Vignette and sports photography

osumisan · Nov 9, 2012

I have been experimenting with using vignettes on my action shots that I sell back to the athlete's parents/family. Personally, I like the effect because it draws the viewers' eyes to the center of the action. I have been getting some criticism from other professionals and I would welcome other opinions as well. My understanding is that rules of photography are in place to be broken at appropriate times. It is also my belief that photography is an art and photographs are a form of expression of my style. Would you give me your opinion on vignettes?

sactown024 · Nov 9, 2012

I think it all depends on the photograph, I dont know if I am a fan of it in sports photography though.

12sndsgood · Nov 9, 2012

I use it from time to time, my usage of it is a bit more light. once its getting to be noticable that im using it i back off. I prefer it to be a bit darker on the edges without it really looking so prominant. your photos above are just a bit much for me personally.

tirediron · Nov 9, 2012

Doesn't work at all IMO, but, if the clients are paying for it...

MLeeK · Nov 9, 2012

Not feeling the love. The last one it really takes away from. The first two aren't as bad.

Big Mike · Nov 9, 2012

IMO, the best vignettes are when the 'average' person can't tell that it's been applied. In other words, it should be subtle. It doesn't take much to help keep the viewer's eye in the frame.

What you're doing here, is hitting the viewer over the head with it.

Yes, of course, rules are meant to be broken...and there nothing to say that you're wrong or that you can't do it. We can only offer opinions.

osumisan · Nov 10, 2012

Big Mike said:
IMO, the best vignettes are when the 'average' person can't tell that it's been applied. In other words, it should be subtle. It doesn't take much to help keep the viewer's eye in the frame.

What you're doing here, is hitting the viewer over the head with it.

Yes, of course, rules are meant to be broken...and there nothing to say that you're wrong or that you can't do it. We can only offer opinions.

Read ya loud and clear...thank you!

Studio7Four · Nov 12, 2012

Purely my opinion, since I don't shoot many sports (and don't market them):

Chalk me up as another vote that if a vignette is added it should be subtle. There are a number of reasons I feel this way.

- A heavy handed vignette such as you've shown in these three image doesn't just steer the eye to the center of the shot, it frames and confines the subject(s). People viewing a sports shot just instinctively feel that this is wrong. We all know that the court or field is much larger than the portion captured in the shot so our guts just expect the action to be able to continue out of frame, not run into this dark wall of a vignette.

- If you are only marketing these to the parents of the subjects, you can call them environmental portraits if you'd like and probably find people more accepting of the heavy vignette. However, that limits you to marketing each shot to basically the parents of the one or two main subjects in the shot. Remove, or drastically reduce, the vignette and these become shots which could additionally be marketed as photo coverage of the game, or even as stock photography.

- Again, just my opinion, but a heavy vignette is too often a crutch. If the shot were done properly it wouldn't need a heavy vignette to pull the eye to the center. Yes, I understand that with sports photography things are so quick to change that it's difficult to nail composition, exposure, depth of focus, and timing to capture the best action. But honestly I think you've timed each of these shots just about perfectly - I'm drawn to the compelling action captured in each and really don't need the vignette to draw me to it.

KmH · Nov 12, 2012

Big Mike said:
What you're doing here, is hitting the viewer over the head with it.

That's pretty much what I thought too. Overdone.

imagemaker46 · Nov 12, 2012

Not a big fan, but have to say that I used to add a little to the top corners on some photos when I was doing darkroom work. Mostly in the sports where there was a lot of empty bright backgrounds. That was 20 years ago though, but still can see that it would work if it were not as dark. It does have it uses when doing up composites and posters.

osumisan · Nov 12, 2012

Excellent feedback...thank you all!

Rosy · Nov 17, 2012

osumisan said:
I have been experimenting with using vignettes on my action shots that I sell back to the athlete's parents/family. Personally, I like the effect because it draws the viewers' eyes to the center of the action. I have been getting some criticism from other professionals and I would welcome other opinions as well. My understanding is that rules of photography are in place to be broken at appropriate times. It is also my belief that photography is an art and photographs are a form of expression of my style. Would you give me your opinion on vignettes?

<img src="http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=25271"/><img src="http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=25272"/><img src="http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=25273"/>

I liked it on the 2nd one you posted
The others seem too dark.
But I agree with you..if it works for you and the buyer then it's all good!
GREAT Volleyball shots. What lens did you use