2 Pebbles

[djfoo000]

How can I better compose this picture? How's the exposure? I'm trying to give it a feel of a son piggy-back riding the father. Not sure if it works.



EXIF: f/8.0, ISO-80, 1/640

[sybren]

I would make the light a little softer (i.e. the light source larger) so that it wraps into the shadows some more. The area between father and son is now quite dark, which negates the feeling of connectedness.

You may want to add something to the frame that shows a "playing area" for them to be in. Perhaps a bit of grass that they could be going to?

[djfoo000]

Thanks for the comments. My set up was basically a big piece of white paper leaning on the wall through to the floor. Lighting was under a strong sunlight. So the light source is as big as it can be. LOL. Had me sweating taking the shot.

So would using the layout of artificial green used to practice putting (golf) suit the purpose?

I dunno, the father-son thing is just an example of how i might want the composition to bring out.

I shot one using the built-in flash and it created a secondary shadow directly behind the pebbles. Didn't look nice to me.

[sybren]

The sun is large, yes, but it still appears as a small dot in the sky. This means that the light will be very harsh. You could try shooting in the shade of a tree, or hang a sheer curtain and filter the light through that

I dunno, the father-son thing is just an example of how i might want the composition to bring out.

That's a shame. Most people get better photos when they actually have a concrete idea about what the photo should tell the viewer. Don't just dismiss this idea, I think it's good.

And no, built-in flashes are rubbish except for photographing damage after a car accident for the insurance.

[djfoo000]

I'm still grasping the idea of a composition telling something to the viewer (?).

I'm trying to use the harsh sunlight to bleach the background white. I guess the shadows are giving a small problem. So until I invest in an external flash, I'll have to make do with it...

This should be considered a separate question on it's own: Should all my pictures be composition-ly conveying something? It's a hard-to-catch concept to me. Like sometimes I just want to take a nice picture of a flower or an object, capturing the details perhaps.

More inputs please!

[sybren]

Originally Posted by djfoo000

I'm still grasping the idea of a composition telling something to the viewer (?).

Why the question mark?

I'm trying to use the harsh sunlight to bleach the background white. I guess the shadows are giving a small problem.

You don't need harsh light to over-expose a photo. You can over-expose a room that's being lit by a single candle, as long as your shutter speed is long enough.

This should be considered a separate question on it's own: Should all my pictures be composition-ly conveying something? It's a hard-to-catch concept to me. Like sometimes I just want to take a nice picture of a flower or an object, capturing the details perhaps.

It helps. Without you trying to tell us something, it quickly becomes "yet another shot of two stones". However, when you can get the "father and son playing together" feeling in there, your photo will stand out that much more. This is also where series come in. It may be very hard to get the viewer to understand the story you're trying to tell with just one photo, but if you make a series of three or four photos where father and son are doing stuff together, the concept may become much clearer to the viewer, and be that much stronger.

[djfoo000]

Originally Posted by sybren

Why the question mark?

Just wasn't sure if a 'viewer' is the right word to use. Maybe I've yet to engage with my viewers.

For the time being I'm compensating for poor in-camera exposure with Lightroom. This shot itself was a failure. The original picture was shot when the clouds were coincidentally shading the sun for a while, giving it a very cold white balance (making the BG very blue, which is why there's a uniform whiteness when corrected), and slightly underexposed. The other planned shots had a harsh shadow.

Hrmm... Stories... I'm a bad story teller.

I'll try that shot again when the sun rises tomorrow, with that grass carpet perhaps.

[sybren]

Originally Posted by djfoo000

Just wasn't sure if a 'viewer' is the right word to use. Maybe I've yet to engage with my viewers.

"Customers", "Admirers" or "Visual Torture Victims" also work.

For the time being I'm compensating for poor in-camera exposure with Lightroom. This shot itself was a failure. The original picture was shot when the clouds were coincidentally shading the sun for a while, giving it a very cold white balance (making the BG very blue, which is why there's a uniform whiteness when corrected), and slightly underexposed. The other planned shots had a harsh shadow.

I already gave you some tips for the shadow. As for the exposure and white balance: yeah, that happens. At least make sure that you shoot in RAW so that you have more room for corrections.

I'll try that shot again when the sun rises tomorrow, with that grass carpet perhaps.

That's the spirit! Be sure to post your photo here ;-)

[djfoo000]

Hrmm the putting carpet didn't work out that great. Here's the pic. Maybe I need ones with taller grass...

Here another take at the theme:



Was raining hours ago. Basically was inspired to take it.

Still couldn't take away the shadows...

[djfoo000]

Weird that my previous post never went through moderation.

The green carpet didn't work out that great.

Tried another shot: