composition help?

[praline3001]

I am still learning, learning, learning! I tried something out of my safety net and now I am not sure if it turned out okay?

this is a slave cabin from Destrehan plantation. I tried framing the subject with the roses and Spanish moss. I wanted to give it a softer, less harsh feel. I am just not sure if the roses being out of focus and the Spanish moss is too distracting? What do you think of the composition? Should I have tried to get the shot without the roses in it?

I was trying to get all fancy and artistic and now I am second guessing my artistic abilities lol

I am trying to study very closely each of my shots. Things I did right and things that went wrong. This way I can improve slowly but surely! So if you have any advice/ would do this differently/ or anything else to add please feel free! I might have missed a glaring mistake studying my own work LOL Mostly I am worried about the composition but any help is appreciated.


Destrehan plantation slave cabin by praline3001, on Flickr

[RichardTaylor]

What's the subject? The roses or the moss?
Focus on the subject both composition wise or focus wise..

As it is I find the roses distracting, mainly because they are bright and out of focus, as they take my eye straight out of the photograph.

If you want to show both try to get them both in focus by using a much smaller aperture than F5.6

[praline3001]

Originally Posted by RichardTaylor

What's the subject? The roses or the moss?
Focus on the subject both composition wise or focus wise..

As it is I find the roses distracting, mainly because they are bright and out of focus, as they take my eye straight out of the photograph.

If you want to show both try to get them both in focus by using a much smaller aperture than F5.6

The cabin is the subject. I had the focus on the porch of the cabin. I was trying to use the roses and moss to soften the lines of the cabin. Once I uploaded it and saw it on the computer it didn't come out as I would have hoped it would.

[praline3001]

Do you think it would help if I muted the reds in the roses? To bring the eye to the cabin?

My artistic little know nothing soul said the roses would be nice to break up all the greens and browns in the photo and help soften the lines and bareness of the cabin.

I am trying to decide if I should mute the reds or just trash the photo.

Something like this:

Destrehan plantation slave cabin ~ take 2 by praline3001, on Flickr

Are the roses still too distracting?

[phil24]

I think if you could get around to show more of the cabin, possibly include a door which may lead you into the cabin it would draw you into the photo. For me with the moss hanging down and the roses taking a quarter of the shot the cabin is getting lost.

Hope you can get back and take some more shots it looks like a really interesting area to get some great shots.

[Tito87]

If your subject is the cabin, make the cabin more prominent. I understand what you were trying to do: you were going for foreground framing. But it's not working here. It seems like you want the viewer to look at either the moss or the roses, and the cabin is just something in the background. Foreground framing can be really beautiful, just make sure that your subject is clearly the focus of your composition. Why don't you ever give your EXIF data when posting for critique. I wanted to say something about your "Fog Picture", but I restrained myself given your lack of camera settings. This time I thought I'd better tell you about it, before the moderators get on your case.

[praline3001]

Originally Posted by Tito87

If your subject is the cabin, make the cabin more prominent. I understand what you were trying to do: you were going for foreground framing. But it's not working here. It seems like you want the viewer to look at either the moss or the roses, and the cabin is just something in the background. Foreground framing can be really beautiful, just make sure that your subject is clearly the focus of your composition. Why don't you ever give your EXIF data when posting for critique. I wanted to say something about your "Fog Picture", but I restrained myself given your lack of camera settings. This time I thought I'd better tell you about it, before the moderators get on your case.

That is what I was trying to do, foreground framing. I knew the composition wasn't working I just wasn't able to pinpoint why.

I didn't give my EXIF as my question pertained to composition and placing. The same thing with my fog photos. I didn't think anyone needed the info for a composition critique. On photos that I am worried about the exposure I always add my EXIF values. I didn't know we were required to add the info for all critiques no matter the concern. I will try and remember for next time.

[TNH]

I like the moss. I think adds to the overall feel of the picture. But the roses are distracting, IMO. Probably because they're so bright.

[Tito87]

Originally Posted by praline3001

On photos that I am worried about the exposure I always add my EXIF values. I didn't know we were required to add the info for all critiques no matter the concern. I will try and remember for next time.

Look here:
Digital Photography School - Photography Forums - FAQ: Forum Rules

[praline3001]

Originally Posted by Tito87

Look here:
Digital Photography School - Photography Forums - FAQ: Forum Rules

I did. It doesn't say *mandatory* or have to. It says if possible. As I said, I will add the information regardless if its pointless to my concern and question. I just didn't see the need to include my ISO when my question was about composition and placement in the shot.
I just figured that people wouldn't want to read all the technical stuff when my question didn't pertain to them.