Is there just too much black?

[swoffa]

Hi all,

I'd like your thoughts on whether there's too much surrounding black. And also does the composition work? Should I crop it a bit?

Thanks for any feedback.


1/250
f/4
ISO 100
183mm

[BryanC]

In my humble, personal, take it for what it's worth opinion, yes...a little too much black. Your subject/focal point is getting a little lost. I think the composition that you were going for works, not being centered and falling on a 'third' line. But I think a tighter crop would help with making the subject the main focus of the image. There would still be some black or negative space to get that feel that you want, but it wouldn't be overwhelming.

[swoffa]

Thanks BryanC,
I played around with bit. heavily cropped and rotated. What are your thoughts this time?

[IainM]

Hrm yeah, I can see what you were going for and it's cool. I definitely think the second, tighter cropped shot is better in terms of black, but I think in such a simple shot everything that we can see of the subject is important. What I mean is that the leaf's (?) direction, what we can see of the stem, all that sort of thing is what will make the shot. I think the first one with the leaf pointing down is better, but others might disagree.
I feel like the reason for the photo is missing, or maybe I can't see it. What is it about the leaf that is interesting?
I feel like what I want to see is an insect like a catapillar or something. Or the shadow of a droplet of water.
Am I making sense?

[swoffa]

IainM,
Yes definitely making sense.
I thought the silhouette of a leaf against the full moon would hold something, but your right, a little critter would really bring it to life.

When I looked at it again just now, I thought of the muppets. Hahaha. Maybe it just requires a funny caption. Moon Crooning, Lunar Laughing……

Thanks for your comments. Much appreciate.

[IainM]

whoa! is that what it is? hah!

I thought it was a dark room and that was a shadow made by a spotlight against a white wall. That's also why I mentioned the critter, I thought it was a set room shot so you could set something like that up, to find that naturally would take a lot of luck!
I think in that case the composition should put the moon higher, or something...

[Athas_orm]

Okay,

I think the idea is great but unfortunatly its one of the things your camera can't really capture well. (I think) you'd need the focus a lot further out to see that it was the moon but then you wouldn't have the leaf in focus.

Maybe using a telephoto lens and getting as much distance between you and the leaf would help but then the leaf would be even smaller in the finished product.

The cropped version is better but Its just not clear what it is, sorry.

Maybe try combining photos to get this to work.

[Sterling]

IMO, this an example of a good idea that just didn't translate well to an image. I'm sure that to you it seems quite interesting to see the leaf against the full moon. The problem is that you are the only one that knows that's what it is.

[BryanC]

Originally Posted by Sterling

IMO, this an example of a good idea that just didn't translate well to an image. I'm sure that to you it seems quite interesting to see the leaf against the full moon. The problem is that you are the only one that knows that's what it is.

I think Sterling said it in a good way. And remember, these opinions are meant to be honest and helpful. As for what you were going for in this particular image, a more "leaf-looking" leaf might be better. Where it left no doubt about what it was. I do like the idea, though, so don't be discouraged. It's what it's all about, having ideas and trying different things.

Sorry, forgot to add: As for the closer cropping, I think that worked much better in general.

[junglebear]

I knew instantly it was leaf and a full moon, but like Sterling said I don't think it translates well into the image.