What’s Your Preference?

ZannieGirl49 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 04:58 PM

I'm torn about this shot. There are things about it that I like but I think that it's also unbalanced. I wish I would've taken a few steps to my left when I took it. I feel like I have to make a choice of either losing the people as a focal point or losing the sunset. Also it looks a bit crooked. What do you think I can do to make it look a bit better? Can it be salvaged? I really appreciate your thoughts and tips. Oh, and feel free to edit and repost this.

PowerPix · #2 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 06:42 PM

I think the people (only the people) in the photo need to be darkened to make them just silhouettes. Although, I am not sure of the best way to go about accomplishig that. Depends on what you were going for. Also, the photo is crooked, that can be corrected as well. You might could crop the photo on the right side if you feel that it is too unbalanced. Just some ideas.

Edit: Sorry I thought this was the critique section. My bad.

ZannieGirl49 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerPix

I think the people (only the people) in the photo need to be darkened to make them just silhouettes. Although, I am not sure of the best way to go about accomplishig that. Depends on what you were going for. Also, the photo is crooked, that can be corrected as well. You might could crop the photo on the right side if you feel that it is too unbalanced. Just some ideas.

Edit: Sorry I thought this was the critique section. My bad.

Thanks! I agree with the darkening part...along with not knowing how to do it. I'll probably go ahead and crop and straighten to see if I like it any better. No worries, maybe I should move it to the critique section but I'm not sure how.

PowerPix · #4 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZannieGirl49

Thanks! I agree with the darkening part...along with not knowing how to do it. I'll probably go ahead and crop and straighten to see if I like it any better. No worries, maybe I should move it to the critique section but I'm not sure how.

Well, the easiest way might be to work on each person individually. You could cut each one from the background using the foreground select tool and work on them in different layers. For darkening, I wonder if just reducing contrast would work? I'm sure there are other ways but this is the first method that comes to mind. You might have to play around with it a bit to see what works best for you.

As far as putting this in the critique section, I think you just have to create a new thread there. I believe only the mods can "move" a thread. The only reason I said that was because I actually gave a critique. Of course, we have some compulsive people on here that would be like, "You gave a critique in the composition section. How dare you. MODS!!!!......"

genielamb · #5 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 07:29 PM

Definately hope and I agree about the darkening of the people. To draw attention to the sunset while retaining the sillouette effect I would suggest a portrait style crop. The image is a little small to work with but I think this will give you an idea. Basically cropped making the sunset the central focus of attention. The person facing sideways has been moved to appear as if he is 'walking into the picture', Unfortunately, this crop does mean losing the third person but to me it makes the image more interesting. I also darkened the image and increased the saturation just a little to make the sunset pop. Hope it gives you an idea.

NOT MINE

ZannieGirl49 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genielamb

Definately hope and I agree about the darkening of the people. To draw attention to the sunset while retaining the sillouette effect I would suggest a portrait style crop. The image is a little small to work with but I think this will give you an idea. Basically cropped making the sunset the central focus of attention. The person facing sideways has been moved to appear as if he is 'walking into the picture', Unfortunately, this crop does mean losing the third person but to me it makes the image more interesting. I also darkened the image and increased the saturation just a little to make the sunset pop. Hope it gives you an idea.

NOT MINE

By cropping it that way you've really made me think about what I REALLY want in the picture. Here's the hilarious part...you cropped out my husband (seriously, I really do think it's funny). So looking at the updated shot, I think it looks good but after thinking about it maybe the people are more important to me and the sunset is the bonus in the shot. Here's what I got after straightening it, darkening the people and then cropping it so that it's a bit more even on both sides.

genielamb · #7 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 04:39 AM

Your final crop is spot on. If you follow any of the rules (which I like to break all the time) you have placed the focus of the shot in the right position and have also moved the sunset to the top right third which is just perfect. That both draws the eye to the sunset and balances out the main sillouettes in the foreground. Compare what you ended up with to what you began with and the difference is vast. You turned the ordinary into extraordinary. WELL done, see there is hope for almost any photograph. You have the 'eye', cannot wait to see what else you come up with

PowerPix · #8 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genielamb

Unfortunately, this crop does mean losing the third person but to me it makes the image more interesting.

"Gee, Zannie, your husband is totally uninteresting....."

Hahaha, I'm just kidding Genie.

ZannieGirl49 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by genielamb

Your final crop is spot on. If you follow any of the rules (which I like to break all the time) you have placed the focus of the shot in the right position and have also moved the sunset to the top right third which is just perfect. That both draws the eye to the sunset and balances out the main sillouettes in the foreground. Compare what you ended up with to what you began with and the difference is vast. You turned the ordinary into extraordinary. WELL done, see there is hope for almost any photograph. You have the 'eye', cannot wait to see what else you come up with

Thanks Genie! I do try to follow the rules but with this I mainly concentrated on ending up with something that looked appealing to me. I really appreciate the flattering comment about the 'eye' and I hope to have more to share soon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerPix

"Gee, Zannie, your husband is totally uninteresting....."

Hahaha, I'm just kidding Genie.

It's funny that you should mention that because I tell that to him all the time!

OK, now I'm just kidding...he's a keeper.