Man reading

[cotfessi]

I just joined the forum and this will be my first post.

I went shooting on New Year's day in the park. I saw this guy reading along the water and thought it would make a great shot. I have never approached a random person before, so I was a little nervous. Guy turned out to be real nice. What do you all think? Is the background too busy? I liked the railing drawing your eye, but I thought the pylons might be too much?

Stats about the shot:

Camera: Canon T1i
Lens: Canon EF-S55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS
Exposure: 1/250 @ f5.6
ISO: 125
Post Processing: General cleanup in Lightroom, converted to BW by Silver Efx Pro



Photo

[DakotahCollins]

I personally really like this shot. I love how the lighting gives his arms, head, and hair a sort of silver lining and the DOF is really good. The background does seem a little busy, but the blurred DOF keeps your focus on the man, and the railing leads you right to him. Though I'm not sure if it's my computer screen or not, but I do see a couple of small grains or dust spots near the bottom left corner and next to the man. Other than that, it's a great capture.

I think your exposure is perfect! The viewer is able to see the expression in the face easily, but you did not over-expose any of the background.

The curve is good, drawing the viewer to the subject. The shallow depth of field does a good job at minimizing background distractions. I am not a big fan of the almost center placement of your subject, and the dead space (negative space) on the left side of the fence does allow the eye to wander out of the frame nearly as much as the curve brings the eye in. A square crop or different crop eliminating a bit of that space might work better..

All in all... I enjoy the shot, just does not "wow" me.

[cotfessi]

Originally Posted by Papa Rotzzi

I think your exposure is perfect! The viewer is able to see the expression in the face easily, but you did not over-expose any of the background.

The curve is good, drawing the viewer to the subject. The shallow depth of field does a good job at minimizing background distractions. I am not a big fan of the almost center placement of your subject, and the dead space (negative space) on the left side of the fence does allow the eye to wander out of the frame nearly as much as the curve brings the eye in. A square crop or different crop eliminating a bit of that space might work better..

All in all... I enjoy the shot, just does not "wow" me.

I agree about the placement... I was more nervous shooting a random person and really wasn't paying as much attention to the composition of the shot... i really didn't leave myself with much to work with. I'll have to go back to lightroom and try out some different crops

[cherrygirl]

I think I have to disagree with previous posts about the background and the placement of the subject.

While you don't normally want someone in the center, I think he is off to the right just enough to capture him perfectly and include the railing, which I think adds to the photo. It gives it great lines and I am drawn right to him because your focus is so crisp.

As far as the background, I don't see anything distracting. Your DOF is perfect to blur it out enough to tell what it is but not to where it is distracting.

Great shot.

[philip_b]

Personally, I would've moved to the right a bit more, and shot from slightly lower angle, to get the feeling of following the wall into the the subject.

I don't think that would be a bad choice, either, Philip. Though, we don't know what the background might have looked like.... or if the man may have looked up robbing us of the candid nature of this photo.

[ednorm]

I think its a great shot, I love the composition. I think the blurred background is just right and the pylons you mentioned add a sense of place to picture. Good job.

ed

[Nori]

Very nice shot! I don't mind the subject in the middle, but the picture looks a little flat to me and i think it's because of the predominant gray on the photo, he kind of blends with the background.

I like the composition, I would crop the right side a bit, I think it has too much negative space and is not doing much for the pic...

Looking fwd to see more of your pics

[bookloveraz]

I think it could be a bit lighter, and you maybe want to follow the Rule of Thirds a bit more. That's great that you had enough courage to approach a stranger. Not sure I'd do that yet. :-D