| Underwater Photo Contest Entry |  by: Elaine WhiteTassled Wobbegong Shark in Raja Ampat....Background black... votes: 12 vote |
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 Dear Elaine,
You have requested a review of your photo. It’s my turn to write you critical comments to help you to improve your work with an analytic review. As you know, the objective is to see you here on UWP as a winner one day !
If you want to answer me, please wait until my review has been completed; as photo critics, we do this job as volunteers; a "thank you" is always appreciated 
As you already know the foreword, I will directly start my review :
| Raoul Caprez
16756 point member
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Photo Critique :
First impression :
1) Understandable for the people who know the subject
2) Impossible move created
Technical ( score from 1-6, best is 6 ) :
Exposure : 3, Colours: 4, Sharpness: 4, DOF ( depth of field ) : 4, Contrast : 5
Suggested Solution :
Your picture looks quite good. Of course, exposure could be improved a bit. This animal is not so easy to light correctly. In that case, there’s for me a too big difference of exposure between the back and the right side (in the down left hand corner) of the subject. You can change a bit your settings and your strobe position.
For the rest, it’s a PS work.
| Raoul Caprez
16756 point member
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Composition :
You are close to your subject and it is not centred : good
Your subject is a bit too close of the left border of the frame
Suggested Solution :
In general, to emphasise a subject with a simple composition, it's good to have a neutral background; having one with Photoshop is a solution, but we can do it with the settings. Of course in that case (playing with the settings) it’s impossible to light perfectly the shark without showing the substrate under it…. so, you’ve done a choice.
For the biologist I am it’s a very surprising choice : it gives an impossible result : the shark looks like swimming like a mammal (talking about the move of the all body). I guess that if you don’t have much votes it’s because people don’t understand your choice.
Also, for this kind of composition, be careful not to cut a part of your subject (even if it's a small one).
| Raoul Caprez
16756 point member
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Subject
Nice subject and not so common ! We usually can approach it for surprising pictures.
This animal requires maybe another approach for a winner picture because in that case, for people who don’t know it, it’s quite difficult to know what it is … it’s also difficult to catch the look and that is what we look for at first.
Suggested Solution :
Your distance from your subject is good. Maybe a slightly downward angle of shooting (for once :-)), facing the animal and using the rest of the body till the tail for the perspective could be an idea to try…. But it changes your idea.
| Raoul Caprez
16756 point member
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Epilogue
I like to say that pictures must tell something, they should pass on a message or transmit an emotion. I do feel an impossible move what surprises me … for sure it provokes a reaction to the spectator ! But with a more natural picture you certainly would have had more votes :-).
Looking at your other pictures I think you do a good start in the contest ! Welcome !
Well, I’m now looking forward to see your next post.
All the best and happy bubbles.
Raoul (UWP Photo Critic)
--------Photo Critique completed--------
| Raoul Caprez
16756 point member
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Hi Raoul
Thank you for taking the time to critique my photograph and for giving some positive and encouraging advise, It was an image I wasn't quite sure of myself, but I thought Iwould try it anyway.
Once again, thank you
Elaine
| Elaine White
1307 point member
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You're welcome Elaine !
Best regards.
Raoul
| Raoul Caprez
16756 point member
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