Remembering Hitchcock

[kaskais]

https://kaskaisphotos.wordpress.com/

[Shadowman]

I expected a silhouette but was sure it would be a jowly profile. Nice shot.

[RBSinTo]

Fernando,
There seems to be a reoccurring theme to many of your photos, that is to say, subjects shot from a distance in silhouette with a great deal of empty space around them, and this shot is no exception.
I am bothered by the placement of the foreground figure, which is centered vertically, with a ton of dead space top and bottom.
I think the composition would be improved by cropping either some of the bald sky, or alternately some of the sand below to de-centralized the figure and give the composition some tension.
Robert

[Werner]

You picked up the mood quite well.

Regards, A. Hitchcock

[Manfred M]

+1 to Robert's comments.

As has been mentioned before, style quite apart, the images are technically not good as you have a tendency to blow out significant areas of highlight and crush shadow detail. Again, look at the red and blue areas of your image which I imported into Camera Raw. Both are indicative of poor photographic technique.




You post images, but do not seem to respond to comments and questions directed at you.

CiC is a photographic learning site so, rather than just posting images, please explain what you are doing and why you have composed and processed images in a way that most photographers would consider questionable.

[Sergio M.]

It seems if Fernando had tried to protect the highlights he would have ended up with more crushed shadows. Besides silhouettes are supposed to have little or no detail anyway. I like the shot and don't find the technicalities questionable. I guess I must be one of "THOSE".

Sergio

[madcrow]

I will not comment on the technical side but what interesting is women's stance, looking at the figure on the horizon. I thinks it works.

[mknittle]

I think it is just one of those styles that people like or they don't. i think it works.

[Jim A]

Unfortunately Fernando, I do not sense any connection between the two figures. I do like the shadow of the one in the foreground. Struggling to find relevance, however admire your experimentation, keep with it !

[RBSinTo]

+1 to Robert's comments.

As has been mentioned before, style quite apart, the images are technically not good as you have a tendency to blow out significant areas of highlight and crush shadow detail. Again, look at the red and blue areas of your image which I imported into Camera Raw. Both are indicative of poor photographic technique.




You post images, but do not seem to respond to comments and questions directed at you.

CiC is a photographic learning site so, rather than just posting images, please explain what you are doing and why you have composed and processed images in a way that most photographers would consider questionable.

Manfred,
I agree completely.
A cursory glance through Fernando's posts shows that he never replies to comments on his work, which is frustrating especially when they are more than just "Nice picture" or something similar.
If it becomes apparent to me after I've taken the time to critique someone's pictures that they don't respond, I'll stop commenting.
Robert

[Manfred M]

It seems if Fernando had tried to protect the highlights he would have ended up with more crushed shadows. Besides silhouettes are supposed to have little or no detail anyway. I like the shot and don't find the technicalities questionable. I guess I must be one of "THOSE".

Sergio

I disagree, Sergio. There are techniques that allow a photographer to get both a good exposure in these harshly back-lit conditions, although they cannot necessarily be done in a single exposure and may require some PP tools and skills. Knowing the limitations of one's equipment and working to them are another approach (according to the exif data he is shooting a D80 and cameras of that generation simply do not have the dynamic range of more recent models).

The issue is that we simply don't know, as Fernando has a habit of posting images without any explanations as to what he has tried to accomplish, nor does he seem to respond to comments and critiques.

[Donald]

In all the years that Fernando has posted in CiC, he has done so with out comment and without responding to discussion. Indeed, it is only since he re-started posting recently that other members on here have posted against his images. Formerly, people tended to view only.

It was previously recorded that Fernando does not speak or write English, or in a very, very limited way only. A visit to his website will show you the range of his work.

[Manfred M]

In all the years that Fernando has posted in CiC, he has done so with out comment and without responding to discussion. Indeed, it is only since he re-started posting recently that other members on here have posted against his images. Formerly, people tended to view only.

