Need Help

[DivotMaker]

Not sure how I feel about this one..but seem to feel it is missing the "pizzaz" of other photos... what could I have done differently? pp? composition?



Camera NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D90
Exposure 0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture f/5.6
Focal Length 260 mm
ISO Speed 200
Exposure Bias 0 EV

[calmaxgan]

I feel it is the composition more than anything else... to my eye, the main focal point is the top of his head (particularly as there is light shining there). Due to the mood of this photo, I think it would have been better to have his face up - not necessarily looking at the camera, but giving the viewer a better point of interest.

[ellie mac]

I find myself wanting to know what he is holding in his hands that he is looking at so intently. To me it almost seems as though the bottom half of the photograph is missing.

There is a richness to the b&w that I really like, although the bright shoulder detracts from this a little. I don't mind the lighter parts in his hair which seem to add to the depth.

[sican]

Well, it has to be the composition. I find it that he is looking down, at something outside the frame.
And like calmaxgan said, I am drawn to the top of his head where the light hits.

If you were to shot the photo again I'd suggest you try and shoot from an eye level and include the subject's eyes/expression. In your shot, there isn't a distinction; what do you want convey with this photo? The portrait of the subject, the surroundings, the action of reading/looking(?), etc.

If this shot was in post-production, I'd try to crop heavily around the subject's face and approach the photo in a more abstract way. I'd lighten the line of his nose a bit to create an invisible connection with the line of his hair somehow and go from there.

I hope it helped a bit, keep on practicing!

Regards,
Alex Cican
Photos improvement tutorials using photo editing software - Improve Photos

[DivotMaker]

Thank you for taking the time.
All are great suggestions I will take into account in the future.

(although it appears he was reading something, he actually was just staring at the ground in quiet contemplation..it seemed rather interesting at the time)

Thank you all again,

[daddyoproductions]

+1 on the composition. Next time maybe squat so you're shooting from eye level and not from above. I'm wondering if you really brushed over the highlights to save them from being so blown out? I find it is missing some contrast...no whites here. Technically blown highlights are a no no but sometimes they aren't so hideodorous. Keep shooting!

~C

[DivotMaker]

C -

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I will keep them in mind.

I played with the brightness and contrast "a little", since the image was a little dark due to the lighting. I went with a darker setting, as I was trying to not have any "clean" white in the shot. Due to the messy hair and unshaven look, I felt bright white would take away from the grunginess I found interesting. INYO, was I wrong?

Thanks again for taking the time,

Divot