Rate this picture

[RockTracXJ]

1-10, I say 9.7

What say you?

http://a.imageshack.us/img198/7103/201008160556.jpg

[POSJ]

The picture is awesome the quality sucks, what camera did you use?

[RockTracXJ]

The picture is awesome the quality sucks, what camera did you use?

Digital Rebel XTi. What makes you say the quality sucks?

[kndrewa]

looks good!

[POSJ]

Maybe just the upload, looks like the rocks are pixely(yeah I made it up). Post a link to the fullsize image for me.

[rocknxj]

I like it, but I'd use the 2/3 rule and put the Jeep off to one side and pan out a bit. The eye is confused by the action of the waterfall above as it naturally moves from left to right and left again when contemplating the content within the photo. Also, the contrast is a bit troubling. I know you want the Jeep as the main subject, but it blends into the background too much and the abrupt edge of the gravel road is disconcerting. I also agree with the previous comment regarding pixelation.

I rate the Jeep a 10+, however.

[jakeWI]

8. great looking picture. love the colors. agree with setting the xj in more of an appealing spot in the frame

[RockTracXJ]

I like it, but I'd use the 2/3 rule and put the Jeep off to one side and pan out a bit. The eye is confused by the action of the waterfall above as it naturally moves from left to right and left again when contemplating the content within the photo. Also, the contrast is a bit troubling. I know you want the Jeep as the main subject, but it blends into the background too much and the abrupt edge of the gravel road is disconcerting. I also agree with the previous comment regarding pixelation.

I rate the Jeep a 10+, however.

Wow, that's quite the critique! Yes, the Jeep to the side a bit more would be good. I think there is good contrast with the black Jeep and green background. Also, as a bit of background, I had to tell my brother to back his Jeep out of my shot and I had to get the shot quick before the next group of tourists pulled up, hopped out, and started milling about, so my composition time was pretty limited. The falls in the background are Bridal Veil Falls near Telluride.

How about this one, Jeep's to the side a bit more and a bit darker exposure - I think a bit more menacing.
http://a.imageshack.us/img10/4159/201008160557.jpg

Here's some high-res for you:
http://a.imageshack.us/img828/7103/201008160556.jpg

[Letterman]

Nice shot but I would agree to put the jeep on one side, you could just crop it over:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/dlddesign/PhotoShop/RateFix1.jpg

Remember to have the Subject, in this case the Jeep, facing into the frame! Not leaving the photo!

[Letterman]

Some very fast photoshop work, but you can see where it is going:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/dlddesign/PhotoShop/RateFix2.jpg

But it is a good shot, I would give it a five or a six out of ten.

[in4aride]

i know nothing about taking pics, but as someone looking, heres what i think...

shot is great, but jeep on other side of pic?..seems like all the action/interest if to the left of center and the right of center leaves you unsatisfied with just a couple random rocks and then trees that hold no value...


jeep on right, shot aimed higher to show origin of waterfall and more of an upward shot, will make the jeep seem alrger and lookin at teh waterfall will guid you to the jeep instead of the jeep and waterfall fighting for attention....


but thats just how i see it :dunno:

[MrShaft696]

there is a jeep in the way of that waterfall.

[asp]

In terms of exposure, I'd say it looks good. The only thing you could have done that would be cooler would be to do a 5 second or so exposure to get the milky effects of the waterfall flowing.

Lighting isn't bad, but the rocks by the waterfall are a little dark (maybe it's just my crappy monitor) and so is under the jeep. Some might like the reflection on the windshield. For some shots it works, for others it doesn't. I don't think it does in this one because the right edge of the windshield has rocks in it again. If it was all clouds I'd like it more.

Composition, as mentioned- follow the rule of thirds. Personally, I'd have turned front wheels straight ahead. I think it would look better for this shot.

Other than those things, it's sharp, good WB, and good contrast.

I hope you don't think I'm being harsh, but the phrase "rate my picture" can sometimes be an ego-punisher.