It was previously recorded that Fernando does not speak or write English, or in a very, very limited way only. A visit to his website will show you the range of his work.

Thanks for the information Donald. I had wondered if language was an issue, given his location.

This is unfortunate, as it would be interesting to understand what he is thinking when he shoots. Many of the images on his website are the same ones he has posted here on CiC. His work will not be to everyone's taste, but I do find that his seeming emphasis on spontaneity with little regard to the details and technical aspects does work against him.

[Sergio M.]

I disagree, Sergio. There are techniques that allow a photographer to get both a good exposure in these harshly back-lit conditions, although they cannot necessarily be done in a single exposure and may require some PP tools and skills. Knowing the limitations of one's equipment and working to them are another approach (according to the exif data he is shooting a D80 and cameras of that generation simply do not have the dynamic range of more recent models).

The issue is that we simply don't know, as Fernando has a habit of posting images without any explanations as to what he has tried to accomplish, nor does he seem to respond to comments and critiques.

That was my point, Manfred. We are all faced with the same situation when we encounter a scene that exceeds the dynamic range of our equipment and we want to capture it in one exposure. Either our highlights or shadows are going to suffer. The other option would have been bracketing, but I don't think that would have been ideal or realistic in this situation. I don't know what PP software Fernando uses or what his skill level with it is, but that too is limited to what the sensor can capture.

It is regrettable that Fernando does not respond to posts as I do like his work and would enjoy interaction, but I had thought the same as Donald that it might be more of a language barrier. I had looked at his blog and noticed it's written in his native Portuguese. As suggested, perhaps it is more about being uncomfortable communicating in English than a lack of desire. I understand that lack of communication with Fernando limits your ability to help, but I'm sure any help you can give him would be beneficial to all involved.

Sergio

[Manfred M]

That was my point, Manfred. We are all faced with the same situation when we encounter a scene that exceeds the dynamic range of our equipment and we want to capture it in one exposure. Either our highlights or shadows are going to suffer. The other option would have been bracketing, but I don't think that would have been ideal or realistic in this situation. I don't know what PP software Fernando uses or what his skill level with it is, but that too is limited to what the sensor can capture.

Sergio - I guess this is where our opinions diverge. I do not take pictures that I do not have the skill or the equipment to produce. When I approach a shot I analyze the scene so that I can take the appropriate actions to maximize my change of getting good final image. That might be bracketing the shot, taking shots of segments of the sky I can use to graft in, etc. I shoot with PP in mind, so I come back with one or more shots that will allow me assemble the image I planned to get.

Things can and do go wrong all along the path to creating an image. If I cannot create one that is good enough from a technical and creative standpoint, no one else gets to see it.

[purplehaze]

I see Fernando has in fact provided an English description of his objectives on the About page of his blog, here.

Fernando, it might be helpful for us non-Portuguese speakers if you linked to that page directly in your signature.

I do like a great many of your images, but this one not so much.

I am feeling foolish for not knowing what film this is referencing, even after binge watching Hitchcock on TCM this weekend...

[Sergio M.]

Sergio - I guess this is where our opinions diverge. I do not take pictures that I do not have the skill or the equipment to produce. When I approach a shot I analyze the scene so that I can take the appropriate actions to maximize my change of getting good final image. That might be bracketing the shot, taking shots of segments of the sky I can use to graft in, etc. I shoot with PP in mind, so I come back with one or more shots that will allow me assemble the image I planned to get.

Things can and do go wrong all along the path to creating an image. If I cannot create one that is good enough from a technical and creative standpoint, no one else gets to see it.

Manfred, yes, our opinions do diverge. Not everyone has access to the latest or greatest equipment, approaches and goals to photography differ, and the elements necessary for a good or great image vary.

Sergio

[xpatUSA]

I see Fernando has in fact provided an English description of his objectives on the About page of his blog, here.

Well spotted, Janis. I had found that site a month or two ago while researching style and downloaded that very page with it's references to minimalism.