Thoughts on this photo?

[JMHPhotography]

I'm still on the fence. I guess I've been looking at it too much. I shot this at a wedding two weeks ago. When I shot it, I loved it. The more and more I look at it, the more I'm just thinking, yeah... it's ok. So I made it B/W cropped it to 8x10 and gave it a classic vignette. Opinions please and be honest... and brutal if need be.

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/549/img0396smjk7.jpg

[Hellashot]

I think "hands" shots are becoming far to cliche in wedding photos. 20 years from now I don't think I would care to see pictures of my hands.

[MHP]

I like it, and think in 20 years i would like the shot for the bodice and creativity. nice work. i think it could've looked just as cool, if not better with the left hand turned down and on the side and oof, and the left would obviously be outa the picture.

[JMHPhotography]

Hellashot: Maybe that's what I'm thinking... and why I'm thinking, meh... it's just ok. too cliche'. Thanks for the input.

Thanks Mark. I have a couple options, but I really only got three frames of this type, and none of which you mentioned. But I see your vision and I like it.

[cfpackerfan]

If that was a shot included in one of the pics offered to me by my wedding photographer, I would LOVE it.
To me, it brings out the 'two shall become one' thought.
When I first looked at it, it wasn't easy to tell if the arms/hands/body belonged to one person or two.
I like it. :)

[Scott B]

When I first looked at it my thoughts were that it was a photo of someone with their arms crossed. It's probably cropped a bit too tight for my tastes.

[tim]

I'm on the fence. I don't like the crop, the top is distracting to me. I also find it a bit dark, the hands should be lighter IMHO.

Since you have image editing ok turned on I did two versions myself. Both are cropped slightly 3:4 ratio. First has feathered selection 50px, levels to make a vignette, 0.3px gaussian blur, sepia action. 2nd has an action called duotone dream run on it.

[JMHPhotography]

I'm on the fence. I don't like the crop, the top is distracting to me. I also find it a bit dark, the hands should be lighter IMHO.

Since you have image editing ok turned on I did two versions myself. Both are cropped slightly 3:4 ratio. First has feathered selection 50px, levels to make a vignette, 0.3px gaussian blur, sepia action. 2nd has an action called duotone dream run on it.

Tim... I don't see your edits. I would love to see what you did.

[MagicallyDelicious]

its says tender to me.

I feel the emotion in it.

Im the same tho. On the fence :)

[stewart bradshaw]

I am not an experienced wedding photographer, so take what i say with that in mind:D . I like the idea of the shot but the position of the hands makes it look as if someone with a strange shirt is adjusting their cufflinks. It would have been better with the hands at the brides waist. As i said a nice idea though.

Stewart......

[song4themoon]

It is confusing me.. at first I thought its the groom having his hands crossed in front of him and thought it was cool.. but then I wondered what in the world the laces to on his suit... now I guess it is him hugging the bride?

Personally I would say I dont really like it.. for the reason of confusion and also one hand being half way cropped out

[tim]

Tim... I don't see your edits. I would love to see what you did.

Attachments aren't working for me at the moment, i've uploaded them to my server, will leave them there for a few days.

http://mrwild.co.nz/unprotected/potn/temp/img0396smjk7-t1.jpg

http://mrwild.co.nz/unprotected/potn/temp/img0396smjk7-t2.jpg

[Tee Why]

subjects fingers on the left of the frame being cut off bothers me.
I also like the vingetting and a touch more contrast.

[JMHPhotography]

great points... I guess b/w you lose the color difference in the dress and shirt sleeves so it does look like the the arms are part of this torso. Glad you guys pointed that out. Now that I see it, it does bug me. lol

How's this for an alternative? Same idea, not so tight, and it's clear that there are two people here...

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/763/img0399smpk1.jpg

[akphotography]

they are all too dark in my opinion...needs a bit more contrast...it doesnt "jump" out at you...the composition is all great though...having done a few weddings i know it is hard to come up with stuff quickly so great job on that

[christine 80)]

I like the second photo much better. It is very clear there are two bodies, but still the feeling of "two become one". Very nice. Artistic and I think they'll love it!

[wei328]

The first one is too tight, would be better if zoom out and show the whole waist; second one is better, but the composition on the first is nicer.

[RachaelSilvers]

There's something about his cufflinks that keep bringing me back to this image and for that reason I really enjoy looking at the 1st one.

[JMHPhotography]

The first one is too tight, would be better if zoom out and show the whole waist; second one is better, but the composition on the first is nicer.

The original was pulled back further, but while they were dancing and moving, it's not very well centered...lol. :( and honestly to me looks worse. They ended up spotting me and struck a pose for me and after that I couldn't get them to be natural so I abandoned that shot idea after the three frames. One other shot is pulled back and more straight on with the back, but it's missing the left hand with the ring on it and I really wanted that in the shot.