In a public forum, people can post any critique they wish, but shouldn't a critique be usefull to some degree? If this were a famous photograph newly on display at MOMA, and a NY Times art critic were to publish a review of it using phrases such as "the model looks uncomfortable", "seems to have caught her at a disadvantage", "makes her look bottom heavy", who would benefit from this? Certainly I as the photographer have no use for these comments, since only I and the model know the truth concerning her comfort (in some cases it may very well be that the model's pose is uncomfortable, this is between me and the model). They won't make my future photography any better. The model couldn't care either, because she also knows them to be irrelevent. Why would the readership of the NY Times care? Would being told that the model looks uncomfortable be a usefull determinant in deciding whether or not to go see the photo? I don't see how. If the photograph is a bad one, then say so, and say it in such a way that I can benefit. Photoforum is after all meant as a learning tool. But it is a waste of time talking about the apparent comfort of the model. The comments (in general) I sometimes see such as "awesome" or "great photo" are also of not much use; I'm always hoping for a well thought-out critique that exposes some flaw or weakness in the photo which I can use to my advantage. As far as snow scenes go, I try and make the snow as white as possible, while still holding detail. With my new still-learning-how-to-use DSLR, this can be very tricky, since it is very easy to blowout bright scenes such as snow, while still holding onto shadwo details. -dan c. At 02:52 PM 29-08-05 -0500, Don Roberts wrote: >Dan, there are no hard and fast rules for me on snow like making it >middle gray. You pick a contrast you think works, make the >highlights white and that is it. If you have a cloudy day you can >make all of the snow gray since you have no modeling anyway. Not >middle gray, of course. That is not good visual sense. >Oh, and by the way, you put your picture of the model up in a semi >public forum which solicits critiques. Unless we consider it to be >an abstract than the criticisms, which are opinions, are perfectly >valid. I was going to say that you seem to be taking the critiques >personally but I won't. Gee, I guess I just did. You may not like >our opinions but you made it "our business" when you submitted. >Just my friendly opinion. If you like it, the model likes it that's >great. Your photo succeeded. >Don > >Dan C wrote: >> When you say "gray" do you mean middle gray? This is what you get when you >> meter off the snow and use that reading directly, and for me that results >> in a really dull photo. I like to place my snow at Zone VII or VIII, >> basically white with just a hint of texture. The parts where the sun are >> reflecting off it should of course be pure white (paper white), similar to >> specular hilites from chrome metal. >> >> JMHO, >> >> -dan c. >> >> At 12:58 PM 29-08-05 -0500, Don Roberts wrote: >> >>> >>>Gregory Fraser wrote: >>> >>>>>most exposure faults are subject-errors not camera errors ... heck, if >>>>>snow wants to be exposed right then it should have been grey! >>>> >>>> >>>>Wow! I've thought that exact same thing for years but was too timid to >> >> take on the 'snow is white' lobbyists. >> >>>>Greg >>>> >>>> >>> >>>I have said that for years, Greg, but got no acknowledgment. The >>>only place snow is white is in the highlights. Elsewhere it's gray >>>or blue or purple etc. And I have a photo in next week's Gallery >>>that may provoke some comments like that. >>>Don >>>-- >>>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >>>Don Roberts ** Bittersweet Productions ** Iowa City, IA >>>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >>> When our memories outweigh our dreams >>> we become old. -----William Jefferson Clinton >>>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >>> >>> >> >> >> > >-- >++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >Don Roberts ** Bittersweet Productions ** Iowa City, IA >++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > When our memories outweigh our dreams > we become old. -----William Jefferson Clinton >++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > >
