Portfolio Critique

[cdobbs]

If any of you have some time, could you take a look at my photographs that I have posted on RedBubble and give me some feedback? I really only post what I at least think are my best shots and I have received lots of nice comments, but no real critiques.

Here is my link:

http://www.redbubble.com/people/cdobbs/art

Thank you for your time and any critiques you can offer.

[Breezy]

no CC from me.
You got some really nice shots there.
I like your timed exposures.

[SaundraU]

Okay here you go:


On Here comes the Sun I would crop the top a bit as there is a lot of negative space, maybe to right above the highlighted cloud

Do not Enter is a bit dark on the left hand side and you are loosing detail in that area

Pay Here I like ~ maybe a slight crop on the top

Temperatures Soaring ~ AWESOME Maybe take out the line in the background and what appears to be crinks ont he right side int he blue

Simply Pink - wouldn't change a thing

Life in the Fast Lane - WOW, I love the added road constructions signs

Field of Honey - the white ont he right (Water?) is a bit distracting, maybe tone it down a bit

Bored - the blue mosiac on the right pulls away from the tiger

Standing Together - crop the tree branches out

Path of Life is a bit dark at the top but somehow it works

Watch your Step ~ I wish the front guy on the left weren't a blur, he's distracting me from the train

Blue Electricity ~ Love it, how'd you do that?

BTW I'm Camocacher on the geocaching forum and I see we share this hobby too.

[fran reisner]

My thinking while looking at your images... overall good control of light and exposure, many are very nicely composed, some "wow" stuff here, but I had a hard time critiquing them as a whole because I don't know their purpose. Are the shots of the glass pieces for commercial use or are they still life "art"? Big difference.

[cdobbs]

Thank you...thank you...thank you! This is exactly what I was needing to hear. Certainly not all photographs can be perfect, great, or spectacular. Sometimes you just need to hear good constructive criticism.

Sandra - on Blue Electricity, I was playing with the painting with light technique I had just learned. 20 second exposure at f/11 in complete darkness with a flashlight painting the globe. During post processing, I changed the temperature down to 2000 to give it the blue, colder look. I am always glad to meet another geocacher!!! I will look you up. My handle is GoaTSniFFer (don't ask ). One thing that most photographers may not know...you can find very interesting and different things to photograph while out geocaching. Shh...that will be our secret!

Fran - the glass work has really been a learning tool for me. Working with the light, different angles and so on, in my homemade lightbox. I certainly wouldn't mind if they could be used, or doing more of them for commercial use. I want to focus more on life, Life Stills in Time Photography is the name I have chosen for my future business (OPINIONS ON THIS NAME, PLEASE!), nature, wildlife, landscapes, macro, or anything outdoors is what I enjoy the most. I want to be successful in these areas. Second, would be portraits, to supplement those off days when going outdoors/traveling may not be possible. I hope I am on the right track.

[fran reisner]

Charles, two thoughts come to mind while reading your note this morning. First is to share with you "The Twelve Elements of a Master Print." These are highly regarded guidelines in print competition, and although I think there are always exceptions to the rules, I believe you'll find them beneficial in critiquing your own work...

• Impact
• Creativity
• Style
• Composition
• Presentation
• Color balance/Tonal quality
• Center of Interest
• Lighting
• Subject matter
• Print quality
• Technique
• Storytelling

Second; in addition to being a good photographer, if you're planning on making a living at it, you have to be able to effectively sell your work as well. And THAT is where most photographers fail. Food for thought.

[cdobbs]

Thanks Fran! I am writing those down now and try to use these going forward. I am going to look these up as well on the net and see if I can find some good definitions to go with them. Then, make a document with them and add a grading scale, 1-5 or something for each of these areas.

[fran reisner]

You're welcome. If you are unsure of the meaning of any of them, don't hesitate to ask.

[SaundraU]

Hmmmmm I've been thinking about your future name and have a few thoughts....

It's pretty long and thus it might not stick in people head; you want it to be something easy for them to remember.

it reminds me alot if Time Life Photography - may or may not be a good thing

It doesn't roll of the tongue to easily which can be kind of a problem

I however do like that it is pretty generic so it won't stick you into a corner of the market

[cdobbs]

It seems a lot of people just go with their names, which maybe is the best and easiest to be remembered by.

[SaundraU]

That's why I went with mine!