Critique please

[redessa]

I can't quite put my finger on it but something seems off to me. The lighting or the white balance... A little help please?


IMG_1121

 

[Trever1t]

hmm, it may be slightly bright but my monitor at work is a pile of scap.

 

[che]

Too much lightness and the background almost looks as though it was from a different photo as completely different tones.

 

[gsgary]

His hair cut ?

 

[cgipson1]

Looks like she was squinting.. or got caught in mid-blink?

 

[ManhattanShutterBug]

Her shirt blends into the grass and their faces almost blend in with the background.

 

[Brunot]

I have a slight problem distinguishing the couple from background as it merges with it focus-wise and my eyes wander over there also due to bright tones compared to the green grass that is comfortable for my eye.

 

[rambler]

The lighting is "flat". There is a lack of contrast. I think the lighting on the subjects faces is fine, not quite a skin tone, but not washed out either. You might try Hue/Saturation in editing which would help redden the brick.

Here is a note to composition. Is seeing the building so clearly in the background important? If it is in focus we will look at it, but do really want us to be looking away from the main subject which is the couple? If it is not important, crop it down as much as possible, and darkening it will help us spend less time looking at it. People tend to look at bright objects. more than at dark ones. In fact when I first looked at the photo it only filled my screen to the edge of the woman's extended foot. I did not miss out on seeing that uninteresting wall.
In general, be very careful of backgrounds. Notice how the woman's head is cutting into the window behind. Moving the camera slightly to the side would have left the solid wall behind her and the whole window adding a bit of depth.

Do you use photoshop CS5? I know a quick way to darken the whole image and then restore light where you want it.

 

[redessa]

Thanks everyone.

Rambler, I do use CS5 if you have tip, I'd be happy to know it. As for reddening the brick, it's not a red brick building to start with. The brick is that paler, or orangey color (it's a really old historical building).

 

[GnipGnop]

What's off to me is that they are both looking at different things in the back ground. If he was looking the same direction as her, it would help a bit. You could easily photoshop it.

 

[jaicatalano]

Frankly speaking... It's flat. The background is the same color as the faces and hair which is too evenly lit. No saturation so it's dull. I would pop it in photoshop and play with it a bit. If you have Topaz even better. The expressions are inviting.