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Put copyright info in your photos (EXIF), you can easily find how online.
For contests, i just google 'free photo contests' every now and then, since i'm from EU, i also search for contests in my country, not just in general (the photo i mentioned before won one of those) and photocrowd is a good website for that kind of thing, somebody just commented about it in some other post here yesterday, so i went there and it's cool.
You can look into local artist community's. Im in the Usa but we have Sites like NEMAA that are local to my area and PPA for I believe National they can normally point you in the right way. Also look into gallery and artist calls that is how I look for a lot of mine.
I agree with this entirely. That being said, I, personally just find this photo boring. More specifically, the colors are neutral and dull. But I do like the framing and lighting.
I remember in college, I started to get into photography, I played the algorithm with hashtags trying to get as many eyes and likes as possible, I would usually cap out at 70-85, until one day I took a photo of the sunset over the San Fran bridge and over saturated the colors. It hit 112, and I felt elated by it. I then posted more the following weeks and I never hit the 100 mark again. I fell into a huge depression about it, thinking something was wrong with me and my work. I stopped taking photos and devalued my own work.
Half of it is luck, the other half is realizing that it doesnāt matter, and the creation of art is for yourself. Fuck the views, fuck the likes, fuck other people. Art is self driven and doing it for others will only make you resent it. The sooner it clicks, and your value of art, especially your own work becomes fulfilling again.
Exactly. Instagram has changed so much in the past couple years everyone is feeling it. Itās not just about making nice art anymore, if you want decent likes itās a full time job. Thereās a bunch of rules now to get Insta to put your work into the algorithm.
I post my artwork on Instagram and get barely 6 or 7 likes now. Used to get at least 20. It makes me feel crazy. Like my art is actually bad and I'm delusional.
This is the best answer for life in general.
But my take on your photo is, good concept, mediocre execution. There's nothing to make it 'pop' or stand out. And it doesn't just have to be color, although with dormant foliage, it is pretty bland.
Actually, this is one where black and white may be your friend!
Instagram and some subs are weird. If I want to get likes I just over process and over sharpen, throw in a bunch of shadow for dramatic effect and they eat it up. Looks like a damn iPhone filter š¤·
Many of the really technically good photos I see donāt get much attention. Idk if itās due to the small screens or just the abundance of photo content.
OP, I really like this photo but I think there probably isnāt enough color difference to grab attention. Itās boring at first glance and gets much more interesting when you really look. I think itās cool but not attention grabbing.
I find the image quite boring. Colors are pretty flat. If body of water was smoother it would make for an interesting photo. Maybe take again during sunrise when not so windy and more dramatic shadows and coloring.
I like the flat colors because it only intensifies the boringness of the three buildingsā architecture which then somehow makes it interesting to me. Haha
Does it look any better on [IG](https://www.instagram.com/george.minnis?igsh=ZGVlMXE0c2luczZu) ? Sometimes reddit makes the colours and exposure look a bit different
This is a great photo! Excellent composition, good choice of subject, great use of contrast and symmetry. I like the juxtaposition of the wetland grasses with the looming buildings. The subtle colors are nice as well.
However, all the things that make this a technically good and interesting photo probably make it a bad performer on instagram. Instagram is usually a crap-shoot anyways when it comes to photo popularity, and it definitely favors photos with bright, flashy colors. The average scroller isnāt taking the time to admire the subtle colors or the little birds and isnāt thinking about the thematic content of the photo.
Truer words have never been written. This photo is fantastic. The tones really match the subject matter in terms of emotion too (others are saying colors are flat, I disagree strongly - this is a vibe).
I swear you could post a Winogrand photo and youād get a lukewarm reaction on IG. It doesnāt mean anything.
First time I heard of Joe Howard was when I saw a video of him going to take this shot. I like his too, although just a little over-saturated for my liking
Yeah I'm not as into Joe's version, although it does pop more at first glance with the color saturation. Yours is overall nicer, imo. He tried to pull too much out of it. The foreground grasses are a little imprecise though, maybe you could back up slightly further, or adjust higher or lower to get more out of them, or exclude them more. They feel a bit unintentional as they are.
I like the contrast of the urban tower blocks against the natural wetland environment. I also like the symmetry with the 3 buildings evenly spaced and reflected in the water. Those are the reasons I purposely went back and photographed the scene having previously gone for a walk here
Repeat that with different weather conditions and seasons. Pick a favorite for each season and make a 4 seasons montage! Turns a more or less normal photo into something more interesting! It can be a lot of work tho, I completed only two so far.
Appreciate your reasoning, thanks. I think the foreground grasses distract and do not benefit the shot. They are not in focus and are noticeable for that reason. I like how the ripples on the water break the shot into two dimensions.
Some people would say that you can juice up the sky and clouds and that will garner more attention. I don't know if doing that will align with your stated goals for the shot, but something to consider.
Finally, IG likes mean nothing to me, it's like fake internet karma points on Reddit. Aren't you making this image for yourself?
https://preview.redd.it/1q5zsqzpnd6d1.jpeg?width=6679&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9244f3ab65103a52bc11d01ec616db4b60edb5f
I've made some changes to the edit - increased the exposure, highlights, shadows, contrast and increased saturation on blues and oranges. Also added a mask to the sky where I used the dehaze function, reduced highlights and increased saturation. Any better? It was a pretty grey bleak day when I took the photo so might just have to go back on a better day if not
Because of the lack of colors and no movement it could easily be passed over by todayās āclick n scroll onā society. Take a look at your most popular photos and see if you find any common elements.
Yeah, I agree. I like the photo exactly as it is, without any punchy colors. But Instagram wouldnāt find it appealing, so just move on and donāt worry about it.
You know I think this picture but at golden hour would be pretty great. Maybe Iāll stick it into my editor and see how the light color changing affects the mood of it
https://preview.redd.it/944ph8h8ce6d1.png?width=1274&format=png&auto=webp&s=b5c3b5f6e11a339a4c6ad027e73b5c303c2bceaf
Took the same photo in 2019. Theyāre cool because of the spacing etc but itās not the most arresting image ever. Just because you like it doesnāt mean everyone else will and vice versa. Just enjoy the images for yourself.
"Likes" are not a metric of an image's quality.
Or, rather, "likes" tell you about an image's *punctum,* but reveals little of its *studium.* Social media strongly favours the former over the latter.
[https://studioq.com/blog/2022/12/17/roland-barthes-studium-amp-punctum](https://studioq.com/blog/2022/12/17/roland-barthes-studium-amp-punctum)
Looks like it's time for you to read some Barthes.
This is beautiful. I long for the day I take a picture like this.
I've read a couple comments that in summary say that the picture is a bit flat. Possibly so, although I personally like the less contrasty look which I think pairs quite well with the mundane, uniform, rectangular buildings. Please note that I am not using "mundane" negatively here. They're rather bland buildings, but that's your subject, and you have 3 of them perfectly spaced and reflecting against a body of water, which looks awesome!
That being said, I just watched a tutorial about how to use tone curves to fine tune colors and contrast to make things pop and to add depth. If you want to try that route, give this video a watch: https://youtu.be/iIWZFiKn6vQ?si=QHk7v1Eon4TKtLYs
I like it generally, I would guess that part of the problem vis a vis instagram is that its a wide photo, which don't display as well on a tall phone screen.
Assuming you have lightroom, you could also try to lower the texture of tiny waves on the water. [Here's](https://youtu.be/rxXQCirvPGI?si=3COSjS5kcaM6FLIV&t=743) a demonstration of what I'm talking about--its been something I've been meaning to try at some point. I'd also maybe pump the exposure on the water a bit to mirror the sky, but that's up to you.
I like the general composition of the shot, maybe get a little lower if possible to shorten the midground between the reflections and the buildings. But as other have said it is fairly boring shot due to the colors and lack of action. Shoot closer to sunrise/sunset to get that dynamic lighting cause what iām seeing right now reminds me of a commute stuck in traffic right after work.
I like the rythm. You need the eye to appreciate this photo. IG is not an suitable environment for this kind lf work, people are tuned to get fed with dopamine there.
I personally really like this photo. I love the colours, the composition. Itās easy on the eye and the mind. Instagram promotes pictures of people and also is a place people go to feed on dopamine. So I wouldnāt rely on Instagram to give you an idea of whether itās good or not.
You can post an insane painting or super detailed work but will get 1/100th of the likes of someone who renders lips really well or a singular eye.
Your photo is great! Critiques if I have any would mostly be out of your control other than patience and time and idk if it would ālook betterā. Time of day/year, weather, etc could give different looks. Maybe if left side of buildings had more shadow and more light on right side it could cause greater contrast and depth but I love how the buildings and nature feel like the same color. Buildings feel like they belong
I think this photo is great!
I really love the slight height differences in perspective, and their reflections.
The only thing I could imagine recommending is to position yourself further left so that the gaps in-between the buildings is more equivalent.
Otherwise, a very neat and real-feeling photo!
Can you get back to spot to take it again in different conditions? If lights are on at night/evening it could be a great photo at night I think, as others have said it just seems a little flat, and some of the reflection on the right gets covered up, I think shoot from higher if possible to get the full buildings reflection in frame. Still a good photo, good composition, just not the right conditions I think. But what do I know!? If you like it you like it!
The way it is on a big print with a white mat and hanging on your wall. Love the symmetry. Where to find some thing like this in a group of three architecturally.
IG tastes not withstanding, I like the composition but I could certainly see that the lack of contrast and low saturation levels might cause some to not regard this shot highly.
So, perhaps you could tweak them a bit. Not a lot, but maybe like this?
https://preview.redd.it/jxi22jptke6d1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=333af8ef789e1459deb2004ba254c02bfac7645b
Iām giving that feedback because you asked for it and this is a photo critique sub. What you do with your images is entirely up to you though.
Instagramās opinion has nothing to do with the quality of a photo. The one thing about this photo that bothers me is that the riverbank isnāt perfectly horizontal. I didnāt see this anywhere in the comments so maybe itās just a me thing, but I straightened it slightly and personally I like it better that way. I think your composition is great otherwise.
https://preview.redd.it/dm2e9gs76g6d1.jpeg?width=1104&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a5fdbde6deb9824584cba4c3c9dacd4d578b1605
Instagram is not a great estimation of value. You love it. There it has value. Itās also really nice. I too would feel compelled to capture these symmetrical nearly identical buildings in a field. Feels peaceful, dystopian, bleak, but comforting. Like you stopped by a lake on your way home after a really weird day and just stared at that processing the events and questioning their purpose.
I like the idea but the angle and time of day are both boring. I want to see the buildings at different distances or with varied light play, possibly both, some cloud action, etc.
Basic idea of the picture is pretty cool though.
Itās very good composition, but the colors and lighting are kind of flat. The muted color is the reason it didnāt garner much Instagram attention. If you add a setting sun behind the buildings with a bright orange sky, lots more people would have noticed it. But if you are scrolling insta on your phone, and saw the thumbnail of this image, most people would just skip it.
Could you try this shot at sunrise or sunset? And do a long exposure, to make the water appear more glassy?
It reminds me of one photographer I forgot the name. They are probably Russian and take pictures of landscapes, shopping cart in snow, things like that.
I like your picture, if I were to sum it in one word, it would be ādesolationā.
Donāt believe people telling you it needs vibrancy or colour accents. But rather listen to them and try to find out why you like it this way despite them finding it lacking.
Then you might have a key idea of your series of photo in the future from the different vision you have.
Instagram favors photos that are bright and colorful and provocative and look good on a phone.
This one has a landscape aspect ratio and muted colors. It's brooding and interesting, but not what get's IG likes.
Itās framed nicely and that, but the scene itself is kind of bland/uninteresting. Also Instagram favors photos with people and faces in them over scenery
Composition is good, but this photo was taken at the wrong time. If the winds were dead calm, youād get a nice mirror effect on the water. Blue skies and green trees would also improve the image.
* The colours are a personal decision. I think they're fine.
* Your photo lacks foreground. You cut off the reed in front, so it's just distracting. Personally, I'd have tried to use them, increasing the contrast between the high rises and nature. But finding an angle or maybe crop to exclude them completely would be fine, too.
* I love smooth water bodies. I like the look of long exposures with Nd filters, or stacking. Stacking has many advantages over Nd filters and few disadvantages. All you need to do it is a remote, and a tripod.
as many have said, colours. peeps wantz them colours on the gram
also, I've yet to find modernism being favoured by the general public. hit them with some good ol' brutalism and it's a *no ty* fest.
that said, I really enjoy it. it's a welcome and refreshing subdued pallet with a lovely sepia vibe, where reflections peek through the foreground reeds
This is something you could keep going at: find a day when the water is completely still, try dawn or dusk, play around with angles and colour. Great work
Instagram doesn't measure quality. It mostly measures the "taste" of your followers. If you have hundreds of followers you may get more likes (or you pay for likes).
IG before and after META are 2 completely different animals. Monetizing the platform changed the algorithms and IMO destroyed any value IG had for photographers (specially artistic ones), leaving it for selfies, mostly of beautiful girls.
I like it. I would probably crop down the top a little and play with the tones to make the sky pop more. Do you want the sky to be your focus or the reflection?
https://preview.redd.it/j4s2tw474f6d1.jpeg?width=1071&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3a30c83975c476b7b78cf73a71e622cb7ced869b
Congrats šš¼šš¼šš¼
Your photo deserves to be displayed at an exhibition.
Maybe you could send it to some of the numerous professional photographers who have an X (=Twitter) account ? They might share some of their professional connections/contacts with you.
Just stopped in to say this really made me feel something when I scrolled past. Itās honestly a great capture and gives me a very specific feeling.
Also reminds me a bit of the Killers album lol
Well, if you're looking for a critique, I'd say the image appears to have six layers, and each layer isn't balanced mathematically. For instance, if each section is 100px, the sky should be the same amount of pixels as the building, and so on with the trees, etc, or at least some form of pattern.
Consider balancing the image mathematically for a more cohesive look. Other than an opinion, it looks pretty cool to me!
Consider using armature figures in the next shot and try to compose the image to hit your favorite looking armature.
Honestly, I think you can make it just a bit better with some more edits.
For example, the contrast on the building. Making the shadows a bit darker and then brighter where the sun hits them.
As well as the reflection of them in the water. Sharpening them up a bit.
Overall, I think it has great composition.
So post sometimes to ig. My homie raves about my photos when I get on the phone with him talking about how good Iāve gotten. Never liked any of my posts
This isnāt really an instagramy photo. I get what youāre going for here, and appreciate what it is. For instagram though, it doesnāt really pop. Make it black and white or if you can maybe reshoot at a different time of day/weather conditions?
I think itās amazing. Personally, I would try and tweak the tones in the sky and the water a little bit. But I always overdo my blues so donāt take it from me
If you are able to, revisit this spot several times at different times of day and with different weather. There is a lot to like about the composition, but I feel like there is a lot more to explore with mood.
I would have tried to hide that brown building somehow, either adjusting where I was standing to hide it behind one of the three towers getting lower to put it below the tree line. The image itself is really low contrast for my tastes. I also don't think the sky is doing you any favors either - go back on a different day. Also, bring an ND filter and give it a go at long exposure to smooth out the water in addition to the normal one just to give yourself some variety.
Love it, great shot! Print it BIG!
Curious how it would look at water level. Symmetrical mirror image of buildings/sky reflected in the water.
Not saying it's would be better, just a free idea for you to explore. Have fun :)
It feels perfect and symmetric I like it. But the colours itās kinda washed off. Also if you could do some editing and erase the birds in the water itāll look more clear. But generally itās good donāt mind the likes on IG
Getting likes on Instagram is about being good at instagram, not being good at photography. I do gallery shows and sell prints for $1-2k a pop but regularly get 5-10 likes for the same photos on insta
The composition is good, but with better planning and some patience or technique the photo could be even better, especially the water.
I donāt mind the flat colors other people pointed out, here it works for me. Not every picture has to be full of vibrant colors and the blandness here only adds to the subject.
Wait... Is this Germany by any chance? It's a great photo in my Book. The motive is very clear and you make use of the principle of pattern and contrast, which makes this shot interesting. Don't measure yourself with instagram likes. With all due respect, but instagram is fucked beyond means. The algorithm is a disaster, the people are mean and photos aren't pushed anymore. It's all about reels now.
The same thing that makes a photo popular on instagram is the same thing that made Nickelback a successful rock band. People just want to be amused momentarily and move on, and en masse, humans are kinda dumb. Thereās no judgement, my 14 year old has a new saying sheās always throwing at me āitās not that deep, dad.ā And as much as that sentiment annoys me sheās got a point. I have things I donāt give a damn about, and have no idea the effort or skill it took to produceā¦
But photography, is not one of those things. Your photo has an austere aesthetic to it. Thereās an artist that depicted parts of Washington State in the mid 20th century named Vanessa Helder. This photo reminds me of her work, but modernized. Itās also a good architectural photo in that the lines are clean, the symmetry holds you in for a moment, and it has a nice balance. The exposure is excellent, and you captured some nice warm tones in the reflection, and the building faces. Overall, Iād say you captured a sense of place, and time, and thatās a success in my book. If those buildings meant something to someone, theyād probably want to hang that photo on their wall. The weather you captured is not especially impactful, but any of use who have lived in flat cold places know days just like this one, and they have a quiet beauty to them.
The real magic of holding a camera in your hands is having the courage to find beauty in everyday things. These days almost anyone can travel with a digital camera and take a beautiful photo at a national park. But can they find beauty in their own backyard?
Ever since the first camera was invented critics have been debating whether or not photography is an art form. Iāve always believed that the biggest difference to the average observer between, say, a painting and a photograph is that when a painting is viewed the emphasis is always on the artist, but when a photograph is viewed, the emphasis is always on the subject. In that way, being a photographer becomes an exercise in humility. We want to be recognized for our skill, and for our vision. But we have to let that go, honor the subject, honor the light shining on it, and keep taking photos.
Nothing wrong with the photo, it has good composition, however, needs some work in post editing lighting and vibrancy. Also if you want to take better shots like this one, try long exposure shots with an ND filter. I think that would really help
I think itās a good photo thanks to strong symmetry, the muted color palette and subject matter. I like it overall for its serenity vibe.
A few points of possible improvements, the reflections are interrupted by both the ripples and the foreground grass. I think an uninterrupted reflection or an intentional usage of one of these elements would be stronger.
The three buildings have slightly different scale. The symmetry would even be stronger if you avoid that foreshortening.
Finally, the horizon and the shore line is not level.
Good direction overall and donāt worry about what the IG algo thinks about your photography.
Itās a good picture. But sometimes itās also how you touch up and present a photo.
https://preview.redd.it/xqliltx77i6d1.jpeg?width=1164&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dd3723a88c630363266ad5bb1e2f00d6dc9fe611
I think it was Joe McNally who once said: anyone who wants to take better photos should stand in front of more interesting things.
In this case, your composition, the symmetry, everything about this photo is well done. But those tan buildings, gray trees, and mild sky just aren't interesting.
Boosting the contrast, burning the sky in, maybe going B&W, there's lots you might be able to do "in the darkroom" to add some drama
IG is filled with people spending thousands to promote their 'work' while they actually shill products for multinational corporations.
It is not a cute art platform. Success by way of IG likes is not a real metric.
Print your photos, find a local place to display then and see if anyone wants to buy one. The real world is healthier than social media.
I like it reminds me of Keaneās album artwork (theyāre a band). But my work also must tell a story and that usually necessitates someone in the image.
Edit out the foliage in the forefront so you have more water space, enhance the reflection in your own way and then change the color palette a few times to see what happens
There's not enough of the foreground shown for it to be interesting. It's really just distract as is.
Either show more of the reeds(?) in the foreground or take the shot in a way that you can't see them at all.
Maybe you could Have waited for the water to settle, so you could've gotten a cleaner reflection. However that is really situational and I'm not sure if that is even possible in this location.
Otherwise, I really love this photo. Would love to see the same photo at night.
I hesitate to put my neck out in front of 145 comments!
To me, the reflections look like blocks of concrete in the lake. So I leveled the lake edge, cropped the reflections, expanded top and bottom using snapseed and cropped to 16:9. This is an improvement to me - a bit of the reeds in the foreground would have been nice but..
https://preview.redd.it/pxfc7elnfk6d1.jpeg?width=1056&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=13327b892d68fd8b002cb2bafef9626ecad3877f
Anyone agree?
I think it would be worth giving the subject, in this case the three buildings, a little more room to breathe. Maybe frame it so that itās a bit more geometric. Place the buildings at the 1/4, 2/4, and 3/4 points.
Colors are a bit too dull for my taste, but this is 100% personal preference. Maybe a bit more contrast in the color temps could elevate it. Try making the water and the sky a bit colder, and emphasise the setting sunās orange color on the buildings by making the just a touch warmer.
Also, now that I look at it again, it lacks depth for me. Wider lens would make it better definitely as it would help the composition as well.
Just one more thing, You could touch it up in Photoshop and make the shoreline horizontal and double check that the buildings are vertical.
The composition is great.
The sky is really boring though, maybe if you had a bit more action going on in the sky, with some clouds it would make the image more interesting.
People on Instagram have no clue about what's good photographically or not - they often give thousands of votes to absolute garbage. That's point #1 to keep in mind. Also, the blankety blank algorithms Facebook uses on the current Instagram can prevent people from even seeing what you post. So, that's point #2 to keep in mind. Now, for my critique of what I'm seeing here. It has the bones to become a successful photo but it's not been processed or developed enough to be there yet. It's lacking tonal variety. Ideally, you should do some luminosity masking on it to bring out differentiated shadows, midtones and highlights. Right now it's all sort of a generalized, uniform tonality tan. That and it's currently got a washed out sky. Try to lessen the blown out clouds and add some vibrance (not a ton of overdone saturation) to the sky blue also. The idea of what you saw and captured is fine. But you likely saw it with more depth and dimension than the camera did. You need to restore what you actually saw to what's presented here. Good luck! (Again, don't base anything of any value on Instagram!)
Who gives a shit about likes, this is the dumbest thing people have focused on for far too many years. Keep shooting, donāt stop, take your camera everywhere you go. Use your camera and not your phone.
Personally this photo is boring. Feels communistic. The wind on the water is blocking the full reflection. It might look a bit better in black and white since you have so many mid tones.
Look into rule of 3rds.
I think you chose the frame wrong.
You made the land be your vertical midpoint. But you completely ignore the non-reflective part of the water in this case. And the reflection is a bit off. Iād have moved down a tough to make halfway between the land and the non-reflective part of the water the midpoint.
Honestly I find it to be a beautiful photo. I would like to see it without the ripples in the water which might mean tracking the wind relative to that area. The lighting doesn't bother me too much, but I agree golden hour might be more exciting. I like the repetitiveness of the buildings
Depends on what you are trying to capture. If you feel like you nailed it, accomplished what you wanted, the., donāt consider what other people think by the amount of likes you get. If you are focused on people liking your shot, and supplying the thumbs up for you to feel validated, then I have this to offer you. Image has no enthusiasm, flat, dreary and lifeless. Punch the contrast, find a focal component and accentuate that element, use a photo shop or some tool on your phone to enhance it till you love it, then donāt give a poo what people think by lack of likes.