What settings did you use to take this camera/do you have the EXIF data?

I consider pictures that I rate at a 9 or above to be worthy of framing. I mean no offense to the photographer when I say that this one is not worthy of framing. I would give it a 5 overall. I don't consider knowing how to use the camera to be a variable of how good a picture is - you should know how to use what equipment you have (which it seems that you do)

[100K XJ]

I like the original picture a lot, I'd have to agree with in4aride that it would be better if you could see the origin of the falls, and/or crouch down and make the jeep seem larger. I'm not sure what was on the left side of the scene but maybe you could have included more of that. Looks good overall, I like the exposure. It would have been neat to see it with a longer shutter speed. I rate it as an 8.5

[RockTracXJ]

Some very fast photoshop work, but you can see where it is going:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/dlddesign/PhotoShop/RateFix2.jpg

But it is a good shot, I would give it a five or a six out of ten.

I do like those changes, they make the picture better. But at the same time it seems like something was lost. That's not a real picture anymore, it's some gray area of picture and creation. I think both can be good, but the purist in me wants the picture to remain as the camera captured it.

[RockTracXJ]

It seems there can be a couple of ways to rate:
1. Against other pics, the pics you generally see of Jeeps on here, other forums, from your buddies, etc. Using that I'd still say my pic stacks up well, at least in the 90th percentile.
2. Against the ideal, how is the composition, lighting, colors, background, etc. In that case, I'd probably give it a 7-8.

[asp]

One other thing I just noticed - The CB antenna. I'd photoshop that out. Also, the lighting looks much better on this monitor than it did the one I was on previously.

It seems there can be a couple of ways to rate:
1. Against other pics, the pics you generally see of Jeeps on here, other forums, from your buddies, etc. Using that I'd still say my pic stacks up well, at least in the 90th percentile.
2. Against the ideal, how is the composition, lighting, colors, background, etc. In that case, I'd probably give it a 7-8.
#1 - I agree. Most people have half-blurry crappy cell phone pics.

[Letterman]

I do like those changes, they make the picture better. But at the same time it seems like something was lost. That's not a real picture anymore, it's some gray area of picture and creation. I think both can be good, but the purist in me wants the picture to remain as the camera captured it.

I Agree 100%, it would need to be reshot like that.

I think it could be a better shot if it was to just moved over a little and like others have said get more of the falls in the shot.

Still the origional is a good shot, worth a nice frame and a spot on the wall.

[kndrewa]

so many shades of green!

[Handlebars]

All of us looove the photos we take of our own jeeps. As an exercise in objectivity imagine that photo was taken by a stranger and it is of a completely different vehicle, say a stock jeep. Now how do you like it? Another test is to see how it ages. Will you still love that photo as much in a year or two as you do right now, a mere week after you made it?
Also, as a bit of background, I had to tell my brother to back his Jeep out of my shot and I had to get the shot quick before the next group of tourists pulled up, hopped out, and started milling about, so my composition time was pretty limited. The falls in the background are Bridal Veil Falls near Telluride.

This tells me that your photo was one of several taken that day of the same scene with the main variation being the people or vehicle in the photo. You are more likely to wow your audience with a unique subject. It is not unique if you have to compete with the masses to get your photo. If your subject is common then making a pleasing composition with it will help it stand out. Groupings of 3 is always pleasing to the eye. Try cropping your photo as a vertical to create a group of 3. You will loose the spent flowers and fuzzy pines on the right side of your existing frame and create a nice, simple grouping of three for the eye to follow through your photo: jeep>single tree>waterfall. Simple is good, viewers do not have to work to enjoy your photo. :)

[Cottontail]

I saw that picture showed up on the Jeep XJ page on Facebooksomtime today.

[rocknxj]

Nice shot but I would agree to put the jeep on one side, you could just crop it over:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/dlddesign/PhotoShop/RateFix1.jpg

Remember to have the Subject, in this case the Jeep, facing into the frame! Not leaving the photo!

