The L-M Farm. Boulder County, Colorado, 2012
It is sooo difficult to critique one’s own images! That, though, is precisely why I am doing it. I hope that the exercise gets progressively easier with time and that my eye becomes more perceptive and knowledgeable along the way.
I am finding that the key to doing this type of self-critique effectively is to attempt to disconnect oneself from the remembered experience at the time the shutter button was pressed. An image needs to be analyzed on its own merits as the viewer has no idea how difficult it was to set up the shot, how cold it was, how long you took to post-process it, etc. The viewer can only react to what is there in the photograph.
For today, I have selected an image I created very recently–about 10 days ago–near Lyons, Colorado. Here is the metadata: Nikon D90 (1.5x crop factor sensor) with Nikkor 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 zoom at 70mm, f/11, 1/125, ISO200, tripod.
And once again we’ll use my 7-Step Critique Guide I first outlined in my November 14, 2012 post.
1) EXAMINE. The subject appears to be a barn and silo, along with some old farm equipment. Looking closely, I can see what appears to be a formation of ducks or geese between the two structures. The place looks a bit old, maybe abandoned, with no human activity at the moment. Border patrol doesn’t reveal any obvious issues.
2) EMOTIONAL RESPONSE. When I look at this, I think of the many old family farms I have seen around the country. I think of the history and struggles of those who created these farms. Perhaps my emotional response is one of light curiosity about this particular farm–where is this farm and what is its story?
3) TECHNICAL POINTS. The buildings are nice and sharp, it looks properly exposed, and the monochrome conversion seems to be fairly well done…although I wonder if it needs just a tad more contrast, especially in the hills behind the barn. Also, there is sort of a strange glow near the top right area of the barn and I wonder if that is an error in post-processing or a deliberate attempt to highlight the barn–I’m confused by it. The birds are kind of a nice touch, but I wonder if they are so distant and small that many viewers won’t notice them or will think they are dust specks on their computer monitor. I don’t see any issues with dust spots or distracting elements around the edges. Looking at the metadata, f/11 seems a good compromise to get depth-of-field approriate for the image (buildings sharp, but background a bit soft, which is OK). Smaller apertures could introduce diffraction softness with little need, in this case, for more depth-of-field. Good idea to use the tripod–it is, after all, a static scene.
4) ARTISTIC QUALITIES. The photograph is balanced and the center of interest is obvious. My eye wants to start with the big object–the barn–then move to the silo, then to the various items in front of the structure, then around to smaller details…finally, I discover the birds, which add a really nice touch (if only they were a bit closer!). The monochrome treatment sets a certain mood–old things, of the past, nostalgia, maybe a hint of sadness and times gone by–and the tonal range is pleasant. I like how sharp the buildings are but I wonder if the smooth, grainy treatment of the clouds in the sky is appropriate–are those two different styles compatible? Now that I have noticed the birds I think they add that something extra to the image that make it a bit more special than a simple B&W barn portrait.
5. POSITIVE POINTS. I like the monochrome treatment…the ducks or geese in formation…the mood of the image that implies a story of times gone by. The weather conditions and lighting are also interesting.
6. IMPROVE. I think the image itself as captured is fine, but I think the post-processing could be better. I would look at some local contrast adjustments in the hills, I would reduce that halo around the barn a bit, and I would try different monochrome versions with different sky textures to see if they fit better with the main subject. Also, with many monochrome conversions, it is worth a look at the histogram in Levels to make sure both black and white points have been properly set to ensure the desired tonal range. Finally, if the image is to be printed, remember that how it looks on the monitor (backlit) is not the same as how it will look on photographic paper (reflected light) and you may need a bit more contrast than you think.
7. OVERALL. Overall, I think it is well-composed and does imply a potentially interesting story, the birds make it a much better photograph than it would have been, and the post-processing is good, but not great. Overall, an above average, but not spectacular image.
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