Photos from behind

[sukirtha]

Do photos from behind work? I took this photograph while on a cruise. I had to take it from behind for concerns of privacy intrusion and I just did not want to let go of the moment. Do let me know how the composition looks and what distracts you in this pic.
Ps: Please click the image to view a larger version. Not sure how to increase the display size of the image.

LostInThought.jpg

Taken using Canon Power Shot SX130IS
SCN mode - vivid

[Blackrose89]

Honestly the center of the boat cutting through the photo is pretty distracting to me.It cuts the photo into two parts and makes her look squished IMO.

With these types of photos, someone gazing over the water, I like to get from a lower position. It also help if there is nothing in the space that the subject is looking over to emphasize the calm, wide open scene and serenity. I also like to shoot from more of the side.

Kinda like this


surfer | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

BTW I don't remember seeing anything about it in guidelines, but if I'm not allowed to provide examples in others threads please let me know

[sukirtha]

Thank you Blackrose. Makes sense I did not realise the flag mast was an intrusion I should have gone to her left to capture her watching the scene maybe, and gotten rid of the mast? Thank you for the valuable feedback. Will keep in mind. I am not sure of the rules but example photo helped me understand what you meant.

[Fernando]

I agree, the mast is a big distraction. Shots from behind can work, and I think this would have made a lovely shot if you had more of the water/sky/mountains in the shot and less of the boat (hence the mast). When taking shots from behind, the subject becomes what the person is looking at instead of the person themselves (in most cases).

[sukirtha]

Thank you Fernando. Perhaps the position from which I was capturing the photograph did not work. It was small cruise and lot of people and couldn't actually move around much. I am wondering how this mast could have been eliminated at all. Maybe this just wasnt the photograph to be!