I do like this version.

[RockTracXJ]

I saw that picture showed up on the Jeep XJ page on Facebooksomtime today.

Really? What's that about?

[RockTracXJ]

I do like this version.

I'm liking it lots, might be frame worthy.

[RockTracXJ]

More falls for you.

With tree:
http://a.imageshack.us/img696/3711/201008160554b.jpg

Without:
http://a.imageshack.us/img689/4919/201008160554c.jpg

[RockTracXJ]

All of us looove the photos we take of our own jeeps.

Of course we do!

As an exercise in objectivity imagine that photo was taken by a stranger and it is of a completely different vehicle, say a stock jeep. Now how do you like it?

Ay caramba, you just fouled a great picture! To an extent, subject does matter (as you state below). Who wants to see yet another 07-10 Rubicon! A highly modified, yet sharp, '94 Cherokee is part of what makes the shot. Besides this is NAXJA, so we're all kind of partial anway.

Another test is to see how it ages. Will you still love that photo as much in a year or two as you do right now, a mere week after you made it?

Good question. Don't know. Perhaps with some of the cropping as done above.

This tells me that your photo was one of several taken that day of the same scene with the main variation being the people or vehicle in the photo. You are more likely to wow your audience with a unique subject.

I agree completely and think the old Cherokee is unique. I saw less than 5 modified Cherokees in 5 days of wheeling the area.

It is not unique if you have to compete with the masses to get your photo. If your subject is common then making a pleasing composition with it will help it stand out. Groupings of 3 is always pleasing to the eye. Try cropping your photo as a vertical to create a group of 3. You will loose the spent flowers and fuzzy pines on the right side of your existing frame and create a nice, simple grouping of three for the eye to follow through your photo: jeep>single tree>waterfall. Simple is good, viewers do not have to work to enjoy your photo. :)

Makes sense.

[ECKSJAY]

I like it, but I'd use the 2/3 rule and put the Jeep off to one side and pan out a bit.

"Rule of thirds" and "zoom out". Panning is horizontal (side to side) movement.

/peeves, I haz them

[in4aride]

More falls for you.

With tree:
http://a.imageshack.us/img696/3711/201008160554b.jpg golden. :thumbup:

[tazz]

Looks great!!!!!

[stroked88]

Nice shot but I would agree to put the jeep on one side, you could just crop it over:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a399/dlddesign/PhotoShop/RateFix1.jpg

Remember to have the Subject, in this case the Jeep, facing into the frame! Not leaving the photo!

new background pic

[goblazers_6]

The front tires need to be turned the other direction. Or even straight would be better.

[Letterman]

More falls for you.

With tree:
http://a.imageshack.us/img696/3711/201008160554b.jpg

Without:
http://a.imageshack.us/img689/4919/201008160554c.jpg

It is always better to have the jeep going/facing into the frame and not leaving it.

[rocknxj]

"Rule of thirds" and "zoom out". Panning is horizontal (side to side) movement.

/peeves, I haz them

Thanks for the schooling. :lecture:

[Handlebars]

With tree:
http://a.imageshack.us/img696/3711/201008160554b.jpg


It is always better to have the jeep going/facing into the frame and not leaving it.
I'm cool with the way the jeep faces because the front tires lead my eyes back into the photo, not out. :) Now go down to your local COSTCO and get that one printed out as a 20x30 for a whole 9 bucks and hang it on your wall.

[SeansXJ]

you guys are way too picky...nice shot!

[Letterman]

you guys are way too picky...nice shot!

RockTracXJ asked for people to rate the shot from 1-10 and even asked "What you say?"

Nothing wrong with posting up an honest opinion, RockTracXJ might not agree with it but it makes for a better thread that he and others might learn something from what is posted. I have learned something from what others posted in this thread. Seems like this board is turned into a bunch of whimps that just want everyone to post up "Thats Great! Thanks for sharing!"

I say the shot is a 5-6! That is a good shot, but I would have liked to have seen it just a bit different, and I have no connection to the shot, not my jeep and I have never been there.

