CLOSED: POLL: The Photomode Competition: Week 14

[Benmastaw00t]

My face when people don't realize sacrifices have to be made to make the car look good, ipso facto the sky will be washed out to bring out details in the car.

I like the shot because there is motion and fluidity, and the lighting on the car is spot on, or what photographers call "golden hour".

People also have to realize a camera can only really focus on highlights or shadows, not both at the same time like the human eye can, and the only way to do this is through HDR processing.

That is why Chocobos gets my vote because not only is it a realistically feasible shot to take, it is quite gorgeous, both subject matter and background.

 

[knightsofni]

My face when people don't realize sacrifices have to be made to make the car look good, ipso facto the sky will be washed out to bring out details in the car.

I like the shot because there is motion and fluidity, and the lighting on the car is spot on, or what photographers call "golden hour".

People also have to realize a camera can only really focus on highlights or shadows, not both at the same time like the human eye can, and the only way to do this is through HDR processing.

That is why Chocobos gets my vote because not only is it a realistically feasible shot to take, it is quite gorgeous, both subject matter and background.

Ok, I take your point about the balance between highlight and shadow, but you can almost completely eliminate this problem by not shooting into the light. That's a pretty basic photographic technique. This isn't real life, its a computer game. You've got complete control of the subject and the location, and therefore the lighting. If the shadows are too deep and the sky washed out its because you made poor choices.

 

[Nicknamealguem]

The California isn't the best one. The sky is washed out, over exposed, and the back end is a bit blurred.

Not to mention the shadowed front, although the shots itself, has quite a nice feel to it, and I am loving the bluring trees giving a warm sence of being in some hot place.

I don't want light any fire, I think that every shot in this poll is well deserving. Of course, like almost everyone, I would change one or two; people have different tastes, and thats one of the wonders of these competitions.

I would love if people would begun to be construtive instead of being that destructive. What I mean, is, stop whinning and arguing why are X entry in poll and why Y entry isn't. Give real criticism and opinion/advice instead. Give the pros and cons of any entry, in or outside poll. Ask, like boozybloke did, opinions about what could have done different.

For example, boozy, I'm not Aleman nor I know his reasons, but, to me, if you want my opinion, I think the angle placement was a major flaw in your entry to me. The concept is amazing, I really like those striking lines, and the colours/tones are really good, but the camera placements and angle were a bit bad. Too centered and too tilted to the left.

And since I am at it, I voted for Gtuned entry, simply because it is an amazing and interesting close-up image. It kind of suffers from the same tilt disease from boozy (it looks the car is falling to the left), but the awesomeness of the whole photograph, the subtle detail and tones made up from that little problem.

Other honorable mention to me was Moglet's image. Pretty amazing from photography standpoint, but after looking for a while, IT gets a bit meh. Since the sky looks a bit saturated, it makes the whole shot look alike and everything in it wants to grab it's own attention. I have to say, I can't focus on the car. It's just not possible.

Edit:

This isn't real life, its a computer game. You've got complete control of the subject and the location, and therefore the lighting.

^^THIS.

 

[Benmastaw00t]

Ok, I take your point about the balance between highlight and shadow, but you can almost completely eliminate this problem by not shooting into the light. That's a pretty basic photographic technique. This isn't real life, its a computer game. You've got complete control of the subject and the location, and therefore the lighting. If the shadows are too deep and the sky washed out its because you made poor choices.

And would the photo be as dramatic as it is if it was shot into light?

lolno. Why? No dynamic lighting, it just fills in the side entirely, leaving no dimension.

"if the shadows are too deep and the sky washed out its because you made poor choices."

No, that sounds more like your heavily opinionated take on it. That's like saying I'm blaming you for failing at taking a shot that I would prefer.

 

[Muzaffar]

I voted for the Jaguar, simply because it amused me.

What car is that exactly? Was gonna say Jaguar and pointed out that its not Italian (obviously) but since its still up there, I'm certain it must be an Italian car...

 

[jimftr]

Yeah I agree. In my opinion the second pic is the best of those that made the polls, and I gladly admit that I think it is better than my picture too. I just don't think that the polled pics are the best out of all the submissions. That's all I'm saying. It's disappointing to see what was picked to be polled.

Thanks.

 

[Nicknamealguem]

And would the photo be as dramatic as it is if it was shot into light?

lolno. Why? No dynamic lighting, it just fills in the side entirely, leaving no dimension.

