weightlifting

Does this image work at all? I want it to, but am afraid, that I see what I want to see. Guys?

It works for me personally as a photo. It says lots to me. Technical skill set, I'm not very strong, so I don't have much to offer on that front.

t works for me but, I think, would work much better if you were straight on to the lifter and lost window. As shot the four vertical lines of the apparatus are distracting.

I agree with George that the window should be cropped out since my eyes wander over there. Just take enough to lose the window but save the wall so the size of the room is not lost. The rest gives a sense of where he is at versus being at a larger facility.

Gart

It isn't clear whether the image is about the man or about the room. They compete for my attention. What did you want viewers to notice more, the "who" or the "where"?

Its an interesting photo and speaks on different levels. I appreciate that its B&W, I dont think color would have worked.
I think the image is fine just as I see it. I could expand, but in the end I like that it is NOT technically perfect or by the book.

Andrew

Aye! To answer - the story is about both - the guy, who runs the oldschool weightlifting school and the equipment itself

I disagree with those who want the window out. I really like the composition. My only nit is the stuff down in the right corner. They are too dark to add anything.... they really don't hurt, but they also don't help. Its a nit. I think it you take much more out... it becomes boring. It suites my tase well.

Yes, mate, the windows defines space where we are.

I'd say either include the whole window or cut it out, it doesn't feel deliberate as part of the composition to me as it is right now.

Olafs,

I am so glad that you included that bit of window over on the left edge of the frame. It tells me a lot about the space that I would not know if it were not there. Plus, compositionally it is a big plus, and provides both interest and balance to the composition. An image such as this is not supposed to have but one main point to which the eye gravitates. Rather, the eye is supposed to wander around the frame as it notices various details here and details there. The window really helps to achieve this "visual interest spread throughout the frame" objective.

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OhLook wrote in post #18652065
It isn't clear whether the image is about the man or about the room. They compete for my attention. What did you want viewers to notice more, the "who" or the "where"?

olafs osh wrote in post #18652145
Aye! To answer - the story is about both - the guy, who runs the oldschool weightlifting school and the equipment itself

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The way I see it is that this is a little different than the classic Environmental Portrait, in which the context tells us something about the subject. . In this case, it seems as if the context is important in its own right, as well. . Hence, the subject and the surrounding context are equally important. . I really like the subject : environment ratio that Olafs acquired here.

I often strive to shoot wildlife this way, where I attempt to have the emphasis spread equally between the subject and the surroundings. . When someone isn't sure whether it is a landscape photo with an animal in it, or a wildlife photo with some surrounding habitat - well that's when I figure that I got it just about perfect!

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