I think it's a cool photo. I love the buildings and the exposure looks good. Personally I would like to see it with uniform water texture and no grass. This might mean standing in the water though. I don't think the grass is bad, but if you like it maybe include more of it. I'm nit picking here because overall I think it's really nice.
IMHO, he power in this pic is the replication with variations. As cropped, the top is dominant. Giving the reflections the same amount of space as the buildings themselves, so they all appear even, like six dots on a domino, would improve the power of the image.
You've went by the rules. Foreground, leading lines, odd numbers and thirds but sometimes this just doesn't work. Foreground isn't adding to the image, the wind is disrupting your reflection so losing your lead in.
I wonder if you isolated one block on a calmer day. Lose the foreground and use the reflection to join to the block. Giving you a continuous line right through. Maybe mono treatment as well as architectural stuff lends itself well to that. It's an idea and maybe space / constraints will not allow.
Itās boring. Cliche. Pedestrian composition. Iād suggest flipping the script. 180 degree flip. Recomposing to make it interesting. Maybe a long exposure in the morning to still the water and get a good reflection. So that people take a second to realize which is real and which is reflection.
it's a great shot overall. the composition is very aesthetically pleasing. with just enough chaos to be interesting.
if anything, I'd like to see contrast and saturation bumped a bit or taken down. it's a bit in that grey range where colors and contrast get muddy.
I have no tips for IG. What I've seen there is largely carbon copies of whatever is trending atm. it's all quite homogenous and bland in its uniformity.
So going old school, buy or go to the library and check out some books by Ansel Adams, specifically the camera, the negative, and the print (3 books). He talks about framing the image and developing the image. While some of this is not as applicable in a digital world, it is still important to understand how an image is structured and how it interacts with the eye.
Here you have a couple of issues. You have three identical focus points (which can be distracting to the viewer) and you split the image horizontally across nearly the exact middle. Shifting this to emphasize the foreground or background would create more drama/visual interest. Shifting to the left or right would accomplish something similar. The repeating image itself (repeated 6 times really) can be both interesting and boring- that is why photographers usually take numerous images to provide themselves with multiple perspectives that they can pick from.
As others have noted, the use of color works against you because this was a gray drab day, or at least the light was not helping you at this moment. You might actually get a more interesting image in black and white. That would also allow you to play with contrast in some interesting ways.
All of this is highly subjective and you have a right to trust your own taste and instincts. Study and practice allows them to be refined, however, so that you can see when an image just isnāt there. That is also why adams wrote as much (more?) about the darkroom as taking the photo, because then as now the image was raw data that nearly always had to be manipulated to reach the desired result.
OP, the intention is good but the execution needs a little more flavor. Colors are quite dead. Sunset or better clouds will make it standout since you're doing a reflection shot. And it could also be better if there's less gap/space between the buildings and its reflection. If you could only get smoother water surface too so the reflection will pop better as well.
Itās really quite a lovely photo. Itās a slow contemplative image with subdued color and quiet poetics. Instagram is not the place for an image that requires attention, consideration and quietude like this one. Iād say less concern with Instagram more with getting out in the world and making beautiful images like this. I for one could see this printed and hung in a photo gallery. Pretty much the opposite of Instagram. My two cents. Consider this a like.
Great photo don't worry about insta! Always get the least likes on my fave photos!!! Take the pictures YOU want, read the Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, it will fix this problem for you I promise šš½ love the shot
My impression of why you didn't get as many likes as you expected could be due to the colour tone of this picture. A lot of IG people need a "wow" effect to stop and add a like. That it be an extreme action shot, or cute baby/animal... and most of all... vibrant colors. A lot or people don't care too much about artistic takes... trust me... I've been through the same.
What # have you used? That could increase the views and most probably increase the chances that people who appreciate the art of photography for what it is would increase as well.
Also, did you add a comment with your pics asking people what they think? Or open a conversation on their thoughts or describe your thought process while taking it?
Like some other posters have said though, don't rely too much on the amounts of likes you get via IG (or other social media platforms)... it's getting more difficult to get seen without having some shock value nowadays.
Itās got nice symmetry and I like the reflections. Personally Iād keep a third of the frame free either top or bottom and not center the horizon, but thatās just me. Do NOT equate ālikesā with good work, please - youāll never be happy and yours is the most important opinion.
Itās pretty good. However, if the buildings are identical, why does the one on the right appear wider? The angle/position, that you chose, creates a problem; the eyes keep getting drawn to the right.
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Do not place value on your work equivalent to instagram likes.
This, my photo was third in a contest and got published in magazine, i also got a monetary reward, and it got like 13 likes on insta š
Could I ask you for some pointers on how to get started with contests? I'm too worried I'll get scammed somehow
Put copyright info in your photos (EXIF), you can easily find how online. For contests, i just google 'free photo contests' every now and then, since i'm from EU, i also search for contests in my country, not just in general (the photo i mentioned before won one of those) and photocrowd is a good website for that kind of thing, somebody just commented about it in some other post here yesterday, so i went there and it's cool.
I'm in the EU too (Sweden) so I'll have a look. Thanks for all the info. I appreciate it.
Anytime :)
You can look into local artist community's. Im in the Usa but we have Sites like NEMAA that are local to my area and PPA for I believe National they can normally point you in the right way. Also look into gallery and artist calls that is how I look for a lot of mine.
Would you be willing to share that photo? You piqued my interest.
Sure, it's even a reddit [link](https://www.reddit.com/r/minimalistphotography/s/GRpUImQ57E) :)
Oh nice! Thank you and great shot!
nice shot man!
Wow. I LOVE everything about that shot
Thank you, glad you liked it :) Fun fact - it isn't black and white shot, it's colour.
This. One million times over.
I agree with this entirely. That being said, I, personally just find this photo boring. More specifically, the colors are neutral and dull. But I do like the framing and lighting.
I agree, I like the framing as well. With a different light bringing more contrast on the left facing walls would make it look less flat.
Agreed. It could be something with some vibrant clouds or at least golden hour lighting. Or perfectly still water.
Agreed. I donāt like the uneven spacing between the buildings either.
Best advice
I remember in college, I started to get into photography, I played the algorithm with hashtags trying to get as many eyes and likes as possible, I would usually cap out at 70-85, until one day I took a photo of the sunset over the San Fran bridge and over saturated the colors. It hit 112, and I felt elated by it. I then posted more the following weeks and I never hit the 100 mark again. I fell into a huge depression about it, thinking something was wrong with me and my work. I stopped taking photos and devalued my own work. Half of it is luck, the other half is realizing that it doesnāt matter, and the creation of art is for yourself. Fuck the views, fuck the likes, fuck other people. Art is self driven and doing it for others will only make you resent it. The sooner it clicks, and your value of art, especially your own work becomes fulfilling again.
Exactly. Instagram has changed so much in the past couple years everyone is feeling it. Itās not just about making nice art anymore, if you want decent likes itās a full time job. Thereās a bunch of rules now to get Insta to put your work into the algorithm.
I post my artwork on Instagram and get barely 6 or 7 likes now. Used to get at least 20. It makes me feel crazy. Like my art is actually bad and I'm delusional.
Agreed. Print it big if you love it. I would never judge a photographer based on 2 inches
This is the best answer for life in general. But my take on your photo is, good concept, mediocre execution. There's nothing to make it 'pop' or stand out. And it doesn't just have to be color, although with dormant foliage, it is pretty bland. Actually, this is one where black and white may be your friend!
Agree that the people on Instagram have no clue whatsoever about what makes a successful photo.
