Critique challenge (not a contest, but a work shop)

[Ben Egbert]

As a way to hone our critique skills, I offer this challenge. The object is to identify and isolate those things that make an image compelling or even outstanding.

I don’t pretend to be expert at this, so what I offer is just a few things I look for, feel free to add your own.

The image as shot.

Is it a compelling scene? Does the light and other factors of the image grab your attention. Or should it just go to the scrap heap?

Are the colors and sharpness and contrast up to par?

Is the composition good, should some items be excluded or more items included?

The image as processed.

Is it over or under processed?

How are shadows and highlights handled?

Should it be brighter or darker

Here is an image chosen from my gallery to use as a subject.

 

[JimFox]

Great idea Ben, I just got back from hiking to 11,000 feet, so I will comment later.

 

[Darcy Grizzle]

Being the amateur I am I will try but probably won't be any good at this. 1st thing I notice is the beautiful cloud but it looks a little to pink. The next thing is the rest of the scene looks too blue to me. So I think maybe a little warmer. I don't mind the composition & the sharpness & contrast look good to my eye. I am used to seeing desert scenes like this living in Las Vegas, so to me it is beautiful. And maybe a slight vignetting would compliment. ( don't delete me hahahah)

 

[Darcy Grizzle]

And the orange ribbons in the middle might benefit from a little dodge & burn (not that I can do that though I try)

 

[Ben Egbert]

Darcy, good going on this. I am not planning on fixing stuff, the image was just to have a subject for critique, Your comments are spot on and what I hope to get out of this, which is a chance for all of us to learn by critiquing images. We tend to give each other a pass on the other forums, here we need to offer honest critique.