Overall Composition advice.

[sdstone00]

I'm trying to fine tune my portrait photography and need some advice on this one. I was wanting the image to convey a strong emotion of despair or loneliness. I converted to B/W and applied a textured frame to further emphasize the homeless man. Any tips on this would be greatly appreciated.


Camera: Nikon D200
Exposure: 1/750
Aperture: f/4.8
Focal Length: 125 mm
ISO Speed: 1600 (Not sure why camera bumped the ISO this high.)
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: No Flash

[carlina999]

I see where you are trying to go with the 'burnt' edging, but do not think it helps the 'loneliness' of the shot.

Suggest:

• add heavy grain and possibly a light sepia or copper tint to 'age' the photo. This might give a hint of despair to the subject (if this is also your intent)

• Cropping out the feet to a tighter shot on the hooded head. The posture of the man indicates loneliness - especially the droop in the shoulders and head. Emphasize this more. The feet are a distraction to me.

Overall I like the subject, just think it is too smooth and nice to convey the mood you are looking for.

A
C

[AshleyMarie]

I am very new to this site but ran across your posting and had a thought. Maybe if you cropped the photo to have an angle to it, to me it seems to distract from the extras and forces you to concentrate on the main subject. Also, using an editing program to possibly give a slight blur to the back ground, causing more focus. Also the edit of "dark strokes" would heighten the intensity of the despair you captured. It simply brings up the dark undertones and forces them towards the surface more, which in your case could add more despair as you desire. Great shot!

[djase1]

I really love the shot, but I agree with another poster, that the border does not work on this at all. Nicely done otherwise.

[Swisstony10]

As per the other posters - lose the border, and go with a tighter crop. It's a cracking capture though. In my opinion the subject's posture doesn't only suggest loneliness and despair, there's a strong sense of resignation - it's not just saying that things can't get any worse, to me it's also saying that there's no way they're going to get better.

As far as the camera banging the ISO up to 1600 - the 1/750 shutter might've caused that. You were shooting reasonably open at f4.8, so even with a focal length of 125mm, you could probably have got away with a slower shutter, especially as you have a VR lens.

Cheers,

Russ.

[sdstone00]

My overall goal was a sense of emotion showing the overall gloominess,depression, loneliness, despair, sadness of the image. I have taken some of the suggestions above and have attached 2 renditions to the image. Please let me know what your thoughts are.

[dishingthedivine]

definitely number one.

[CaptainNH]

I'd go for #1 too, but I'd like more grain please