Urns & Fountains

[mdpix]

This was from a day at a botanical gardens. I am pleasantly pleased with this shot; I like the angle, the arches & ivy, the orangey colored urns, and the waterfall staircase. What I didn't like were all the people standing at the top rail which I have since photoshopped out. Well, all but one. I tried, but since my photoshop skills are not the most advanced, and after a few attempts at trying to "clone" her away, I gave up. What do you think? Does she take away/distract from the overall composition enough that I should remove her; and if so, does anyone have any simple suggestions how I could accomplish this. I have PSE5.

p.s. If I have incorrectly posted this to the wrong forum, please feel free to move it to where it better fits

[windrider86]

I actually kinda like the girl in this picture. it gives it perspective. The part I am not fond of is the stairs. It takes your eyes away fromt he wall

[RiyaziM]

I agree with windrider - the lone girl makes the shot interesting and gives perspective - the stairs have to go

[mdpix]

Really, you think the stairs have to go? I thought they actually pulled the eye back down; and without them wouldn't the eye just go off the page? Hmmm, now that's a composition question I hadn't thought of

btw, I do like the girl in it . . .

[RiyaziM]

I think the fact that arches and ivy take eye in one direction and then gets suddenly is "pulled back" by the stairs is what makes it not ok for me personally. I think compositional rules need the eye to be led gently in to and out of the picture. If there was more of the stairs - either leading to the right or to the bottom it might have made a better impression as the eye has more room to move with the flow whereas here because of the little of the stairs shown it produces a "jerk" reaction

Hope all this makes sense - this is just my personal opinion though - I might be wrong

[dimitrz]

Originally Posted by windrider86

I actually kinda like the girl in this picture. it gives it perspective. The part I am not fond of is the stairs. It takes your eyes away fromt he wall

Agree with Windrider

One of the most annoying aspect of mphotography is when people keeping popping in to your frame when you want to eliminate the human element

As they say if you cant beat them Join them - in that sense the girl does add menaing to your photo

I would have liked if you could have either got the stair in or kept it out entirely.

Like the photo though - good job mate

Cheers