Friends at Harpers Ferry

[Eruditass]

Camera Model: Pentax K-x
Focal Length: 16.0mm (Fisheye on FF)
Aperture: f/16? Manual lens.
Exposure Time: 0.0056 s (1/180)
ISO equiv: 100
Metering Mode: Matrix
Exposure: Manual
Exposure Mode: Manual
White Balance: Auto
Flash Fired: Yes (enforced)


At a lookout, my friends and I were taking some shots. I had one point at me to add to the feel of us snapping away at the view and used a bit of fill flash.

The flare was rather annoying but B&W helped it out a lot. The foreground was much sharper, in focus, and brighter, so I tried to even that out.

Any critiques on the framing, idea, setup, post, etc?

[mikesieber]

I'm still to new to photography to really offer a detailed critique, but I can say that the composition works great in this image. I'm finding that the eye is very naturally lead through the entire image. I agree with you about the flare, but not much you can really do about that unless you really want to dive into Photoshop.

Also, I'm guessing you used a wide angle lens, and it looks like there may be some distortion going on, but that may be just how my eye is perceiving it.

Overall, I think it's a pretty strong image.

[SwissJon]

You need to post the Exif data.

[milosh]

Originally Posted by Eruditass

Any critiques on the framing, idea, setup, post, etc?

I think your idea and it's realization is great, it really shows two of them "in action". I like your framing as well, the only thing that I find a bit distracting are those bright branches on the left side. You can clone them out easily if you know your way around in Photoshop. I like the sharpness of the first guy and the ground beneath them, it helps to emphasise that they're the main subjects. Your background is not trying to compete with the front elements for attention, and yet it is pretty live and interesting. It is somewhat hazy and surreal, but that only helps the shot in my opinion. A viewer can go on and explore this image for quite some time. There are some wide angle distortions, but I don't mind them since the whole feel of this image is bit amusive (I can't find a better word. ).

P.S. In the future, it is a good thing to include the Exif data when posting an image for critique (you can read the rules here: Critique Forum Rules ). It often helps others in order to give you a good critique. If you're not sure what exif is, have a look here: Digital Photography School - Photography Forums - FAQ: Weekly Assignments

[Eruditass]

Originally Posted by SwissJon

You need to post the Exif data.

Sorry, I forgot that it is not expected that people have exif viewers in browsers. Extracted out (and corrected as it was a manual lens)

[Eruditass]

Originally Posted by mikesieber

I'm still to new to photography to really offer a detailed critique, but I can say that the composition works great in this image. I'm finding that the eye is very naturally lead through the entire image. I agree with you about the flare, but not much you can really do about that unless you really want to dive into Photoshop.

Also, I'm guessing you used a wide angle lens, and it looks like there may be some distortion going on, but that may be just how my eye is perceiving it.

Overall, I think it's a pretty strong image.

Thanks for the comments! Yeah, it was a fisheye, cropped by APS-C, then cropped a bit more.

[Eruditass]

Originally Posted by milosh

I think your idea and it's realization is great, it really shows two of them "in action". I like your framing as well, the only thing that I find a bit distracting are those bright branches on the left side. You can clone them out easily if you know your way around in Photoshop. I like the sharpness of the first guy and the ground beneath them, it helps to emphasise that they're the main subjects. Your background is not trying to compete with the front elements for attention, and yet it is pretty live and interesting. It is somewhat hazy and surreal, but that only helps the shot in my opinion. A viewer can go on and explore this image for quite some time. There are some wide angle distortions, but I don't mind them since the whole feel of this image is bit amusive (I can't find a better word. ).

Good insight, thank you. I've been striving to create images that have a lasting appeal.

[milosh]

Originally Posted by Eruditass

Good insight, thank you. I've been striving to create images that have a lasting appeal.

You're welcome!

[SwissJon]

Originally Posted by Eruditass

Sorry, I forgot that it is not expected that people have exif viewers in browsers. Extracted out (and corrected as it was a manual lens)

Many who post here aren't particularly computer literate but have been taking photos for years, which is why the rules ask for the EXIF. Help us to help you

Personally I find the picture a bit confusing. The guy in the foreground is half in the photo and fully in focus, so I'm not sure if he's the main subject. But he doesn't photograph the view, nor interact with the camera, so his presence feels a bit random and his stance leads the eye out of the camera.

The guy in the background has his back to us, and the shade of his clothing closely match the rocks to the extent that on first glance, I thought he was a rock.

The view seems to be slightly out of focus, and doesn't seem to have any focal point either.

So here's how I'd like to have seen this changed.. I'd like the guy in the foreground to take a larger area in the the frame. I'd like him to turn to photograph the view, or at least have his side to the camera so he's shooting into the frame, drawing the eye towards the other photographer.

I'd like the other photographer to the other side of the frame, turned so you could see his camera and for that to be pointing up and accross the frame towards the river, which snakes up out of the frame in a similar shape your eye will have just made.

I quite like the B&W conversion, it's the composition that, for me, could do with a bit of work. Unfortunately, with the photographer in the foreground looking directly out of the frame, I can't really see how you'd rescue this shot.

[jgbkab]

I like the entire photo because it makes me want to go there. I would have put more of the photographer in the frame. I don't mind where he's focusing. Also, the tree branches were a bit distracting. I found myself wondering was it a Bonsai. Overall, I like the photo and think that with a few minor tweaks, it would be awesome.