| Author |
Message |
Dieneke Boonstra
Member
|
# Posted: 27 Feb 10 19:30
Reply
Reply Quote
IF YOU WANT TO TAKE PART IN THE WORKSHOP PLEASE READ CAREFULLY THE RULES BELOW:
1. Join the workgroup in this link: http://www.woophy.com/forum/12_4440_0.html . 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, color, 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 welcome, 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 4 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.
End of 2005 we (husband, two boys and me) moved from Diemen to Sellingen.Since then I became interested in taking pictures, but it lasted till last October before I made it my hobby.For my birthday I've got my camera and started to try and shoot...
My mother (Dieuwertje) encouraged me to go on Woophy and I'm thankful for that.It's super to see all those pictures from so many different country's!
I've seen all of your portofolio's, I'm impressed by them and really enjoyed looking everyone of them! My portofolio isn't as various as I want it to be, so be patient...
I've a lot to learn, don't know much about photography yet, so I hope that you all can help me by giving comments, critics and advise! Thanks in advance , Dieneke
01 
02 
03 
04 
05 
06 
07 
08 
09 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
|
chevylady
Member
|
# Posted: 27 Feb 10 21:03
Reply
Hi Dieneke,
1. I love the composition and the colors its wonderfull
2. great shot of all those birds love the little piece of land you have at the bottom
3. Nice piece of ice good colors but not my picture
4. Nice composition
5. Nice view maybe if mirror would be nice people read from left to right
6. Great colored glass and plant growing and reflection
7. great view very nice as well the framing icy 2
8. Nice tower but rather have the whole church
9. Great picture learning how to iceskate wonderfull action
10 Great B/W cat love the composition
11. Can i come and ride great shot
12. Wonderfull reflection perfect
13 Ver nice with the colors of the tree wonderfull
14. Perfect color and pervect flower well done (i love the framing in same color) great
15 Sorry you cut of the roof it wasn't necessary
16. Great macro well done try to let her turn a little more to see more of the eye
17.awww this stole my heart so perfect colors so sad absolute wonderfull
18 Nice picture nice composition
19.Absolute wonderfull macro's well done
20 verdy good macro great shot well seen
Youre much better then you think you are great portofolio
|
ortho158
Member
|
# Posted: 28 Feb 10 18:27
Reply
Hi Dieneke,
first, let me say that I am impressed by the overall quality of your pics (exposure, lighting, sharpness, ...). On the improvement side, I think that you should pay more attention to the composition, and I find some of your pics too 'soft' (examples below).
The ones I prefer are   
 Too many elements, IMO. What am I supposed to look at: the wall with vine, the reflections, the stained glass?
 Good framing, but too many branches, which are rather distracting.
 Also too many branches. When I see it large, I have to scroll downwards (as it is bigger than my screen), and I would like to scroll further down, meaning, that I expect to see more of the bottom part of the church.
 Not sure the white balance is correct (too grey); the kid is too centered.
 Good graphism, but too soft (the histogram is empty on the left); a good candidate for b&w.
 Like I already said on your mother's portfolio, I like flowers, but they don't necessarily make outstanding pics (or, to take a similar example, Mona Lisa deserves a 5, but not necessarily a pic of the painting). IMO, good flower pics need to have something special, and I don't find that here (by the way, this applies to nearly all flower pics on Woophy). I find the pic not very sharp (maybe it's intentional?), and there are annoying white spots.
 I don't like the compo: too much grass, too much roof, birds too centered.
 An excellent idea but, as Chevylady said, it would have been better with the eye more visible. Too soft for me: the histogram is too centered, and doesn't cover the full range.
 Very good, but I find the image unbalanced: the bird is very close to the top, and there may be too much of the egg (I would crop a bit of the bottom).
 I think that the white balance is not right: too blue.
In spite of these critiques, let me say, again, that I like your pics. But there is something that puzzles me: why are there so few pics with persons in your portfolio? (and I am not meaning your selection here, but your full portfolio on Woophy).
|
|
Dieneke Boonstra
Member
|
# Posted: 28 Feb 10 20:09
Reply
@ Ortho : Thanks for your critics, they're very welcome! In answer on your question : as I explained above, my portofolio isn't yet as various as I want it to be.In time there will be more different scenes, I'm just started...That's the reason!
@Chevylady : Thanks for your comments, also much appreciated!
|
erwinG
Member
|
# Posted: 7 Mar 10 12:25
Reply
Hello Dieneke,
It is nice to have you with us on Woophy.
I reviewed your pictures and like to give you some comments and critques.
1) mystical picture, good tree silhouettes. The sloping tree trunks that are caused by the wide angle object do not interfere in this picture. The difficult lighting conditions very well captured. I like this picture very much.