10 would be a perfect shot that I would buy a large print out.
7.5 would be a shot I would print out and hang on the wall or use as my desktop background.
5 would be a good shot that I liked.
2.5 would be a shot that I would look at once and not care if I saw it again.
1 would be a shot that I did not like at all, and would not want to see it again.

I have been shooting offroading photos and video for well over 20 years, even my best shots are maybe a 7 or 8 and I have never shot a 10.

[GrimmJeeper]

I agree with Letterman (:shocked:), good advice was offered. It might be a nice backdrop and a decent shot of the jeep, but compositionally it has some issues (however minor they may be). Try living through a final project critique in design or photography school and you'll see this was pretty mild :D

I still think it's a pretty nice shot, but could be framed a bit better. This is where big resolution is handy, you can re crop the image all you want to get the best overall composition. My intro to photography prof told us if he's shooting something that isnt moving he'll take 20 or more shots of it from about 10 feet each direction from where he thinks it's framed perfectly. That way when he gets back to the studio he can take his time and decide which one has the best overall feel. Just some food for thought.

[Letterman]

Try living through a final project critique in design or photography school and you'll see this was pretty mild :D

The final project critique's are great stuff, you can really learn a lot about your work and yourself from them, I have seen students break out in tears.

I was once told with any artwork/photo/video/writing/etc. to always remember it is not your baby! If it is your own kid, you will get mad if someone says anything bad about it, and you will get all defensive and not open up to the honest opinions from others. You don't have to agree with everyone's opinions, but if your ego is too big and you already know it all, you will never learn anything new.

I am my own worst critic, and if I ever shoot a photo that is a true "10" I will give up my camera, as I know I will never be happy with a shot again.

[GrimmJeeper]

I'm the same way, I think input from others is a great way to realize that you really F'd up before it goes out in front of the world to see :D I too have seen many people break out in tears (not just the ladies). One prof at my school is notorious for it - but he really knows wtf he's talking about. My grandfather told me once "The second you think you know everything there is to know about something, you start falling behind everyone around you".

[Letterman]

"The second you think you know everything there is to know about something, you start falling behind everyone around you"

Wow, great quote!

[asp]

Letterman, It seems you and I agree on many aspects of photography.

I think that anyone who has been into photography for at least a few months will understand this:
http://robertbenson.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/photographer-graph-1024x858.png

I was thankfully able to avoid the HDR hole and am now stuck in the "Damnit, I suck" stage.

[DrMoab]

I was thankfully able to avoid the HDR hole and am now stuck in the "Damnit, I suck" stage.

You and me both.

I never understood the whole HDR thing. At least not the way most people do them. They look fake and surreal. I've seen some guys who are really REALLY good at it but the thing is you can't tell it's made out of several images if it's done right.

The HDR photos I hate are the ones you look at and immediately say "yup...HDR"

[POSJ]

Can somebody explain to me what "gearfaggotry" is?

[GrimmJeeper]

loading up on gear like you're attracted to it. showing it off, rubbing it in everyone's face, and 9 times out of 10 not knowing how to use most of it.

Happens with anything people are into really :D

[bert01xj]

it looks like an add for the jeep.i like the pic.

[asp]

You and me both.

I never understood the whole HDR thing. At least not the way most people do them. They look fake and surreal. I've seen some guys who are really REALLY good at it but the thing is you can't tell it's made out of several images if it's done right.

The HDR photos I hate are the ones you look at and immediately say "yup...HDR"
I totally agree. HDR seems to be the most useful when there's weird lighting. And even then, you can do some photoshopping to lighten/darken certain areas of the photo to make it work.

[Handlebars]

I think that anyone who has been into photography for at least a few months will understand this:
That graph lacks the "camera tilt discovery"... the only technique that is misused more than HDR. :laugh3:

[Letterman]

http://robertbenson.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/photographer-graph-1024x858.png

I was thankfully able to avoid the HDR hole and am now stuck in the "Damnit, I suck" stage.

