Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => User Critiques => Topic started by: michswiss on August 29, 2010, 12:28:46 pm

Title: South of Shanghai (part of a set)
Post by: michswiss on August 29, 2010, 12:28:46 pm

(http://michswiss.smugmug.com/Work-in-progress/Work-in-Progress-2010/DSC6790-1/986540071_Qb7dW-XL.jpg)

Title: Re: South of Shanghai (part of a set)
Post by: shutterpup on August 30, 2010, 08:29:03 pm

I would have liked this if I could see what they are all looking at, out of the frame.

Title: Re: South of Shanghai (part of a set)
Post by: sbunting108 on September 03, 2010, 04:16:37 pm

Yeah I agree with shutterpup on this one! :)

Title: Re: South of Shanghai (part of a set)
Post by: Christoph C. Feldhaim on September 04, 2010, 07:05:05 am

I like the image, but IMHO it needs cropping.
The woman in the middle realizes the photographer and gives a glare.
I took the liberty to crop in 2 ways, but there are much more valid solutions I believe.
I hope you won't mind.

The missing "unknown" might be intended.
Maybe as a part of a series this could be resolved?

Title: Re: South of Shanghai (part of a set)
Post by: francois on September 04, 2010, 08:14:06 am

I like Christoph's crops better than the original image, especially the second one. Not seeing the point of interest of the people in the photo doesn't bother me too much as it adds something to be interpreted by the viewer.

Title: Re: South of Shanghai (part of a set)
Post by: RSL on September 04, 2010, 08:19:47 am

No crop is going to bring back the object off to the left upon which they're focussed. Only the crop made at the moment of exposure could have done that.

Title: Re: South of Shanghai (part of a set)
Post by: John R on September 04, 2010, 04:42:46 pm

Quote from: francois on September 04, 2010, 08:14:06 am

[snip]...Not seeing the point of interest of the people in the photo doesn't bother me too much as it adds something to be interpreted by the viewer.

I agree with this latter part of your statment. To me, any crop should be consistent with the maker's vision. The second crop is pretty close to the original and enhances the feeling of "something to be interpreted by the viewer." This is the type of photography that seems excel in a black and white format.

JMR

Title: Re: South of Shanghai (part of a set)
Post by: michswiss on September 05, 2010, 09:58:41 am

Sincere thanks for the thorough feedback everyone.  I had initially cropped it similar to Christoph's second version as the man on the far right is too far into the frame. But then thought the balance of the four vertical "panels" making up the background that attracted me to the scene should be kept whole.  I'll play with the crop a bit more.

Also, one second they were interacting with each other and the next, in unison, turned to look at something outside of the frame.  On to the next image.