that there is a dignity to this photo that's very nice.

its digital. hes a friend of mine and it was probably shot with his d70 and his 50mm lens.

[hardmongo]

wow! i just came home home from turkey and found this as featuered photo.. thank you!

and i want to say thank you to everybody who said something about it.

actually, it's daylight but the sheep is standing on a hill.

and yes, i shot this with nikon d70, but the lens i used is sigma 70-300mm at around 200mm if i remember it right.

thanks again

[Devin MacShawn]

wow! i just came home home from turkey and found this as featuered photo.. thank you!

and i want to say thank you to everybody who said something about it.

actually, it's daylight but the sheep is standing on a hill.

and yes, i shot this with nikon d70, but the lens i used is sigma 70-300mm at around 200mm if i remember it right.

thanks again

You just got back from Turkey and I'm going to Turkey next week! I can't wait. I'll be there for 15 months. I know I'll get some great photos there. Congrats on the featured photo! When I first saw it I hoped/knew that it would make the FP.

[Photo-John]

Just taking another look, a few months down the line. It's still working for me. Still love it.

[readingr]

A stunning portrait of a sheep. My only niggly bit of critique is that it may look better if the black background was a little less noisy. But hey its really good as is.

Roger

[Photo-John]

My only niggly bit of critique is that it may look better if the black background was a little less noisy.

That's not noise, it's texture.

[trog100]

its a disaster but it must have something.. for all u dudes to be raving over it.. he he

my problem and it might well be my problem is i cant see it.. he he he

trog