Ren fair shot...need opinions

Hey Folks,
The shot I have here is from a Ren Fair that I shot recently and is one of several that I plan to enter in a photo contest. I think this shot is the best of the lot that I'm planning to enter, but last year's winner was also a shot of the Knights, so I will be entering some other shots as well (which I'll probably post here later).

I have made quite a few adjustments to this image, including to the background/DOF as well as some highlights/shadows adjustments, colors, etc., so what I need to know is how does the shot look over all and...did I miss anything? I know the lighting is a little harsh, but it was mid-afternoon sun and there really weren't too many other angles from which to shoot.

The dude in the background needs to go. Otherwise it looks pretty good.

Pretty good shot. I agree that the squire in the background is a distraction. A tighter crop would do it.

A caution about Renaissance Faire photo contests: you never know who's judging. I sent a half dozen to the New York State one last year. None of my action shots won, including one that I thought was my best. Instead, they chose one of a troubadour serenading his daughter. Not that I'm complaining. I suggest sending a range of shots. The knight on the horse -- and yours is good -- is very common.

The lighting is great !!!

Thanks for the opinions here folks...I am truly grateful!

I'm still going back and forth on the issue of the squire in the background here. On the one hand I thought he was a bit distracting at first too, but on the other hand (to me) having the squire there also seems to give the shot a sense of balance and depth. Between the horse, the rider and the squire in the background, it almost creates that classic triangle if you will.

Joe - I certainly understand what you're saying about Ren Fair photo contests. Based on last years winners...well...I think they let the horses actually judge the contest! LOL!!! The lighting and the colors in several of the winning shots were simply awful. I do have a selection of shots that I'm going to enter, I just wanted to address this particular shot as it was my favorite and regardless of the contest, it's going to get printed and framed and a copy of it is also going to go into my "people portfolio" as well.

Alrighty...again thanks to everyone! Any additional comments/opinions are certainly welcome!

Peace,
Jim

Very nice, I like the squire in the background. If it was just someone with a tee shirt and jeans I would agree it would have to go but since he has the colors matching his knight I feel it adds to the feel of the photo.

CameraBuff wrote in post #6175899
Very nice, I like the squire in the background. If it was just someone with a tee shirt and jeans I would agree it would have to go but since he has the colors matching his knight I feel it adds to the feel of the photo.

Thank you...that's a very good point in favor of keeping the squire in the shot. Even with the DOF limited, it's pretty clear that the guy in background is the Knight's Squire and that alone makes him a relevant part of the image. There's probably also some kind of statement there as well in that in RL, the Squire always would have been "in the background" as an unrecognizable entity who simply served his Knight.

I am kind of surprised that no one has mentioned the pile of horse dung to the bottom right of the Squire's feet....I actually found that more distracting than the Squire! LOL!!!

Ok...cool...gives me something else to think about.

Peace,
Jim