Silhouette Help

[JoanieA]

I want to enter this photo in a photo contest, but I just want to make sure I've done all I can. I'd like some feedback on anything I can do to improve it from here (I can't retake the shot). Does it need to be cropped at all? How are the colors and the lighting? I appreciate all your advice.



EXIF:
Nikon D5000
f/7.1
1/160 sec.
ISO 200
Lens 35 mm
Spot metering
No Flash

[Photologyst]

Nice idea.

Cropping is in order.

I think you might want to do a bit more PS processing. I see a lot of artifacts, including moiré and noise. The colors could be intensified.

[MrJones]

I like it the way it is, I don't think cropping will do any good here.
but I would straighten it and see how it feels (I'm not saying it's not good as it is now).
also, as Photologyst pointed out - it has a lot of noise, try reducing it if you're going into a photo contest.

[BigFuzzy]

Sadly you can't retake it because the thing that kills it for me is the large amount of dead space at the bottom.

I would also suggest running it through a noise reduction software.

Be careful with saturating or "intensifying" the colors.. they'll very soon start looking overly cooked.

This is how I would suggest to crop it. It makes the image less "central" and boring/predictable (to me). Gives more of a sense of her looking off into a direction. Hope it helps

[danbaileyphoto]

I agree, a crop would help. However, don't put her too far to the right, and don't take too much of the bottom away. I like BifFuzzy's crop in the sense that there's an appealing amount of shadowed grass at the bottom, but I think that she's too far right in that one.

You know what- forget it. Enter it as-is. It's a great shot and that's the image you saw in your mind when you took the photo. Trust your original creative instincts, they're usually better than trying to second guess and fix things later.

[JoanieA]

Thanks for the tips. I fixed the noise and it looks better. About the crop, I'll have to think about it. When I originally cropped it I cropped it wide and took out a lot of the sky and the ground, but I figured the picture should be a normal size for the contest. I like the way BigFuzzy cropped it, except that she is so far right. And if I move her, then it crops out more of the weeds and gets too close to the sun. I love hearing everyone's opinions and it helped so thanks!

[terri33inne]

I love it. Agree with the previous comments on the noise. Other than that I wouldn't change anything. Maybe a bit tighter crop off the bottom... but I also think it's wonderful as is. Love the lighting, the pose & the silhouette... speaks to the expectations of a new life....

[SaraSue]

beautiful photo! The horizon not being exactly straight didn't bother me that much. I would probably crop it a little but that is just me. I personally only see things in the top third of photos. There is a lot of boring cloud coverage in the top thirds. Unless there is a complete purpose I have to put stuff in the top thirds, so I would love to see you take a little off the top and a little off the bottom. I think a wide crop almost kind of matches the long belly of a pregnant lady. (I can say that because I've been pregnant before!) But do you see what I mean how a long crop would fit nicely? Once again maybe that is just me. I haven't done a ton of contests so I don't know from personal experience but a crop that is different than everything else would stand out to me as a viewer. Unless they have certain requirements I say go for whatever crop you feel compliments the photo. good luck on the contest!!!!