I haven't posted a photo for some good ole C&C in a while...

[TheBiles]

So have at it!


IMG_4373enhanced by Quentin Biles, on Flickr

Took this last night just playing around with my new 17-40. Was bouncing the flash off a yellow wall for the color, but I thought this one looked much better in B&W. I know I committed the cardinal sin of cutting her feet off, but I don't think it's horribly distracting.

 

[Gaerek]

Honestly, the first thing I thought was, "Where'd her feet go?"

The composition is just balanced really poorly. You have her feet cut off, but a good 20% of the frame above her head is open? Really, there's not much excuse to not have her feet in frame. She also just doesn't look happy, lol. I think a close up of her with that face would have been awesome, actually.

 

[tirediron]

I have to agree, in this case the cropped feet do really hurt the image. I think with her expression, and ideal composition would have been a tight bust crop taken at eye level. Still, it's a cute shot.

 

[TheBiles]

The reason for the dead space at the top is because I was trying to keep the whole chair in the shot while maintaining a 5:7 crop, and the feet are missing because they were never in the frame to begin with--it was a quick shot, and they got cut off. I actually like her serious look, myself, but maybe that's because she's a very serious little girl.

Here's a tighter crop:


IMG_4373enhanced_1 by Quentin Biles, on Flickr

 

[Gaerek]

It's an improvement. But I think having her bunched up on the left side of the frame just leaves an unbalanced feeling. I understand you're trying to get the chair in the frame, but this reminds me of good photography rule of thumb.

"Anything that isn't the subject, or doesn't improve the subject, needs to be left out."

I think a tighter crop of the girl, removing the chair if needed, would be an improvement.

 

[Derrel]

As a family snapshot, this is a good one; but, as a "Photograph", not so much. The whole thing is unbalanced from the get-go...when using a short lens like a 17-40 at close range, it becomes quite important to determine the BEST way to position the back of the camera...does it involve kneeling down or bending over at the wait, to keep the back of the camera more parallel with the back walls? does the camera need to be absolutely plumb, or can it be a bit off-kilter, etc.etc. This just seems to be a snapshot. The child looks cute, and the clarity the lens delivers is commendable, but as a "photograph", this just falls into that category of snapshot, due to poor photographic technique and composition. My objection is basically the "funhouse angles" on all the woodwork and the chair...no matter how this is cropped, the original wonky camera back angle will come through and kill the shot.

 

[TheBiles]

As a family snapshot, this is a good one; but, as a "Photograph", not so much. The whole thing is unbalanced from the get-go...when using a short lens like a 17-40 at close range, it becomes quite important to determine the BEST way to position the back of the camera...does it involve kneeling down or bending over at the wait, to keep the back of the camera more parallel with the back walls? does the camera need to be absolutely plumb, or can it be a bit off-kilter, etc.etc. This just seems to be a snapshot. The child looks cute, and the clarity the lens delivers is commendable, but as a "photograph", this just falls into that category of snapshot, due to poor photographic technique and composition. My objection is basically the "funhouse angles" on all the woodwork and the chair...no matter how this is cropped, the original wonky camera back angle will come through and kill the shot.

So are you saying that a proper "photograph" isn't allowed to only have dynamic angles? I know the general rule of thumb is to keep at least one of the hard lines aligned with the frame, but shouldn't it be more about the subject's positioning? Maybe you can help me improve me composition in this regard. I'm curious to where the line is drawn between "sloppy snapshot" and "tastefully dynamic tension."

 

[nyamy]

well, I'm a total beginner so take what I say with a huge grain of salt
but my first thoughts were 'where's her feet' and 'somebody's going to tell him to straighten the image'
I'm not a huge fan of even tastefully dynamic tension, but I do find that when there's little competing background its pleasing at times and creates a mood (ie bride on the beach, etc). also like it when its a shot of interesting architecture or something like that. I have no idea if there are 'rules' for that sort of thing or if it just takes artistic eye/experience to learn to differentiate btw 'tastefully dynamic tension' and 'sloppy snapshot'.
I'd probably straighten the image and crop close to her face. and if you can keep the shirt in the frame even better, I like the irony of the 'happy go lucky' and the not so happy face.