Mausoleum Shot: Does this need cloning?

[manaheim]

OK I don't get it. Why is a pretty girl standing in front of a grave?

Because she's deadly serious?

 

[DGMPhotography]

Sorry about the photo size - here's a larger version:

 

[DGMPhotography]

IMO, this image just does not work. You have a very bright, featureless sky which draws the eye away from the significantly darker main subject of the image. With the right lighting, this could have worked well, but as-is, not so much.

Yeah... you're totally right. I reallllyyyy wish my D5100 could do high-speed sync, but that's one of those limitations I have to live with for now. Maybe it's a sign I'm outgrowing my camera!

 

[DGMPhotography]

Get down lower, to bring the model and the statue closer together in the vertical axis, then get closer. Then put the model in some clothes that will separate her from the background. At least, that's what I would do.

Great concept, but you're overthinking irrelevant stuff. The trees are irrelevant.

I actually did go a little lower. We were being silly trying to copy the statue's pose. Maybe if we just kept the original pose and went with this angle it would have been top notch.

These are just thumbnails - it gives you the idea. I'm not going to process them because I don't like the composition.