Photo Critique #2

Diana's Photos

Bird: This is a great shot foremost, I like how the parrot is positioned in the frame. All the sayings are funny and I think they add alot of character to the photo / parrot. Though it might be locked in a cage, the parrot still has lots of attitude to give (dirrrrty bird)! The balance of the text is symmetrical, and yet still has variation, which is much appreciated. That's more visually interesting than keeping all the fonts alike. One thing to look out for is the levels in Photoshop, as the reds seem to be dominant in the picture.

Rio Grande: This photo is definitely my favorite of the bunch. It's really interesting everywhere you look, from the colors to the composition to the added text. I feel like this would belong in a gallery somewhere around town! One of the most striking visuals to me is the orange burst falling on a line of thirds and balanced by the reflection of that in the water. This is a really cool effect because it looks like the sun is out and about still, and that contrasts really well with the deep blue hues of the sky and the water. I don't know if the effect was intentional or not, but really good job with it anyways. As for the text, I think it's a simple statement that carries alot of ooomph with it. You can see the divide created by the river and also the connotations and barriers implied by the river. One thing I maybe would like to see is how the picture would have turned out if it were more in focus...but I can live without that. ¡Muy bueno foto!

Road: Great photo once again! I like that you captured the shot when there was nobody on the road. That complements your text really well. The shape and curvilinear lines of the road guide the viewer's eye from one end to the other, until the road goes off into the distance. It's cool how you can see the road far in the distance but don't see past that. Again, that helps your text. Good use of space by putting the quote on the shoulder of the road, where there's a big blank canvas. But one thing again to try is playing with the levels more in Photoshop, cause I think more highlights in the picture would brighten the photo and make it even better than it already is. Other than that , I wouldn't change a thing.

Great photos Diana!!!! Happy Summer! :)

Images & Text

mission espada

southside railroad

first unitarian church

utsa

refrigerator

Photo Critique #1

Greg's photos

#1: I really like the motion that's happening in the picture. It's especially cool that it looks like he's about to chop the controller into pieces. Some things I would change about this picture is the tilt in the second picture. It's difficult to set the camera in the same position again, but it would have made the picture that much better I believe, if both shots had the same angling. Also, I like the use of shadows in this blur motion because it adds to the effect of a slightly dark photo.

#2: Perfect exposure in this sequence. The colors all really stand out on their own and the minute details in the texture of the picture can be seen, such as the biker's sweat or even the feel of the plants. The sky is also exposed well, which is something I've been having problems with. Kudos! You already know how the beam at the bottom affects the picture, but it's cool, I don't think it detracts from the overall picture. Maybe another thing to consider is not cutting off the second biker in the picture? I wish I could see more of him, but he has direction in the photo and looks like he's stopped in place, so I can deal.

#3: Again, I appreciate how good the exposure is in this picture. All the colors, especially the left photo,  are rich and vibrant and really make the pictures pop. Woo color! The positioning of the biker is right on a line of thirds in both pictures, leading the eye from the subject to the foreground. The planes in the picture give lots of visual interest. I wouldn't change a thing about this picture. Fine job!

In motion

sequence shot

 

 blur motion

stop motion

Portrait Shots

Writing Assignment #1

-Mary Ellen Mark

a photo that speaks volumes.

This photograph evokes raw emotions, seeing children trying to fit into characteristic adult roles. The scene is closed within this picture and the smoking girl immediately catch the viewer's eye. Each of the young girls is positioned on a vertical line of thirds, thereby dissecting the picture into two distinct halves.  The composition of this shot works well to not show entirely all of the children's bodies, but rather balances the subjects in focus with the background setting.  The girl sitting in the pool has such a dazzled look on her face, seemingly overcome with new experiences. Her positioning in the pool is separated by distance from the "older" girl, perhaps by chance or by her wariness of such taboo behavior. 

The girl in the foreground draws many immediate observations and conflicting emotions. Her stance is stand-offish, as if she couldn't care less about what you think of her. Have  you ever seen such a small child smoke a cigarette before?? It's still hard to believe that she's so young and already putting such terrible toxins in her body. She also looks as if she has make-up on, aging her appearance even more.

Color Photos