What's wrong with it?, a photo from Neuchatel, West

Photographer's Note

For a larger and sharper version of this image please use beta-TrekEarth or click here.

ABOUT THE TITLE
I have criticized my recent uploads pointing out their weaknesses and then I heard from many of you that I should not complain.
I realized that our comments in TE community are overwhelmingly positive. We don't take well the negative comments. I think I can tell if my photo is good or bad by the type of response I receive. But it is not because we write directly to each other what is wrong but because worse photos are simply not commented on. Of course some people are more popular than others but if I consider my own photos, the author stays the same. So I am certain: we prefer not to comment on a photo at all than to write something negative.
I remember listening to people who were training animals. They said: negative reinforcement never works. Only positive. If you punish the animal it hates you, never listens to you and may even attack you. If you reward it, you may start a relationship and you can both learn from each other...
But how can we improve if we avoid talking about mistakes? I suppose one way to go around it is to criticize your own photos yourself :)

WHAT YOU SEE
This is a view from a terrace near the Collegiale de Neuchatel towards Lake Neuchatel. The tower with the red clock is called Tour de Diesse, I have presented it from a different angle in my previous photo. As much as I love this view and this lovely tower, from this POV the shape of the tower is not pronounced as well as it could be. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time to explore other POV but I would prefer the tower to be partially set against the sky to stand out of the crowd of roofs.

ikeharel, ktanska, stopmaster, COSTANTINO, macjake, papagolf21, Fis2, Tue, snunney, jhm, alvaraalto, ChrisJ, johnjmoe, Royaldevon, lucasgalodoido, adramad, mcmtanyel, cornejo, PaulVDV oznaczył to zdjęcie jeko użyteczne

Critiques | Translate

mesutilgim (0) 2019-01-22 9:40

Hello Mariusz,
Another nice and perfect capture in your gallery. Taken with good pov and ligth.
But more than this, your given title and it's expanations :-)
Wonderfull.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

ktanska (44804) 2019-01-22 9:56

Hi Mariusz,
Your title inspired me to look this one closer. I think this looks more original this way, as if the clock tower wouldn't be proud enough to rise high above the roofs and the background lake. Lake is perfectly place near the top edge and I like that curve of green branches. Light is rather flat even though it's almost six in the afternoon. Direction of light more from the side would give stronger contrasts.
Kari

[2]

stopmaster (52) 2019-01-22 10:33 [Comment]

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emka (158204) 2019-01-22 12:57

cześć Mariusz,

Dla mnie najważniejsze jest, żeby zdjęcie było interesujące. Natomiast jakieś niedostatki techniczne są mniej ważne. Ty natomiast szukasz zdjęcia idealnego, najlepszego pod każdym względem. Takie perfekcyjne zdjecie jakiegoś znanego miejsca jest dla mnie raczej nudne. Na TE jestem zniecierpliwiona jak ogladam to samo w kółko. Zwłaszcza ostatnio, kiedy w ogóle jest malo zdjęć do komentowania. Inna sprawa, że inaczej się oglada zdjecie z miejsca, które sie zna, kiedy sie gdzies było, a inaczej kiedy to jest nieznane. Nie byłam w Neuchatel więc trudno mi ocenić na ile dobry jest POV. Ta wieża z czerwonym zagarem wydaje mi się zbyt przytłoczona innymi budynkami. Ale czy można ją pokazac inaczej? Zajrzałam do Googla. Zdecydowana większość zdjęć to takie same dwa czy trzy ujęcia - takie jak na Twoim dawnym zdjęciu i to z tą wieżą ale jeszcze z zamkiem po prawej stronie. Wydaje sie, że tam nie ma nic poza tym. A samo zdjęcie jest w porządku - kolory dobre, jezioro poziome, ostrośc jak trzeba.

