Composition Critique?

[Dreadnought]

Hey guys (and gals),

I was wondering if I could get some feedback on this composition. I was trying something new here. It makes sense to me, but I'm not sure how clearly I conveyed the "story" if you will. I'll leave the story for you to decide, and take your observations as feedback if you don't mind.



Thanks in advance!

Brian

[docxnoel]

Once upon a time there is a man playing basketball in the middle of night , no other stories at all, maybe if you try to sit on the middle of the court holding your ball with your head towards the ground, I think this will give more stories (in a way that this man is pushing himself, practicing to much even late at night to be a good player).

[APhotoSchool]

I like the idea but think that it would work better if you lit up the athlete a little more, you could even light him from the other side so he shows up as a silhouette. If it were me I would compose the image more to the left so that the hoop is farther from the center and the athlete is more visible. The angle you chose would work really well if you went up higher on a ladder or something and shot vertically with the hoop at the top of the frame. Here's an article I wrote on composition that may help you: Basics of Composition

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Connor Walberg
Learn to shoot action sports at Action Photo School

[Dreadnought]

Thank you for the replies! I dont get to check this sight as often as I would like to. Ill definately try some different angles with this. I liked the vanishing point at the time, but now I see what you mean. I normally shoot night still life or personal family portraits, I was just feeling a little creative while shooting an empty court at night.

This was a 12 second exposure with just me, a D40, and a speedlight, so Ill have to figure out a way to get myself in place and the flashes to go off beside me.

docxnoel: Thanks for pointing out the shortfalls in the concept. Its always exciting to try something new, so receiving honest feedback pushes me to provide more "beef" to the image. I sometimes find it hard to tell when an idea is too complicated or too simple.

Thanks again ya'll!

Brian

[amoringello]

I would agree with the lighting suggestion... Silhouette the first two positions with some more light on the subjects. I'd like to see some more light on person from the camera side at the position with actual shot being attempted.

I would also crop out the house on the left. There's no action on that side of the court and the house is distracting.

[Art]

Hi, in order to provide some critic, EXIF data it is necessary
Thanks Art

[Krusty79]

Nice concept. I find myself wanting to see the ball in flight towards the hoop.