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M&A Photo Group: Assignment 2

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Sklar
Posts: 8863 - Karma: 31,577
Hi guys, i offered to step in and help run this a bit. i think it's a a cool concept, and I've learned so much from connections I've made with other photographers on NS over the years.

Quoting LJ.Corrales:Those who are new to this: This is a NS M&A photo group to encourage, grow and get excited about photography. We'll have assignments and goals as photographers every 2-4 weeks. Check out my feeler post for more information regarding the. You will be expected to contribute to most assignments, critiques, and discussions so we can become a community.

Original Post:
https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/thread/851917/Proposal--M-A-Photo-Group?#p-13806069
Assignment 1 "Who Are You?":
https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/thread/852226/M-A-Photo-Group--Assignment--1


Assignment 2 Composition:
I have a concept that is very simple, yet at the very foundation of photography, composition. We'll set a 2 week timeline for you all to go out and shoot something that you think is well composed. Any subject.
Post the 1-3 photos in this thread and explain why you like the composition you chose.
I'd like to encourage going out and shooting, but if you can't or don't get something you're happy with, old photos are okay.

Critique:
The last thread was not open to critique, but this week will be. Critique is essential to improving. First thing is first, you need to learn to not take critique personally, use the feedback you get to learn about other people's perspective of your work, sometimes that sucks, but you only get better from it. That said, critique does not have to be negative. However, "nice shot!" or "love it" is not critique. Pick out the specific things that make you like or dislike the photo ie. "Nice shot, I think the centered composition is a bit boring though, maybe getting lower would provide a cleaner background and more interesting perspective."
Critique in this thread.


Happy shooting!
May 19 2017 11:08AM
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grantwhitty
Posts: 854 - Karma: 9,380
Stoked for this, and everyone's work!
May 19 2017 11:59AM
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GANDALF
Posts: 6285 - Karma: 6,433
wondering if there is a video equivalent we could do in this forum as well? would be stoked to do something like that!
May 19 2017 12:28PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8863 - Karma: 31,577
GANDALFwondering if there is a video equivalent we could do in this forum as well? would be stoked to do something like that!


Do it.
Or I really don't see why it couldn't be done together.
May 19 2017 1:59PM
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ChoomaChad
Posts: 192 - Karma: 666
GANDALFwondering if there is a video equivalent we could do in this forum as well? would be stoked to do something like that!


Video should definitely be it's own thread. It's a whole different ball game with shooting, editing, color correction, etc. Would be super cool if you did it tho!
May 20 2017 1:59AM
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Mr.Bishop
Posts: 22671 - Karma: 75,830
GANDALFwondering if there is a video equivalent we could do in this forum as well? would be stoked to do something like that!

Poke eheath and get him motivated to help! He's got a ton of experience and seems like it'd be an awesome thing to do.
May 20 2017 6:33AM
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ascent_studios
Posts: 2157 - Karma: 4,578
LJ.CorralesVideo should definitely be it's own thread. It's a whole different ball game with shooting, editing, color correction, etc. Would be super cool if you did it tho!


Mr.BishopPoke eheath and get him motivated to help! He's got a ton of experience and seems like it'd be an awesome thing to do.


I'd step in to do it! I havent been on NS a ton recently but I'll definitely do some bi-weekly challenges!
May 24 2017 2:10PM
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CheddarJack
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 7,380
This was my favorite I've taken over the last couple weeks. I like how I worked with the symmetries but the whole photo seems unbalanced... critique away!

Jun 4 2017 9:33PM
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grantwhitty
Posts: 854 - Karma: 9,380
Here's a photo from a wedding I did last week. I really like this composition, off set from center, leading lines towards the bride and her father after the first look. Lighting was incredible, s/o to the big windows.

Tear it apart.

Jun 7 2017 12:10PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8863 - Karma: 31,577
CheddarJackThis was my favorite I've taken over the last couple weeks. I like how I worked with the symmetries but the whole photo seems unbalanced... critique away!



It's definitely right-heavy. The combination of the right heavy comp, and the shorline and treeline intersecting the person make it seem even busier. Seems like it would be hard to compose without shooting from another boat. looks like a neat spot though
Jun 8 2017 5:05PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8863 - Karma: 31,577
grantwhittyHere's a photo from a wedding I did last week. I really like this composition, off set from center, leading lines towards the bride and her father after the first look. Lighting was incredible, s/o to the big windows.

Tear it apart.



