Hanging out

[msocolin]

Hi. I took this photo last Thursday in a park nearby.

Is the composition ok? Is it appealing to you? What would you do to make it better?

I cropped it just a bit, and made it black and white.

Thank you all for your opinions.



EXIF:

Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Exposure Program: Aperture-priority AE
Aperture: f/5.0
Focal Length: 45 mm
Exposure: 0.00
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

[ncbcymtechie]

I do like how their curve matches with the pavement and the repeating pattern of the fence. One thing that bothers me is the person who got cut off to the right. Normally this doesn't bother me, but we're talking legs and hands here—not even a face. So I think I'd leave him or her out.

Oh, and another thing—the horizon doesn't feel straight. I believe there's a tool in Photoshop that'll allow you to fix it, and I'm sure there are tutorials teaching you how to do it if you don't know how already.

Love the strong contrast coupled with the B&W—nice shot!

[AlphaBjerke]

I don't know what others have said so forgive me if someone else has already said the same thing (I don't want what they said to influence my critique). I like the leading line created by that big thing they are sitting around, but I think there is too much "nothing on the other side of that curve (the side opposite the people, of course.). I don't know if a different angle could have prevented it, but the people are too small to me to be of much consequence, and the left side of the image has nothing interesting in it.

[Sandie]

I really like the idea of the shot, but the composition doesn't work for me. The way the people and the lines in the fence repeat is pleasing to the eye and then the strong curve of the curb makes a nice interesting counter point. Black and white really allows these lines to play with each other.

What I would do is crop all the trees. I would all the way down to the top horizontal line in the fence. I also agree with the person who said the legs are distracting in the cut off person, if you crop that person though you loose the strongest part of the curve. So personally I would work on cloning them out, because without the curve, the photo doesn't work.

It is a nice capture. I like the interaction of all the people and lines.

[utsc2006]

Hmmm I think whats missing for me is context. I can't quite tell if they are waiting for a bus, or watching a soccer game or are on break from work... I like the B&W, and I think the shadows on the foreground really give the photo some depth... but I think it lacks a story for me.

I'd be more interested in seeing their faces, their expressions, the little conversations going on. I love the 3 ladies near the end on the left...
but just my opinion
good work.

[msocolin]

Thank you all for your answers. You actually made me look at things I didn't usually notice. I've done some changes to the photo according to some of your suggestions. What do you think about it now? Is it better?

Thanks!! I really appreciate all your comments.