Published by Yvette Depaepe  in collaboration with Mike Kreiten, Head of the Senior Critics
Published the 15th of October 2020

1x has a unique feature the founders are very proud of: the photo critique.
Members can submit pictures to a team of knowledgeable senior critics. Their feedback and different suggestions are useful, interesting and enriching even for the best of us.

Critique on 'paseo' by Carlos Lova 
This is a capture I made a while ago.  I was looking for something catching my attention, but that morning I didn't find anything interesting.  So, I decided to place my tripod at the edge of the sea in front of a row of boats to test the light with my 10 step neutral density filter, the light was very bad, it was very hot, this was going to be a catastrophe.
But I decided that this photo would be useful to test an artistic touch done with Photoshop.   I think that the technical relation of it doesn't have much importance, if I have uploaded this photo to critique it is to know if it has a visual value. I know it is very abstract but that was my purpose, so here it goes.
And sorry for not adding the settings of the original image.
Something essential to remember for my next submission to the critique section.

'paseo' by Carlos Lova

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Member Joe Cancilla
Hi Carlos, to me yes it does have visual value. I love the composition, top and bottom white and in the middle you have these minimalist splashes of colours, the boats. Well balanced image. The birds create movement and depth as they fly away above. It feels like an aquarelle that got wet and smudged, perfect metaphor for the sea. This Carlos is a wonderful photo with a peaceful mood, a pleasure to look at, belongs on a wall. 

Carlos Lova (lova)
I appreciate those nice comments, thank you very much.

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Senior Critic Daniel Springgay
Hi Carlos and welcome to critique.
I see Joe has given you some wonderful feed back on your fine image.
Well done Joe it's good to see other photographers looking and liking at what they see.

I was just looking at your portfolio I see this image is your profile top image so you must love it.  Great portfolio,  I see a photographer who can think outside the box.

Your image " paseo " I see it's picked up over a eleven likes in selection wow good start.

At first I was unsure about the format and all that white. But the more I look the more I like it.. The seagulls master stroke to add wonder and depth clever work on your part. I love the hint of colour I feel lifts this fine image to a higher level. It has the watercolour painting feel about it.

Great image Carlos, and  I have no advice on improvements.
It feels like you have nailed it to the mast. Congratulations.

Carlos Lova 
Thanks for the compliments, dear Daniel

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Senior Critic Mike Kreiten
Dear Carlos,  I see you won two new fans here, thanks for visiting us in Critique.
When I had a look at your portfolio, I saw you're experimenting with a lot of techniques. Multiple exposures, long exposures, ICM resp. motion blur, various blend modes of layers, textures.  I think you observe techniques from other photographers and try them on "material" you have.

There is nothing wrong with doing so, and you will probably find your favourite techniques.

Photoshop is a sandbox full of tools to be discovered. My point is you may try too many at once. Motion blur, coupled with "regular" elements like your birds in this can be the magic to a photograph. And if you use that frequently, you start "thinking" post-processing. Learn what you need to take home to compose it according to your vision.

For me, the above is still playing stage, and I might be unfair. The motion blur you added appears as hectic scene to me, and probably it was rather a tranquil environment. Motion blur can do both, as multi-exposure can, there is a fine line balancing it one way or the other, dreamy or vivid. Your seagulls imply the opposite, we all love watching them when they sail the sky.

Also I find you negative space below too present. I would shift down the frame by 6% in the given format and fill up the gap above. Somewhere between rule of thirds and golden ratio is for me the best balance of your rather empty bottom and not too spectacular sky.

That said, I wouldn't have gone for a panoramic format probably. Panoramas are there to explore, a tranquil scene. I think you understand already why I don't think it's the most suitable approach.

But I'm just one out of three, and maybe I'm only one out of 10.000, and many others may like it exactly like it is.

Carlos Lova 
Wow, I didn't expect such a constructive critique, Mike.   Please, know how much I appreciate it. 
This is gonna help me much more than I ever have hoped it would.
Thank you very much!

Critique is also open to all members, and we learn together here. If you see an image you'd like to comment on, your words would be welcome.