Gallery for critique

[michaelsv]

Hi,

I was the one whining about critique comments, and I just finished leaving comments
for two other artists requested the critique here in the forum, so it will be only fair if I request the critique for my work.

Here is the one of my latest galleries. I Shot it in the Toronto's underground walkway,
really amazing place, which is one of the city's attractions and daily life's realities.
The shooting conditions were not that easy, since the light was uneven and complex and dark,
the security guards were all around and people tend to ruin every other shot.
I had to use slow shatter speed and ISO1600 to get a decent exposure.
Anyways, I tried to make this place looking interesting and appealing.
I would like to know your opinion on that matter and tell me where I failed, since the gallery does not attract too much attention.
One can say that the theme is not interesting or there are similar images, but there is also something else, that I do not see.

So here is a link to it. Your comments and critique are both welcome here and in gallery itself.

http://www.pbase.com/michaelsv/path

Thanks,
Michael.[/url]

[blachly]

First I would like to say thanks for critiqing my photo. I appreciate the honest feedback.

I looked at your gallery and here are my thoughts. I used slideshow, so when I refer to an image it will be by the number given in the slide show. I liked pictures: 5, 8, 10, 16, 19, 26, 30, and your orb photo. My favorite was 48. The lighting was great and it looked really good in B&W.

My biggest issue with your photos is that you were not in the action. For example, their is a great photo opportunity of a mom and child watching a harp player but you are to far back to make it interesting and to catch the emotion. Unfortunetly, as you said, you had to compete with privacy, security, etc so I understand the issue.

You might try cropping in on #45. There are two guys. One in a suit and another in casual. I thought they looked like an interesting pair and the photo could be more about them.

A couple of ideas from looking at the photos. THe roof in #31 could be really cool to take some photos of. You could also set the camera down on a table (since you can't use a tripod) and blur a couple of people walking in one of the long hallways.

I hope this helps and I will be glad to give more critique if you want me to. Just let me know. Thanks again for your comments and good luck.

Mike Blachly

[michaelsv]

Mike,

Thanks you very much for your thoughts. I do agree with you about lack of more close interaction, I knew that. he problem that using 17-85mm lens (the only one I have so far) I needed to get too close to people to create feeling of presence. I think with something in to 200mm range, I would have been able to get close intimate shots, without disturbing people. Well, I hope next time I go there, I will try to consider it.

Thanks again. It's great to hear honest opinion and constructive critique.

Michael.
http://www.pbase.com/michaelsv

[andrys]

Michael,
This won't be a critique since you've had some and I was just looking out of interest
as to what the place is like and it was an interesting set for that.

Especially liked
http://www.pbase.com/michaelsv/image/72466267 (light & effect)
http://www.pbase.com/michaelsv/image/72040027 (colorful lounge)

Nice for the idea of how they constructed with respect to curves
http://www.pbase.com/michaelsv/image/72048808
and the many odd hangings they have there.

While you could crop this more closely if interested in just the people
http://www.pbase.com/michaelsv/image/72184986
you really wanted to show what the structure was like, so I think that
was your focus and it gives a very good idea.

And on this, if you used continuous shooting mode you could catch
the person a bit lower down after passing the Exit sign.
http://www.pbase.com/michaelsv/image/72013870

Overall, I just felt you must have caught well the quality of light and
space-use there. Now I feel as if I've been there. Lots of variety.