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Jan Hemels
Moderator
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# Posted: 4 Oct 09 00:01
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IF YOU WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE WORKSHOP PLEASE READ CAREFULLY THE RULES BELOW:
1. Join the workgroup in this link The of members list will be open all the time (to get in and to get out).
2. Each member of the workgroup agrees in being a critic for other members (not necessarily all them) and being criticized by the rest of members (not necessarily all them).
3. The main idea is to make a critic of a whole work from a photographer and not only of a picture. It’s aviced to browse to the whole collection of the photographer under critics (but it’s not obligatory, specially considering that there are some very large portafolios).
4. Nevertheless, a sample around 20 pictures selected by the photographer will be posted in the appropriate forum thread in order to highlight which pictures the photographer considers as the best examples of his/her photographic work. The critics will take specially these pictures into account, but all the collection can be browsed and used for the critic’s work.
5. All opinions must be accepted by all members, like it or not. The only limits for the critics is to be sincere, to be polite and to be constructive. This is supposed to be a workshop to learn... if you want flattery just have a look at the normal comments in your pictures.
6. All aspects of photography would be under critics: quality, quantity, originality, subject, composition, light, colour, white balance, edition, etc... But this doesn't mean that you must criticize all these things. Concerning the critics, you will find a very good summary in Miguel's blog here: ".Elements of Analysis
7. This workgroup doesn't intend to be an "exclusive club for experienced photographers". All members are wellcome, with all photographic levels... (If you don't know about white balance, depth of field, ISO, etc... just tell us "I like your collection or I don't like it at all and try to explain why with your own words...)
8. The strategy "you scratch my back and I scratch yours" is not accepted in such a workgroup... Let's be serious...
Now some ideas about the way to carry this out:
1st. Join the group in the forum linked before.
2nd. You will be in a queue and you will have to wait to your turn to post your own gallery in a new forum topic. There will be 2 members showing their collections at the same time for one week.
3rd. When it's your turn post a forum topic with the title: "CRITICS WORKSHOP: Member’s nickname gallery". In this topic you will cut and paste these rules and those written above and post around 20 pictures selected from your own collection. It would be nice also if you could write few words about your photographic work: what are you interested in, what do you want to transmit with your pictures, for how long you are a photographer... and whatever you think it’s important to consider for a critic.
About myself:
Travelling and hiking have always been my favourite activities. I have seen lots of far away places but I have hardly any photographic memories of them because I have been very active in videography for 25 years. I rediscovered photography when I retired which created a lot of free time of course. I enlisted on Woophyin 2007 but only got active some 20 months ago. I am an autodidact but at present I am attending some photocourses.
I enjoy going out on photographic shootouts and almost always run into special occasions or situations that make it a wonderful experience.
My photogear is an Olympus starters' equipment and most of my work is taken with the kit's lenses.
I only practise limited editing in Picasa an Photoscape. The reason is partly practical: I find picturetaking much more attractive than processing at the PC but I also do not have much affinity with clearly Photoshopped pics. In short: I prefer Realism and Impressionism to the Phantasy world! Another feature of my way of working is that my pics - in general - can still be enlarged. Something that is not so common anymore (unfortunately)
I have no special message or mission to convey but I am already very satisfied if I can make a minor appeal to the emotions of the viewer with nice scenes from real life and beautiful places at home and abroad. Beautiful pictures can be taken everywhere if you choose the right place and the right moment.
My motto: Step out and see!
From my portfolio - reduced recently - I selected 20 samples of pictures for reviewing, I think they are representative of my portfolio. I deliberately only took two of them from my 20 highest rated pics as rating is not relevant for this purpose.
I split them into three categories: 1. Human Interest 2. Landscapes and views 3. City life and miscellaneous
I hope I can improve my work further in the future and look forward to your welcome remarks and critical approach!
Thanks
Jan
1.1. 
1.2. 
1.3. 
1.4. 
1.5. 
1.6. 
1.7. 
2.1. 
2.2. 
2.3. 
2.4. 
2.5. 
2.6. 
2.7. 
3.1. 
3.2. 
3.3. 
3.4. 
3.5. 
3.6. 
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TBM
Member
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# Posted: 4 Oct 09 15:14 - Edited by: TBM
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Dear Jan,
I must admit that for a long time I did not find your portfolio very interesting. There are quite a few pictures of yours that I liked very much, of course, but, as a whole, your portfolio did not capture my attention very much.
Only lately I started watching your pictures with a different eye, and this brings me to appreciate them more and more.
Probably this happens because your pictures are of very "classic" style (like mine, I suppose, or at least I hope...).
Other members have a very special and personal style - Ruden or Geert, just to mention two who have already shown their galleries; while your pictures, in a sense, are the typical images that a very skilled and sensitive amateur is supposed to take on holidays, or going around in his town.
It takes a bit to the viewer to realize that, among these “ very good” pictures, there are many pearls.
In my opinion, there are 2 features that make some of your pictures really outstanding.
The first one is your attention to people.
You have divided your selection into 3 groups, but I think that 2 classes - people and landscapes - would be enough. One could even say that no distinction is necessary, because many of your landscapes are, indeed, scenes of people in an environment rather than landscapes (the crossing of the Moroccan river, the family group on the dam, even the people looking down to the Norwegean fjord: which is the real subject, the place or the people?).
Well, what I like, in your people pictures, is that your look on the humans is always a very empathic one. The look of a person who cares, if I may say so. In plain words: “a loving look”
There is a picture in your selection I really love, and it is the Lady on the Swing... no, it is not that lady’s outstanding bosom that attracts me so much, but her eyes, full of joy like a little girl’s. A little detail that makes this picture completely different from the hundreds usually taken at the canal parade.
The second feature is the light.
Some of your pictures show a special light, that paints the subjects and the background of the same tone and gives the image an amazing impact. The colour range becomes very narrow, and this makes the picture so strong that the viewer gets the impression of being physically in front of the scene.
A good example of this is that wonderful composition in red and brown named “Careful tread” (1.6).
But I have found many more examples in your portfolio:
A studio in green:
A kite that just won't stay inside the image:
A Sumo fighter
Ok, I must go now. Coming back soon with the criticism.....
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josecps
Member
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# Posted: 4 Oct 09 16:41
Reply
20 pics. 15 with human visible presence. first of all, quality with use of tecnics. then, a very good eye to catch the moment: 1.1. to 1.5, 3.4 and 3.6.
3.4. is a master peace: good healthy well presented girl, a camera women and bubbles!!... no more needed!!
extraordinary compo on 1.7! red and blue makes the pic a must!
splendid brown for old back man pic!
great sense of humour: 1.3 and 3.6!
my reverves to 2.3. - great potentiality but hard to find an effective goos result.
byblic: 2.4.
( à suivre)
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josecps
Member
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# Posted: 4 Oct 09 16:44
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lol: master piece!!
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TBM
Member
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# Posted: 4 Oct 09 18:16 - Edited by: TBM
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... and now, a bit of healthy constructive criticism.
From a technical point of view, many your pictures are far from perfection.
Sometimes details are overexposed (the whites in 2.3 or in the green figure), sometimes the picture is slightly underexposed and/or the contrast should be adjusted (1.2, 1.3, 3.1). Also the colours sometimes seem a bit unnatural, as if you had forced saturation (the blue in many landscapes, for instance).
But all these are minor flaws you will certainly learn to fix through editing.
The bigger problem, IMO, is about composition.
I know that a good composition with moving subjects (as, luckily, are human beings) is tricky.
(that's why my favourite subject is a mountain).
And sometimes, there is not much you can do if you are not lucky enough to shoot in the "perfect" instant. For instance, 1.7 is a great picture, an image from another age. But, not to speak of that disturbing lampost, it is such a pity that the man's head is aligned to the doorway in the background....
Some other times, instead, it is the crop that is not perfect.
Sometimes the subject is too much on the center of the image (our fat photographer, or the odd couple in 1.4: and also the horizon in this beautiful landscape:
Another mistake you do often is placing a subject that is "going away" from the frame (the dog in 2.3, the woman in 1.5).
Last, often the crop is too tight aroud the subject: for instance in 1.6 I wish there was more space around the old man's figure, and I think that also Our Lady of the Bubbles would be happier with a bit more room on the right side....
So, my advice is:
1) accept the fact that evenings with PS are a toll you must pay for better pictures
2) taking pictures, try to keep your subject on a strong point of your WF. In doubt, leave as much space as you can around the scene, you will crop it perfectly when editing (I know that many photographers say that they compose the image directly in their WF, but I'm not sure they tell the truth...)
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geert geenen
Member
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# Posted: 4 Oct 09 23:18
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Hello Jan,
My favourites of the selection you’ve made are in the second category, especially 2.1, 2.2., 2.4 and 2.7. Above all I like your real Dutch landscape-photo’s; your skies, fields, canals, windmills… Maybe they sometimes are a bit common place, but they are good, have a great atmosphere. And the light and colours generally are very good (that counts for you complete portfolio).
You’re a real ambassador of the province (Noord-Holland) you live in. But many other landscape photo’s (from Morocco or Svalbard for instance) are excellent too.
TBM has written a lot about the technical quality of your photo’s. And about composition and cropping. I think he is (much more than I am) an expert in these areas. So I won’t say much about these subjects; only this: I agree with TBM’s remarks on 2.3.; but on the other side I often like your tight crops. For instance in the Canal Parade-series in your blog (but also in 3.6). Well done, is my opinion.
And about series: Canal Parade, Historical Festival Alkmaar and Bulb Fields I like very much. These are good photo-documents, good photo-journalism. Not the individual photo’s (although some of them are beauties), but the story-telling series is your strong point in this case. One and one becomes more than two.
Though I’d like to see more of these blog-photo’s in your Jan Hemels-section, instead of in the a little bit hidden Jan Blog-section.
There are other photo’s showing you have the eye of a documentary-photographer; the leather-workplace in Morocco (777205) for instance; one of my favourites (also aesthetically).
And you’ve got humour. See 1.3, 3.4 and 3.6. Funny situations; and you have been so clever to take a photo. Good work.
Very important too: you always provide the right explaining words when posting a photo.
And this one I like very much:
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la rafale
Member
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# Posted: 6 Oct 09 12:42
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hello, Jan,
first, you said your port-folio was recently reduced: I rather would say drastically expurgated ! I don't know which were your criterias for the selection but I miss at least one or two shots of tulips fields, so representative of your country (and i remember some very good items from you) ; on another hand, imo, you did well to reduce the number ( some were repetitive)
my opinion is that you made a lot of progres since you began to post on Woophy ;
your shots were always of a very good level, above all,great sharpness and light control ( and fine light use , advantage for a early bird  ) but,now (i would say a few monthes ago), your compo are better (i bet you wouldn't post anymore your compo "on 3 levels" just as it is but would try to get ,and i know you're very patient,the same shot with more space in front of the dog) and more various , with a part expressing your sense of humor: that's always cool .
imo,the reproach on your 2.3 is justified but can't be applied to your 1.5 because this one was more a snapshot with an opportunity that you were sure not to have again (difficult to take candids in this country,except if you have a very good zoom)
in fine, my fav in your selection are
 because it's a sample of the beautiful dutsch landscapes you offer us ( and don't forget that Woophy is international and many of the users are astonished by these fields,mills and so on .. than us by oriental temples or US skyscrapers )
and  for its happiness and compo, still in your country ! so, please, keep on being a great Netherlands reporter 
best regards,
brigitte
ps: your blogs are always well documented, as well by pics than by explanations :don't forget the topic " it's allowed to promote your blogs here" !
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Dieuwertje
Member
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# Posted: 6 Oct 09 17:38
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Well Jan what shall I say........mmm, the only thing that comes in my mind is............
I just like them all
Sorry that's all 
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tiswas
Member
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# Posted: 7 Oct 09 08:43
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Jan,
Throughout the time I have known you I would find it hard to fault your work ...having said that I would have said you had the perfect scenery to go and shoot excellent landscapes, but haven't we all?
You were in my eye, always going to be great with lanscapes ....then suddenly a change came over your work you moved into a new dimension, you went into people, character shots and to my amazement you have a wonderful collection you have shown to us.
I am not going to be selective of any of your work because I believe you have got an amazing portfolio and I feel privileged to know you......thank you for giving inspiration to other lesser "mortals" so to speak.......I like what you do and what you achieve with plain simple programmes and a moderate camera as you say yourself.
Your work in blogs also is interesting because you do explain it well.
Keep sharing your work with us.
Billy
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Zeeg
Member
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# Posted: 8 Oct 09 13:39
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Hi Jan,
Browsing your selection and also your other pictures, I can feel your interest mostly in two 2 types of subjects: landscapes and people, possibly in strange or unusual situations. And many of these photos are interesting and show curiosity and attention to the world.
- Good expressions, well caught on 1.1 and 1.2
- 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and 3.6 : funny situations or contrasts very well seen.
- However, I don't like so much the staging of misery or suffering that is IMO too present here (to move to pity? - 1.1, 1.2, 1.6 and 1.7)
-2.1 classical landscape but beautiful light and good composition
- 2.5 Nice light and good editing with colors
- 3.4 Scene with "sparkling life", very spontaneous - Excellent presence of bubbles and the photographer.
Other photos in this selection are for me more ordinary and doesn't attract me so much.
Technically, the main criticism that I would make is the composition: often not enough "air" aound some characters or key elements (examples: 1.4 - 1.5 - 2.3) or too centered frames (2.2) or unbalanced (3.2) which give weaker pictures.
Same for example with this excellent colors patchwork but devalued by a horizon line right in the middle of the photo and a huge empty sky. 
On the opposite, the composition is much better here and emphasize this magnificent dune landscape with an expressive sky.
Carry on Jan with your curiosity to the world.
Greetings, Zeeg
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Ruden Fretsbo
Member
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# Posted: 9 Oct 09 20:00 - Edited by: Ruden Fretsbo
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Hi Jan!
I must recognize that for a long time I didn't have a look in your collection. This is because I don't like so so much the type of pictures that I would define as "postcards"... (yes, I know that probably I'm not in the appropriate website saying this... but it's true). But thanks to this workshop I had the ocasion to look again and I must say I'm really surprised. Specially about people's pictures and street shots. They look really great, Jan! I think there is a clear evolution in your photographic skills and your interests in the last year, and imo you really improved a lot. Ok, I'll try to tell you some more concrete things:
- You upload only quality pictures in terms of sharpness, contrast, colour and focussing. This is really a good thing, not very common, unfortunately, in woophy.
- Your edition work is really nice, not very creative (let's say it like this) but on the other hand you never go too far away (as sometimes I do) and this is also good.
- Your street shots are interesting, a good document of a life style.
- You have a good photographic eye, I like the way you compose pictures.
- Your portfolio is not too large, you made a very good selection.
- I'd like to see some times a little more creative edition... Yes, Jan, I know this is not your style, but you could just try one day, hehehe... even with the risk of going too far away! I think you could do a very good work, really.
- I think you should be more brave (or more discreet... hehehe) when shooting some people... For instance pic 781759 or pic 794839 would be much much better if the people were not back to us...
What more can I say? I think that you and me have a very different conception of photography, so it's difficult for me to say more things. I can tell you, anyway, that for me you are a very good photographer and I want to write again that I'm really surprised about your last work and I really like it! On the other hand, I don't like so much "postcards", but this is probably not because your skills but because of my personal taste.
A big hug!
Ruden
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Martin de Rijk
Member
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# Posted: 10 Oct 09 11:00
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Hallo Jan,
It took me some time to figure out what to write about your pictures. I know we only see a fraction of your production here on Woophy, you shoot a lot but the upload is limited. The pictures we get to see are almost always of high quality. Reading Rudens comments I must say I have to agree with him. The thing I miss most in your collections are pictures that surprise me because they are different, different from your usual shots. Beside your streetshots wich I like most, I often get the feeling your playing it safe. You realy know how to make a landscape, but I would like to see you try something else, something different. Looking at some of your series one can tell you have a good eye for details and situations.
Maybe a little more creativity in the sence of a bit more unusual, not standard composition angle, POV etc. would make your portfolio more surprising and interesting to see.
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Abílio Silveira
Member
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# Posted: 11 Oct 09 18:22
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Jan:
You show the beauty of your country and other countries with a very good sense of composition and you’re technically perfect. I once told you you should be nominated Minister of Tourism or, at least, receive a prize from your government for the work you've been doing. Your landscapes truely represent the Woophy spirit.
You feel as comfortable in the desert  as you do in a glacier 
Your portraits: You have some very good like  or 
And your sense of humor is also revealed through your pictures. Like others said before, I also wished you could make something different, more daring (you did with some pictures of the Canal Parade, but you kept them hidden in your secret identity).
Being technically perfect, having a good eye for pictures, being intelligent, what do you need to expand? I wished you were not afraid of the night and I also wished you gave us some black and white interpretations of your world. Maybe, maybe, you could not worry so much about others's opinions and be yourself. Unless you are absolutely satisfied with what you're doing (but, in that case, you would not be in this forum, would you?)
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Izydor
Member
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# Posted: 11 Oct 09 21:04
Reply
As I view Woophy now, I can say, Jan, that your photos embody its spirit perfectly. You show the world around you in such a way that I feel urged to visit it. Thank you so much for this! However, I can feel that you are striving to explore some other areas beyond where you have proved to be a very careful and knowledgeable driver and you show that you have sensitivity. What more can we expect from a conscientious amateur photographer? I'm with you, Jan!
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kit-tay
Member
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# Posted: 11 Oct 09 21:41
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Hi Jan,
Hope it's not too late. I've been away for most of the week, just now catching up...
It's very hard to critique such a great portfolio. You have a great sense of light and natural beauty, and I quite support your affinity for realism. To me, your landscapes are just excellent.
As for the street photography: it's often very interesting and you manage to catch funny or interesting moments. I know how difficult it is to find the right moment shooting people in the streets, but it's not always suitable to have people with their back to you. Sometimes it's part of the 'story' behind the picture, but sometimes it's just ... a bad moment. (I find it often in my own pictures, as well.. sadly). Other times I find your street shots a bit too crowded. A crowd of people distracts my eye from what you wanted to capture and relay in your photo.
I'll keep it short. I probably don't have any constructive advice, because I'm making the same mistakes myself. Just keep on mastering, you're doing remarkably well
Cheers,
Julia
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Cloudbuster
Member
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# Posted: 12 Oct 09 10:10
Reply
Jan, hi
My turn to be strict!
My main impressions, and as always only imo:
One thing that sometimes comes back to your photos is this: The motif in 1.1 is pointing out of the photo/leaving. The space behind the motif is uninteresting and could very well be cropped away and it would be better to give more room in front of his finger instead. One of the first things I learned is to give a photo more life. As an example: A car driving from the left to the right should be place close to the left side. Maybe about 1/3 into the photo. The same goes with people watching something unless you want to add drama. Let them watch into the photo instead of out of it.
The same goes with 1.3 - 1.4 - 1.5 - 2.3 and 3.4. Let them move into the photo and remove the empty and uninteresting space behind them.
One thing that is difficult and needs practice to work is also something I need to work with. Try to be tougher when shooting people. A face is much more interesting than a persons back.
You have some very good photos, but I'm afraid cropping shows up again.
I do like 3.4 very much with all the details and life. A wonderful life like photo but she is going downwards when looking at where she looks and how her hair is blowing. More space in the way she is moving would be very nice. She is moving down, but there is a lot of uninteresting space above her. Cropping away the top, and give more to the bottom and maybe right part without removing the woman with the camera would make this one of the best photos on Woophy imo.
2.1 is also very nice and if I never watched it full size it would imo be great, but in full size it is obvious something or someone is stirring up the water. What is it?..
2.5 is all good imo, but what makes it even better is the description that follows! Very well done!
2.7 I live in Norway, but has never been to Geiranger. A shame! Seeing this photo forces me to go! Again, Very well presented!
Cheers
Vidar
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zoidberg
Moderator
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# Posted: 13 Oct 09 22:06
Reply
Hi Jan,
as you probably know, you are one of the my favorite photographers in woophy. I use to visit and comment your pictures and my comments are ever honest, be sure that I'm not scratching your back! In fact, some days after I joined woophy last year I was absolutely impressed with this picture of yours  . When I saw this picture you were immediately added to my favorite members!
About your selection,
I have nothing but praise for your landscapes and object compositions. Pictures as  (an amazing view, light and composition, I love it), ,  ,  (what a view! what a compo! what a light!) and  I think they are absolutely perfect.
About your people's pictures I have a contradictory opinion. I think it's a very nice thing that you lately are uploading more people pictures than before (windmills are not everything in life! ) but on the other way my humble opinion is that you can do them better. This doesn't means they are bad pictures, for example I have nothing bad to say about  ,  or  . But other pictures as  , ,  I don't find them special… If I have to answer to the suggested question by Abílio, maybe I can say that you must improve your people's pictures. Try to catch them more closely. I think it's a difficult suggestion that can be suggested to the 95% of us, obviously me included. But I think that, inside this 95% of woophians you are one of the members that can do it really better.
Finally, I want to post some pictures not included in your selection that I completely love:  ,  and  .
Cheers!
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Bluesbuster
Member
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# Posted: 14 Oct 09 16:48
Reply
Hi Jan,
I think I'm turning out to be a bad participant in this workshop, always late and with little to add to what others already mentioned. Anyway, here are my 5 cent...
To me 'Jan Hemels' is always associated with pictures with a constant real good level of quality in light, sharpness and composition. I'm pretty sure you hardly ever just point and shoot but take your time to think about the pictures you want to take. Looking at your clean and well organized workspace I can imagine you want your mind just to be in the same state before you push the shutter. The result is that among your landscapes there are frequently real pearls and that your street photography or scenes with people frequently seem to miss some emotion (1.3 and 3.6 are the proof you can do different).
As a conclusion; to me it looks like you are technically skilled to know what it takes to take a decent photo but you like to play it safe and that leaves you with a portofolio full of quality but with little excitement.
kind regards
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Mac Leitao
Member
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# Posted: 17 Oct 09 19:56
Reply
Hello Jan
Sorry for the delay, but I have a kind of job that don't let me much time this last weeks (happilly...) So I only comment when I have time. Now is the day.
I had look to your portfolio and as I said before in the comments in the photos, directly, I like it. You have a good eye to look and see what surrounds you. You have reason. A photo could be good if we know the angle to look.
I like mostly in your photos (not only in these 20) the light, the tones, the sharpness and the way you can catch people. The human element is always present. Also the places you visit and the way you show them.
In termes of technique I apreciate also the "pure" photo, not very much worked in the software. However sometimes is dificult to achieve a good result and you manage that.
You take your time to consider the best angle, the best aperture and shutter speed. I do not think your photos are snapshots of opportunity, one second and they gone, but rather, always well thought out. Your photos also convey a sense of calm, and are nice to look at.
Manuel
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Richt
Member
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# Posted: 4 Nov 09 15:47
Reply
Hei Jan,
I was almost finished with my comments on your selection...and than I give a wrong order..
so I delete everything and have to start again......I`m not happy!!!!
Human interest.
1.1 Good pict. of a streetfestival. Expression in the face, he plays it very well and you showed it us very good
1.2Two woman real interested in each other, great!
1.3 Fun, humour!
1.4 2 cultures, man-woman, telephone-lipstick: great contrast
1.5 woman with child goiing out of the pict., not a great composition , perhaps the title is a little insinuated?
1.6A great catch! Very good compo and colours. A warm portrait of an old man
1.7 very nice colours in this interesting streetscene
Landscapes and vieuws
2.1 a very clear shot, sharp from begin to the end, nice reflection, splendid landscapes vieuw
2.2Excellent shot, one of my fav.
2.3not a good composition, the dog walks out of the pict.
2.4 Marvellous scene 'crossing the river', interesting vieuw, clear, sharp and well composed
2.5Excellent
2.6Wonderful light , magnificent photo with all those ducks, geese and swans!
2.7Excellent landscape vieuw! Well composed by the people in the front and with dept and perspective!
Citylife and miscellaneous
3.1Wonderful play with sun and shadow, interesting "looktrough" and the smoke completed it qua atmosphere!
3.2Great action shot, the smoke gives it a special effect
3.3Excellent still life,composition, light, collours all is perfect!
3.4Very well caught, just the right moment, funny shot
3.5Very interesting shot with many details, nice light
3.6Funny and good streetscene
Jan, you have a very "careful" portpholio and I am a great fan of your landscape photo`s!
Most of your photo`s are a "lust voor het oog"
Kind regards,
Richt
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