Piano concert

[chjang]

EXIF data
Camera: Canon EOS 450D (Rebel XSi)
Focal length: 55 mm
Aperature: f/5.6
Shutter speed: 1/8
ISO: 1600
Flash off

This is a photo (originally in RAW) that I snapped this past weekend at a piano concert that I went to. The original was way too bright and the reds of the curtain were blinding, so I lowered the saturation and brightness. I decided I kind of liked the classy effect with even lower saturation, and this is the final product here.

Any aspects of the photo are up to critique. How's the composition? What do you guys think about my post-edits? Thanks!

[KansaiGreenie]

Hi chjang,

This is a nice image. If you could get a model release from this guy, I think you could sell it for stock. If you were to ask me to describe a piano recital, I would describe this exact image: black grand piano, tuxedo, red curtains.

If I have to critique it... I wish that there was more space to the right of the piano. That is to say, I wish that person was closer to the edge of the frame and that the empty space was 'behind' the instrument. But I don't know why. I just think it would just feel more comfortable.

Great job!

KG

[chjang]

Thanks for the kind words, KG

Prior to the start of the concert, there was an announcement that flash photography was not permitted. I wasn't planning on using the flash anyway, but I thought it might be rude to keep snapping photos while he was playing (since my camera does make some mechanical sounds when the shutter closes). While waiting for his fortissimo phrases so I could take a quick shot, I kept on setting just the right focus point so I wouldn't have to take it more than once. And indeed, this is the only photograph I took of him while he was playing. That is, I didn't really get any second chances on how I could compose the shot differently.