PHOTO - Pre upload - Tree Farm

I have had a few uploads rejected for heavy handed processing, so I would like to get some feedback on this image that I am considering uploading.


https://www.dropbox.com/s/c5f6srn8tmscnak/DSC_3559.jpg

 


 

(Edited on 2013-02-25 19:29:23 by Reid_Dalland)

(Edited on 2013-02-25 19:49:40 by Reid_Dalland)

(Edited on 2013-02-25 19:57:44 by Reid_Dalland)

Without looking at it too closely some things i noticed were ; flat dull lighting, colours drab, soft image in general maybe camera shake and with no clear focal point, angle composition not appealing with tree tops cut off, a little fringing on tree and post although not that bad. Not sure about all the writing as never looked too closely.


I'm not feeling the love with this one and personally i wouldn't bother submitting but maybe others may feel different. Rejections are tough at the start, good luck.

^ I agree with all the above. Compositionally there's too much going on, none of it especially interesting, there isn't a single clear story in this photo. Imagine it as an istock sized thumbnail. A viewer wouldn't have much idea what the photo is about.

^ I agree with all the above as well!


 


Thank you for the feedback, it is very valuable!

Image is slightly underexposed or you tried to brighten shadows in post processing. Do you have photoshop? If so, you should first check exposure by testing Levels ->Auto to make sure all channels are in full range (0-255). In this case you should also push contrast and exposure (I think 17 for each would do).


Keep in mind that each lens reaches maximum sharpness at certain f-stop and it starts falling the more you close it. I suspect your lens is the sharpest around f5.6-f8.


I don't think that composition is all that bad. The main story is You cut your own Christmas Tree. I see it clearly; The sign is right there, there are price tags and sales desk. I see a bunch of Christmas trees growing around. Zooming out might bring more unappealing background into a frame.


You would need to clone out Dancer Dr. sign or provide Property Release. It discloses location which is likely private property.

I have another of the same shot, shot a little wider, and at a different f/stop. I made the adjustments slobo suggested, and sharpened slightly. I didn't do any cloning yet. I wish I had more room in front of the sign, but I framed it a little tight when I took the photo.


https://www.dropbox.com/s/mv5vq8u1b9a47fd/treefarm3560.jpg





 


 

(Edited on 2013-02-27 13:11:47 by Reid_Dalland)

I disagree with Slobo on this - I still think the composition is poor. If the images is all about " U cut tree" it would help if that sign covered more than 1% of the image area and didn't compete with various other bits of text.
The random size / shape /type trees in the background and the partial snow cover look messy.

(Edited on 2013-02-28 04:45:17 by esp_imaging)

I'm inclined to agree with you. The images posted in the OP has little compositional strength. In terms of processing, it looks ok, if a little over sharpened. But my main concerns would be it looks a bit shabby and lacking in commercial appeal. The half melted snow makes it look messy, the lighting is pretty flat and dull. Honestly, I'd move on to something that's more likely to reward your efforts with sales.

Basically, I can see that there is the idea of a stock photo in your shot, but it's just not working well enough.

(Edited on 2013-02-28 05:41:34 by kelvinjay)

After looking at what is available at iStock when searching "Christmas Tree Farm", I thought this might be a fun alternative to what was available. I thought the empty sign might provide a place for ad copy. It is an unstyled, rough scene. It is typical of a family owned tree farm in upstate NY where herds of deer eat the lower sections of the trees. Nothing glamorous about the scene, but one that hundreds experience each season.
I agree when you say,  "there is the idea of a stock photo in your shot, but it's just not working well enough." I wasn't thinking "stock photography" when I took this shot. Admittedly, it is more a snapshot, than a well thought out and executed  photograph.
I appreciate all of the feedback, thank you!

Yeah..."messy" is exactly the word I was looking for (sorry). The half-melted snow really kills it in terms of the visual chaos. The rather random sizes & varieties of trees does not immediately say "tree farm" at a glance, which really only serves to confuse the message. There's also just no real focal point to drive home any sort of message in the first place.

Rather than trying to capture everything in this scene with a single shot, if I HAD to shoot this, I might instead do:

-a close-up shot of the U-CUT TREES sign with the hint of trees going up the background (and avoiding having the ground in the shot at all)

-a close-up of the mailbox (while avoiding the painted artwork on it)

-some kind of close up on one of the wreaths with the other wreaths visible but blurred in the background.

-find someone to carry a saw and find a spot near a tree where the snow is a little more consistent. A person, a saw, one tree, some snow...at a glance that conveys "U-Cut Christmas Trees" without even having a sign in it...


And I realize you said you shot this without stock in mind, but there is sort of a second little lesson there, in terms of still keeping stock in mind when scrutinizing your archives for possible material.

Good luck and don't hesitate to bring us more!

I tend to zoom-in on posts by donald_gruener to gleen a few tips and good ideas. This time you have exceled yourself. Thanks for taking the time to provide invaluable guidance Don.

Aw, thanks. It's truly my pleasure, always happy to help.

Now if only Dev would make it possible to share forum posts to Facebook, I could show this off to all my non-iStock friends who don't understand what I do here.

(Edited on 2013-02-28 17:35:41 by donald_gruener)