Critique Pics and form

[Rocco32]

Hey most of you know me and know I'm competing for the first time in 4 weeks. I'm not very good at posing w/out the mirror as you will see. I'm looking for advice and critique on what I can do to improve the poses and what to keep in mind.

Keep in mind these pics were taken in the evening after High carb and while in the middle of sodium loading so I'm retaining water. Let's see, any other excuses? I guess that's it. Thanks!

 

[Rocco32]

Side Relaxed.

 

[Rocco32]

Back Relaxed

 

[Rocco32]

Other side relaxed

 

[Rocco32]

Front Bi

 

[Rocco32]

Front Lat

 

[Rocco32]

Thigh and Abs

 

[Rocco32]

Side Chest. I know on all these I need to get my stomach in tighter!

 

[Rocco32]

Other side Chest

 

[Rocco32]

Side Tri

 

[Rocco32]

Side Tri other side

 

[Rocco32]

Rear Bi

 

[Rocco32]

Rear Lat

 

[Rocco32]

Most Muscular

 

[Rocco32]

Also please point out strong points and weak points to help me tailor my posing routine. Thanks

 

[Akateros]

Hey, great tattoos, rock!

My comments must come with a caveat, in that I am also the world's suckiest poser, heading for my first comp (and am trying to teach myself in my basement with precariously-balanced mirrors). However, to that end, I have been downloading every photo I could find and sucking up advice from every one of the few pros I know.

General comment: remember your legs! They are just hanging there most times. One guy told me to not only spike the leg, but sort of "pull" it as though you were trying to "drag" the foot along the floor. Also, you could maybe "sit" on your poses a bit more, particularly since you're tall. Would help especially with the ab shot. And the back shots. And, er, the gluteus. I don't think you are squeezing your gluteus. It's the high-protein diet... we forget that... pretend you gotta go gotta go! recall the good old days...

Front relaxed, your shoulders look somewhat hunched, giving you more of a corvine air than the doorlike breadth one wants. Also gives the impression that you're "defensive".

Side tri: drop your forward shoulder a tad I think. Also, another tip someone gave me (a guy who won a junior BB champ a few years back) and which seems to help: instead of grabbing whole hand, grab just the first two fingers of your hand. Then your arm isn't so squashed, and it opens out the bod a bit more, as well as giving more leeway to display, in the manner of the peacock you impersonate.

Side chest, you're totally wasting your legs. Get your foot up right chummy with your other foot, and flex those quads!

Not sure, since of course I haven't seen you otherwise, but in your bi shots, front and back, your elbows seem kind of low. Might you get better "volume" hiking them up a bit? Interesting... notice in the back bi shot that your tattoos coordinate very nicely with the wallpaper border!

The thumbs in your rear lat seem somewhat inartistic. And in your most muscular, your arms that way, er, hide all the muscles. Might wanna try some of the variations on that pose, specially since you seem to have a good bit of upper bod going on. The big weak point that leaps out to my naive eye is your calves, and a general tendency to hunch your shoulders.

All bearing in mind, as I say, that though I am verbose and terribly research-oriented, I am not so experienced in the practical.

 

[Rocco32]

Awesome man! That is a big help and I definately want you to take another look when I post pics again prob in 2 weeks!. Thanks so much for your input! You gave me quite a bit to work with

 

[Eggs]

Hey Rock: I'm no experiences poser... but a few suggestions -

On front relaxes, drop your arms a little lower and push out against them with your lats. I think that'll make your lats come in fuller.

As Akateros said, keep those legs pumped... and also make sure and suck in. Have to give them that lean mid-section look

Back Relaxed - Make sure your arms are equadistant... if not your lats will appear unequal. See if you can squeeze your traps a little more without loosing lat size to it.

Chest - You're alot like me in that your chest doesnt show super well. Thats something that will develop over time though bro... just do your best for the time being and make it a focus point for size increases after the show.

Thigh and ab - Practice squarring out your abs. I think they'll come out even more in your last few weeks of dieting

Side tri - With this, you want to be able to pull your stomach in as much as possible and give your profile your best. With your shoulder, drop it further back a bit and pull your arm againsty ou. This should help flare your tricep out and add some more size to your arm I usually grab the top of my hand when I am practicing, but see which one allows your to rotate your arm back the best and display your tris more effectively

Rear Lat - When you do this how does it feel to start out with your arms parallel to your body... then flex your lats, then pull your elbows slightly back to help flex those muscles best. See if that works, perhaps it will

With your Most muscular, try to cross your arms at the wrist just bellow your navel. This will give clear view of your trunk, and constrict your body a bit less. Well, its worth a try at least I think.

Anyways, keep up the good work, you're getting close to show day!

 

[Jodi]

Bringing out your abs is not easy. In fact I think its the hardest thing to do. Its a matter of practicing your breathing and holding it, knowing how much to let out and flexing your abs at the same time. I found this to be the most difficult

 

[plouffe]

Wax your ass. Lat's are struggling.. nice arms + delts tho.

 

[Rocco32]

Thanks Eggs! I appreciate the info, I think it's all good pointers!

 

[Rocco32]

Originally posted by plouffe
Wax your ass. Lat's are struggling.. nice arms + delts tho.

Uh, the ass is not getting waxed! LOL. It will get shaved the day of most likely. I couldn't take getting waxed any higher.

Do you think the Lat's are struggling in the front lat spread as well? Thanks buddy!

 

[P-funk]

looking good, especially your quads.

Nice posing trunks!! LoL, purple??

 

[Sapphire]

You look good, especially like legs. You do need to wax your ass though...

 

[Tank316]

just keep doing what your're doing rock, everybody gave you great advice. practice,practice practice, you'll get better as you go along. you have come along way man, youre looking great, be patient.

 

[Rocco32]

Alright everyone, thanks for the support and encouragement! However I have decided to by-pass this competition and shoot for next years. I know I can get into Contest shape in 3 weeks but at how much muscle loss? I'm not ready to do that right now. So I've decided to do TP's program and Recomp. I don't plan to so much bulk as still get rid of my stomach and tighten up, just at a slower pace. I look at pics of myself last year and hate them. I don't want to lose muscle. I just decided to do this contest too late and didn't leave enough time to properly get ready with the BF level I was at.

P-Funk- You don't like my trunks? I was going to send them to you for your comp!

Sapphire- Thanks, now I don't have to wax my ass though! Whew

Tank- Thanks man for your support. I need to learn from you about trimming down!

 

[bludevil]

Strong point - Most definately quads

Hate to hear your dropping out of the race. I was looking foward to your results.

 

[Eggs]

Rock, I think you made a wise choice and that dedicating some hard work to that body recomp will be a definite boon to you in next years competition. Keep up the hard work... you're making loads of progress and the change from the pics you showed Jenny and I (as she said ) are truly amazing. The changes will keep getting better too! Good job bro!