Is this perhaps only interesting to me?

[lotteotte]

I took this photo some time ago in Manhattan. I've always been attracted to dolls, and somehow these 3 guys an the perspective of the photo do it for me. I know that doesn't make it a good picture though - but when I like the subject I have right now the hardest time to distinguish if it is a good, mediocre or perhaps even bad and boring photo. Any kind of friendly feed back therefore is grately appreciated!

From Trips in the City

Model: NIKON D40
ISO: 400
Exposure: 1/30 sec
Aperture: 3.5
Focal Length: 18mm
Flash Used: No

Lotteotte,

This falls under the category - "Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder..."

The title sparked my curiosity so I opened it only to find no one has commented.

Serendipity!

Yes, the shot is interesting. I'm not sure National Geographic will ever run it, but it does have some visual interest. I wish the closest baby was in focus.

I'm perpetually intrigued by those that ask if a photo is "good, mediocre or perhaps even bad and boring". I believe you already stated that "somehow these 3 guys an the perspective of the photo do it for me." That statement right there makes it good!!!

All photos are not all things to all viewers. What I find visually appealing, you may not. And the opposite is true. The fact that this post has views and no comments indicates that not many viewers had their world rocked.

But yours did, and mine did. And in my humblest of opinions, that makes it good.

Thank you for posting.

[BCampbell]

A few things that jump at me:

The right 1/4 or 1/3 of the photo is just junk. The door, the bench, the trash can. Actually, I take it, back, they are not "junk" per se but they are really distracting. I actually find them more interesting than your subject.

The reflections are really distracting.

The text is distracting and doesn't relate in any way to your subject.

The front doll being out of focus is not a good choice, to me.

The lighting is also very flat, which is not helping you.

Overall, your subjects are taking up a relatively small portion of the frame. With all of the distractions, they easily get lost in the clutter. In fact, the most interesting thing to me in the entire photo is the eye peeking out from above them. At a different time of day, with more careful composition, and perhaps an attempt to cut down the reflections, you may have a better shot.

[EOBeav]

I just read that Stephen King short story about the little toy mechanized chimpanzee with the cymbals that keeps coming back to haunt people. So, this shot is freaking me out just a little bit right now.

[RLucas]

I think it is very interesting. Yes, it is busy, but to me it's in a good way. I think everything is interacting in a good way here. The dolls look like they are ready to bust loose at any moment, from wanting to be out on the park bench or playing outside. The open door is their opportunity to make a run for it. The reflection of the road lines going across their heads gives it some imagery of what they may dreaming about, or what direction they may take if they bust out. I think it's a cool shot. Even the first doll being OOF adds to the lost feeling of it.
The only part I would do anything about is the far left side. I would crop out what looks to be a purple shirt sleeve. I would do nothing more.. I am even enjoying the flat lighting. It gives a sense of being stuck or static. I don't really know what else to say. I keep coming back to it though.

[Michael_2010]

My reaction is similar to EOB's. It made me think of the opening scene for a horror flick........ but I don't like dolls or clowns.

[ellie mac]

I think it is kind of interesting in a weird way. Not a photo I would ever take but that's not the point really!

I'm finding that my eye is flicking between the centre baby doll & the trash can, making it difficult to focus on what you wanted as the subject. I'm also finding the out of focus doll on the left just really odd. I'd probably crop from each side, removing the doll on the left and the trash can on the right. But leaving the rest of the doorway so you don't loose the perspective you liked. I think a square crop could probably work really well here.

And now that someone pointed it out, the peeking out eye in the background is a little freaky LOL!

[photocist]

Id like to see the shot straight on, or maybe standing where the middle doll is looking.

[lotteotte]

Originally Posted by Bakeys

What a kind comment and critique - thanks A LOT for this, Bakeys!

[lotteotte]

Originally Posted by BCampbell

Dear BCampell, obviously we have a very different approach to taking photos, which per se is interesting. As I said regarding another photo of mine today (so sorry if this is a repeat): I have very little time to take photos at all, and I am grateful for each and every moment I manage to capture. I am kind of a paparazzi of my own life, and my shots are mostly quick and dirty.

But perhaps my question was also not clear. My subjects are not only the dolls, my subject is the entire situation, including the light at this time of the day. All the elements that you perceive as junk, clutter and distraction are actually interesting to me, simply because they are what they are, and I very consciously chose them to be part of the picture.

But this is what I asked for - opinions and feelings, and I thank you that you made the time to share yours.