Old Blacksmith Barn - Looking for critique

[jteknet]

Critique this one hard!!
Because it's what I'm basing all my future photography off of as far as "my favorite picture ever"

Thanks!

[Ads]

[Chad Truss]

What are we looking for?

I love the colors and texture of the building, it's exposed properly, but the photo is kind of boring. No offence, I just wish there was something more going on.

[JKnobelock]

the only reason i think it appears boring, is that it is just a straight on view, no different angles at all. the exposure is nice, and that barn has a lot of texture and character, try taking more pictures at different angles, up close as well.

[Bigpopa]

I agree it needs alittle better composition work the angles more try to not be straight on when you are shooting like this...

[manaheim]

Yeah there really is a lot of cool stuff in there, but this is more of an "inventory shot". Yes, we have a barn and this is what it looks like. Now you want to focus on the characteristics of the barn and why it got your attention.

Look at the color variance from the ground to the roof, for example. Very cool.

Look at the aging wood and how nature is defeating it.

Look at some of the door hardware.

Look at that door within a door.

Look at how the ice and snow rest on it.

Also, are you able/allowed to open any of the doors partially or completely? That might be interesting.

I say go back. There's a lot of cool stuff to get shots of here.

[jteknet]

What are we looking for?

I love the colors and texture of the building, it's exposed properly, but the photo is kind of boring. No offence, I just wish there was something more going on.

I'm a newbie.

Please explain what you mean by "I just wish there was something more going on". I would love to make that happen - just not sure how. I'm pretty new to the photography scene and doing what I can to become better. I have over 7,000 in iPhoto right now and I'd say 5 of them would even make you all "pros" look at them twice.

Thanks for the critique though. I appreciate you taking the time. Nobody took the time on my other post about the droplets on the deck. Oh well, the picture must have sucked.

[jteknet]

the only reason i think it appears boring, is that it is just a straight on view, no different angles at all. the exposure is nice, and that barn has a lot of texture and character, try taking more pictures at different angles, up close as well.

I replied to a poster above you before I had read this post.

Makes sense now (back to my first reply poster) I think I'll try kneeling down from a corner and taking one up and see what it turns into.

Am I getting the right idea at least?

Someone else asked if I can "touch" the building to do anything with it. I cannot, as it is a historical place.

I'll go back though and see what I can do. Thanks guys! I appreciate it.

[Dagwood56]

I shoot barns and I have found a bit of surrounding area helps. You have this cropped really close. It looks like there might be a stream running behind it? To the right in the back? Perhaps showing a little of that would make the photo feel a bit more interesting. Still a nice shot though.

[jv17]

its kinda scary but it is really nice

[Chad Truss]

I replied to a poster above you before I had read this post.

Makes sense now (back to my first reply poster) I think I'll try kneeling down from a corner and taking one up and see what it turns into.

Am I getting the right idea at least?

Someone else asked if I can "touch" the building to do anything with it. I cannot, as it is a historical place.

I'll go back though and see what I can do. Thanks guys! I appreciate it.

I shoot barns and I have found a bit of surrounding area helps. You have this cropped really close. It looks like there might be a stream running behind it? To the right in the back? Perhaps showing a little of that would make the photo feel a bit more interesting. Still a nice shot though.

I'm with Dagwood. I think I mentioned this is one of my previous posts.

To make this shot more interesting you should explore other angles. You should also play with how much of the frame the building takes up. Try to incorporate some of the background.

I will also state again that you are spot on with the exposure and processing of the photo. The building really has great color and texture.

And when I say I wish there was something going on what I mean is if you are going to shoot the side of a building straight on like this, there needs to be something happening to bring some interest to the photo. For example, this photo would have been fine as shot if there was graffiti on the building, I could picture an old hound dog sitting there in front of the building, or a rusty old car even. But since it's just the side of the building straight on, it just lacks something.

I hope this helps. I am no expert photographer either, but I like to help where I can.