Would Love If Someone Could Critique Me!

Nice photo.

Horizon is crooked.

Although its a nice photo, I don't see it being a consistent seller. It doesn't have much that makes it stand out in a crowd, and that is what you need to have something that will sell consistently. I could see it selling once, or twice, but not a lot.

The biggest thing holding it back in my opinion is the ordinary day lighting. There is nothing special or any drama in the light.

From a technical standpoint, it suffers from some pretty stiff chromatic aberration.

Hi Randi

I love, love the colours in the photo. So pretty. Unfortunately there are a couple of things that personally I am not keen on and would make me not buy it. (Another person may..this is personal taste only)

1. It is not level on the horizon
2 it is a cramped photo... I feel squished behind and almost under the plant
3. I see a boat but it is SO far out as to make me squint to see it so not pleasant.

If those things were not happening I would love it.

I would say in the images as a whole, they once again are nice, but somewhat ordinary. There is nothing wrong with that, taking good photographs is an accomplishment, but if you want to really sell your art, you are going to have to strive for more. There are 8 billion million trillion cazillion photos of flowers, ocean scenes, and the LA skyline for sale on the internet. Why would someone buy yours instead of another?

As Lady Abbie and Thomas pointed out - the horizon line is going to pour the water off the left side. Sometimes this isn't noticeable on dry land - but water horizons are always level - unless you are deliberately angling the photo for effect. That is true of one of your other images of water as well. I have that left slant as well - you gotta really watch the horizon on water. You could fix it with your photo editing program - will cut down on the size some when you level the horizon. but the color is good - I'm not quite as disturbed by the trees as Lady Abbie - but there's nothing to balance that dark on the other side. And, as she pointed out - that 'blur' of a boat is somewhat problematical - again - you could clone it out. I think it would sell if fixed and you market it well.

I don't care for the plant in it. Yes the horizon needs to be level. I like the colors but more contrast in the light would help. There are alot of unique amazing shots out there...I think a bit on the ordinary stands out against them

I really love this photograph and unfortunately I'm not a photographer so I'm unsure about what makes a photo professional grade. The question is would I put it on my wall and the answer is yes! I want to be right there wherever that is. Thank you for sharing it!

I agree with Lisa. Nice work.

I am looking at the title "Palos Verdes Beach" and I see something someone would see instead from a window. The photo has a limited visual. It is an interesting shot IMO. I think that perhaps with a different title it could bemore of an original shot I don't mind the un-leveled sea horizon but since I favor things off center. My interest here is drawn to the rocks on the sea but I cannot see the details and it bothers me. When I am looking at it I am thinking of those photos taken by accident when a person is setting the camera, and this is why I said that the title does not fit the photo.

Diana,

I had fun seeing your techno bride, thanks.

fill in artists website behind the scenes.

Why only one image size?

Dave

Randi,

There is plenty of detail. People need to do more than see the thumbnail.

The horizon is not as off kilter when seen beyond looking at the thumbnail.

The image is more than good enough.

Being here on CT on a snowy night I like this warm image. Thanks.

It is far from perfect. It is a good photo. It is entertaining. It is salable.

Good luck.

Dave

With the tree you kept that upright in the foreground. The tree does
not hog the composition crowding out the beach. This is why the horizon
is off. You are leaning with the camera.

Like I said this photo is far from perfect, but you achieve a good photo here.

While it is salable you will have to figure out how to market it. Otherwise
just posting it will in all likelihood not sell it....more than to a friend or family
member.

Dave

The first thing I noticed was the sloping horizon, but I'm surprised that nobody mentioned the chromatic aberration (colour fringing). I don't know whether FAA would refuse to print it because of that, but I wouldn't take the risk if it were mine.

Jane,

Can you describe that in more detail.

I am not a photographer.

Dave

David, you can see it for yourself, using the green box thingy. Position it over the palm fronds where there's a high-contrast edge between the fronds and the bright sea in the background. Do you see the red line along one side of each leaf and the corresponding green line along the other side? The same thing is happening on the stones on the beach, although it's not quite as obvious there. I believe it's caused by the camera lens, a misalignment of the colours. It can usually be fixed in post-processing, or at least improved.

Jane,

Some times that is worse in spots.

But....is usually worse in this case along the older growth away from the branch towards the tips.

So much of the "problem" is actual dead growth on the leaves. Probably very common to the palm trees.

I am now reading further into your post. It should have been fixed in post processing...etc...

You are right. The image should still be on her hard drive. It is not too late to do this work and replace, delete the
image with the newly better done copy.

Dave

I know I'm inclined to be fussy when it comes to post processing - too fussy, perhaps.

I read something interesting yesterday on another forum, "What the painter represents on canvas is a representation of what is visually perceived, while what the photographer represents in an unaltered image is only what is actually seen, not what is visually perceived." That's what processing is all about - making the finished photograph look the way you visualised it, not necessarily the way the camera actually captured it. All cameras have their limitations, but that doesn't mean the photographer has to be restricted to reproducing what the camera saw.

In this photo, I'd start by fixing the horizon and the CA. After that, I'd try to open up the shadows on the left and reduce the glare of the sunlight on the sea behind the vegetation, to recover as much detail as possible. I'd also be tempted to move the boat a little to the right, to give the leading lines of the rocks and the palms something to point towards, but that's a personal aesthetic judgement, open to discussion.

What are you trying to say with this photo?

You are responsible for every element in the picture so I'll assume there is some reason the half palm tree blocks the left side? What are we suppose to be looking at? That large rock in the forground or that tiny dot of a boat on the horizon?

Is there something that prevented you from walking down onto the beach and finding a more interesting view?

It's a nice photo, but 2 things I don't like. 1) the sloping horizon and 2) all the blown out highlights around the palm tree. Unfortunately, This is what my eye gets attracted too.

To me, a critique is handed out by a professor in a classroom. Many times a person will offer suggestions on "fixing your art" so it looks better to them. Some will say "I like it" not to hurt your feelings. Forget the critiques. You are in control of your art. No one else has created it so how can they judge what you see and feel?. If you are satisfied with your creations, that is all that counts.

If you live nearby, I don't know why you chose a cloudy day to shoot this scene when a sunny day is going to be much more aestheically pleasing for a beach scene.

Monsieur I sure did like my art back when I was horrible. Im really glad I got critiques from some masters and peers who helped me improve, and I hope I continue to improve. You can only do that by developing a critical eye for your own work.

for one its rather crooked. it's also rather pale, and not that interesting. the tree on the left creates a visual block of the entire scene and doesn't add to the story at all. and because of the exposure on the tree, the rest of the scene is pale, and the left side is totally washed out to white.

overall i don't feel like i want to be in the scene it's not inviting. try it later in the day, or early morning, away from that tree, step down closer to the water, the small rocks don't add much and the larger rock adds nothing. try to find the story of the image, and shoot something of that area to show your there. a landmark pier or a boat or mountain. something that says your here and not just any place.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

@ Monsieur, no, not really. because for some people you are your own worst enemy, and if you don't have a critical eye you will keep making work that may chase people from your gallery. if it looks like a snap shot (like this one), i can quickly determine by this one image the rest of the shots also have issues. and someone that buys art will also know this. make it because you want to, but you have to see your work as others do and that's what the critiques are for. following them is another thing all together and being able to critique yourself, that's the most important thing. many people are just too easy on themselves.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

I like the location, and I like the texture of the sea against the rocks.

But the composition is unbalanced and not pleasing, and most importantly there is no focal point.