This shot really doesn't do it for me. The best part, by far, is the emotion, but the composition is awkward and doesn't do a good job of highlighting that emotion.
The intersection of the railing and stairs on the right, creating that hashed pattern, is distracting. The railing goes right through their heads. I get that you might have wanted to try and use the stairs as leading lines, but I don't think it worked here.
Jun 8 2017 5:09PM
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grantwhitty
Posts: 854 - Karma: 9,380
SklarThis shot really doesn't do it for me. The best part, by far, is the emotion, but the composition is awkward and doesn't do a good job of highlighting that emotion.
The intersection of the railing and stairs on the right, creating that hashed pattern, is distracting. The railing goes right through their heads. I get that you might have wanted to try and use the stairs as leading lines, but I don't think it worked here.


Couldn't agree more, didn't even think about the lines interesting the heads.

Thanks so much Sklar. I really appreciate it man!
Jun 8 2017 5:12PM
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mikemac
Posts: 1269 - Karma: 3,451
CheddarJackThis was my favorite I've taken over the last couple weeks. I like how I worked with the symmetries but the whole photo seems unbalanced... critique away!



What's up Jack, hope you're doing well bud.
Love the shot. As everyone has pointed out the symmetry isn't quite there and your mind is kind of hoping the bow of the canoe is in the middle, but then it isn't. However, I think this kind of adds to the organic feel of the shot. It seems super impromptu, and helps put the viewer right in the scene with you. Instead of an impeccably composed, perfect photo you have more of a quick snapshot over the side of the boat which lends authenticity to the shot in some ways.
Jun 12 2017 3:33PM
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mikemac
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Captured this one last night actually while cruising around enjoying the sunset. some crazy thunderheads and rainclouds started blowing into the valley in waves. I was blown away by the triangular formation of the clouds and had to snap a few.

Trying to step up my game here so any and all feedback is appreciated!
Jun 12 2017 4:34PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8863 - Karma: 31,577
mikemac


Captured this one last night actually while cruising around enjoying the sunset. some crazy thunderheads and rainclouds started blowing into the valley in waves. I was blown away by the triangular formation of the clouds and had to snap a few.

Trying to step up my game here so any and all feedback is appreciated!


There is some nice light, the bright spot in the middle definitely brings the eye in. I think a change of perspective and framing could have helped to make it more interesting.
It looks like you shot it standing up? Getting low, like lie on your belly in the grass low might have worked.
As for the framing, the horizon line is a bit centered for my taste, not that everything has to be dead-on rule of thirds, but I'd keep it in mind
Jun 12 2017 5:26PM
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CheddarJack
Posts: 5203 - Karma: 7,380
mikemacWhat's up Jack, hope you're doing well bud.
Love the shot. As everyone has pointed out the symmetry isn't quite there and your mind is kind of hoping the bow of the canoe is in the middle, but then it isn't. However, I think this kind of adds to the organic feel of the shot. It seems super impromptu, and helps put the viewer right in the scene with you. Instead of an impeccably composed, perfect photo you have more of a quick snapshot over the side of the boat which lends authenticity to the shot in some ways.


Hey Mike! Right back atcha. Seems like you're doing pretty well out west though! Thanks for the words, I appreciate it.
Jun 12 2017 5:33PM
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mikemac
Posts: 1269 - Karma: 3,451
SklarThere is some nice light, the bright spot in the middle definitely brings the eye in. I think a change of perspective and framing could have helped to make it more interesting.
It looks like you shot it standing up? Getting low, like lie on your belly in the grass low might have worked.
As for the framing, the horizon line is a bit centered for my taste, not that everything has to be dead-on rule of thirds, but I'd keep it in mind


Yeah I'm actually on crutches haha so I hooked it onto my tripod and hobbled to the side of the road and was just kind of playing around shooting across the valley in different angles from the same place. Appreciate the tip though man, I'll definitely think more about perspective and viewpoint in the future.
Jun 16 2017 12:28AM
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chris.goodhue
Posts: 946 - Karma: 6,204
Pretty stoked on this shot. Like how the horizon is somewhat tilted, giving a good sense of how steep it is. I also like how the couloir runs up the left half of the shot. Think I could have done better on the editing, but let me know what you think!



**This post was edited on Jun 20th 2017 at 8:41:34pm
Jun 20 2017 8:40PM
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Sklar
Posts: 8863 - Karma: 31,577
chris.goodhuePretty stoked on this shot. Like how the horizon is somewhat tilted, giving a good sense of how steep it is. I also like how the couloir runs up the left half of the shot. Think I could have done better on the editing, but let me know what you think!



