Are the facial expressions enough?

[cciotti]

I shot this yesterday walking through the Boston Common where a group of actors was rehearsing for that evenings performance of Shakespeare in the Park (Romeo & Juliet this year).

What do you think of the composition? Do the facial expressions on the actors make it more interesting? Is the background too distracting? I'm interested to know your thoughts. Thanks!

chris



Camera make: NIKON CORPORATION
Camera model: NIKON D40
Date/Time: 2009:08:04 17:48:48
Resolution: 800 x 1159
Flash used: No
Focal length: 200.0mm (35mm equivalent: 300mm)
Exposure time: 0.0012 s (1/800)
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO equiv: 200
Exposure bias: -0.33
Whitebalance: Auto
Metering Mode: matrix
Exposure: aperture priority (semi-auto)

[Alan Willis]

I'm not sure what, exactly, you were trying to accomplish here (esp. since this is in landscape/cityscape, not portrait). But I find the composition problematic; I would have cropped out the two people on the right (and probably cloned-out their hands). They are distracting and make the focal point (which I take to be the woman with the cast?) less of a focal point.

[cciotti]

Originally Posted by Alan Willis

I'm not sure what, exactly, you were trying to accomplish here (esp. since this is in landscape/cityscape, not portrait). But I find the composition problematic; I would have cropped out the two people on the right (and probably cloned-out their hands). They are distracting and make the focal point (which I take to be the woman with the cast?) less of a focal point.

Thank you, Alan, for taking the time to comment.

I wasn't trying to "accomplish" anything with this photo. I was walking by and snapped a few shots - I liked their facial expressions and they are attractive. Sometimes a photo is just a photo. <rant>I think people take themselves and their photography far too seriously. Every photo doesn't have to be accomplishing something or telling a story or whatever. This is meant to be fun. </rant>

As for the forum location, I wasn't sure where to put it as it's not really a portrait but more a street shot. If a mod wants to move it, so be it.

Thanks for the crop advice, I think I'll take it.

Have a great day.

chris

[nanbil]

If you like the facial expressions then perhaps you can support that element. Crop out the distractions. Improve on the contrast to bring out the faces more (lighten).

Before taking a picture ask yourself why you are interested enough to take this shoot. What is the object of interest? What feeling does it give you? Is there a mood or message here?

Shooting with intention is the best way to achieve great pictures. You are right shooting without intention can result in good pictures. But you get far fewer of them and rarely a great one.

Having said that I must admit to shooting scenes based in intuition. But it has to really feel right if I don't actually understand what it is I'm shooting.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by cciotti

Thank you, Alan, for taking the time to comment.

I wasn't trying to "accomplish" anything with this photo. I was walking by and snapped a few shots -

If it is a snapshop then why ask for a critique? It's a fine snapshot but it is nothing more.

[cciotti]

Originally Posted by zona5101

If it is a snapshop then why ask for a critique? It's a fine snapshot but it is nothing more.

Because I felt like it. If you have nothing constructive to add, you're just noise.

[cciotti]

Originally Posted by nanbil

If you like the facial expressions then perhaps you can support that element. Crop out the distractions. Improve on the contrast to bring out the faces more (lighten).

Before taking a picture ask yourself why you are interested enough to take this shoot. What is the object of interest? What feeling does it give you? Is there a mood or message here?

Shooting with intention is the best way to achieve great pictures. You are right shooting without intention can result in good pictures. But you get far fewer of them and rarely a great one.

Having said that I must admit to shooting scenes based in intuition. But it has to really feel right if I don't actually understand what it is I'm shooting.

Thanks for the information, I found it useful and will work on it this evening.

chris