Tidal Basin Sunset

[MB1]

I started out looking for some snow photos. I ended up with some great reflections at the Tidal Basin as the sun set.

[Tel]

WOW. That last one is just great. I mean the colors are perfect, the sky is gorgeous, It made me actually say "Wow" when I saw it.

The others are great, but the bottom blows them all out of the water. (Teehee, get it?)

[Photo-John]

The others are great, but the bottom blows them all out of the water.

Don't just leave it at that. Why? What makes the last one better? Taking the time to articulate what makes one photo better than another is an investment in understanding. Not only do you offer the photographer more information, but you learn more, too. And what you learn will help you the next time you pick up your camera.

One of my occassional drive-by lessons in proper photo critique etiquette

[Has He Lost His Mind?]

The last picture is amazing. The reflection, sky, and the colors.

[J-Dogg Productions]

hah i did the same thing as tel i looked at the picture and just said "WOW" to my self real great pictures you got there but number 3 is by the the best

nice pictures
Jay

[Photo-John]

hah i did the same thing as tel i looked at the picture and just said "WOW" to my self real great pictures you got there but number 3 is by the the best

nice pictures

Jay-
As I did with Tel, I challenge you to tell the photographer what makes one photo better than another. That's what this forum is for. It's not just for telling people you like their photos. We can do that anywhere. Photo critique is for being honest and specific about what works and what doesn't work. To not give a detailed answer is to sell the photographer and yourself short. Part of the critical process requires that you take the time to understand and articulate what you like and don't like about a photo. When you make that effort, not only do you offer the photographer something of value - you learn, too. The critique process is an important part of art education because everyone benefits. Every time I visit this forum and take the time to give someone a detailed answer, I believe I improve my own understanding of photography and art, my own artistic motives, and ultimately - my own photos.

[J-Dogg Productions]

Jay-
As I did with Tel, I challenge you to tell the photographer what makes one photo better than another. That's what this forum is for. It's not just for telling people you like their photos. We can do that anywhere. Photo critique is for being honest and specific about what works and what doesn't work. To not give a detailed answer is to sell the photographer and yourself short. Part of the critical process requires that you take the time to understand and articulate what you like and don't like about a photo. When you make that effort, not only do you offer the photographer something of value - you learn, too. The critique process is an important part of art education because everyone benefits. Every time I visit this forum and take the time to give someone a detailed answer, I believe I improve my own understanding of photography and art, my own artistic motives, and ultimately - my own photos.

alrighty i love your last photo mainly because the colors there great its a nice soft photo. its like something you would see in a magazine or tv not in real life. the clouds are in the perfect position really adding for a great look. and the building is still in the picture which looks good but dosnt draw you away from the sunset. i like all three but i just prefer the 3rd one

good job

[Photo-John]

Thanks for being a good sport, J-Dogg

Keep it up! Even though it may not immediately make sense, posting better critiques really will help you become a better photographer. And consider content and meaning as well as the technical aspects of an image.

[Ronnoco]

Thanks for being a good sport, J-Dogg

Keep it up! Even though it may not immediately make sense, posting better critiques really will help you become a better photographer. And consider content and meaning as well as the technical aspects of an image.

I think I may disagree, but what do you mean by content and meaning? Have you got a sample photo to demonstrate?

Ronnoco

[GB1]

Hey MB - ALL THREE are great shots. I lived in the DC area most of my life and dont think I've seen better conditions.... you really snagged it.

I think the winter is definitely superior for shooting scenery. The sky has less haze and the low sun creates more interesting shadows, plug the cold air can cause interesting weather. It's just getting out in that weather that's the hard part. Your results here prove that it's worth it (just hope you didnt get frostbit).

GB

[MarcusK]

MB...spectacular....congrats...

Now, let us all admit...bringing out the subject through reflections is always a fun thing to do... and yields great results...

The 3 of the images are breathtaking to be sure, however, my issue with the 3rd is it feels manipulated to yield the colors it did... (again....this is how it FEELS...)

From the technical side, i personally have no issues... i like them....

Great photos.... it must have been a blast taking them....

John - "One of my occassional drive-by lessons in proper photo critique etiquette" nicely put...

Marc

[MB1]

.....The 3 of the images are breathtaking to be sure, however, my issue with the 3rd is it feels manipulated to yield the colors it did... (again....this is how it FEELS...).........Marc

That is exactly what I thought when I first saw it in my monitor, "Whoa, that can't be right".

All I did before I posted the image was crop and resize. Of course I have a sequence of about 200 images where I can see those colors developing as the sky got darker and the color of the Jefferson Memorial looks right so I guess what I actually did is catch just the right moment and get lucky (which was why I was out there at that time in that cold anyway.....).

I bet I am going to have some explaining to do when I show this one.

[MarcusK]

Like i said it "felt" manipulated....lately i've been trying to stress on the side of photography that i felt was being neglected....how an image feels....

In anycase, come to think of it... i think if the second image was closer in time to the third, then maybe it would not have felt the same.... As i review the 3rd on its own, the feeling of manipulation seems must weaker....

But again, breathtaking....
Marc

[readingr]

For me #1 tells it all, the dynamics scream - "Time to go Home" I love how the birds are all in a line heading out of the picture and help the tree to frame the location. The colours are excellent too.

#2 seems to be missing a point of focus, but I do like the trees and the reflections in the pond.

#3 WOW - what colours and I love how their reflected in the pond.

Roger

[Overbeyond]

The third one invites the wow factor. I honestly feel the wow factor can be meaningless after the shots are given closer scrutiny. I think the real potential for success lies in the first two. The inclusion of the birds in flight is a huge bonus in these and but they are almost great. You only have so long to capture the birds in the optimim position so it's not easy. The branches I believe to be a distraction here and I think both lack sharpness.
The third one just does not do it for me at all; it just seems static and the mood created comes over as artificial (even though I'm sure it's not).
The first two are lovely shots and if those birds have a habit of being around that area I would be back with camera and tripod lying in wait.
Tom

[Chunk]

The first shot is like a textbook illustration for using leading lines in a photo, you even made the geese cooperate.

The second has a very nice feel of quiet but I think a better shot would have been there using a longer focal length so the shot would be just that framing branch, memorial, and the dark trees on the right along with their reflections. As it is, there isn't a strong subject other than the whole.

The third is a truly beautiful shot. I'm always happy to open a thread of yours with "Tidal Basin" in the subject. Once again you've satisfied. Thanks.

[Coastal Flyer]

MB:

Gosh these are beautiful photos. I really enjoyed opening this file. Starting from the top, pictures 1 and 2: for me the horizontal line in the water detracts from the picture. I don't know what it is in the water causing this line; this were a river I would think this was a sandbar of some kind. But I know better. On the other hand, the reflection of trees is a wonderful leading line to the subject. I really like this portion of the image. Photo 3, I like everything about it, the colors within the sky, the reflection across the image is terrific. This is my favorite of the three. Really nice.

CF

[MB1]

MB:......I don't know what it is in the water causing this line; this were a river I would think this was a sandbar of some kind. But I know better........
CF

Those are puddles of snowmelt (Brrrrrrrr........) on the walkway around the Tidal Basin. I was holding the camera near the top of the puddles right at foot level so I wasn't even looking thru the viewfinder and couldn't see the screen (I delete lots and lots of images to get a few that I like).

Most of the Tidal Basin doesn't have a railing so it is pretty easy to do. Where I shot the last image does have railings so I couldn't use a puddle for reflections but the 3 1/2 second exposure smoothed out the ripples in the basin.

You can clearly see the puddles in this image.

[GB1]

I like this bicycle shot even better than the other three. It has strong geometry in addition to great color. The reflection steals the show. It could be sharper however - try sharpening it up a little and then printing it out. It might look nice framed.
GB

[Coastal Flyer]

MB,

I thought the same thing when I saw the bicycle shot, it is better than any of the previous three. Color, reflection, composition-- nice shot.

Thanks for the explanation, too.

CF

[SmartWombat]

I didn't even see the birds in #1 !
I think that #2 is the best, though I agree it doesn't have the visual impact of the strong colours in #3
Why?
The birds !
The line of the flock leads my eye back in to the sunlit monument, in a way that the clouds alone didn't do for me in #1
#3 is all colour, but the leading shape of the clouds and their reflection leads my eye to empty space.

[trog100]

the bycle is a very nice image.. it would make a nice wall print.. assuming its not been excessively cropped and has the quality to make a decent size print.. if not its not much use..

the first three look very eye catching but i cant help feeling they were taken on a different planet in some far off galaxy.. he he

clever use of reflections thow..

trog