New to Forum - first post

[Moon Mama]

Hi,
I'm fairly new to the forum...been in lurker mode finding my way around. This is a recent photo I took of my nephew. I would really appreciate some CC on this. Thanks .....

Becky

[|)\/8]

The WB looks a little off to me, but maybe you were going for a warm glow look. What time of day was this taken?

Also, I think I would have cropped it differently. I would have cropped it so the child was on the left side of the photo looking into more of the surrounding area, if the original would have allowed it. I just don't think that the area to the child's right adds anything to the photo. I did a 8x10 vertical crop, that looks much better in my opinion, but I can not post it because you do not have "Image Editing OK" enabled.

[Moon Mama]

It was sunset on the beach and I was trying to capture the "golden moment". I see what you mean about the crop. Unfortunately I didn't leave enough room to change it. I had been doing some reading on composition that suggested having something on the diagonal leading into the subject.... So I was kind of focusing on that rail leading toward him. Thanks for taking the time to CC...it's appreciated! : )

[|)\/8]

I am just giving my personal opinion and there are certainly many more people on this forum that are far more qualified to critique your photo.

I think this composition would have worked (for me) if he was looking more into the camera.

[Moon Mama]

A personal opinion is all any of us can give....there are hard and fast rules but sometimes it's just a matter of taste and I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Even if I like a photo, I still want to hear what others have to say....it gives me another perspective and I learn from it. That's what so wonderful about these forums! : )

[kevindar]

Becky, welcome to the forum.
Its nice lighting and exposure. Its a solid image, but not one with much impact. The composition is a little lacking for me. I agree it may have been better with him looking in to camera.

[ADAPTE]

I had been doing some reading on composition that suggested having something on the diagonal leading into the subject.... So I was kind of focusing on that rail leading toward him.

I think that would work better with your nephew on the background and the rail on the foreground leading to him. Just my .02.

[Moon Mama]

ahhh...I like that....didn't even think about doing it that way but it makes sense. Thanks:)

[Moon Mama]

I kind of liked that far off gaze but you're right...there would have been more of a connection if he'd been looking into the camera. Thanks for the reply : )

[tonydee]

Hi Becky,

I think it's quite a good shot.

Quickly, my agreement/disagreement with earlier feedback: it is an uncommon use of diagonals, and normally using a diagonal as a lead in line as suggested would be a safer bet. My original instinct was the white balance was off, but the sunset might account for that. I like the far off gaze.

New feedback: it's distracting having his forearms right at the edge of the picture. They counter-balance the face, and moving from the face right to the edge is somehow discomforting. I also feel his very tight, narrow, upright body posture reduces the sense of depth. If he had been leaning an arm out beside himself, or sitting a little "along" the rail, then it'd draw the eye through the picture more. Even something like a bag placed beside him might provide more of a sense of there being something in both foreground and background, as I find there's nothing for the eyes to rest on or even acknowledge in the grass or along the rail.

Cheers,

Tony

[lawmans3]

I did a 8x10 crop and took out some of the red. I think the picture is a good one. Just a few minor corrections with the crop and white balance....IMO :D.

229732

[tonydee]

Nicely done, but Becky hasn't put "IMAGE EDITING OK" in her profile, which means she hasn't invited people to post edits of her work. I know it seems a bit officious, but the profile option is there as I guess having other people modifying their work can be a bit upsetting for some people...? Anyway, you've been doing some great edits, but best post a "I've done something I think you'd like, and I'll post if you enable IMAGE EDITING OK in your profile". Some people will, sometimes I've seen they don't. Cheers, Tony

[lawmans3]

Nicely done, but Becky hasn't put "IMAGE EDITING OK" in her profile, which means she hasn't invited people to post edits of her work. I know it seems a bit officious, but the profile option is there as I guess having other people modifying their work can be a bit upsetting for some people...? Anyway, you've been doing some great edits, but best post a "I've done something I think you'd like, and I'll post if you enable IMAGE EDITING OK in your profile". Some people will, sometimes I've seen they don't. Cheers, Tony


Good point, didn't really think about someone getting upset about 'my version' of an image if they post it on a public forum asking for feedback. :(

[lostdoggy]

I think there is something about looking into a photo rather then looking out of the photo. The subject as he is sitting should be more to the left of the shot so that he is looking into the photo rather then looking out of the photo.