CRITIQUE, PLEASE....

[pandorasbx]

Hello Pbasers!

I feel EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE about posting myself here but I have recently updated my flower gallery and desperately want critique and feed back (besides from biased friends and family ). There has never exactly been a rush to my little corner of Pbase and I figured that perhaps posting in the forums is what gets that ball rolling...

I have enjoyed very much reading and participating here and have been so impressed with most of the galleries I've followed my nose to. When I see that other people have hundereds and even thousands of hits, I have to wonder, "hey, what am I doing wrong?" I do have galleries that have had some traffic, but very few comments. So, do I suck? I love photography and love tinkering away at it...and that's why I do it, but everyone needs a little feed back every once in a while.

This is very disconcerting for my painfully SHY nature and I hope this doesn't seem like I'm fishing...but I guess that's what this Show and Tell Forum is for.

So, I'm off to hide under my desk...Thanks....

http://pbase.com/pandorasbx/flora_and_such

[northstar37]

I'm no critic, but I liked them all very much. I liked the two daisies in the vase best.

[bigbad]

is this a new gallery or did i just manage to miss it last time i poked around your work. you have a real eye for composition, and your colors are great too. i especially liked orange crush and painting.

[ritchie63]

I think it's a very nice gallery

[peterb]

I like many of your images. Bear in mind that we all have our likes and dislikes. I have never been a big fan of staged/studio flower shots. I like them in thier own environment.
You seem to favor a very soft focus which works well in many of your shots but may detract from others. You also seem to crop close so the subject is at the edge of the frame. It is just me I'm sure but it makes me feel a little claustrophobic. Your images have a very "feminine" feel to them. Although I ignored them, I'm not sure that it is necessary to give each picture a title as they stand on their own very well.
I bounced around your other galleries a bit...interesting. You take some nice portraits but so many of your images are "soft". Is this a function of the camera you're using perhaps? What kind is it?

Although it wouldn't seem so, flowers are a tricky subject. If you decide to tackle shooting them outside, I've found that bright but overcast days provide the best light.

As far as getting lots of hits to your galleries don't be concerned. I used to get more hits in the "old days" a couple of years ago when there were only a million or so images on pbase. Now there are so many that no one gets too many hits.

Naturally, you should feel free to take whatever potshots you wish to of my work. Most are nothing but snapshots but there are a few decent ones mixed in.

If you want to get critiqued by a more specific group of nature photographers, you might try here:

http://www.naturephotographers.net/imag ... .cgi?a=vg4

They are a nice group but will "tell it like it is".

Keep your lens clean and your mind open.

[pandorasbx]

Thank you everyone, for your kind compliments! I appreciate them very much!

Peter... Thank you for you input.

A lot of the soft focus you referred to is stuff I added while editing with photoshop and other software. I like to play with my photos...but some of it is also original...from using my macro lens and getting as close as I can.

You are right about my tendancy to crop in on everything. My friend calls me the 'zoom-girl' because I seem to think that closer is better. I am working on actually taking pictures of the WHOLE subject instead of just a piece of it. I want to teach myself to see things differently, although I still like the old way too.

~Caryn

p.s. This is fun...but scary...I look forward to more critique with one eye tightly closed.

[stanmore]

You shameless self-promoting publicity monkey!
...Seriously, your gallery's good - better than many that hit 'Most Popular' spot.
'oh my', 'stamen' are very strong images IMHO.

[britishbeef]

You have some lovely images there. I shouldn't worry too much about hitting the popular galleries and such like. There are plenty there who are not worthy. Just keep enjoying the photo taking and keep posting images. I think that's all that matters. It's very nice to receive comments on images and that will happen if you keep shooting and posting. I've voted for your 'auld langsyne' image, it's lovely.

Regards,

Geoff.

[pandorasbx]

You shameless self-promoting publicity monkey!

Thank you for your comments...I like 'oh my' too...When I looked at it the first time that's what I said and so the name stuck.

And thank you Geoff. I was very excited when I finished 'Auld Langsyne' and I'm happy that you enjoyed it as well.

~Caryn

[pandorasbx]

Also Geoff, I have looked at your galleries before and think you are very talented...

My personal favorite (for the cute-ness factor) is your 'smudge' gallery. Contemplation is my favorite shot. I just want kiss that little face! The close ups are great as well...you can see every hair!

~Caryn

[pandorasbx]

Simon,

Birdwatch is awesome! (and I use awesome in the classic 'awe inspiring' way, not in the "awesome, dude!" way)

Thank you for sharing that!

~Caryn

[mpdequalsyfsm]

Very nice. The floral gallery is lovely.
I enjoyed visiting your galleries and really liked your self portraits.

[etrose]

Very nice flower shots. My two favs are "auld langsyne" and "sweet dreams". All are very good.

Eric R.

[herb1rm]

After so much verbiage such lovely photos.
Herb

[shadepuppy]

I really like a number of your images, but others are too contrasty for my taste - I prefer a wide range of tones rather than blown (or almost blown) highlights and lots of black shadows (some of the cats images, a few of the flora shots).

Your people portraits and candids show good handling of light, and since you work in a studio, you are learning more about lighting (as many of us keep trying to do) as you progress.

BTW, I noted that you have thousands of hits, and I'm sure that you will get thousands more. You spend time and thought on your image-making, and this will always lead to better work.
Keep it up!