These photographs where taken as part of my final major project in college the theme for this project was steel so I went on the path of taking photographs of steel bridges which in some also include a model, which are located in my local area. The camera I used was a Nikon D700 and used photoshop to edit my photograph.
I would really appreciate your feedback and critique on these photographs as I required the feedback for my submitted portfolio, thank you
Last edited by CharlotteMarsh; 31st May 2016 at 12:00 PM.
Hi Charlotte, and welcome to CiC. I hope you will get some helpful feedback from some of the members, who are better judges than I!
However, i think you will get more feedback if it were posted in "Nature and Architecture", so I hope it is ok by you if I ask one of the moderators to move it across.
Dave
EDIT: Oops - Manfred got there while I was typing!
1. Top row, first image on the left hand side - first of all this is a stone bridge with a wooden deck, with minimal steel in the railing and suspension components. The image is not level and looks accidental rather than deliberate (i.e. dutch tilt), this looks like sloppy photography; it looks like a snapshot rather than a college portfolio level image.
2. Top row, second image from the left hand side - okay image, although the sky is not particularly interesting from a photographic standpoint. As you took the shot up and at an angle, the bridge support across the river looks a bit wonky. If it were my image I would correct the perspective distortion to see if that helps strengthen the composition (or not).
3. Top row, third image from the left hand side - the image has a strange orange colour cast, that definitely needs a fix. I don't love the light spot on your model's forehead, although I do like the highlight in the hair. I'd fix the bright spot on the face.
Your model doesn't look like she wants to be there...
4. Top row, image on the right hand side of the row - this is the strongest image of the group, in my view. The model and bridge come together nicely. I just don't like the sky on the day you took these shots.
5. Bottom row image - Again, I like the composition in this shot. The angle you took it from is a bit unusual and that woirks. Again, you have the same strange orange colour cast as image 3 and the clouds and sky look rather odd. I find the bright spot in the top right hand corner a bit distracting and wonder if a bit of vignette might not help tone that down a bit.
Nice variation on the theme. First two don't appear to have a model and the skewed angle of the first isn't very appealing. The leading lines and angles of the other four are very creative.
Welcome to CiC. If you are interested in improving your photographic skills, you have come to the right place. Many members here have extensive experience and expertise in photography and are more than willing to share their knowledge. Others, less experienced (like myself), can also offer valuable suggestions on how to improve your photos.
As for your project, if you had not mentioned that its theme is "Steel", I would not have guessed it. Yes, all the photos have steel in them but none highlight the steel as the main subject. If you have the time, I would suggest that you start over from scratch. Look around to find interesting steel shapes, textures, color, structures and bring those out in your photos. Check you local junkyard, flee market, your kitchen cupboards, your tool chest and of course the bridges in your area.
But before you start shooting, I would review the fundamentals of good composition and of using the light. Your compositions should aim at clearly separating your subject from the background. This can be accomplished by making the subject brighter than the background, by making it sharper and by eliminating distracting elements from the frame or all of the above. In photography, the light is your best friend but also your worst enemy! Learn to tame it and your photos will stand out. If you are shooting outdoors, neither overcast skies nor bright sunlight work very well. Try for the softer early morning or late afternoon light.
Hope you find these comments useful and best of luck with your project.
A bit more feedback (themes may be familiar). These are just opinions, of course.
Number 4 is definitely your best work, but why? Excellent composition, with the model along the third of the frame (not an inviolable rule, but always worth a try), and the bridge providing a good leading line. Tightly cropped, with no wasted space. Good b&w conversion - you resisted any temptation to over process either global contrast or "structure". An attractive model never does any harm.
Number one just doesn't work. I can see the composition you were aiming for, but it looks strange. Nor do I think the sepia treatment works too well - It's OK on the bridge, but just look at the sky.
Number two is a nice idea, but don't forget to check your verticals and, in particular, the horizontals. The water seems to be sloping, which would be very unusual!
Number 3 is also basically a good image. I agree with the colour cast that Manfred refers to. I think I would have liked to see the end of the bridge span, thought that may mean moving back or using a shorter focal length. I assumed you wanted your model to have a pensive look.
Number 5 appealed to Manfred, but doesn't much to me! I applaud looking for an unusual angle, though.
You might have done this, but if I were heading out for some local landmarks I would search the net for some images. Not to follow them slavishly, but to help generate your own ideas.
Finally, and on a lighter note, I happen to have two degrees in metallurgy - steel would have meant something different to me
Welcome Charlotte, I really like the last imageVery nice shooting angle. The color cast can be fixed but it actually gives the image a kind of soft feeling and I like it.