Please comment on my composition

[Chantelle71]

Comments on composition of these photos please
Thanks Jim for your comment. I'd like to know if anyone can comment on the light on my daughters face. Does this not help put some focus on her?. It is a 'serious' pose but I dont want to portray 'mistique',
Thanks :-) All comments highly appreciated
Chantelle
Johannesburg South Africa

[SusanH1970]

Hi Chantelle,

You might want to take a look here and adjust your post accordingly.

Critique Forum Rules

[Chantelle71]

Please refer to the first photo :-)

[JFSanders]

Hi Chantelle and welcome to DPS. The first photo doesn't work for me due to the chains coming into close proximity to her head and all of the stuff on the right and left side are extraneous to the subject and distract the eye. The second photograph works much better not only due to her smiling but the subject is dominate in the composition.

Jim

[Chantelle71]

Does anyone have any further comments or criticism for my shot>

Originally Posted by JFSanders

Hi Chantelle and welcome to DPS. The first photo doesn't work for me due to the chains coming into close proximity to her head and all of the stuff on the right and left side are extraneous to the subject and distract the eye. The second photograph works much better not only due to her smiling but the subject is dominate in the composition.

Jim

[slugger]

I find the first one too distracting as well. I like her facial expression and composition, though. The post right by her face doesn't work for me because of the shadow it puts on her face, maybe if she was out in front of the post it would have been better.

The second one is too dark for my taste, you can't see her eyes, again I think it's because she is in the shadows.

[Ridgetop]

Wow, my first post. Haven't even had time to set up my account yet.

Anyway, I like the second picture much better and you were on your way to a great picture. Some issues. You were asking about the light. Working with a combination of shadow/direct light/filtered light across anyone's face can be difficult. It has a tendency to somewhat stripe someone with bright spots that break up the face a little. It of course can be done very well in certain cases (such as north facing light falling through blinds over a window) if that is a particular look you want. In your case here, I would have been very careful to either get all direct/filtered sunlight or all shade but not the mix that I am seeing (or it at least appears to be that way on my monitor). Also, watch cutting off body parts. I'm not sure I like the missing elbow and the post is so skinny it somewhat made her arm look as if it is being cut off entirely. Also, I agree with the above post about the chain. Done right I think it could add some to the picture, but in this case it's a distraction.

Now the good. I like the second pose overall. A few tweeks on where she was located would have made for a great picture. Overall, you did great on this and I'm guessing future shots will be wonderful.

Hopefully I haven't been too harsh. I'm still learning the culture of these forums so don't want to step on anyone's toes.