Slum Backyard

[dandellion]

I'd really like to know how this one could be better. All the aspects are of interest: composition, developing, crop, colors...

Canon EOS350d
f4.0
1/250
18mm

[SwissJon]

What are you trying to show with this picture. It's very difficult to tell you how to improve a shot without knowing what the suject of the shot is.. That's the first thing I notice.. You have no subject or point of focus.

[UlpilotSC]

Originally Posted by dandellion

I'd really like to know how this one could be better. All the aspects are of interest: composition, developing, crop, colors...

Canon EOS350d
f4.0
1/250
18mm

I like the subject, but agree with the other post - there's no subject - my eye keeps running to the drain hole thing in the middle of the shot. That balcony with the blue tile looks interesting in the corner, one colorful section in a sea of grey. If there was more focus on it, I can see it being an interesting shot. It IS gloomy and depressing, however, if thats the mood youre going for, bravo, it came across nicely.

It looks very much like a shot taken for "informational purposes only" - like a City planner would take to show a group of developers, "what can we do to improve this space". It fulfills a certain need, but could go much farther.

I like taking slummy pictures too... falling in houses, trashy properties, but we dont have anything like this around my area. I used up my one SYS for the day though.

[EOBeav]

What an awesomely deteriorated location! I see several different comps here. I would try to get down on the ground level and take advantage of the details in the stairs and surrounding elements.

But yeah, this image, as it is, doesn't work for me. Thanks for posting, and keep shooting!

[dandellion]

Thank you all for the comments, it really helps having experienced eyes tell what the iage is missing.

I was going after the atmosphere of the place. I liked how the colors turned out, but for me the image is empty, probably due my ambition to catch the whole place. I guess that having somebody doing something there would do the trick. Though I rarely see anybody there. I'll probably revisit the place.

Thanks again.

[Krusty79]

I think you need a person in the picture to tie it all together. It would be great if you could capture some bum passed out on the stairs.

[dandellion]

Yeah, it needs a person. Problem is, that's a private backyard and, though exposed from the busy bridge I took the photo from, it's not quite aporachable.