Resting Place

[JJthethird]

For your critique, I am particularly interested in improving my composition, exposure, basically everything to improve my photography!



Tried to blur the background slightly, didnt want to go too far as I feel it wouldnt look natural. Any improvement?



John.

[Nieton21]

Hi john, one thing that I find when I look at this image is that my attention is drawn away from the main tombstone toward the backgroun. I think there is too much going on and it makes it difficult to look at the main subject. I really like the ideas and the subjects in the shot. Maybe if the background was a slight bit blurred it would be easier to focus. Also I think simplifying this shot into black and white would make the subject stand out more. These are just some ideas, I hope they help.

[Teewinot]

Perhaps getting the main tombstone in the sunlight would help bring more attention to it. As is, the main tombstone is in the shadows, while the background is nicely illuminated and full of rich color, drawing our eyes away. I like the background blurred effect better. Everything just seems less harsh in the second shot. I think the composition is good...having the main subject off to the side is effective. Perhaps your crop around the main tombstone is a bit tight? Opening that up might also bring it out too.

Thanks for sharing!

[wulf]

It is true that the sun seems to be the in the wrong place for this picture. It may be worth seeing if you can use your computer to make the foreground tombstone lighter and the background a bit darker.

Alternatively, it might be better to try again sometime - chalk it up to learning that sometimes you have to wait for the light rather than trying to squeeze the photo out too quickly.

Wulf

[JJthethird]

Thanks people, yes Wulf I am finding that a lot of my learning(apart from what I get from this forum of course) comes from "putting it down to experience". Its a learning curve that I am hoping that I will reap the benefits from quite soon! And if I was taking the "Perfect shot" everytime I would never have got to meet the good people on here!!

Cheers,
John.

[JJthethird]

I will go back and try to catch the light better, but I've done a little bit to try and rectify my mistakes. Any better?



Cheers, John.

[Angela]

I think the third image looks fine. Part of what I couldn't get past with the first 2 was that the main tombstone looked green. There seemed to be too much green goiung on to allow it to stand out. Now that you've tweaked the color of the main stone, it seems to work better

[JJthethird]

Thanks Angela, the cemetary where the shot was taken is very old and most of the stones are covered in lichen and moss, which is where the green comes from. The main stone in the shot is dated 1742.

Thanks again, John.

P.S. Welcome to the forum.

[Angela]

Thanks for the welcome.

I figured it was mossy but didn't realize it was that old.

Nicely done.

[clockdoc]

Hi,
I agree with what has been said previously regarding the fact that the subject is darker than the competing background. You did a nice job in lightening it up along the way. My only observation would be that as my eye 'reads' into the picture from left to right, I hit the main subject but since it, too, is facing to the right it tends to move me out the right side of the frame too quickly. I realize you had little control over the way the tombstone was positioned but just wanted to add my observation. Thanks for sharing your image with us.
Sincerely,
Lee - 'clockdoc'