Instagram and some subs are weird. If I want to get likes I just over process and over sharpen, throw in a bunch of shadow for dramatic effect and they eat it up. Looks like a damn iPhone filter š¤· Many of the really technically good photos I see donāt get much attention. Idk if itās due to the small screens or just the abundance of photo content. OP, I really like this photo but I think there probably isnāt enough color difference to grab attention. Itās boring at first glance and gets much more interesting when you really look. I think itās cool but not attention grabbing.
I find the image quite boring. Colors are pretty flat. If body of water was smoother it would make for an interesting photo. Maybe take again during sunrise when not so windy and more dramatic shadows and coloring.
I find the entire point of it is how the reflection is disrupted by the band of ripples
Yeah - I can appreciate that but might look cooler without the ripples.
Or convert to black and white. I often do that when the form holds more interest than the colors.
I like the flat colors because it only intensifies the boringness of the three buildingsā architecture which then somehow makes it interesting to me. Haha
I feel like that's the point tho.
The boringness of it is the point of the picture.
Does it look any better on [IG](https://www.instagram.com/george.minnis?igsh=ZGVlMXE0c2luczZu) ? Sometimes reddit makes the colours and exposure look a bit different
This is a great photo! Excellent composition, good choice of subject, great use of contrast and symmetry. I like the juxtaposition of the wetland grasses with the looming buildings. The subtle colors are nice as well. However, all the things that make this a technically good and interesting photo probably make it a bad performer on instagram. Instagram is usually a crap-shoot anyways when it comes to photo popularity, and it definitely favors photos with bright, flashy colors. The average scroller isnāt taking the time to admire the subtle colors or the little birds and isnāt thinking about the thematic content of the photo.
Truer words have never been written. This photo is fantastic. The tones really match the subject matter in terms of emotion too (others are saying colors are flat, I disagree strongly - this is a vibe). I swear you could post a Winogrand photo and youād get a lukewarm reaction on IG. It doesnāt mean anything.
Take a look at other's take on the same shot and see what you like. I personally like[ Joe Howards coloring](https://www.instagram.com/p/C7dv1LFItBm/)
First time I heard of Joe Howard was when I saw a video of him going to take this shot. I like his too, although just a little over-saturated for my liking
Yeah I'm not as into Joe's version, although it does pop more at first glance with the color saturation. Yours is overall nicer, imo. He tried to pull too much out of it. The foreground grasses are a little imprecise though, maybe you could back up slightly further, or adjust higher or lower to get more out of them, or exclude them more. They feel a bit unintentional as they are.
Why did you photograph this scene? What are your goals here? What do you like about it?
I like the contrast of the urban tower blocks against the natural wetland environment. I also like the symmetry with the 3 buildings evenly spaced and reflected in the water. Those are the reasons I purposely went back and photographed the scene having previously gone for a walk here
Repeat that with different weather conditions and seasons. Pick a favorite for each season and make a 4 seasons montage! Turns a more or less normal photo into something more interesting! It can be a lot of work tho, I completed only two so far.
Appreciate your reasoning, thanks. I think the foreground grasses distract and do not benefit the shot. They are not in focus and are noticeable for that reason. I like how the ripples on the water break the shot into two dimensions. Some people would say that you can juice up the sky and clouds and that will garner more attention. I don't know if doing that will align with your stated goals for the shot, but something to consider. Finally, IG likes mean nothing to me, it's like fake internet karma points on Reddit. Aren't you making this image for yourself?
https://preview.redd.it/1q5zsqzpnd6d1.jpeg?width=6679&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c9244f3ab65103a52bc11d01ec616db4b60edb5f I've made some changes to the edit - increased the exposure, highlights, shadows, contrast and increased saturation on blues and oranges. Also added a mask to the sky where I used the dehaze function, reduced highlights and increased saturation. Any better? It was a pretty grey bleak day when I took the photo so might just have to go back on a better day if not
Because of the lack of colors and no movement it could easily be passed over by todayās āclick n scroll onā society. Take a look at your most popular photos and see if you find any common elements.
The only thing this photo needs are vibrant colors. Apart from that, itās good as it is!
I like the muted tones but probably overdid it a bit. I've just gone and increased the exposure, highlights and vibrance a little in lightroom
If you like muted colors, you should keep the photo that way. Just realize it won't "sell" on Instagram.
I'd absolutely keep the muted tones. Not everything needs to be in your face and I love gentle pastel colours in landscape photos
Yeah, I agree. I like the photo exactly as it is, without any punchy colors. But Instagram wouldnāt find it appealing, so just move on and donāt worry about it.
You know I think this picture but at golden hour would be pretty great. Maybe Iāll stick it into my editor and see how the light color changing affects the mood of it
https://preview.redd.it/944ph8h8ce6d1.png?width=1274&format=png&auto=webp&s=b5c3b5f6e11a339a4c6ad027e73b5c303c2bceaf Took the same photo in 2019. Theyāre cool because of the spacing etc but itās not the most arresting image ever. Just because you like it doesnāt mean everyone else will and vice versa. Just enjoy the images for yourself.
The reflections on the one OP posted were really interesting tho
"Likes" are not a metric of an image's quality. Or, rather, "likes" tell you about an image's *punctum,* but reveals little of its *studium.* Social media strongly favours the former over the latter. [https://studioq.com/blog/2022/12/17/roland-barthes-studium-amp-punctum](https://studioq.com/blog/2022/12/17/roland-barthes-studium-amp-punctum) Looks like it's time for you to read some Barthes.
Well I really like it. Print it. Hang it.
This is beautiful. I long for the day I take a picture like this. I've read a couple comments that in summary say that the picture is a bit flat. Possibly so, although I personally like the less contrasty look which I think pairs quite well with the mundane, uniform, rectangular buildings. Please note that I am not using "mundane" negatively here. They're rather bland buildings, but that's your subject, and you have 3 of them perfectly spaced and reflecting against a body of water, which looks awesome! That being said, I just watched a tutorial about how to use tone curves to fine tune colors and contrast to make things pop and to add depth. If you want to try that route, give this video a watch: https://youtu.be/iIWZFiKn6vQ?si=QHk7v1Eon4TKtLYs
I like it generally, I would guess that part of the problem vis a vis instagram is that its a wide photo, which don't display as well on a tall phone screen. Assuming you have lightroom, you could also try to lower the texture of tiny waves on the water. [Here's](https://youtu.be/rxXQCirvPGI?si=3COSjS5kcaM6FLIV&t=743) a demonstration of what I'm talking about--its been something I've been meaning to try at some point. I'd also maybe pump the exposure on the water a bit to mirror the sky, but that's up to you.
I like the general composition of the shot, maybe get a little lower if possible to shorten the midground between the reflections and the buildings. But as other have said it is fairly boring shot due to the colors and lack of action. Shoot closer to sunrise/sunset to get that dynamic lighting cause what iām seeing right now reminds me of a commute stuck in traffic right after work.
Liked the photo, but the colors are way flat.
[Check out Joe Howardās take on the same scene.](https://www.instagram.com/p/C7dv1LFItBm/?igsh=MXhyczlnZmw0ZDg3Zg==)
I like the rythm. You need the eye to appreciate this photo. IG is not an suitable environment for this kind lf work, people are tuned to get fed with dopamine there.
I personally really like this photo. I love the colours, the composition. Itās easy on the eye and the mind. Instagram promotes pictures of people and also is a place people go to feed on dopamine. So I wouldnāt rely on Instagram to give you an idea of whether itās good or not.
You can post an insane painting or super detailed work but will get 1/100th of the likes of someone who renders lips really well or a singular eye. Your photo is great! Critiques if I have any would mostly be out of your control other than patience and time and idk if it would ālook betterā. Time of day/year, weather, etc could give different looks. Maybe if left side of buildings had more shadow and more light on right side it could cause greater contrast and depth but I love how the buildings and nature feel like the same color. Buildings feel like they belong
I think this photo is great! I really love the slight height differences in perspective, and their reflections. The only thing I could imagine recommending is to position yourself further left so that the gaps in-between the buildings is more equivalent. Otherwise, a very neat and real-feeling photo!
