Technically imperfect, but do you see what I shot?

[S_Sanyal]

Gear: Nikon D90 w 18-200mm lense and CPL filter
Exposure 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture f/11.0
Focal Length 135 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias -1/3 EV

I know that this is technically not the best and sharpest picture one could make, i know the bars are sharper than the eyes and the image overall looks muddy, exposure wise.

My questions are however:

1. What emotion do you see, if any, in the boy's eyes? ( the story is at the bottom of this post, but please dont read before you see the picture a second time after this question)

2. I came very close inspite of my 135 mm focal length and f/11 aperture thus rendering a super shallow DoF. Does that add to the feeling?

3. Is the composition of subject too close to left edge of frame, or is this ok? There is white space to the right, but somehow the hazyness and blurred objects seemed integral to what i was conveying...

4. Muddy exposure wasn't corrected on purpose to lend it a certain mood, would you buy that or its better if just exposed more in PP (brighter)?

STORY: This was a train in which most passengers were pilgrims returning from Ajmer, a very popular pilgrimage site, its a journey of over fifty hours and the train was running late... i felt that the child, for this one instant, with his face pressed on the bars (which are also a metaphor for his lack of choices), looked like he badly needed to be home...so finally, how well does this last statement come across in the picture?

More from the Ajmer Sharif express here:

Indian Railway - a set on Flickr

[Photologyst]

I love the shot!

Everything does not always have to be technically perfect, Saptarshi.

One can feel the movement of the train. The color is also very evocative.

The shy, tired smile at a stranger (you) in the boy’s eye, conveys relief to me that he is finally on his way home again after having visited an unfamiliar place with no doubt multitudes of other people.

You should submit it with the little story to National Geographic.

Best of Photo of the Day - National Geographic

[dandellion]

I like it.

I like the emotion on the face, though I can't tell precisely what it is. But it's there. Good job on that.

DoF is great.

I would love if the eye was on the third, but in that case you'd probably fall out of the train. This one is good enough.

Yes, the focus is on the bar not on the face, but you're forgiven due to the situation.
I'd like a bit more contrast.

Overall, a great shot.

[S_Sanyal]

Thanks for your kind words Photologyst and Dandellion.

Photologyst, thanks for your suggestion about sending it to National Geographic, its a great idea. And Dandellion, maybe a bit more contrast may just help.

I am delighted to see that the picture gets through, yes, it was made under some constraints, I would consider myself lucky to capture this moment.

Still learning, nearing a year now behind a viewfinder...

[autofocus]

I like the composition, and what I saw in that little piece of a face was a sense of hope. After reading your explanation, it all seemed to make sense in what I saw. Nice job

[carlyfan]

I love this photo! It's very intriguing.

Okay, here's what I got. I haven't read the story or the other posts yet, so let's see how close I am.
How I see it, here's a little boy who has had a rough life. Maybe it's troubles with his parents, maybe he's just poor, but I'm seeing a boy who's situation in life is not up to him. He has ambitions, but his social class is holding him back, like the bars are holding him back physically. And just like the bars seem to go on forever, he can't see a way out of his sad situation.
Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Anyway that's what I see.

Again, lovely photo! I love the shallow DoF, and I don't think it's too close to the left.

The slightly out of focus eye doesn't really bother me. Everything else about the image more than makes up for it. Wonderful capture!

Now I'll read the rest of the thread and see if I'm right.

Lisa

[carlyfan]

Well, I was kind of close... kind of. I definitely see it now. Beautiful image! Great job in a tricky situation.

[Surprised]

Great photo. It tells a story and how. I'd certainly enter it for a competition or two if I were you.

As for the rules -- in anything creative, rules are made to be broken.

Thanks for sharing.

[oldguyrich]

did you edit the background adding a post-edit blur somehow? it doesn't seem consistent with a camera-blurred DOF...just wondering

[S_Sanyal]

sorry for the late reply, i am traveling and my internet isnt working here, this is from a cybercafe

autofocus, lisa and surprised, thanks for your very encouraging words..its very heartening indeed, i am now getting some real confidence.
@lisa, i love your explanation! the bars going on for ever somehow are a great addition to my original interpretation!

@oldguyrich, no blur edits in this one.. i havent edited anything here except straightening the shot which was made by leaning out of a train... this kind of DoF happens by moving real close to your subject (say about 2 feet) and manually focussing.
all settings used are in my post , set up a scene like this where the background is significantly away from the principal subject...try it yourself, you may end up having fun