[Leica] Tina's softness/sharpness/focus issue - might be solved, in part

[Mark Rabiner]

Tina, post them but don't ask for technical advice. Like if its too dark or
too light or really anything like that.
I don't ask tech advice and I don't get that much.
I get "nice pic, Mark" and that's fine with me. And:
" reminds me of the taste of wild hickory nuts". Which starts my day of just
fine.
When an established photographer shows somebody a picture I think it assumed
they like it feel its a strong image and want to share it with you. See if
you also think so or maybe its leaving you a bit flat. Not contrast flat but
emotionally.
Having someone tell a seasoned photog if they think it should be cropped
more or less or lighter or darker is a bit presumptuous. Unless they asked
them too!
In 50 years of showing people prints I can recall that happening to me once
it was a few years ago and a few months later they put the guy in the looney
bin. True story. And coincidence.
Even when a novice photog shows me a print I'm reluctant to give that kind
of advice unless I'm sure its what they're asking me for.
I say "what kind of criticism are you asking for"
To which they invariably say "I don't know"
After which I give examples which are multiple choice.
And they still don't know. They're all very shy.
I just say if I'm responding to the image strongly or not. "this one I like
less than the others" is what I say to a god awful image..
I'll say" did you make that one with a bit more contrast if so I'd love to
see it!?" Or
Is this when the camera went of accidently while it was hanging around your
neck? Is what I say when I'm being serious.
I think its unusual and uncommon for a seasoned photog to ask technical
advice from a general crowd. I'd advise against it. Its asking for trouble
With a capital T which rhymes with P and stands for Plus X!

I'd strongly advise not putting up black and white vs. color comparisons.
These are decisions we need to make for ourselves and remind me of my very
early academic classes in photography. And most classes are academic or
should be.
That's my opinion and I'm sticking with it.


On 3/20/15 10:19 AM, "Frank Filippone" <red735i at verizon.net> wrote:

> Certainly NOT my intent.  I enjoy looking at travel pictures... Yours,
> especially, but also Nathan's and Jay's, to name just 2.  I mentioned the
> issue with the colors, only because I felt there was something amiss with what
> I thought the public at large would have seen.  Now that I understand the
> point of showing the particular pictures for content and comsposition, I
> understand that my comment was out of place.
> 
> I apologize for interfering with your image flow.
> 
> Please do not stop posting: Viewing them is my way of going with you,
> vicariously, to many parts of the world I will never see.
> 
> Frank Filippone
> Red735i at verizon.net
> 
> But now it doesn't look like dawn which was the whole point to me.
> 
> I have fallen into the trap, again, of trying to adjust my photos to please
> everyone.  I will never get through 16,000 edits at this rate.  Right now, all
> I am doing is going through the photos as quickly as I can and selecting those
> which might merit more detailed work later. I hit Auto in LR to get in the
> ballpark.  LR adjustments are non-destructive and I can go back to the
> untouched photo at any time.  I post the ones I am considering and hope for
> comments on the content and/or composition.  Anything to do with white
> balance, exposure, lifting shadows, suppressing highlights, contrast,
> spotting, sharpening can and will be done much later, after I have finished
> all of the editing.
> 
> Maybe I should just post the photos straight from LR with no adjustments at
> all?  Or maybe I should just not post them at all.  It's too discouraging and
> demoralizing.
> 
> Thank you,
> 
> Tina
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
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-- 
Mark William Rabiner
Photographer
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/