Great chart!

I have been in the "Damnit, I suck" stage for the last 15 years, but I have always thought other people shoot much better then my crap photos. I also don't like HDR at all, I have seen why it is needed but most just use it for that fake look.

[XJEEPER]

It is always better to have the jeep going/facing into the frame and not leaving it.

Opinion.

I like the composition of this shot.

http://a.imageshack.us/img696/3711/201008160554b.jpg

[xjblue]

Nearly everything I might suggest has been mentioned to some extent already, One little nitpick suggestion I don't think was mentioned, the bright reflection of the sky in the windshield is a distraction. Reflections and hotspots can be reduced using polarizing filters or by shooting in naturally polarized conditions.

A Cool shot of an XJ all the same and a keeper for you for sure, I would weigh it pretty heavily if it where used as the posed photo of your rig in our rig of the month challenge for example.

[Letterman]

Opinion.


Yes, it is my opinion, but it is also simple basic art rules. College level introductory Art Appreciation classes will go into painful detail on paintings and photos and what makes them great. Eye lines are one of the most covered topics. Most of the rules about the direction of the subject and the eye lines in a photo you can learn in the basic Photo Composition classes.

The vanishing point made from the lines in the jeep lead the eye out of frame and not into the photo. I understand that with the tires turned it helps break the eye line some, but the longer diagonal lines are much stronger then the short vertical lines of the tires. Diagonal lines in photos are always stronger then horizontal and vertical lines and with the shape of the jeep it really makes an arrow to lead the eye.

There is a reason most good artist study art and photograph, even the bad artist like myself can learn something.

[SeansXJ]

RockTracXJ asked for people to rate the shot from 1-10 and even asked "What you say?"

Nothing wrong with posting up an honest opinion, RockTracXJ might not agree with it but it makes for a better thread that he and others might learn something from what is posted. I have learned something from what others posted in this thread. Seems like this board is turned into a bunch of whimps that just want everyone to post up "Thats Great! Thanks for sharing!"

I say the shot is a 5-6! That is a good shot, but I would have liked to have seen it just a bit different, and I have no connection to the shot, not my jeep and I have never been there.

10 would be a perfect shot that I would buy a large print out.
7.5 would be a shot I would print out and hang on the wall or use as my desktop background.
5 would be a good shot that I liked.
2.5 would be a shot that I would look at once and not care if I saw it again.
1 would be a shot that I did not like at all, and would not want to see it again.

I have been shooting offroading photos and video for well over 20 years, even my best shots are maybe a 7 or 8 and I have never shot a 10.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8bJQb4-NOrw/Sh7Lj2mdePI/AAAAAAAAAu0/V7dVcoNV6Uk/s400/cookie.jpg

on that note!
relax! lol....im just sayin it was a nice shot...

yeah Letterman your shots are alrighthttp://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/images/smilies/thefinger.gif

[Letterman]

relax! lol....im just sayin it was a nice shot...
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/images/smilies/thefinger.gif

Whoops, that came off wrong, I was not calling you one of the wimps. :peace:

[SeansXJ]

hahaha its all good in the hood!

[asp]

Nearly everything I might suggest has been mentioned to some extent already, One little nitpick suggestion I don't think was mentioned, the bright reflection of the sky in the windshield is a distraction. Reflections and hotspots can be reduced using polarizing filters or by shooting in naturally polarized conditions.

A Cool shot of an XJ all the same and a keeper for you for sure, I would weigh it pretty heavily if it where used as the posed photo of your rig in our rig of the month challenge for example.

Lighting isn't bad, but the rocks by the waterfall are a little dark (maybe it's just my crappy monitor) and so is under the jeep. Some might like the reflection on the windshield. For some shots it works, for others it doesn't. I don't think it does in this one because the right edge of the windshield has rocks in it again. If it was all clouds I'd like it more.
:wave:

[xjblue]

:wave:

:doh: