Photo Critique Forum

Please post no more than five images a day and respond to as many images as you post. Critics, please be constructive, specific, and nice! Moderated by gahspidy and mtbbrian.
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  1. #1
    Driven to Improve ScapeGrace's Avatar
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    Pint-sized Cowboy

    Model: My son Kaden
    I'm not very familiar with sharing my photos online but I would appreciate any and all feedback and/or critiques. I want to improve so be as critical as you want. Thanks in advance!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Pint-sized Cowboy-cowboykaden.jpg  

  2. #2
    Ken ksbryan0's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Welcome to PR, glad to see you jumped right in with a post!

    There are many folks on this forum better suited than me to offer technical advise, but I will offer some of my thoughts on your image. In general, I like what you are trying to capture here, and I think your choice of B/W is appropriate. However, some aspects of the set seem to be working against you. When I first looked at the image, my eyes were drawn to the brightest area, which is Kaden's shirt...probably not what you intended when you took the picture. The white areas of the shirt are almost blown out, which multiplies the impact. If you had dropped the exposure -1 EV, that would have kept the shirt from being so bright, but would further reduced the contrast between the hat and the back wall, making it even tougher to separate the subject from the background. A little bit of lighting behind Kaden to brighten the wall would have helped make him pop out from the overall scene.

    It appears that you may have straightened the image along the line where the wall intersects the floor planks. Because you didn't capture the image at a 90 degree angle to the back wall, the image would have been more appropriately straightened using the post he has his hand on. Without it and the planks on the wall being parallel with the edge of the frame, the overall image feels awkward.

    You've got a good model there, and I'll bet he works cheap - so keep practicing and posting!
    Ken

    My Website: His Creation
    "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Wayne Gretzky

  3. #3
    Senior Member jetrim's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    I really like the idea here! I like the fact that we don't actually see Kaden's face.

    If you use photoshop or paint shop pro, there are 2 quick adjustments I'd consider. The first is perspective correction - in photoshop it's under edit>transform>perspective, in PSP it's under image>perspective distortion. This will get all the vertical lines straight up and down and if you want, all the horizontal lines going straight across making for a very strong geometric background.

    The other is to use the quick select tool to select the background wall, copy/paste as new layer and set the blend mode to "screen" which will bring the darkness of the back wall to +1 EV giving the hat more definition.

    These are both easy and fast adjustments that will really make this one pop!

  4. #4
    Re Member LeeIs's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Nice pose, love that I don't get to see the kids' face. the only thing that takes away from this is the hat and how it blends with BG. other than that, it looks just fine.
    Liban

    "There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have." Nelson Mandela

    Nikon Samurai #23 - The Alexei Ponikarovsky of PR

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  5. #5
    n8
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    I like the idea, but I think it would be neat to see him with his back against whatever his hand is on, still with his hat down, and maybe shot from a lower angle to give that "classic cowboy" shot look.
    mostly Nikon gear

    Feel free to edit my images for critique, just let me know what you did.

  6. #6
    Driven to Improve ScapeGrace's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Ah...so refreshing to find comments that are more than just "nice shot!"...As for the angle of the post, it was actually pretty warped so I had to make do. But I will definitely take yours and jetrim's advice on the darkness of the bg. Thank you so much! I have so much to learn on photoshop, it can be overwhelming at times lol.

  7. #7
    Driven to Improve ScapeGrace's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Thank you jetrim for explaining how to go about making those changes, photoshop is so extensive! I get so lost. Thanks everyone for your feedback, it is hugely appreciated! n8, I have just the thing you're looking for haha!

  8. #8
    Driven to Improve ScapeGrace's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Ok edited version. Please let me know what you think!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Pint-sized Cowboy-cowboykaden2.jpg  

  9. #9
    Senior Member jetrim's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Nice shot! :lol:

    Seriously, I like the edit much better.

  10. #10
    Driven to Improve ScapeGrace's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Thank you!

  11. #11
    mod squad gahspidy's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Another nice work here. i prefer the edit for the tonal changes by having less contrast, but i do like the crooked door frame of the original.
    I think that his eyes are hidden is a big plus in this shot and lends to the charm of a child.
    Once again, i do think the framing can benefit from having more at the top to play up his child size with the big atitude.
    nice work
    please do not edit and repost my photos


    gary


  12. #12
    Ken ksbryan0's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Good job on the edit!
    Ken

    My Website: His Creation
    "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Wayne Gretzky

  13. #13
    Driven to Improve ScapeGrace's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Thanks ksbryan0!
    Gary: I agree with about the tilt of the post, it kind of lent to the "bad boy" swagger of the shot. Plus, he doesn't look quite as lean as in the original. But overall I'm happy with the edit. I DO wish I'd gotten a lower vantage point though...ah well. Thanks again everyone!

  14. #14
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Great work on this shot. My suggestions mirror most of the others (blown out exposure on the shirt, hat/background blend, crooked post) and you fixed those things very well with your edit.

    Photoshop is incredibly powerful and versatile, but difficult to learn - especially at first. Keep up the good work!
    Jim R

    Canon 5D mkII - Canon 17-40mm f/4L, Canon 50mm f/1.4, Canon 70-200 f/2.8L, Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro

  15. #15
    Driven to Improve ScapeGrace's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Thank you spiraleyes! I've been crunching tutorials on phtshop for at while and I'd like to take a few workshops on it as well, but at least have the basics down.
    Last edited by gahspidy; 02-27-2011 at 09:04 AM. Reason: Sticking as Featured Photo. February 27, 2011

  16. #16
    Senior Member draymorton's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    The edit is fantastic! Congrats on the feature!

  17. #17
    Driven to Improve ScapeGrace's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Ooooo so THAT'S a sticky : Wow what an honor! Thanks to whoever gives out the sticky! Thanks dray!
    Every other artist begins with a blank canvas, a piece of paper. The photographer begins with the finished product.
    -Edward Steichen

  18. #18
    Ken ksbryan0's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    With a sticky on your first post, you've set the hurdle pretty high for your future work! Good job - keep'm coming.
    Ken

    My Website: His Creation
    "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Wayne Gretzky

  19. #19
    Senior Member PhilF's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    congrats on the sticky

  20. #20
    Member NKP68's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Congrats on the Sticky. Nice work.

    Ed

  21. #21
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    I like it gives you the notion of "Who is that cowboy??" Congrats on your sticky, and welcome to the board.

  22. #22
    Driven to Improve ScapeGrace's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Thank you so much everyone! I never expected it and am proud, but at the same time, those were really some of the best I've taken so far. It makes me feel really good though seeing all these talented photographers who I think are ultimately, better. Gives me confidence, so I reiterate, thanks!
    Every other artist begins with a blank canvas, a piece of paper. The photographer begins with the finished product.
    -Edward Steichen

  23. #23
    Senior Member arne saknussen's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Congrats on the sticky!!

  24. #24
    Driven to Improve ScapeGrace's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Thanks arne! This site is now my ultimate favorite! Hehe
    Every other artist begins with a blank canvas, a piece of paper. The photographer begins with the finished product.
    -Edward Steichen

  25. #25
    Senior Member hminx's Avatar
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    Re: Pint-sized Cowboy

    Great shot ScapeGrace, I think all the main points have been covered, nothing to add but congrats on feature.
    Pete

    Isn't it a cool thing in nature that the colours never seem to clash...

    I have no issues with you editing my photos

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