**This post was edited on Jun 20th 2017 at 8:41:34pm


Couloirs are really hard to shoot IMO.
Compositionally, I think it is okay, but not particularly interesting, especially because it's a butt shot, it almost looks like the skier doesn't belong.
I guess what I'm saying is it feels unfocused (in regards to composition, not sharpness). I'd try and pick one thing you want to highlight, and focus on that. ie. the steepness of the couloir (so shoot wide, and frame the skier small to show perspective), or the skier climbing (shoot wide in their face looking down) etc. Does that make sense?

In general, I've found that shooting down a couloir is one of the only ways to really show off the steepness. Also, if it's a shot of skiers climbing up, shooting down would include face rather than butt.
Jun 21 2017 11:32AM
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chris.goodhue
Posts: 946 - Karma: 6,204
SklarCouloirs are really hard to shoot IMO.
Compositionally, I think it is okay, but not particularly interesting, especially because it's a butt shot, it almost looks like the skier doesn't belong.
I guess what I'm saying is it feels unfocused (in regards to composition, not sharpness). I'd try and pick one thing you want to highlight, and focus on that. ie. the steepness of the couloir (so shoot wide, and frame the skier small to show perspective), or the skier climbing (shoot wide in their face looking down) etc. Does that make sense?

In general, I've found that shooting down a couloir is one of the only ways to really show off the steepness. Also, if it's a shot of skiers climbing up, shooting down would include face rather than butt.


Thanks for the feedback! Agree that it definitely lacks the focus compositionally....really wish I had a wide angle for this one. I wanted to shoot up the couloir is this particular shot to get the sky as looking down was really boring a far as colors. Will be keeping those points in mind next time I shoot!!
Jun 21 2017 12:19PM
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whiteboi
Posts: 477 - Karma: 1,228
I haven't been active on NS for a hot minute and I missed the first assignment but here we go. I didn't go out and shoot these for this specifically since I just saw this post while in the airport this morning, but I've shot all of these within the past few weeks.





I think this photo has good composition because the crack in the road comes from the right corner and acts as a leading line to the center of the road. Also, the trees are positioned in a way that nicely represents the rule of thirds as they go across the midline of the picture.





This photo has good composition because of how the raft is set in focus towards the bottom of the picture... I don't know how to exactly describe why I think it has good composition but I think it does.





This photo has good composition because of the fishing pole action as a leading line to the center of the photograph, as well as how the trees are centered in the photo and have a nearly perfect reflection across the water.


I would love some feedback from people.


Also, check out my Instagram, I post pictures like these on the reg. It's parkerstoltz_
Jun 24 2017 5:36PM
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whiteboi
Posts: 477 - Karma: 1,228
whiteboiI haven't been active on NS for a hot minute and I missed the first assignment but here we go. I didn't go out and shoot these for this specifically since I just saw this post while in the airport this morning, but I've shot all of these within the past few weeks.





I think this photo has good composition because the crack in the road comes from the right corner and acts as a leading line to the center of the road. Also, the trees are positioned in a way that nicely represents the rule of thirds as they go across the midline of the picture.





This photo has good composition because of how the raft is set in focus towards the bottom of the picture... I don't know how to exactly describe why I think it has good composition but I think it does.





This photo has good composition because of the fishing pole action as a leading line to the center of the photograph, as well as how the trees are centered in the photo and have a nearly perfect reflection across the water.


I would love some feedback from people.


Also, check out my Instagram, I post pictures like these on the reg. It's parkerstoltz_


I don't know if it's just my computer but for some reason these uploaded in shit quality, oh well.
Jun 24 2017 5:37PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
Let's go with the subject of bridges and things that look kinda like bridges.



Okay is it just my eyes or does this look fucking off? I put it on a grid and it checks out. Is it because the Ridgeline slopes away to the left? Is the bridge warped? My eyes hurt..



This one seems to be a little more aesthetically pleasing.








And here's one for you guys to deliberate on your ownsome.

**This post was edited on Jun 27th 2017 at 11:06:43pm
Jun 27 2017 11:01PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
whiteboiI don't know if it's just my computer but for some reason these uploaded in shit quality, oh well.

It's probably just ns.

#1. I like it what it could be, but the sky seems too blown out and makes it a touch boring. Could you maybe pull some highlights out and give it more structure? I feel like that may give it a more even interest, given how much sky is in play.

2 and 3 don't do it for me. The sky is too boring and takes up too much of the shots. If there was crazy clouds, sure.. but a boring sky is generally negative space Imo- unless the other layers are minimal, or the minimal nature of the sky is a huge focus, I'd limit how much is in the shot. It just takes away from the rest.
Jun 27 2017 11:16PM
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