Photos For Critique

I think these are some of my favourite photos.

Thought I would place them up here for a bit of constructive criticism from you guys.

Hi Lyndon,

These shots are had to critique. They are very nice. Just nothing special.

The only way I can critique them is as a competition judge's hat on. In competition terms they are both a little plain to win. There is nothing wrong with them and 15 years ago they would have been world beaters. Technically they are spot on, but there is nothing in their photograhic vision that makes them stand out from 1000s of other similar shots.

Some ideas might be trying a long exposure on the shrimp to burn in a blue background. Or getting better eye contact with the crab, by shooting it from the front, to get more eye contact. Both could be shot about 10% closer to tighten up the framing.

Of course, I am being very harsh. Your photos are as good as many we see in magazines and books. As I say they are good. The best advice I have is to keep doing what you are doing.

Hope that this makes some sense.

Alex

Thanks Alex,

So I need to find that X factor to distinguish them from other photos?

I'll keep trying and maybe experiment with the Nikon 5T & 6T for some very close shots.

Im off to the Philippines next week so I'll post some more attempts on my return, no doubt I'll come across a few of these critters while Im there.

Yep, i agree with Alex, very nice work.

However, in PI you should get a chance to get that first shrimp again. I would suggest trying a vertical approach with the shrimp coming toward you and across the diagonal. Does that make sense?

It would create more personality to that shot and make it less of an I.D. type of photo.

Yep, i agree with Alex, very nice work.

 

However, in PI you should get a chance to get that first shrimp again. I would suggest trying a vertical approach with the shrimp coming toward you and across the diagonal. Does that make sense?

 

It would create more personality to that shot and make it less of an I.D. type of photo.

I thnk I know what you mean. The wire coral running from corner to corner and the head of the shrimp being the closest part, say in the bottom right corner. If I combine this with Alex's suggestion, put some blue against the background instead of the random coral in the current picture and I should theoretically have a much improved shot? I'll give it a go and post the result.

Hi,

Back from my jollies and I've tried the wire coral shrimp again looking to improve on the above image.

Really struggled to get some midwater behind it but I do think I've managed better composition than the fish id type shot above.

Im quite pleased with it aside from there being no space for the subject to move into.

Your wip coral crab improved by moving towards a more diagonal. Try a cornor to cornor. See if you can find an old copy of Jim & Kathy Church book on composition. They describe about 5-6 classic composition formats that are very helpful in composing in the camera .