Critique Submissions

This page contains selected October 2001 submissions from photographers who wished to have their photographs reviewed by the publisher of this site,Michael Reichmann, as well as by other readers on ourDiscussion Forum. 

The winner this month’s contest and a free issue of theVideo JournalisTony Lewis.

For details on how to submit a photograph for critique please see theCritique / Contestpage. 

William J. Scott

William J. Scott Bellevue, WA USAscott_24800@msn.com  Canon EOS D30, Lens: Canon 100-400L IS @ 400.0 mm
  This shot was taken above Ross Lake in the North Cascades in Washington State.  The fog in the trees only lasted a few minutes after the sun first hit the area.

Michael’s Critique

As is often the case in landscape photography, timing is all. William has done an excellent job of showing us this fleeting moment. A tough exposure as well, nicely handled.

You can add your own comments on William’s photograph on the Critique section of ourDiscussion Forum.

Jeffrey Goggin

Jeffrey Goggin
Scottsdale, Arizona USA
audidudi@mindspring.com

This is my other favorite image from Lower Antelope Canyon. It was shot with Fuji Provia 100F in a Minolta Autocord LMX … no filters were used and no Photoshop "magic" has been performed. I composed the image fairly tightly because I was hoping to capture the unique character of Lower Antelope Canyon while not making it immediately obvious exactly where it was shot. I’m not sure how successful I was on that front but I like photo regardless…

Michael’s Critique

I’ve commented on photographs from Antelope Canyon on these pages before, and noted that it’s very hard to come up with anything original. For some 15 years now this has become one of the most photographed landscapes in the American Southwest. This doesn’t make it any the less enjoyable though.

Jeff has handled the contrast difficulties well and has produced a nicely balanced composition.

You can add your own comments on Jeffrey’s photograph on the Critique section of ourDiscussion Forum.

Ovidiu Moise

Ovidiu Moise
Bucharest, Romania 
omoise@mailcity.com

Nikon F 601, Nikkor 35-70 @ 35mm, Ilford SFX

This image was taken in one of the ghost towns in the middle of New Mexico during a trip I took two years ago. The whole place seemed deserted, but he graves looked reasonably well maintained. What got my eye here was the repetition of the cross symbol combined with the dramatic sky above.

Michael’s Critique

All the pieces are there; interesting subject, great clouds and near-to-far depth. But somehow I find the composition to be too static. The cross is large in the frame, but uninteresting, while the church looks fascinating, but is too small as seen here to add sufficient interest.

You can add your own comments on Ovidiu’s photograph on the Critique section of ourDiscussion Forum.

G¸nter Haika

G¸nter Haika
Vienna, Austria
foto-haika@gmx.net
http://haika.de.vu

Sunrise in the Austrian alps. Shot taken from Krippenstein (Dachstein region), looking east. Sept 29, 2001. Hasselblad 503CX, Sonnar SA 5.6/250, tripod, proshade.

I had expected to be shooting in the Canadian Rockies this week, but the attacks of Sept. 11th forced me to stay in Austria. However, since I had my mind set on shooting mountains (normally not my favorite sujet), I went to try my luck at home, just 3.5 hours drive west of Vienna. This scene was inviting, yet deceiving: While looking through the viewfinder, I was tempted to follow the clouds and tilt the camera, but the spirit level in my quick coupling plate told me not to.

Michael’s Critique

Clearly G¸nter isn’t afraid of adventuresome cropping. It’s exciting to be able to use a square format camera to create such an extreme panoramic print. The strong black foreground range helps frame and set off the pastel shades of the further mountains and sky. An excellent composition and execution.

You can add your own comments on G¸nter’s photograph on the Critique section of ourDiscussion Forum.

Tony Lewis

Tony Lewis
Matcham NSW Australia
marjo@terrigal net.au

Canon D30, Lens: 100-400 zoom @ 400, ISO: 400, Exposure: 400 sec @ F11

Digitally processed in Photoshop 6, contrast increased slightly and slight Gaussian Blur

Shot at a river crossing (Mara River) during the migration of Wilderbeest (Gnu)in August this year in the Masai Mara, Kenya. We were lucky, we only waited 4 hours in the midday sun to get this action, some come to the savanna for years and don’t see a migration let alone a river crossing. It’s one of my favourite shots!

Michael’s Critique

I wish we could all see this in an 11X14" print. It must be stunning. Unfortunately in the small size that I am able to display here the image loses a great deal of impact.

You can add your own comments on Tony’s photograph on the Critique section of ourDiscussion Forum.

Paulo Bizarro

Paulo Bizarro
Portugal
pbizarro@cgg.com

Camera: Eos 3 Lens: 17-35 f/2.8 Film: Elitechrome Extracolour 100 Other: Tripod

Digital details: digitised at 600 dpi from a 13×20 cm paper proof from the original slide. Unfortunately, I do not have access to a film scanner…

This shot was taken close to sunset, in the SW coast of Portugal. I had to plan to be there at low-tide, to capture these dune formations.

Michael’s Critique

A very eye-catching composition. Great light and graphically strong subject matter, but it’s let down by the flat and boring sky.

You can add your own comments on Paulo’s photograph on the Critique section of ourDiscussion Forum.

David Whelan

David Whelan
London, England
dwhelanuk@yahoo.com

Canon EOs1nRS, 17-35mm 2.8L, Neutral Density Filter, Agfa Scala 200x B&W Transparency film, scanned on a Nikon Coolscan II

Location: Sand Dunes National Monument, Colorado, USA

Michael’s Critique

How can I not be impressed? It isn’t just that this is so reminiscent of my signature image, but the interplay of clouds with dunes and light with shadow is truly compelling. The composition works perfectly as well. Very nicely done indeed.

You can add your own comments on David’s photograph on the Critique section of ourDiscussion Forum.

Pascal Jappy

Pascal Jappy
Aubagne, France
pascal.jappy@hummingbird.com

Minolta Dimage 7. White balance set to cloudy for a warm up effect. Sky darkened slightly and two small pilones removed in Photoshop.

Photo taken in the evening from the TGV (fast train) roughly 100miles South of Paris, traveling at over 170 mph.

Michael’s Critique

The warm light is what makes this image. The intersecting lines of the various field planes makes for a visually stimulating frame.

You can add your own comments on Pascal’s photograph on the Critique section of ourDiscussion Forum.

John B. Wislar

John B. Wislar
Rancho Santa Fe, California USA
jbwislar@aol.com

Canon D30
Lens:28 to 135
Focal length:135
1/350 sec,f/9.5
White Balance:Cloudy
ISO:100

This Photograph was taken at the top of the switch backs on Rt.18 in the San Bernadino Mountains. It was about 10 am and what I think is "smog" from Los Angeles was settled into the foothills of the mountain range. Only levels and some slight sharpening were used in Photoshop. The image is not cropped.

Michael’s Critique

This is a fine example of what I callThe Layered Landscape. Very appealing. I’d be tempted to increase the contrast just a bit to increase the graphical nature of the shot.

You can add your own comments on John’s photograph on the Critique section of ourDiscussion Forum.

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