Pozdrawiam MAłgorzata

COSTANTINO (116580) 2019-01-22 13:05

Hello dear friend and have a nice time
and a happy new day
Yes you are right about the comments!!!
everybody writes the best comments even
the photo is not so good
your question but how can we improve
if we avoid talking about mistakes???
is the absolutely correct!!!!
but here your photo is goof enough
I like it not because I donr want
to criticize you but because
pov is a different from the usuals
regards
Costantino

lousat (139332) 2019-01-22 14:49

Hi Mariusz.Your thought is absolutely to be shared. In fact, 90% of the criticisms are always positive, and I was very pleased recently to receive a negative and useful from Abmdsudi. I like to point out the mistakes, especially to Carlo and Silvio ... eheheh ... and I can not stand the photos with blurred butterflies. For the rest, it is difficult to criticize this troop of pensioners who will never learn to make better pictures of these .. ehehe..complimenti for having dealt with the theme and for the photo, the clock painted red in this scenario is like a fist in one eye. Have a nice day and thanks,Luciano

ifege (48159) 2019-01-22 18:41

Hi Mariusz
A good interesting image but re your note I also ignore photos that are poor or don't appeal to me but I do and also welcome helpful suggestions. They aren't negative as they may point out something that you haven't noticed.
Carry on the good photography.
cheers
Ian

macjake (98456) 2019-01-22 22:48

Hi Mariusz
I think there are 3 things 'wrong' with the photo from a composition standpoint. the most obvious would be the placement of the horizon line, near the very top instead of closer to the 1/3 mark. Another would be the placement of the clock tower, which is almost at the half way point of the frame. Lastly, the clock tower isn't higher than the rest of the buildings but that's really just dependant on your height level. You're always an excellent composition photographer, and I REALLY appreciate that, as I like to think I am as well. I'm sure you were thinking the same about this photo :) let me know. that clock face is awesome! I've always complained about how small clocks are on towers, but not this time :)
cheers
Craig

papagolf21 (152607) 2019-01-22 23:24

Bonjour, cher Mariusz,
Voilŕ une composition originale valorisant le patrimoine architectural et historique de la ville.
Il est plaisant de pouvoir contempler tranquillement la beauté de certains édifices.
Un sujet trčs bien présenté.
Amitiés.
Philippe

Fis2 (170861) 2019-01-23 0:50

Czesc Mariusz!
Powiem tak, ciekawy tytul i komentarz do niego.
Zapewne ta wieze mozna by pokazac na wiele sposobow ale nie zawsze mamy na to czas, ja z tym mam zawsze problem aby sie zmiescic w czasie.
Ta wieza tutaj fajnie wyrasta z dachow, ciekawy zegar ozdoba tej kompozycji.
Dobre swiatlo i kolorystyka.
Prawdziwa cnota krytyk sie nie boi ale nie wszyscy to lubia.
Milego dnia.
Pozdrawiam.
Krzysztof

Tue (92470) 2019-01-23 0:52

Hello Mariusz,
I think you're right in what you write in your note, but I am honestly convinced that this is an excellent photo. :-) Nice and warm colours in the foreground with a touch of green and more blue and grene tones around the lake in the distance. The clock tower is well included in the centre. Good work.
Lars

snunney (130967) 2019-01-23 1:09

Hello Mariusz,
Your comments are thought provoking and to the point. The other thing is, we only have twenty set of smilies each day on TE, why waste them critiquing bad photos? I have no adverse comment regarding this photo, though I note you would have preferred to capture the clock tower from a better angle. Time is often limited on photographic expeditions and we have to make the best of what we have time to see. That's exactly what you have done here.

Cricri (176) 2019-01-23 1:19

Hi Mariusz
Tout a fait en accord avec votre note, la plupart des critiques sont positifs, męme celles qui sont flou, mal cadrer..si je ne vois pas beaucoup de points sur ma photo c'est qu'elle ne donne pas bien a certains niveau, mais personne ne dit le pourquoi, c'est ainsi depuis longtemps sur TE
au sujet de votre photo, rien ne négatif a dire, le POV, le cadrage, la lumičre, le point fort sur les horloges rouge de la tour, la vue au loin sur la mer, netteté et couleurs parfaites, franchement c'est une belle composition
Amitiés
cricri

pajaran (115989) 2019-01-23 3:34

Dobar dan.
Lep pogled, interesantan tekst ...
Lepo pokazano, dobra perspektiva i kontarst, lepe boje.
Lepi krovivi sa dimnjacima i kula sa satovima, lep deo grada.
Zelim vam lepo popodne, sve najbolje.
Paja.

Nicou (193806) 2019-01-23 3:55

Hello

quelle image et vue quel clocher tout en rouge ce cadran des horloges quelle vue et ce graphisme de toit en ocre le plan d'eau en fond quelle vue superbe.
Bravo et belle journée
Nicou

jhm (211736) 2019-01-23 4:00

Hello Mariusz,

Today we are neighbours on TE.
I look at always on TE beta, much better pictures.
The tower with clocks is the real eyes catcher.
Composition and presentation are excellent made.
Very well done, TFS.

Have a nice day,
John

alvaraalto (42804) 2019-01-23 4:51

Hello Mariusz,
You're right. If we criticize, we often hide it in a positively edited text. Often it is of course also dependent on your own taste, but a bit more constructive criticism should be allowed.
As far as this photograph concerned, it would have been better in my opinion without trees, but the photographer can do little about this with the limited POV possibilities of this place. 😉
Excellent presentation
Have a nice day, groet Rob

ChrisJ (171884) 2019-01-23 5:39

Hello Mariusz,

The only thing wrong with this picture is that I am not there, lol! The 2 almost identical clock faces appear to be showing slightly different times though. A good elevated pov and excellent sharpness. Tfs!

ikeharel (113427) 2019-01-23 6:56

Right, Mariusz, people tend to give good critiques. but, I find your pictures always best cared as far as technical and chosen POV. All of us has faults in photography, that is normal.
As for this one, great different clock-tower shown in the middle, and the surrounding lake and hills on the far side well in scale over the picture.
Good afternoon,
Ike

Royaldevon (85932) 2019-01-23 8:06

Hello Mariusz,

This is an interesting debate but, I have to agree, it is often difficult to be totally honest about any problems you may perceive with someone's photograph. I do try my best to be truthful but, also, tactful!

With regard to your photograph, i can perceive different problems that would occur, if you lowered your viewpoint to place the clock against the sky. Yes , it would be proud but you would probably loose the blue details of the lake, so nicely placed on the thirds line and giving a good sense of depth.
As it is, the clock is well placed in the frame, its bright red face makes it stand out vibrantly, especially as it has quite a large border of honey-coloured stone around it. I think your natural instincts chose this viewpoint for good reasons and ... it works!

My warm regards,
Bev :-)

[2]

rychem (72187) 2019-01-23 8:35

Niestety, nie dasz rady przestawic tak wiezy, zeby byla na tle nieba, musimy fotografowac stan taki jaki jest, a wieza jest rzeczywiscie swietna, bardzo szwajcarska, bo to przeciez kraj zegarkow :)
pozdrawiam Ryszard

adramad (73006) 2019-01-24 11:02

Hello Mariusz.
Do not criticize yourself too much, certainly the tower that is very original would yield more results in the sky, but I think it is difficult because it does not have enough height, it is little higher than the roofs that surround it, we can not always capture the POV that we would like ..... the tree gives a nice contrast of color and the perspective of the lake is very nice.
A nice color,good management of brightness and sharpness.
Well seen and done.
You have a good day. Very best regards.
Luis.

jmdias (115252) 2019-01-24 15:27

mariusz

another nice view of this curious tower. I liked the colors and the inclusion of the buildings and the natural environment of the town. very beautiful view.

take care

jorge

mcmtanyel (68623) 2019-01-24 18:42

Hello Mariusz,
Honestly, I can't see anything wrong with it. DOF is good, colors are vivid, light management is fine and your framing is good, too. The subject matter is pleasant, what more can one ask for?
Regards,
MT

cornejo (61504) 2019-01-25 10:49

Witaj Mariusz, very good view of the interesting city with the big clock on the buildings, very well composed and captured in this good and beautiful picture. An interesting image, with good sharpness, light, color and quality. Very good and beautiful work perfectly done, my congratulations my friend. Thanks for sharing this interesting work.

Good night and happy weekend.
All the best from the south of Spain.
Angel.

PaulVDV (62978) 2019-01-26 12:51

Hello Mariusz,
I don't think I've learned much by the comments of others. But it's surely possible to distinguish good from less good or bad photos on this site.
Furthermore, I also appreciate less good photos if they give me more information about that place. That's the traveler in me who's talking now.
Your note reminds me of something that a professor in higher education once told me.
It was a professor of architecture design. As an experiment, he let his students openly assess each other's projects in the group. Then it turned out that they were all very kind to each other and they all referred to the qualities in each other's projects and not to the poor aspects.
It's the same on this site. We want to be kind to each other and hope that others will be kind to us.
And now regarding to your picture: I can't honestly see what's really wrong ... Perhaps you should have added a bit more sky on top ...
Best regards, Paul