Complex Composition: Working or not?

[S_Sanyal]

Camera Canon EOS 500D w 18-200mm IS lense
Exposure 0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture f/11.0
Focal Length 18 mm
ISO Speed 400

I got some great feedback on my last post.

This was a tricky situation. I need to know if the composition is working or not.
Also this was difficult lighting as you can see - the rock was in complete shadow, a silhouette and a sunset; I brightened the foreground but is it enough?

I know that usually rules advocate to exclude elements; i chose to do exactly the opposite - let us SUPPOSE we were to keep all the elements ( I this case, i felt they were all interesting individually but also much better when they came together- thats my basic premise); in that scope, how does this work?
Thanks in advance for your suggestions and feedback.

[lerabu]

Hi!

This is laic feedback is I am still learning but I would say the following:

- You have three points of interest in the photograph: The carving in the stone, the setting sun and the boy. The eye is well led from one, to the other and to the last and is logical.
- The carvings and the sun are well exposed for but the boy is underxposed. If you shot in RAW it shouldn' be a problem as you can modify the exposure and then blend two layers, or delete the parts of a layer which you don't like. It may seem unnatural, but I think if you modifiy it by 1 EV there won't be too much difference for it to look unnatural.

Otherwise a very interesting capture!

[S_Sanyal]

Thanks for your feedback lerabu.

Layers in raw huh...i'll give it a shot...thanks

[Michael_2010]

I really like the basic composition and beyond that it all gets subjective. The tonal values in the photo tend to blend together a little too much for my tastes. I would like to see more contrast in the rocky formations against the soft lights of the evening sun. I would also rather see the boy's back in silhouette as he peers off into the sunset. He would then become an artistic element of the frame. As it is now, one tends to strain to see the detail in his face. The horizon falling off to the right of the frame is also a little bothersome to my eyes.

This is the critique section, so I looked at your photo with a critical eye, but all-in-all it is a very nice shot that shows some thought went into its composition.

[S_Sanyal]

Thanks Michael. Your ideas are very interesting I usually (most of the time) never pose my subjects..so i just waited for the right moment , PoV and pressed the shutter..but maybe an alternative will help in future

I think its important what you mention about straining eyes for detail, its rather important that he either be exposed properly or be a complete silhouette. I'll remember that! thanks again....

[Krusty79]

Interesting shot, Saptarshi. I think this is very pleasing to look at visually. But, since you're here to improve and asked for a critique, here are my 2 cents. The whole shot feels somewhat underexposed to me. As a result, the guy facing the camera is not a silhouette, but is not correctly exposed either, so I think the eye naturally strains to make out his features. As I take a longer look at the shot, I wonder what story you are trying to tell and I can't figure it out. I don't know why this man is walking towards the carvings. If he had a chisel, I would think he is the artist returning to his work, but as it is, I am left wondering what the relationship is between him and the carvings. So, the viewer is left to wonder if you did this intentionally to create mystery or he just happened to walk by when you took the shot.

[SwissJon]

Aside from what's already been said, my feeling about the figure is that he looks like he's standing in one of those uninspired poses when someone stands and waits for the photographer, standing next to a monument. His shoulders are slouched, he doesn't know whatt o do with his hands, and his feet appear to be together.

I'm with Krusty here, he really needs to look like he has a purpose.. He should fairly obviously be in mid stride, or maybe even sitting on the left of the photo, back against the rock, deep in thought, perhaps with a knee up and another stretched out, elbow on knee, hand near his mouth, looking out to the part of the sea you can't see, camera right. This would provide some movement in the picture, your eye goes to the carving, then to the figure, then accross, following his gaze to the edge, then follow the shoreline up to the sun. It might or might not work, but at least you'd have movement in the picture.

And I agree, the photo appears to be under exposed.