Red Park Bench

[phlyersphan]

Alrighty - this is one of my favorite shots from this past weekend's trip to the Lake Katherine Nature Preserve in Palos Heights, IL.

I plan to use it as one of my portfolio shots in my photography class.

Is there anything I can do to improve it? The reason I ask is, I really like it just how it came out of the camera, but I'm new, and I know you all have such fantastic insights that there have got to be some improvements I can make!

(Plus, I want to win the class competition and get an A on my portfolio!)



Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 70 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

(Larger views available if you're on my flickr contact list - add me as a contact!)

Side note: Here's an alternative angle that I shot. It shows the entire bench in view, but I think I prefer the angle of the shot with the bench cropped. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!!!!

[clockdoc]

A couple of things come to mind when I view your photo. While the tree has some nice diagonal lines in its branches, it blends with the background making it a hard 'read.' The bench (half or whole really doesn't matter) needs a subject and a base (the legs are cut off). On its own, it doesn't have the color or attraction to be the center of interest. The scene probably looked much more striking in your mind's eye when you first came across it. The key here is to ask yourself, "Where does the viewer's eye enter the shot and where does it finally land?" My eye enters from the left but is quickly moved along and out the right side by the tree branch and the horizontal lines of the bench. A subject would stop the eye from exiting as quickly.

[Robin Sarac]

I find the second bench in the background distracting. It takes a bit away from the impact of the front bench. A bit more of the bench vertically, some slightly more saturated colors...and even a less exposed version would make it nicer to look at I think.

[phlyersphan]

Thanks for the feedback!!!

I'm not sure there's anything I can do about the "tree noise" in the background behind the funky angle tree - I'm definitely not skilled enough in Photoshop to get into all those nooks and crannies to even try to blur them!

I guess the subject to me was more of just... red... in the near bench, the far bench, and the tree. I wonder if I could pull some more color out of the shot. I haven't yet tried.

I see what you're saying clockdoc with the motion of the eye through the photo.

One thing I noticed as I printed this one out was that I like it much better larger. I may have to try an 8x10 print to see if I like it any better. The 4x6 print I did was disappointing, even after I finally got my monitor color matched to my printer (and boy was that an adventure!!!)

I'll repost if I end up keeping this shot! Thanks for the food for thought!!!!

[phlyersphan]

Thanks for the feedback!!!

I'm not sure there's anything I can do about the "tree noise" in the background behind the funky angle tree - I'm definitely not skilled enough in Photoshop to get into all those nooks and crannies to even try to blur them!

I guess the subject to me was more of just... red... in the near bench, the far bench, and the tree. I wonder if I could pull some more color out of the shot. I haven't yet tried.

I see what you're saying clockdoc with the motion of the eye through the photo.

One thing I noticed as I printed this one out was that I like it much better larger. I may have to try an 8x10 print to see if I like it any better. The 4x6 print I did was disappointing, even after I finally got my monitor color matched to my printer (and boy was that an adventure!!!)

I'll repost if I end up keeping this shot! Thanks for the food for thought!!!!

/edit

Playing around before bed...

Decreased exposure, increased saturation, increased blacks and darks a little bit. I'm going to work on it some more.

[clockdoc]

Thanks for your work in reposting. In reading your latest comments I suspect that the scene, in person, captured your vision more easily. To be honest, I did not pick up on the reds in the tree until your second posting. Perhaps it was the size of the image or just the tree against a similar background that caused me to overlook the tie in between the tree and bench. What is important is if it pleases you. Everyone has their opinion but you obviously saw something here that caught your attention.

[jiminyClickit]

phlyersphan,

Ten times better richness, composition connection of reds. If you want to test your skills, filling the glaring white area of sky will bring you even more of a winner (notice how the area filtering through bushes is still blue/gray?). Also keep in mind if you do, the reflection in the water: everything should be similar in hue and tone.

[mdwsta4]

the edited version is much better, but the bench/dock in the background is still distracting. i would also suggest a circular polarizer so the sky wasn't completely blown out.

[Robin Sarac]

Very nice! Good job in post! I see the red in the scene now.

mdwsta4 makes a good point about a polarizer too.

[aadam_21]

Very good job with the edit! My only concern is with the bench in the foreground. Since the second leg is cut off, it looks to me to be precariously balanced. I usually just like to see both legs which makes it look more stable, but that's probably just a personal preference.