2) dynamic picture in brown tones. Unfortunately the grass layer in the foreground is more like a frame than a third layer. I would have wished that part taking more place in the picture, but not cropping that would harm the picture.
3) nice sculpture but with an unsuitable background. More imagination about what that sculpture could be with a simple if possible dark background.
4) and 5) nice composed pictures. I prefer number 5) because of the existing ground layer. In picture 5) the small tree in the foreground should have more space around it.
6) well seen this comparision old to new. The absorptions through the wide lens disturb me more than in the figure 1). I could imagine taking the picture with a standard lens.
7) vey nice landscape with that frame of branches. Good reflection and overall composition. You cannot change the sky, because it is almost to white for this already snowy winter picture. (I do not like the frame, sorry)
8 ) sharp picture, but a bit to much set in the middle. I do not think that the small frame you put to the picture is necessary, the natural frame of branches on this picture is sufficient and certainly better.
10) good b&w picture. Nice grey tones and good composition. We see on the cat, how well it tastes.
12) and 13) lovely winter pictures with nice details. Water reflections, snowcovered boats and trees show us a very varied landscape. I like the combination of the brown tones of the trees and the water in comparison to the white of the snow.
14) Flower pictures that are skillfully taken I really appreciate. (Even if it is not fully welcomed to Woophy). Your rose is for me like a painting. I would have set the center more to the left. The colour is great and and even the slightly blurred pleases me well on this image.
16) I do not understand to much of portrait photography, but this picture is very much impressing me. Great macro picture with fine choosen colour and very special composition. Still the frame is not necessary for me or if you make a frame I would prefer a smaller one. Congratulations for this very succeded picture.
17) Documentary photo. (only the egg is a little bit to large for that bird). Frequent fate of these small European songbirds, which are often caught by cats.
19) Nice photo composition , a pity that the blossom of the snowdrops was cropped. Fortunately you catched our native European ladybirds with the seven points on it. Because many Asian species displace more and more of our native ladybirds.
Like with your mother your pictures show, that it is fun for you taking photographs. The selection of your pictures and the subjects are at your heart. Go on like that, I wish you all the best.
Regards
Erwin
|
Jan Hemels
Moderator
|
# Posted: 8 Mar 10 13:58
Reply
Dear Dieneke,
As a relative recent starter you already have a portfolio to be proud of !
Of course there are some shortcomings in every picture (like in mine) but quite a few of them could be dealt with by serious editing.
Some of your pics need reducing of highlights and/or lighting up of dark/shadowing parts, very easy to do in most software.
My favourites are 1, 12, 19 and 20, your macro's show you have the ability to produce technically good pictures.
The weak points have already been pointed out very well by Erwin and Alain so there is no need to repeat them.
Going through you full portfolio I see you have a good eye for photo opportunities. To reach more in your hobby I would advise you to join a photocourse and maybe get yourself a real DSLR Camera!
|
zoidberg
Moderator
|
# Posted: 10 Mar 10 00:27
Reply
Hi Dieneke,
well, here I am with my opinion about your pictures. From my amateur point of view, of course!
I won't repeat about the diversity of your subjects, I also started with lots of nature pictures and now my subjects are most of the times very different.
I see that you try to compose your pictures with a very good eye. for example  , , , and , although it's true that they could be improved with a more accurate edition, looking specially for the histogram and contrast (two of my usual mistakes before this workshop, I hope improved now  )
About your flowers, pets and mushrooms pictures I agree with Alain's opinion, they have to be special in some way (not as usual in woophy). I think I said on some other gallery that I think a great flower picture needs a very high photographic skills, and something special as Alain said.
About , that I think is a picture you like very much, I don't really like the edition, too blurry… but the shot is wonderful, just I think it needs a very different edition… And, as a very personal opinion, I don't like the frame at all… I'm sorry 
About it's quite unpleasant for me… I see that poor bird and it blocks me a little to see the documentary intention of the shot… maybe with a different pov… or a macro cropping the legs… not sure...
My favorite in this selection is the first one , I love the light coming from the horizon that you managed very well, also the blue of the sky and the trees looking at the sun. I think it's a great picture 
Cheers!
|
la rafale
Member
|
# Posted: 11 Mar 10 11:45
Reply
let me on or two days more
|
|
la rafale
Member
|
# Posted: 14 Mar 10 17:20
Reply
hi, Dieneke,
and first, excuse me for being so late !
well, it was a bit difficult for me to criticize your selection because I'm more interested by social shots than by landscapes or nature and your port-folio, at the moment, is more built with the second kind of pictures ;
anyway, i'll try
my favs among your selection are 1, 3, 10,11 and 20
1 is a very good compo and I like the dark light in it ;
3 attracts me because it's very special as well subject than background with the red coat, frame that imo fits well ; anyway, I can't find what is the ice-statue meaning
10 i'm not fond of cats but this shot is really cute, I like the B&W use and the close-up is sharp
11 a good and sympathetic joyful shot, unusual for me ; a "fresh" one !
