Sovereign

[Palachandra]

I shot this statue in B&W mode and used below setting.

Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 17 mm
ISO Speed: 80

Underexposed and produced the silhouette kind of shot to emphasize more on shape using mute sky as background.

Critique please

[Saralonde]

I like the idea of a sillouetted statue against the sky, but I'm not so sure of the positioning on this. My first thought is that the horse's feet are cut off. It's fine to only photograph a part of a statue but when virtually all of it is in the shot, it's a bit disconcerting to lose his feet.

[melanie2457]

It needs a bit of depth or something. With only the 2 colors it seems a bit plain.

[Palachandra]

Thanks for your thoughts, here is one more crop with his feet and added some light.

[jiminyClickit]

Palachandra,

Would you be upset if I said now the head is too close to the top of frame? Sometimes you either keep what you're happy with, or reshoot it until you have one you do like. There does seem to be a lot of tightly-framed photos lately (many others, not just this one of yours), leaving folks with not many options. With all the megapixels available in most newer cameras, you can leave breathing room before you press the shutter. Saves much regret later.

The added light in Post #4 looks better.

[melanie2457]

Yeah, I like the added color in the 2nd photo. It adds the detail that was lacking in the first photo. Also, as Jiminy mentioned, a little room at the top and in front of the horse too, would balance out the picture a little better.

[Palachandra]

Thanks JC, melanie2457 for your inputs. I shot this in Lalbagh - botonical garden, Bangalore. From this week flower show is arranged there and planning to go again this weekend. Will try to re-shoot it.

[jiminyClickit]

Palachandra,

While you're there, think about how strong the sculpted faces are, of both the rider and the horse. And showing some of the base of the statue is OK, even a good thing sometimes.

Should have mentioned earlier: I see the reason for the silhouette shot, and if you get a fantastic sky sometime, it will bring life to that shot. It takes more than Dark against Light to generate interest in silhouettes. Your subject was very interesting, but the muted light and lack of color just wasn't going to give you a good shot. Good luck at the show!

[Palachandra]

This is what I came up with last...