Snowboard Photo

[Photo-John]

I'd love some feedback on this photo. I feel like I can't really see it clearly. I know what I *wanted* it to be. But I don't really feel like I accomplished my goal. That doesn't mean it's a bad photo, though. In any case, I don't think I'm able to separate my emotions enough to evaluate it competently. That's where you guys come in. What do you see? What's good about it? What doesn't work? Does it suck or is it good?

Don't be afraid to be honest. That's what the Photo Critique forum is for. If you don't tell the truth you're selling all of us short. And don't think you're opinion isn't important. Everyone can be a good critic. If you don't like my photo, then I failed - at least for you. Let me know why.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and effort!

[Dylan8i]

seems very drab in color/contrast. Her wearing a more colorful suit would help distinguish the snowboarder from the background... she almost gets lost in the snow and trees, w/o the title, at first glance i wouldn't have seen her.

i also think the camera needed tilted to the right to make it look more sloped... the trees are vertical, but based on the curve at the bottom of the one at the snow boarders left hand it looks like it is tilting down hill some.


its a nice shot, technically exposed and what not great, but jsut doesn't have the zing to make it great.

[yetishot]

I like the look of your work most of the time John. This one seems to be cropped wrong maybe? I dont know. Maybe some more punch in the colors and contrast to help pick out the skier more?

[Photo-John]

i also think the camera needed tilted to the right to make it look more sloped... the trees are vertical, but based on the curve at the bottom of the one at the snow boarders left hand it looks like it is tilting down hill some.

That's cheating!

I agree about the color of her clothes. Not much I can do about that, though. Sometimes they work really well and sometimes not so much.

[Dylan8i]

the way the tree bends to the right though makes it look like the trees SHOULDN'T be a true vertical though. plus photos always make the slope look less steep.

the whole shot looks like it's in pastel colors.

[Photo-John]

the way the tree bends to the right though makes it look like the trees SHOULDN'T be a true vertical though. plus photos always make the slope look less steep.

the whole shot looks like it's in pastel colors.

I am working on a better processed version. But I think this one is fatally flawed. I'm really trying to figure out why. I think part of it is that Jenni's back is to the camera and that makes it hard to engage with what's supposed to be the subject. Maybe if she had been closer...

Photos don't always make a slope look less steep. But when you're shooting downhill or uphill they do. If you can shoot straight across from another slope you can make them look really steep. That's the best. in this case, it really wasn't very steep. And I don't like to tilt slopes. I know a lot of people do. But it really bugs me. Tilted trees jump right out at me from a photo. Sometimes it's a matter of style, and that's ok with me. But tilting to make something look steeper is unethical in my photo book.

[Frog]

Don't know if Dylan mixed up his directions or not but I think that for the evergreen to be straight, one would have to tilt camera left which is also what would make the slope steeper. Might be able to do it by straightening if you don't lose too much.
I agree about the colors, though the bg colors don't bother me as they are what they are and you can't really do anything about her coat. I wish you had caught her before or after the tree.
All nice to say but it must be very difficult to be able to get just the perfect composition on unpredictable moving objects. That's why I seldom shoot action shots. I'm too slow.

[Photo-John]

Ok, here's version two. I think I was too worried about losing highlight detail in the first one.

I see what you mean about the trees, Frog. But if you look at the trees on the right, they're tilting the other way. So it's a bit of a perspective issue I think - not tilt. I pretty much always correct if an image is really tilted. I guess I could do a perspective correction. But I don't think it would really change the image. Like I said before, I think it has more to do with Jenni's back being to the camera. Timing isn't that much of an issue, either. I was shooting with the 1D Mk IV at 10 FPS. So I have her in other positions. They weren't working for me, either.

[Bretm1]

Nice scenery above and beyond the trees, but then I lose the snow boarder. I think the perspective or angle of the shot would have been better if it were framed horizontal versus vertical. But then you wouldn't have that breathtaking view above the treeline. Almost like you have two photos in one here, it would be interesting to see how they would look seperately if you cut it in half. (halfway down from the top)Hope that makes sense.

[Shebang]

Okay, Photo-John, you really hurt yourself here by posting the snow skier explosion one that I saw recently from you -- that was awesome!

For this one, though the trees on the left are beautiful, and I think the girl is good as well. She looks like she's preparing for an iceskating lift and twirl (I know, wrong terminology). When I looked at this, it immediately felt off balance. The left side is "weighted" with the girl and trees. If she had been a bit further downhill, in the sun, and on the right side of the photo, I think this would have worked much better. My two honest cents.

[daq7]

Cool shot. Thats's all I have for now.

[Lava Lamp]

Hey John - I think the problem here is pretty simple and that's that we don't focus on and relate to the subject. I've heard the old sports photo maxim that a good shot has the player's face, their number, and the ball. Here, we can't really see the snowboard (ie, ball), the face, or other aspects of personality that help us relate.

Additionally, I don't think the composition is well balanced, pretty though it is, and she gets lost in the trees a little.

Take care, Captain.

[Photo-John]

I think you nailed it, Lava Lamp *sniff*

I failed

You know, I tell people all the time that there's more opportunity in the bad photos than the good ones. It's the failures we learn from

[Dylan8i]

i had fun trying to pick what was missing/wrong with it.

[Photo-John]

i had fun trying to pick what was missing/wrong with it.

Good!

One of the things I keep trying to get across to people using the Photo Critique forum is it's a two-way street. I think you learn as much or more from being the critic as from being critiqued. Honestly, it's more interesting to me to try to offer an articulate and useful critique. That's probably why I'm not that likely to post a photo here. But every once in a while I go on a tear of posting criticism. Critiquing art is really an invaluable experience. You learn so much while you're doing it.

[GB1]

It has nice even tone and the snow looks inviting. It is a good pic of the outdoors - snow, trees, sky. The snowboarder is lost in the tree, however: the second post is an improvement but I think you can go farther. This one calls for a 'dodge and burn' where she's artificially enhanced against the background, maybe with a dark and/or light halo. I don't know if it'll look OK though.

G

EDIT - Seeing shots like this make me want to get my butt out there & do some more skiing / snowboarding shots before it's too late. Some fun shots I got at Mammoth 3 years ago

http://gallery.photographyreview.com...&ppuser=234875
http://gallery.photographyreview.com...&ppuser=234875
http://gallery.photographyreview.com...&ppuser=234875

[armando_m]

I really like reading the critiques! and try to learn from each one.

The only thing I would add is that it will help a LOT to try to pick someone with clothes that do have good contrast vs the background.

[SmartWombat]

I looked at the two images, trying not to read comments
I actually prefer the editing on the first, not the second.

I think here the real problem is the light.
Then even if that was right, she's going away from you.

The snow kicked up by the board is in shadow, and there isn't much detail in there.
It's grey snow against a grey background because the shadow extends in front of her.
Maybe a few meters further away, the snow spray would be in shadow against the bright show beyond?

The uphill lean is good, almost following the right outline edge of the trees.
But the gray trousers and light blue jacket aren't working here.
The black gloves are vanishing into the tree too.

Nothing is cut off but it feels there is a lot missing, if you follow me.

Now put her in the right 1/3 where the background contrasts more with the helmet and gloves and I think she'd stand out more.
Probably she'd be in sun too, and the white snow would show against her grey trousers.

A lot to think about while shooting action in the cold!

[readingr]

To be honest and blunt - the snowboarder spoils it for me.

There is not enough about the snow being kicked up or the boarder to make her stand out and keep me interested. But the landscape it is gorgeous except for the blown out snow, if you have one without the boarder and better snow then its a terrific.

Roger R.