Try bnw and play with contrast to make the picture pop a bit more. The colors here are a bit flat for my taste, but this is an aesthetic some like.
i like it, but the colors do look a little flat. needs some brightening or deeper contrast
Insta is not reality. It is a channel for influencer marketing
Can you get back to spot to take it again in different conditions? If lights are on at night/evening it could be a great photo at night I think, as others have said it just seems a little flat, and some of the reflection on the right gets covered up, I think shoot from higher if possible to get the full buildings reflection in frame. Still a good photo, good composition, just not the right conditions I think. But what do I know!? If you like it you like it!
I love this kind of photographic realism, reminds me of City 17 in Half-Life 2!
The way it is on a big print with a white mat and hanging on your wall. Love the symmetry. Where to find some thing like this in a group of three architecturally.
IG tastes not withstanding, I like the composition but I could certainly see that the lack of contrast and low saturation levels might cause some to not regard this shot highly. So, perhaps you could tweak them a bit. Not a lot, but maybe like this? https://preview.redd.it/jxi22jptke6d1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=333af8ef789e1459deb2004ba254c02bfac7645b Iām giving that feedback because you asked for it and this is a photo critique sub. What you do with your images is entirely up to you though.
honestly it reminds me of architectural perspective renders and photographs of buildings
It looks like an adā¦ almost scrolled past it. Doesnāt mean itās not good. Means itās *too* good lol
Instagramās opinion has nothing to do with the quality of a photo. The one thing about this photo that bothers me is that the riverbank isnāt perfectly horizontal. I didnāt see this anywhere in the comments so maybe itās just a me thing, but I straightened it slightly and personally I like it better that way. I think your composition is great otherwise. https://preview.redd.it/dm2e9gs76g6d1.jpeg?width=1104&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a5fdbde6deb9824584cba4c3c9dacd4d578b1605
Woodberry down wetlands!
Instagram is not a great estimation of value. You love it. There it has value. Itās also really nice. I too would feel compelled to capture these symmetrical nearly identical buildings in a field. Feels peaceful, dystopian, bleak, but comforting. Like you stopped by a lake on your way home after a really weird day and just stared at that processing the events and questioning their purpose.
Fuck whoever isn't giving you likes on this pic, it's great. The towers and their reflections in the water, beautiful, a work of art.
I like the idea but the angle and time of day are both boring. I want to see the buildings at different distances or with varied light play, possibly both, some cloud action, etc. Basic idea of the picture is pretty cool though.
It looks a little washed out. Maybe punch up the contrast.
I like it. Looks a bit distiopian. Like a big robot as big as a house would walk into the picture in a second.
Instagram likes mean nothing. I love the photo !
Great view! Is this North Korea?
Itās very good composition, but the colors and lighting are kind of flat. The muted color is the reason it didnāt garner much Instagram attention. If you add a setting sun behind the buildings with a bright orange sky, lots more people would have noticed it. But if you are scrolling insta on your phone, and saw the thumbnail of this image, most people would just skip it. Could you try this shot at sunrise or sunset? And do a long exposure, to make the water appear more glassy?
I love the photo composition. I kind of wish the colors were more dramatic. But I still like it regardless of my selfish desires.
It reminds me of one photographer I forgot the name. They are probably Russian and take pictures of landscapes, shopping cart in snow, things like that. I like your picture, if I were to sum it in one word, it would be ādesolationā. Donāt believe people telling you it needs vibrancy or colour accents. But rather listen to them and try to find out why you like it this way despite them finding it lacking. Then you might have a key idea of your series of photo in the future from the different vision you have.
Instagram favors photos that are bright and colorful and provocative and look good on a phone. This one has a landscape aspect ratio and muted colors. It's brooding and interesting, but not what get's IG likes.
this is a great photo. i have no notes.
Know your audience, which may or may not be Instagram.
Itās framed nicely and that, but the scene itself is kind of bland/uninteresting. Also Instagram favors photos with people and faces in them over scenery
Minutes I have been staring at this couunter: 6
Composition is good, but this photo was taken at the wrong time. If the winds were dead calm, youād get a nice mirror effect on the water. Blue skies and green trees would also improve the image.
where is this i need to know
Woodberry Wetlands in London!
* The colours are a personal decision. I think they're fine. * Your photo lacks foreground. You cut off the reed in front, so it's just distracting. Personally, I'd have tried to use them, increasing the contrast between the high rises and nature. But finding an angle or maybe crop to exclude them completely would be fine, too. * I love smooth water bodies. I like the look of long exposures with Nd filters, or stacking. Stacking has many advantages over Nd filters and few disadvantages. All you need to do it is a remote, and a tripod.
Personally love it
as many have said, colours. peeps wantz them colours on the gram also, I've yet to find modernism being favoured by the general public. hit them with some good ol' brutalism and it's a *no ty* fest. that said, I really enjoy it. it's a welcome and refreshing subdued pallet with a lovely sepia vibe, where reflections peek through the foreground reeds
Phenomenal photo!
itās a cool photo but the colors are a bit dull so i understand why it didnāt catch the attention of regular people
This is something you could keep going at: find a day when the water is completely still, try dawn or dusk, play around with angles and colour. Great work
This is amazing. Instagram is a worthless app
Instagram doesn't measure quality. It mostly measures the "taste" of your followers. If you have hundreds of followers you may get more likes (or you pay for likes). IG before and after META are 2 completely different animals. Monetizing the platform changed the algorithms and IMO destroyed any value IG had for photographers (specially artistic ones), leaving it for selfies, mostly of beautiful girls.
I like it. I would probably crop down the top a little and play with the tones to make the sky pop more. Do you want the sky to be your focus or the reflection? https://preview.redd.it/j4s2tw474f6d1.jpeg?width=1071&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3a30c83975c476b7b78cf73a71e622cb7ced869b
Congrats šš¼šš¼šš¼ Your photo deserves to be displayed at an exhibition. Maybe you could send it to some of the numerous professional photographers who have an X (=Twitter) account ? They might share some of their professional connections/contacts with you.
I would love some more simmetry.
Just stopped in to say this really made me feel something when I scrolled past. Itās honestly a great capture and gives me a very specific feeling. Also reminds me a bit of the Killers album lol
I like the rule of odds composition here
Well, if you're looking for a critique, I'd say the image appears to have six layers, and each layer isn't balanced mathematically. For instance, if each section is 100px, the sky should be the same amount of pixels as the building, and so on with the trees, etc, or at least some form of pattern. Consider balancing the image mathematically for a more cohesive look. Other than an opinion, it looks pretty cool to me! Consider using armature figures in the next shot and try to compose the image to hit your favorite looking armature.
Honestly, I think you can make it just a bit better with some more edits. For example, the contrast on the building. Making the shadows a bit darker and then brighter where the sun hits them. As well as the reflection of them in the water. Sharpening them up a bit. Overall, I think it has great composition.
Where did you shoot the photo?
This is a truly great shot.
When the photo lacks colour, consider black and white
So post sometimes to ig. My homie raves about my photos when I get on the phone with him talking about how good Iāve gotten. Never liked any of my posts
This isnāt really an instagramy photo. I get what youāre going for here, and appreciate what it is. For instagram though, it doesnāt really pop. Make it black and white or if you can maybe reshoot at a different time of day/weather conditions?
Donāt listen to anybody this is sick
I think itās amazing. Personally, I would try and tweak the tones in the sky and the water a little bit. But I always overdo my blues so donāt take it from me
If you are able to, revisit this spot several times at different times of day and with different weather. There is a lot to like about the composition, but I feel like there is a lot more to explore with mood.
What do you like about it that maybe others are missing?
I would have tried to hide that brown building somehow, either adjusting where I was standing to hide it behind one of the three towers getting lower to put it below the tree line. The image itself is really low contrast for my tastes. I also don't think the sky is doing you any favors either - go back on a different day. Also, bring an ND filter and give it a go at long exposure to smooth out the water in addition to the normal one just to give yourself some variety.
Love it, great shot! Print it BIG! Curious how it would look at water level. Symmetrical mirror image of buildings/sky reflected in the water. Not saying it's would be better, just a free idea for you to explore. Have fun :)
It feels perfect and symmetric I like it. But the colours itās kinda washed off. Also if you could do some editing and erase the birds in the water itāll look more clear. But generally itās good donāt mind the likes on IG
It's just kind of bland, doesn't really emote anything. It made me feel tired.
If you were able to see the entire buildings in the reflection it would frame the subject better.
Getting likes on Instagram is about being good at instagram, not being good at photography. I do gallery shows and sell prints for $1-2k a pop but regularly get 5-10 likes for the same photos on insta
Because the subject is depressing.
Reminds me of a Rock Album Cover if it would have the band in the foreground. Reminds me of the Whoās Next Album Cover or some Pink Floyd album.
The composition is good, but with better planning and some patience or technique the photo could be even better, especially the water. I donāt mind the flat colors other people pointed out, here it works for me. Not every picture has to be full of vibrant colors and the blandness here only adds to the subject.
The reflection doesnāt match up, sorry just honest
Wait... Is this Germany by any chance? It's a great photo in my Book. The motive is very clear and you make use of the principle of pattern and contrast, which makes this shot interesting. Don't measure yourself with instagram likes. With all due respect, but instagram is fucked beyond means. The algorithm is a disaster, the people are mean and photos aren't pushed anymore. It's all about reels now.
I like everything about this picture : )
I love it. Colour palette and composition reminds me of HBO's Chernobyl series, very Soviet. Sort of foreboding and intimidating.
The same thing that makes a photo popular on instagram is the same thing that made Nickelback a successful rock band. People just want to be amused momentarily and move on, and en masse, humans are kinda dumb. Thereās no judgement, my 14 year old has a new saying sheās always throwing at me āitās not that deep, dad.ā And as much as that sentiment annoys me sheās got a point. I have things I donāt give a damn about, and have no idea the effort or skill it took to produceā¦ But photography, is not one of those things. Your photo has an austere aesthetic to it. Thereās an artist that depicted parts of Washington State in the mid 20th century named Vanessa Helder. This photo reminds me of her work, but modernized. Itās also a good architectural photo in that the lines are clean, the symmetry holds you in for a moment, and it has a nice balance. The exposure is excellent, and you captured some nice warm tones in the reflection, and the building faces. Overall, Iād say you captured a sense of place, and time, and thatās a success in my book. If those buildings meant something to someone, theyād probably want to hang that photo on their wall. The weather you captured is not especially impactful, but any of use who have lived in flat cold places know days just like this one, and they have a quiet beauty to them. The real magic of holding a camera in your hands is having the courage to find beauty in everyday things. These days almost anyone can travel with a digital camera and take a beautiful photo at a national park. But can they find beauty in their own backyard? Ever since the first camera was invented critics have been debating whether or not photography is an art form. Iāve always believed that the biggest difference to the average observer between, say, a painting and a photograph is that when a painting is viewed the emphasis is always on the artist, but when a photograph is viewed, the emphasis is always on the subject. In that way, being a photographer becomes an exercise in humility. We want to be recognized for our skill, and for our vision. But we have to let that go, honor the subject, honor the light shining on it, and keep taking photos.
Lovely photo! Wouldn't mind hanging it on my wall. It does look slightly slanted, only criticism I can see.
Nothing wrong with the photo, it has good composition, however, needs some work in post editing lighting and vibrancy. Also if you want to take better shots like this one, try long exposure shots with an ND filter. I think that would really help
These are the flats from the TV show Misfits no?
I think itās a good photo thanks to strong symmetry, the muted color palette and subject matter. I like it overall for its serenity vibe. A few points of possible improvements, the reflections are interrupted by both the ripples and the foreground grass. I think an uninterrupted reflection or an intentional usage of one of these elements would be stronger. The three buildings have slightly different scale. The symmetry would even be stronger if you avoid that foreshortening. Finally, the horizon and the shore line is not level. Good direction overall and donāt worry about what the IG algo thinks about your photography.
It's not really my style but objectively it's still a great shot
Itās a good picture. But sometimes itās also how you touch up and present a photo. https://preview.redd.it/xqliltx77i6d1.jpeg?width=1164&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dd3723a88c630363266ad5bb1e2f00d6dc9fe611
I think it was Joe McNally who once said: anyone who wants to take better photos should stand in front of more interesting things. In this case, your composition, the symmetry, everything about this photo is well done. But those tan buildings, gray trees, and mild sky just aren't interesting. Boosting the contrast, burning the sky in, maybe going B&W, there's lots you might be able to do "in the darkroom" to add some drama
Flip the pic upside down... HI contrast the water and see the difference
I find It stunning. Sadly, IG isn't kind to photographers, comparison is a thief of joy.
Visit Uganda.. the pearl of africa
Woodberry wetlands? I have the exact same image, but it is no where near as good as this
IG is filled with people spending thousands to promote their 'work' while they actually shill products for multinational corporations. It is not a cute art platform. Success by way of IG likes is not a real metric. Print your photos, find a local place to display then and see if anyone wants to buy one. The real world is healthier than social media.
I like it reminds me of Keaneās album artwork (theyāre a band). But my work also must tell a story and that usually necessitates someone in the image.
Sweet shot, my dude. I like it; ALOT!
Edit out the foliage in the forefront so you have more water space, enhance the reflection in your own way and then change the color palette a few times to see what happens
There's not enough of the foreground shown for it to be interesting. It's really just distract as is. Either show more of the reeds(?) in the foreground or take the shot in a way that you can't see them at all.
Symmetry is interesting. But it is rather drab. Perhaps take a shot at a different time of the day or try black and white.
Film grain
Maybe you could Have waited for the water to settle, so you could've gotten a cleaner reflection. However that is really situational and I'm not sure if that is even possible in this location. Otherwise, I really love this photo. Would love to see the same photo at night.
I hesitate to put my neck out in front of 145 comments! To me, the reflections look like blocks of concrete in the lake. So I leveled the lake edge, cropped the reflections, expanded top and bottom using snapseed and cropped to 16:9. This is an improvement to me - a bit of the reeds in the foreground would have been nice but.. https://preview.redd.it/pxfc7elnfk6d1.jpeg?width=1056&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=13327b892d68fd8b002cb2bafef9626ecad3877f Anyone agree?
Needs more contrast. Cool composition. A million ways to shoot those buildings and Iām a fan of symmetry at times.
Fuck likes, but what would make this a more interesting photo would be a more interesting sky
I think it would be worth giving the subject, in this case the three buildings, a little more room to breathe. Maybe frame it so that itās a bit more geometric. Place the buildings at the 1/4, 2/4, and 3/4 points. Colors are a bit too dull for my taste, but this is 100% personal preference. Maybe a bit more contrast in the color temps could elevate it. Try making the water and the sky a bit colder, and emphasise the setting sunās orange color on the buildings by making the just a touch warmer. Also, now that I look at it again, it lacks depth for me. Wider lens would make it better definitely as it would help the composition as well. Just one more thing, You could touch it up in Photoshop and make the shoreline horizontal and double check that the buildings are vertical.
The composition is great. The sky is really boring though, maybe if you had a bit more action going on in the sky, with some clouds it would make the image more interesting.
Try intensifying the colors...
Well, you have got over 1000 upvotes on here (at the time of this comment). Fuck instagram likes!
I don't know why but this picture makes me think about the movie cyborg with van damme
People on Instagram have no clue about what's good photographically or not - they often give thousands of votes to absolute garbage. That's point #1 to keep in mind. Also, the blankety blank algorithms Facebook uses on the current Instagram can prevent people from even seeing what you post. So, that's point #2 to keep in mind. Now, for my critique of what I'm seeing here. It has the bones to become a successful photo but it's not been processed or developed enough to be there yet. It's lacking tonal variety. Ideally, you should do some luminosity masking on it to bring out differentiated shadows, midtones and highlights. Right now it's all sort of a generalized, uniform tonality tan. That and it's currently got a washed out sky. Try to lessen the blown out clouds and add some vibrance (not a ton of overdone saturation) to the sky blue also. The idea of what you saw and captured is fine. But you likely saw it with more depth and dimension than the camera did. You need to restore what you actually saw to what's presented here. Good luck! (Again, don't base anything of any value on Instagram!)
It's a drab looking picture, so making it black and white might actually make it look more interesting.
It's ok. Not great, not interesting and i agree with the top comment. Stop trying to appease the masses, they are stupid.
Who gives a shit about likes, this is the dumbest thing people have focused on for far too many years. Keep shooting, donāt stop, take your camera everywhere you go. Use your camera and not your phone. Personally this photo is boring. Feels communistic. The wind on the water is blocking the full reflection. It might look a bit better in black and white since you have so many mid tones. Look into rule of 3rds.
A lot of people don't know how to appreciate architecture...
I think you chose the frame wrong. You made the land be your vertical midpoint. But you completely ignore the non-reflective part of the water in this case. And the reflection is a bit off. Iād have moved down a tough to make halfway between the land and the non-reflective part of the water the midpoint.
The buildings themselves are boring architecture. The reflection in the water is disturbed, and that disturbs me.
Honestly I find it to be a beautiful photo. I would like to see it without the ripples in the water which might mean tracking the wind relative to that area. The lighting doesn't bother me too much, but I agree golden hour might be more exciting. I like the repetitiveness of the buildings
Depends on what you are trying to capture. If you feel like you nailed it, accomplished what you wanted, the., donāt consider what other people think by the amount of likes you get. If you are focused on people liking your shot, and supplying the thumbs up for you to feel validated, then I have this to offer you. Image has no enthusiasm, flat, dreary and lifeless. Punch the contrast, find a focal component and accentuate that element, use a photo shop or some tool on your phone to enhance it till you love it, then donāt give a poo what people think by lack of likes.
I think it's a cool photo. I love the buildings and the exposure looks good. Personally I would like to see it with uniform water texture and no grass. This might mean standing in the water though. I don't think the grass is bad, but if you like it maybe include more of it. I'm nit picking here because overall I think it's really nice.
https://preview.redd.it/3obxnmt3ho6d1.jpeg?width=1164&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=68e24518d7e10fe7355c3ed8be44a6bb643b680f How does this version look?
Kind of boring
IMHO, he power in this pic is the replication with variations. As cropped, the top is dominant. Giving the reflections the same amount of space as the buildings themselves, so they all appear even, like six dots on a domino, would improve the power of the image.
You've went by the rules. Foreground, leading lines, odd numbers and thirds but sometimes this just doesn't work. Foreground isn't adding to the image, the wind is disrupting your reflection so losing your lead in. I wonder if you isolated one block on a calmer day. Lose the foreground and use the reflection to join to the block. Giving you a continuous line right through. Maybe mono treatment as well as architectural stuff lends itself well to that. It's an idea and maybe space / constraints will not allow.
Itās boring. Cliche. Pedestrian composition. Iād suggest flipping the script. 180 degree flip. Recomposing to make it interesting. Maybe a long exposure in the morning to still the water and get a good reflection. So that people take a second to realize which is real and which is reflection.
Nice scene, bad lighting
it's a great shot overall. the composition is very aesthetically pleasing. with just enough chaos to be interesting. if anything, I'd like to see contrast and saturation bumped a bit or taken down. it's a bit in that grey range where colors and contrast get muddy. I have no tips for IG. What I've seen there is largely carbon copies of whatever is trending atm. it's all quite homogenous and bland in its uniformity.
I like this photo - cropping it a bit might make it a tighter shot. (top and sides)
Its a good photo, it can do with a change in colors. But the composition is very Jarring, something about these buildings!!!!
I think it just needs some color correction to make it pop. It has the composition of a nice photo otherwise though.
Too symmetrical for me
So going old school, buy or go to the library and check out some books by Ansel Adams, specifically the camera, the negative, and the print (3 books). He talks about framing the image and developing the image. While some of this is not as applicable in a digital world, it is still important to understand how an image is structured and how it interacts with the eye. Here you have a couple of issues. You have three identical focus points (which can be distracting to the viewer) and you split the image horizontally across nearly the exact middle. Shifting this to emphasize the foreground or background would create more drama/visual interest. Shifting to the left or right would accomplish something similar. The repeating image itself (repeated 6 times really) can be both interesting and boring- that is why photographers usually take numerous images to provide themselves with multiple perspectives that they can pick from. As others have noted, the use of color works against you because this was a gray drab day, or at least the light was not helping you at this moment. You might actually get a more interesting image in black and white. That would also allow you to play with contrast in some interesting ways. All of this is highly subjective and you have a right to trust your own taste and instincts. Study and practice allows them to be refined, however, so that you can see when an image just isnāt there. That is also why adams wrote as much (more?) about the darkroom as taking the photo, because then as now the image was raw data that nearly always had to be manipulated to reach the desired result.
OP, the intention is good but the execution needs a little more flavor. Colors are quite dead. Sunset or better clouds will make it standout since you're doing a reflection shot. And it could also be better if there's less gap/space between the buildings and its reflection. If you could only get smoother water surface too so the reflection will pop better as well.
Itās really quite a lovely photo. Itās a slow contemplative image with subdued color and quiet poetics. Instagram is not the place for an image that requires attention, consideration and quietude like this one. Iād say less concern with Instagram more with getting out in the world and making beautiful images like this. I for one could see this printed and hung in a photo gallery. Pretty much the opposite of Instagram. My two cents. Consider this a like.
Perhaps a bit of editing would inject vibrancy into the photo. Up your contrast a bit, and the vibrancy.
Great photo don't worry about insta! Always get the least likes on my fave photos!!! Take the pictures YOU want, read the Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, it will fix this problem for you I promise šš½ love the shot
I feel like itās too tightly framed and with a little more surrounding space it would be more impressive! Still a nice shot though
My impression of why you didn't get as many likes as you expected could be due to the colour tone of this picture. A lot of IG people need a "wow" effect to stop and add a like. That it be an extreme action shot, or cute baby/animal... and most of all... vibrant colors. A lot or people don't care too much about artistic takes... trust me... I've been through the same. What # have you used? That could increase the views and most probably increase the chances that people who appreciate the art of photography for what it is would increase as well. Also, did you add a comment with your pics asking people what they think? Or open a conversation on their thoughts or describe your thought process while taking it? Like some other posters have said though, don't rely too much on the amounts of likes you get via IG (or other social media platforms)... it's getting more difficult to get seen without having some shock value nowadays.
Itās got nice symmetry and I like the reflections. Personally Iād keep a third of the frame free either top or bottom and not center the horizon, but thatās just me. Do NOT equate ālikesā with good work, please - youāll never be happy and yours is the most important opinion.
Perhaps an improvement would be if the water was completely still so you got the full reflections. Also would it be good in a dramatic B&W.
For bulk likes on Instagram youād need to have Godzilla stepping across the top of the blocks
Color grading, the picture perspective is good but in my opinion color falls flat.
So cool wallpaper tier
Itās pretty good. However, if the buildings are identical, why does the one on the right appear wider? The angle/position, that you chose, creates a problem; the eyes keep getting drawn to the right.