Jumping in! CC on a BW and color photo

[MSauerbrei]

So I'm new to the forums but I figure there's not better what to improve than to get help from people who know what they are doing.

Now, I know there are some composition things I would have done differently with this photo. I would have had them move down slightly so the words were more clear. I couldn't move back further because I was about half a step away from a lake. One more step back and I would have went for a swim.

But if there's anything else that anyone can think of to help me improve, either in PP or from the get go I'm all ears (and eyes!)

TIA

 

[j28]

He seems very stiff and standoffish. Her face is completely obscured. I would have tried for a bit more natural feeling position. Look at the way her feet are angled away from him and how both of their hands are stiffly on their own bodies. It would have been great to be able to feel a connection, with them turned toward one another, blocking out the rest of the world.

I love the bench, and I like the feel of B&W with this one, it gives it a more intimate feeling.

 

[MSauerbrei]

He seems very stiff and standoffish. Her face is completely obscured. I would have tried for a bit more natural feeling position. Look at the way her feet are angled away from him and how both of their hands are stiffly on their own bodies. It would have been great to be able to feel a connection, with them turned toward one another, blocking out the rest of the world.

I love the bench, and I like the feel of B&W with this one, it gives it a more intimate feeling.

Thanks for the CC. I know there body language isn't the best in this photo and thats something I definitely have to work on "noticing" more while I'm snapping away.

 

[Photo Lady]

very nice pics.. i like the B/W the best... the one thing i noticed is your subject do not flow in the pic.. kind of stiff .. other then that it is great

 

[Djmorrsee]

I definitely agree that the BW one is better. Parts of the background and bench are blown out, which I feel competes with the subjects. If you have the opportunity, play around with the time of day that you shoot. The sun being behind your subjects makes proper exposure difficult to obtain. I like the pictures overall, keep at it!

 

[AgentDrex]

There are a ton of things in my mind that could "improve" these photos...but since this should stay family-friendly...I'll leave my perverted comments to myself...but I'm still thinking 'em...

 

[SrBiscuit]

There are a ton of things in my mind that could "improve" these photos...but since this should stay family-friendly...I'll leave my perverted comments to myself...but I'm still thinking 'em...

an odd response. lol

 

[MSauerbrei]

There are a ton of things in my mind that could "improve" these photos...but since this should stay family-friendly...I'll leave my perverted comments to myself...but I'm still thinking 'em...

an odd response. lol

Odd indeed...and now I'm curious

 

[MSauerbrei]

Thanks for the CC everyone. I'm still working on getting my exposure correct SOOC and some days it feels like a losing battle. But I keep at it.

 

[AgentDrex]

Well...in my mind...sick as it may be at times...I can imagine the lady has more of her face in view...the mans hands are groping certain objects on the woman...

 

[SrBiscuit]

jesus, drex....go get laid.

 

[JWellman]

I like the idea! I would like to see it again with the couple completely turned. Maybe put him at the end (turned) and her leaning on him resting ?? Maybe with her legs going down the bench...barefoot even! Maybe? Just thinking out loud.

 

[GeneralBenson]

Well, the biggest issue that I saw with these,is that everything in the photo is leading to the right and then straight out the side of the frame. The bench is a strong leading line to the couple, but then they are both sitting reding right out of the picture. I understand that is how open would generally sit on a bench, but it doesn't work compositionally. When shooting in a way the makes the bench into such a strong line leading to the right, it should lead to the couple and then stop there on them. You need them to cease the movement of the eye and keep it on them. Have them facing towards the center of the frame would do this. But with them facing out of the frame, in the same direction that the bench is already leading, my eye just sails right past them and on out of the picture. Body language is super important in photo. The more you pay attention to how you read body language in the real world, the more you can understand how the same forces exist in pictures. If you saw people on a bench, looking off a certain diction, your natural tendency would be to look over there and see what they're looking at. The same subconscious tendency is at play in this images, except when your eye is drawn in the direction they are looking, it leads you right out of the frame.

 

[MSauerbrei]

Well, the biggest issue that I saw with these,is that everything in the photo is leading to the right and then straight out the side of the frame. The bench is a strong leading line to the couple, but then they are both sitting reding right out of the picture. I understand that is how open would generally sit on a bench, but it doesn't work compositionally. When shooting in a way the makes the bench into such a strong line leading to the right, it should lead to the couple and then stop there on them. You need them to cease the movement of the eye and keep it on them. Have them facing towards the center of the frame would do this. But with them facing out of the frame, in the same direction that the bench is already leading, my eye just sails right past them and on out of the picture. Body language is super important in photo. The more you pay attention to how you read body language in the real world, the more you can understand how the same forces exist in pictures. If you saw people on a bench, looking off a certain diction, your natural tendency would be to look over there and see what they're looking at. The same subconscious tendency is at play in this images, except when your eye is drawn in the direction they are looking, it leads you right out of the frame.

Very good points and I will definitely being keeping this advice in my back pocket. Thanks

 

[The_Traveler]

Now, I know there are some composition things I would have done differently with this photo. I would have had them move down slightly so the words were more clear. I couldn't move back further because I was about half a step away from a lake. One more step back and I would have went for a swim.

This picture is way too obvious.

ob·vi·ous
adjective /ˈäbvēəs/ 

Easily perceived or understood; clear, self-evident, or apparent
- unemployment has been the most obvious cost of the recession
- it was obvious a storm was coming in

Predictable and lacking in subtlety
- it was an obvious remark to make

Pictures are supposed to tell a story by implication, to let the viewer make the connection.
This looks set up and awkward.
There is no naturalness to it at all.