Any feedback on this photo

iombie · Dec 9, 2011

I would like your feedback on this photos I took on my previous cruise trip. Am leaving on another one this Sunday

tirediron · Dec 9, 2011

C&C per req:

1. A nice enough, but rather unexciting image. Two things to consider are: (1) Don't use the horizon to bisect the image. In cases like this, the sky is likely more interesting than the ocean, so go for 2/3 sky, 1/3 water. (2) Don't centre the sun, but try and get it off to one side or another. Search the terms "Rule of thirds", "Golden mean", and "Photographic composition".

2. I'm not sure that this 'top down' composition was the most appropriate. Something from a lower perspective (not horizontal, but lower) would have helped. Additionally, consider including all of the dish. I think an extra half-stop or so of exposure would have helped.

3. Interesting, a little too small to really get a good look at. Can you link to a larger version?

Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.

~John

iombie · Dec 9, 2011

Many thanks John-- I've learned something from your suggestion

On #2 I'm not sure what you mean by not horizontal but lower? That dish was goat cheese soufflé.

As for # 3 here's bigger version-

tirediron said:
C&C per req:

1. A nice enough, but rather unexciting image. Two things to consider are: (1) Don't use the horizon to bisect the image. In cases like this, the sky is likely more interesting than the ocean, so go for 2/3 sky, 1/3 water. (2) Don't centre the sun, but try and get it off to one side or another. Search the terms "Rule of thirds", "Golden mean", and "Photographic composition".

2. I'm not sure that this 'top down' composition was the most appropriate. Something from a lower perspective (not horizontal, but lower) would have helped. Additionally, consider including all of the dish. I think an extra half-stop or so of exposure would have helped.

3. Interesting, a little too small to really get a good look at. Can you link to a larger version?

Just my $00.02 worth - your mileage may vary.

~John

tirediron · Dec 9, 2011

Looking at the souffle, I would guess you were shooting at an angle of about 60 degrees above the horizontal. I think the image would be stronger if you got that down to 15-20 degrees, such that you could see the top of the dish, but the sides were closer to vertical. I like the panorama; it's a bit confusing because of the perspective, but a neat shot nonetheless.

bazooka · Dec 9, 2011

TI, I'm curious about specifically why you recommend against bisecting the image with the horizon 50/50? I realize that this is a common "rule" around here, but I wonder why? It seems as illogical to me to blindly follow as the rule of thirds.

iombie · Dec 9, 2011

Ahh I see the reason I took pic from that angle is to avoid the background, there was many people around. Chef has many different dishes on table and people look at it and discuss about it. If I go down I would've capture people's legs. Any suggest on how to avoid that?

tirediron said:
Looking at the souffle, I would guess you were shooting at an angle of about 60 degrees above the horizontal. I think the image would be stronger if you got that down to 15-20 degrees, such that you could see the top of the dish, but the sides were closer to vertical. I like the panorama; it's a bit confusing because of the perspective, but a neat shot nonetheless.

tirediron · Dec 9, 2011

bazooka said:
TI, I'm curious about specifically why you recommend against bisecting the image with the horizon 50/50? I realize that this is a common "rule" around here, but I wonder why? It seems as illogical to me to blindly follow as the rule of thirds.

I agree; the reason that I recommend it in this case is because the ocean isn't very interesting. There's much more in the sky to hold the viewers attention, and it's a fact that the majority of people perceive something off-centre to be more visually appealling than something which is centered. There are lots of occasions to break these "rules" and I do it frequently, but, in this case, my opinion is that the image would benefit from moving things around a little.

tirediron · Dec 9, 2011

iombie said:
Ahh I see the reason I took pic from that angle is to avoid the background, there was many people around. Chef has many different dishes on table and people look at it and discuss about it. If I go down I would've capture people's legs. Any suggest on how to avoid that?

Yep, move the dish. Food photography is a very specialized discipline and people that do it well can make a lot of money. It really has to be done in controlled conditions; you can't very often get away with shooting food in it's natural environment... Having said that, I understand your point. Often we have to take a less than stellar image when the only other option is no image at all.

iombie · Dec 9, 2011

We were not allowed to touch the dish lol I should've put a orange cones on floor so guests would go in that area lol Will try again when I go on cruise on sunday.

tirediron said:
iombie said:

Ahh I see the reason I took pic from that angle is to avoid the background, there was many people around. Chef has many different dishes on table and people look at it and discuss about it. If I go down I would've capture people's legs. Any suggest on how to avoid that?

Click to expand...

Yep, move the dish. Food photography is a very specialized discipline and people that do it well can make a lot of money. It really has to be done in controlled conditions; you can't very often get away with shooting food in it's natural environment... Having said that, I understand your point. Often we have to take a less than stellar image when the only other option is no image at all.

bazooka · Dec 9, 2011

tirediron said:
bazooka said:

TI, I'm curious about specifically why you recommend against bisecting the image with the horizon 50/50? I realize that this is a common "rule" around here, but I wonder why? It seems as illogical to me to blindly follow as the rule of thirds.

Click to expand...

I agree; the reason that I recommend it in this case is because the ocean isn't very interesting. There's much more in the sky to hold the viewers attention, and it's a fact that the majority of people perceive something off-centre to be more visually appealling than something which is centered. There are lots of occasions to break these "rules" and I do it frequently, but, in this case, my opinion is that the image would benefit from moving things around a little.

I agree that in this specific case that I would like to see more sky than water based on the content of the image.

However, I am definitely interested in the statement that "the majority of people perceive something off-centre to be more visually appealing than something which is centered." I'm genuinely interested in this discussion as it has come up in a book I am currently reading. Is your statement based on a study or personal experience? I'm willing to bet I could get on flickr and find many stunning images that have centered horizons.

I think centering the horizon is a bold statement and there should be a specific reason to do so, but by that same token, I think no matter where you place the horizon, you should have a specific reason to put it there, or not include it at all. What's your opinion?