To create a pleasing photograph, it starts like this?

[HizEternal]

Hello everyone!

I'm new to this forum and figure I'd post one of my recent photographs from my trip to Saint Lucia, B.V.I. What would be the various mistakes, I've made when taking/processing this photo? Should I have framed it better? What can be done to improve it?

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel XT
Lens: 50mm f/1.8
Manual Settings: 1/2500, ISO 100, AWB and flash did not fire

[lputman]

What kind of processing did you do? Do you have an unprocessed one?

[LeeR]

The most important thing for you to do is simplify your images. This may sound easy but it is actually very difficult. You need to hone in on one idea and then make everything in your image support that idea. You have three young ladies wearing similar outfits walking together, presumably in a parade. The repitition of your main idea is good; we almost always like repitition in our images. There is also great separation between the ladies and the out of focus background; another good thing. However, there are also distractions. Do we need part of a man's body? Is the building in the background significant? What does it mean when of two ladies are looking in our direction and one is covering her face with her hand?
Now I know, you are thinking to yourself, "How was I supposed to think of all those things in the split second before I pressed the shutter?" I understand, we have all struggled with that. However, as you progress you will find that you do a better job of preparing for a shot so when the action comes your way you are ready and everything, hopefully, falls into place. No matter how great the professional there is always a bit of luck involved. Sometimes, no matter how you have prepared, things just don't go our way. But sometimes there is a kind of serendipity where something you were counting on happens in your favor. Ah, those are magic moments. People see our work and marvel at our prescience and we never tell them any different. We're just making up for all the times we weren't so lucky.