Not at all. Unless you are looking to do a silhouette or something similar, like Sixtoes image for example (5th image in poll), there is no reason, in my opinion, you would photograph the shadowed part of the car and crank up the eV so to wash out the sky. To me, the real problem of the whole photograph isn't even the washed out sky, but the shadowed car. It's far from any sweet spot and if you wanted detail, standing against the sun would not bring any. As I said earlier, it's a good shot, the motion blur trees really give a great sense to the wholle photograph, but thats just it.
If you want a good balance of an "against the sun" shot, Sixtoes shot is a better example. Spot on eV. and much more dramatic.

Don't see this as swaying the poll in other directions, I think people should vote based on they're opinions, the same way I feel people should express them about any of the shots in poll, as long as they keep it constructive.

 

[Benmastaw00t]

However, there are two completely different philosophies in those two photographs.

Sixtoes chose to go with rim highlighting the car only, creating a dramatic silhouette against a properly exposed sky.

Chocobos want the viewer to look at the subtle details of the car. It still creates a silhouette with strong rim highlights, but leaves enough exposure on to grasp key details of the Ferrari. To me, that is marvelous and both images are winners, but Chocobos has that extra something.

 

[stpatty]

Hang on a second... Why aren't the three Fiat 500s in the colours of the Italian flag in here? That was a brilliantly staged shot and said far more about passion grace and history than any of those where the car is simply parked on some bricks.

Damn, thanks

What car is that exactly? Was gonna say Jaguar and pointed out that its not Italian (obviously) but since its still up there, I'm certain it must be an Italian car...

I'm fairly certain it's the XJ13.

 

[sixtoes]

If you want a good balance of an "against the sun" shot, Sixtoes shot is a better example. Spot on eV. and much more dramatic.

Thanks. I won't say anymore, lest I be viewed as "swaying", but I do appreciate your analysis.

 

[Jamel77]

Could I please get some input on mine?
I would really like to know where i went wrong, any info will help, I'm trying to be up there with the big dogs.


http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/...66596141_100001231669761_379353_4829297_n.jpg

 

[VeyronR8]

A picture of a steering wheel made it and I didn't.

 

[Benmastaw00t]

Could I please get some input on mine?
I would really like to know where i went wrong, any info will help, I'm trying to be up there with the big dogs.


http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/...66596141_100001231669761_379353_4829297_n.jpg

Your photograph is missing one important piece, and that is subject. Because the car blends in with the ground, you can't really see your subject well. Hence, it looks like a bunch of floating headlights and windows.

Also, you're adding too much tilt. Everything seems like it is falling off the picture. There is a minute amount of angle that is acceptable in an image, but that is going way beyond it and is detracting from the overall image.

Lastly, and this is more personal preference, it could use a bit more DOF. That is, opening up the aperture to about 1.4. What this does is isolate the subject more from the background. Careful with open apertures though, as total abstraction of the subject from the background creates an awkward image.

Hope this helps!

 

[Jamel77]

Your photograph is missing one important piece, and that is subject. Because the car blends in with the ground, you can't really see your subject well. Hence, it looks like a bunch of floating headlights and windows.

Also, you're adding too much tilt. Everything seems like it is falling off the picture. There is a minute amount of angle that is acceptable in an image, but that is going way beyond it and is detracting from the overall image.

Lastly, and this is more personal preference, it could use a bit more DOF. That is, opening up the aperture to about 1.4. What this does is isolate the subject more from the background. Careful with open apertures though, as total abstraction of the subject from the background creates an awkward image.

Hope this helps!

Thanks, see I didn't know that about the slant, thanks. I also was have great difficulty tying to isolate the car from the background, I'll try your advice and get back with you.
I really appreciate your assistance.
You're gonna have me pick up an issue of Shutterbug.

 

[ChaosStar79]

A picture of a steering wheel made it and I didn't.

lol I wonder how many of us said the exact same thing. Seriously, it has all kinds of jagged edges and gives no clue as to where it was taken.

 

[VeyronR8]

The wheel looks like a Jaguar wheel and thats not Italian. What company is it?

 

[Moglet]

What the? How the hell is that California shot winning?! I'm fairly sure if you asked ANY photographer to judge that shot they would consider it very, very poor. Hell, even my mum thinks it looks terrible and she has no idea about photography. The car is far too dark, the background is too busy, the composition is very very generic and the sky is bright white instead of being balanced like it could have been had it not been taken facing the damn sun!

Some people on here need their eyes checking, I swear. Or at least their monitors calibrating.

 

[VeyronR8]

The California one's good but I wouldn't say the best (This is just my opinion)

 

[Benmastaw00t]

What the? How the hell is that California shot winning?! I'm fairly sure if you asked ANY photographer to judge that shot they would consider it very, very poor. Hell, even my mum thinks it looks terrible and she has no idea about photography. The car is far too dark, the background is too busy, the composition is very very generic and the sky is bright white instead of being balanced like it could have been had it not been taken facing the damn sun!

Some people on here need their eyes checking, I swear. Or at least their monitors calibrating.

Go ahead then, ask an experienced photographer.

Also, you have inadvertently insulted Sixtoes photo as well, since it is facing "the damn sun".

Holy hell, I thought you were a lot more mature than this by the way.

 

[gtuned]

Heres the thing. the majority of people voting aren't photographers. They just vote on "OH COOL IT"S A FERRARI" Or something else. I'm not gonna lie, that picture having 10 votes is insulting to me, like that is better than mine or the Murcie, Maserati, even the STANDARD BARCHETTA, which is brillant for a standard car.

 

[Benmastaw00t]

The wheel looks like a Jaguar wheel and thats not Italian. What company is it?

Supposedly it is from the Bertone P400.

 

[gtuned]

Supposedly it is from the Bertone P400.

Nah, thats the XJ13. I'm still baffled to how it got in.

 

[Benmastaw00t]

Heres the thing. the majority of people voting aren't photographers. They just vote on "OH COOL IT"S A FERRARI" Or something else. I'm not gonna lie, that picture having 10 votes is insulting to me, like that is better than mine or the Murcie, Maserati, even the STANDARD BARCHETTA, which is brillant for a standard car.

I'll agree with you to an extent. Yes, there are a lot of voters whom (no offense) know nothing about photography, and like photos simply because of what you said. However, I am a photographer both GT5 and real life, and I know how hard it is to get a shot where you need to balance lighting. In the case of the California, the photographer wanted to bring out details in the car which is a brilliant move.

However, he had to sacrifice details and exposure in the sky for it. Sure, there could be tweaks that could be made into the photo, but give him a damn bit of respect for making the California look dreamy and gorgeous.

To further elaborate, the shot could've been improved by moving the camera upwards and have just the California and the road prominent subjects instead of the sky. Still, I prefer it over most of the other photographs that have made it.

Side note for lolz: No one sees me complaining that my Alfa 8C shot only has one vote... Oh wait, ****!

 

[Benmastaw00t]

Nah, thats the XJ13. I'm still baffled to how it got in.

That is what the photographer of that shot said, and even I am calling shenanigans.

 

[gtuned]

I'll agree with you to an extent. Yes, there are a lot of voters whom (no offense) know nothing about photography, and like photos simply because of what you said. However, I am a photographer both GT5 and real life, and I know how hard it is to get a shot where you need to balance lighting. In the case of the California, the photographer wanted to bring out details in the car which is a brilliant move.

However, he had to sacrifice details and exposure in the sky for it. Sure, there could be tweaks that could be made into the photo, but give him a damn bit of respect for making the California look dreamy and gorgeous.

To further elaborate, the shot could've been improved by moving the camera upwards and have just the California and the road prominent subjects instead of the sky. Still, I prefer it over most of the other photographs that have made it.

Side note for lolz: No one sees me complaining that my Alfa 8C shot only has one vote... Oh wait, ****!

I know, so am i and i know how much of a pain in the ass it is to get a balanced shot, but you can do that without over exposing the sky and having a standard framing. The lighting could of been balanced more and done better like sixtoes' shot. But i'm still confused about how some entries win. Like the subaru during the whiteout, and now this.

 

[VeyronR8]

Anyone got a picture of the Jaguar XJ13s wheel.

 

[Benmastaw00t]

Anyone got a picture of the Jaguar XJ13s wheel.

Yep.

 

[gtuned]

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/141/lucernechapelbridge12.jpg
You can clearly see it's the XJ13 Wheel.

 

[VeyronR8]

Then that entry has to be the Jaguars wheel.

 

[Benmastaw00t]

Heads are about to roll...