About the Reviews

I am doing these reviews to be of an added benefit to the many photographers that are following me on Google+ and as well as to the regular readers of this blog.

I am writing my posts not simply to the maker of the image but in a fully educational format with tips and concepts that will apply to all.

If there is sufficient response to this set of reviews I will open up another submission phase and do another set of reviews.

I assume there will be as this time I have 17 items submitted on Google+ and many of them seemed very interested, excited and sincere.

They did it by including the phrase Real Reviews Welcomed +Scott jarvie

My reviews are long and in depth looks into the pictures… I don’t simply say you should have done this or that… but I also say having taken the picture as you did you could make the following changes.

Yes I did two extra reviews that I promised… and I’m probably hurting on time because of that. Next time I might do less. But I do want more submitted… because it’s fun.
I didn’t look at any of the reviews that other people might have wrote on the pictures prior to me… except in the sunset picture.

Note:

I spent a long time writing these dang reviews… and life needs to continue now… so if you have a problem with grammar or spelling, don’t read my review. Seriously… don’t. You don’t deserve my insights if you’re just gonna get distracted by my faults. I really do need to move along. If someone privately wants to rewrite and send me the rendition, while 100% maintaining my personality in the writing… go ahead I’ll fix it up.

Image #1

By Janqi Oo – From kampar,malaysia

Background

“Shot this during a cub prix in my hometown.”

My Review

Well first off it’s awesome that you have the red biker in the front; certainly the most photogenic of the bunch. Had it been switched up I think the red biker might have been a distraction in the background.

I also love the colors and textures found throughout the picture, specially the textures.

Wasted space on the left. While I can appreciate not cropping into the honda logo on the left it doesn’t help the image, so as long as you’re not shooting for Honda I’d come in. If you were reshooting I would have not given him so much space on the left but since it’s said and done what you can do now is crop… maybe move it over to right after that honda sign.

Also another cropping problem is that the bike did not receive a proper border underneath. You need at least a tad bit more space under that wheel.

A small item to consider that can be easily be cleared up is the white painting in the bottom right. Yes there’s lots of painting on the ground in the picture, but this one is the most in focus, furthest forward and the brightest meaning it will be the most likely to garner attention. It is very easy to clone/heal that out; even in lightroom.

And one last thing about the picture. As much as I like the image… it just isn’t terribly exciting sad to say. Catching them on a turn when they’re laying low to the ground or doing something awesome would have spiced it up.

But as it stands with the background and the moment you’ve been given it did well.

Image #2

By Ugo Cei from Pavia, Italy

This Picture

“On my way home from a business trip, I decide to take a detour along the coast. It’s the end of May and I know the sun will stay up till late in the evening.
After a few kilometers of twisting, narrow roads, I arrive in Vernazza, where I easily find a parking spot (had it been July or August, this would have been impossible).
I cross the small town and head up on the steep rocky trail that leads to Monterosso. When I reach the highest point on the trail from which the town below is still visible, I am completely covered in sweat. I find a space to place my tripod, secure my camera to it, with polarizing filter, and catch the last rays of the sun hitting the town as it sets behind the mountain at my back.
Later, I precariously climb down the slope until I come to another point I had previously spotted. There, I wait for the sky and the sea to turn a deep cobalt blue and the town to light up for the night. I take a few more shots, climb down the last steps in almost total darkness and head back to my car.

Nikon D90, Nikkor AF-S 18-105mm @18mm, f/5.6, 2.0s, 200 ISO.”

A quick word

I was excited to review this one because I am a self professed Italio-phile (meaning I love all things Italian) I really want to go back to Cinque Terra … I haven’t been there since 2004 when I wasn’t so awesome at photography.

The subject sits there, specially in travel photography, we see and we take… we don’t pose the buildings. What do we have the most control of in a picture? We can change our exposures, but even still the light is given from above. We do get to choose our framing.

When I look at images from photographers I gravitate first to what framing did they select, what borders around the main subject did they give. Did they seem to get it by mistake or get it from a solid eye for what they’re doing.

My Review

I love the colors, I love the time of night it was taken. He mentions it was twilight.

He must have had a tripod to shoot at 2seconds length or propped it up against something.

The dark blues and the streetlights are awesome.

I love the perspective he chose… from above.

If I were to take the picture as it is and work on it I’d say at least put those leading lines in the corners.

You already have one coming from a corner in the bottom left but how about cropping it in a bit on the bottom right and heck you’re already soooo close in the top left might as well just move it down a little bit.

For me the weak part of this image is the sky… compared to the dark blues below the sky just can’t compete… it seems to detract from the main scene ever so slightly.

I hesitate to just say crop it all out because then we’ll loose that leading line that of the hill coming right from that corner. I hesitate… but I’d do it.

Show this city with it’s only backdrop being the water. However there is another problem The top of that building in the distance is just a bit too close to the horizon line… if only it were to have just a tad more space.

A Solution for everything: If we revisited the past… we would have shot from a higher angle. It solves so many things. You don’t get the sky in there and there’s also more room above the top building and you can still get all 3 of those things in the corners as effect leading lines from the corners. AND you avoid those bushes from interfering as much.

Yes the bushes are in the way, I don’t mind them being in the picture … but they are covering boats and part of the most dynamic portion of of the scene.

Other things to have tried were longer shutter speeds for a smoother water… but the problem is the boats would move and not be as sharp. Also it would have been interesting to see what would have happened if a circular polorizer was used… to get a glimpse a bit further into the water. Not saying I’m for sure it would have been better… just saying I would like to see what would have happened.

In the end obviously an awesome picture… and I can’t wait to make my way back there. We’ll hang out there right Ugo?

Image #3

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