20 a beautiful macro well done ( i'm totally unable to do that! )
the others landscapes are less interesting to me ;
about your collage (n°19) , maybe it could be nicer :imo, the snowdrop has a too dark background/ladybird shots and it's cut ( just this part isn't my taste)
17 : as many others, i think the egg is too big / the bird ; it was a good idea but not entirely succesfull
16: here too, i think as the others the pov could be better and also the editing is too blurred for me ; the kid's profile is really lovely , the soft tones are good but it lacks a "little something" to be an excellent pic.
I hope I have not offended you with my opinion , it wasn't at all the purpose !
now, I'm waiting for your next posts , as I read on your answer to Ortho you're on the way to enlarge your gallery
best regards,
brigitte
|
|
Dieneke Boonstra
Member
|
# Posted: 14 Mar 10 21:43
Reply
Thanks to all for the critics and comments! I really appriciate all the tips and try to learn from them.Also in new uploaded pics I like to have critics and tips! I'll never be offended.
Thanks for your time!
Greetings Dieneke
|
geert geenen
Member
|
# Posted: 15 Mar 10 21:19
Reply
hello dieneke,
my favourite from your selection is this one:
beautiful composition and light and darks parts; the dark and naked branches in the foreground vs the tiny tree in the background; chapeau!
other photo's i like most from your selected 20, are tree-pictures too:
  
all three are well composed, show nice lines and have a special atmosphere.
for me these four photo's are your best ones, that you show us here.
number 2, 5, 6 and 13 are nice. and 19 is a good post-card.
but to be honest (that's what this forum-topic is meant for): a lot of your other pictures don't charm or surprise or please me that much.
concerning the numbers 7 and 8: the idea, point of view and subject are good, but these branches (too much) are spoiling what i want to see.
the reason why other pics don't please me very much, is the subject. there already are too much cats, flowers etcetera on woophy, i think. when the photo is very special, okay. some of Lena's photo's for example i like very much. exceptions to the rule (my rule), i suppose. and your number 20 perhaps is an exception too; the colours are very good.
i'm an amateur myself, so it's difficult for me to give you technical advices. others can do that much better.
i'd like to see more photo's of Sellingen for instance. this village must have a church, perhaps a windmill, or some nice farms... festivals, people in the street... some more Woophy-photo's that tell more about a special place on this earth. (a critics that's not only concerning your work, but 90 percent of what i see on this site; so maybe this is not the right place...). and i'm sure there is a lot to come from you.
and yes, i'm full of contradictions. this is one of your pics i like very much:
,
|
|
Dieneke Boonstra
Member
|
# Posted: 31 Mar 10 10:03
Reply
First of all I want to thank all the members that took part in this topic and comment my pictures!
But to be honest I'm a bit disappointed by the amount of criticers.I took the time to watch all the portofolio's of the members that participated and expected that in return.
Maybe it's because my portofolio wasn't much attractive, feel free to say so! Or some other reasons...
In the meantime you can see that my portofolio is changing and becoming more various, as planned.Hope you appreciate and give me honest critics on these pictures, so I can become a better photographer...
By the way I noticed that my pics of drops etc. are getting more comments and rates then pics. from different objects How come????
And I also noticed that pics. from for instance the daily life in Ghana isn't getting much attion, although woophy is about sharing life from allover the world...Maybe sometimes the quality isn't perfect but the scenes and views are, imo.
Hope to hear from you all in the comments,
Greetings Dieneke
|
Zeeg
Member
|
# Posted: 31 Mar 10 13:00 - Edited by: Zeeg
Reply
Dear Dienieke,
I feel concerned by your words ....
But the question is I'm not really active for the moment and concerning this workshop I'm very late (maybe 5 or 6 portfolios late, and hard to catch up). I apologize to the concerned people...
I can say seriously it's not because of the quality or the interest of your pics that I did'nt critcize yet your gallery.
In short you have a nice and pleasant portfolio, with pictures made with a generally good technical quality, composed with care and on a variety of subjects.
On the other hand, don't be too much desappointed by the fact that you have criticized some portfolios and didn't receive comments in return. I experienced the same and I never wait for a comment in return when I put a comment on someone's pic. But I can understand your question and your frustration.
Regards, Zeeg
|
Online now: Guests - 2 Members - 3