Mar 2020 POTM photo critique.

[maroun.c]

As previously announced, there will be a photo critique thread after each POTM, where the 5 first pictures will be re-posted and where all members are encouraged to critique the picture.
The photography aspect as well as the object of the picture can both be assessed that is what you liked most aboout framing, exposure, focus, shutter speed, DOF... as well as whether you would have preferred a different object or a different position or angle of the subject... you are also encouraged to discuss what you think could have been improved in the pictures.
Needless to say that the main objective of the photo critique is for us all to learn what makes a good picture in everyone else's point of view and to overall maybe improve ones shots or also discuss and teach others how to take better shots. Critique is to be kept constructive, discussion is of course encouraged and if possible retakes of the same pictures as per outcome of discussion is definitely a welcome addition.
looking forward for great participation and discussion to keep these threads active.
#POTMcritique #POTM

Feb POTM winner @SMB

2 @jlanger

3 @takoattack

4 @lebreef

5 @Mattres

 

[maroun.c]

Pic 1
An amazing and very deserving shot. Composition, exposure, colors, fish focused look at the lur, are all impeccably achieved. A very interesting subject as those aren’t very common, yet the best in the picture is the warmth of the colors which are further enhanced by the blackened background. Expert framing with the fish position in the shot and the lur on the opposite right upper quadrant and a dead set look on the lur which adds a feeling of anticipation and dynamics to the picture. Couple of small nit picks are the focus where ideally the focus should have been more on the eye than on the cheek. Not sure if it’s because of the picture resize, but the picture looks a bit on the soft side with the spinules on the face not looking as crisp as one would imagine especially with a still fish and use of flash.


Pic 2
A very nice capture where many things fell into place to make for a great capture, the fish coming together, headed towards the front, and finally both fish having an amazing eye contact with the camera. Impeccable focus dead on the eye and although DOF is very limited in the picture both fish eyes fell into the focal plane where we see the eyes crystal sharp. Also love the blurred background which guides you r eye to the fish rather than the busy background.
Unfortunately picture was either cropped or resized excessively which leads to seeing the pixels if you view on a computer screen or try to zoom a bit, I’m hoping this is a bad resize only as that picture is to print and frame.



Pic 3
Another very deserving shot for this POTM. Great techniques in this shot especially that this was taken in the sea and not in the more controllable tank environment. Anemone closing, fish poking out and an amazing eye contact with eye perfectly in focus make for a great capture. Realize this was taken with a go pro so believe it wouldn’t have been easy to experiment with picture parameters but would have loved to have a bit more shadows as the flash is a bit overwhelming where you see some over exposure on the left side and believe aperture was too tight making for most of the picture being in focus which at times can make the picture a bit too flat with lack of feeling of depth, this could also be caused by the subject and the background being too close….


Pic 4
One more great shot for this month. Great choice of subject and an amazing specimen. These fish ain’t too common in the hobby as they are very difficult to acquire and get to eat and thrive and keep the colors in a tank. So for a reefer to have a harem with one in tank switched male looking as nice is an achievement. Love the composition with the position of the fish in the upper left third with room for fish to swim into the shot. Fish extended fins and tails adds to the beauty of the composition. Not sure if I would want the background more in focus or maybe more blurred, looking at the colors of the corals in the background believe the shot gives a nice preview of the colorful tank the fish is in and you just want to see more. Couple things I would have corrected in post processing or in camera maybe is the little overexposure on the fish side and the few particles in the water which could have been cleaned for a neater shot.


Pic 5
Lovely shot and a very charismatic fish with loads of personality. Great composition yet would have experimented with cropping or composing so the fish is either more in the right upper third of the picture or maybe take it to the left upper third of the picture as its looking more towards the right and that would have enhanced the already amazing eye contact. Focus, white balance and exposure are top notch. Again few particles that could have been cleaned up in post processing maybe just boosting the contrast a tiny bit would have also added to the shot.



An amazing set of submissions this month where all the pictures in this critique were all on a higher level than typical submissions, this is why I might have been more picky in my critique, yet all are amazing shots that should make their posters proud. Again congrats to SMB on a very deserving winner shot.

 

[Peace River]

Amazing pictures! Thank you for the extensive evaluation and write up @maroun.c and congratulations to @SMB!

 

[jlanger]

Pic 2
A very nice capture where many things fell into place to make for a great capture, the fish coming together, headed towards the front, and finally both fish having an amazing eye contact with the camera. Impeccable focus dead on the eye and although DOF is very limited in the picture both fish eyes fell into the focal plane where we see the eyes crystal sharp. Also love the blurred background which guides you r eye to the fish rather than the busy background.
Unfortunately picture was either cropped or resized excessively which leads to seeing the pixels if you view on a computer screen or try to zoom a bit, I’m hoping this is a bad resize only as that picture is to print and frame.

Thanks for the critique.
This photo was indeed cropped and resized to be as file friendly with most forum thread posts; as most of my photos that I post here are.
I still have the original photograph file saved on a hard drive so any time I would need to use the photo for print, I can access that larger file.