Rodeo pic...please critique

[sds4kst8]

I shot my first rodeo a week ago Friday and I'm thinking of using this pic to blow up to 16x20 just to see how it looks in that size. Before I do, I'd sure appreciate any comments/suggestions.

Thanks.

http://www.pbase.com/image/25692344.jpg

[Leighow]

I spent some time with this image and my memory of Rodeo's on TV. It is a nice shot and the color treatment is fun -- serious as their task may be!
I concluded that this image does not take off for a few reasons:
- 1: The action is not obvious because of the face on shot.
- 2: The rider's face is covered and the tension is not coming through
- 3: the on lookers look like they are asleep at the wheel.

On close, the image has to find strength in the symmetry of the stunt men and that is not enough to carry the thrill and action of the rodeo.

This may be a tough critique .. but .. I am trying to help !

[sds4kst8]

Howie...thanks for the comments. That's exactly what I was looking for, so don't worry about being tough.

You're right on all points. I was thinking (okay, hoping!) the symetry would carry the photo, but it really doesn't.

I appreciate your comments.

Scott

[Leighow]

Well ... it is very easy for me to sit back on pontifiate about someone else's work of art.

Look you have a fiine photograph. Who am I to talk! I have only been to one rodeo-- and it was just amateurs and we brough our own chairs! And frankly when the guys started riding the broncs it was hard to watch as they clearly had no clue as to how to survive the journey (but they did)!

I think that it is true that the frontal nature of the shot loses the face because of the hat. But this guy is risking his life and things are going start to bouncing. With that future in mind he great part of the image may be the onlookers. They seem to be suspended in la-la land!

[Mark Kemp]

I wonder why you have removed the colour from the rider and left the 'clowns' (is that right? im a brit I have only seen 1 rodeo). It has made two competing centres of interest and removed attention from the main theme (the lunatic trying not to fall off!)

Perhaps you could restor colour to the bull and the rider and also blur the background and spectators a bit. Then you will concentrate attention on the triangular area in the middle where all the action is.

[stopbath]

I like the effect of isolating the colour of an item and turning the rest of the photo black and white, but it really doesn't work here.

The main subject is the bull and rider and their 'dance.' The clowns are for safety of the rider, and to keep the audience amused while no other action is played.

The same treatment on a photo of the clowns acting up might really work great (well, they do add colour!)

Otherwise use the treatment on the bull and rider.

I don't mind the hands looking bored, the've seen this sooooo many times, and they are hard to impress. There is nobody in the seats and that's odd. :?