X-posted -- would love feedback on senior basketball process

[milamphotos]

I think I posted this in the wrong place originally. Anyway, I'd like some feedback on this image from a Senior session. We were going for an intense look. What do you think? Thanks!


View attachment 6375

 

[Kerbouchard]

I like it. My only issue would be the pole in the background. I assume it is the basketball hoop, but without being able to see all of it, it doesn't add context and just serves as a distraction. Same goes for the rest of the background.

Basically, I think you did well with your subject but more thought could have been put into the background to add context or to minimize distractions.

 

[milamphotos]

Thanks, man. I'm working on another image now where I've taken the pole out (yeah, it's the pole for the hoop) and there's no loss of the front foot. I'm not please with the background either. We had the option of the park or going to the high school gym. The kid picked the park. I'm currently trying to learn color efex, and I *think* there's a way to select parts of the background and change the contrast and all that so I can darken it, but I'm unsure. I'd love any feedback on that. Thanks so much!

 

[Kerbouchard]

I'm sure there are ways to 'help' the background in post processing, but ideally, it would have been taken from a lower angle to include the basketball goal which would also remove some of the dead space from the top of the frame. If there is no opportunity for a reshoot, I would probably just crop it a bit tighter.

Also, the highlights on the right side of his face resemble the blown out highlights coming from the gaps in the trees. Just makes it seem a bit 'muddled'.

 

[tirediron]

Moving to the 'Professional' Gallery.

 

[milamphotos]

I was wondering if anyone else had any opinions. Thanks!

 

[photowoman77]

I like the feeling of this image that gets projected. If it were me, I would dial down the highlights on the guy just a tad and crop some of the top of the image as there seems to be to much space and it would allow us to focus more on him instead of having the eye wander through the frame. Post an updated photo if you do any edits, would be cool to see the transformation!

 

[DiskoJoe]

Thanks, man. I'm working on another image now where I've taken the pole out (yeah, it's the pole for the hoop) and there's no loss of the front foot. I'm not please with the background either. We had the option of the park or going to the high school gym. The kid picked the park. I'm currently trying to learn color efex, and I *think* there's a way to select parts of the background and change the contrast and all that so I can darken it, but I'm unsure. I'd love any feedback on that. Thanks so much!

You could do this with some simple layering.