Leon S Loc: Minnesota

I would like your opinions regarding this photograph. I have done very little post processing to it if any because I am still in the process of learning lightroom and elements. I welcome any thoughts you have.

Bob Yankle Loc: Burlington, NC

You must first post your photograph before we can comment upon it. It wasn't included as an attachment to your original post.

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

for some reason nothing is working, maybe my internet is having problems so i'll try latter. thanks.

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Finally got the shot through.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Hey Leon, thank you for posting.

The first question I always ask with a photo like this is What Is The Story You Are Trying To Tell? To make it easier, what were you trying to achieve? The title you present is Memories so I have to assume the woman is looking out over the bluff where something significant happened or she may even be spreading the ashes of a loved one, but I hate to assume and unless you add an element of intentional suspense my propensity is to move on.

So back to the question, which is more for you to think about when you shoot than to answer, What Is The Story? What are you trying to tell us? Let's take for example that she is spreading the ashes of a loved one, how do I know that? You need to add an element, such as the urn or by showing the ashes for me to know this.

Now to comply with the intent of this forum I will tell you what I think. Take this as my opinion and hopefully as a learning exercise.
- This is a snapshot.

The horizon is titled, her hair is blown out (too light) on the one side and probably too dark on the other. That she is looking away, and especially that I cannot see what she is looking at is the most glaring issue for me and causes me to move on. All of this comes back though to Why Am I Here? What Are You Trying To Say With Your Image?

I hope this helps and please post again! Steve

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

thanks for your comments

Nightski

Leon, I think you have the makings of what could be a great image. I'm not going to repeat all the things that St3v3M said, which are things that you should think about.

To me it is obvious that she is having a special relaxed moment just looking at the landscape before her on one of those lazy hazy summer days. But you need to do a couple of things to make that happen. She needs to be looking out in the distance, with completely relaxed shoulders. Your wife? Give her a nice little back rub before you shoot the scene. Lose the sunglasses, they detract. I love your DOF for this. It lends to the lazy hazy mood. Angle the image so that you get rid of the distracting weeds to the left.

Now I have done something that Steve did not. I have guessed at you story, and I may have it all wrong. You tell us. :-)

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Great post and to come back to this without trying to be harsh. If this was just one of those moments where you took a photo, then rock on, but if this was posed, or you are trying to learn how to capture moments like this in the future that give more impact then you are on the right track, but just need to think about the viewer.

That may sound kooky, but think about when a friend comes home from a vacation and shows you a bunch of photos. Some are pretty, some may need to be hidden from the kids, and some you nod at, but really have no clue. The last is what I see and the reason why is that we were not there so we do not know the context. That is what I mean when I say What Is The Story You Are Trying To Tell. It is not that I want her to turn and start talking to me, or for you to add cartoon bubbles above her head (although that might be funny), but more that I want to know... and feel a part of... and be there.

The next time you look at a scene then and want to share it think about what it is that drew you to it. Is it the clown at the party, the color of the sunset, what is it that drew you to it. Your job is to help me see the same.

In your photo then, if the woman was looking at something in the distance I might shoot over and past her shoulder to the thing beyond, if she is looking down at the ground then show that too.

The problem again for most photographers is they forget to include the context of the moment. They may remember it years later, but isn't the point of an image to tell a story. After all an image 'should' speak a thousand words.

Nightski

And Leon, if it's not your wife …. just ignore the back rub advice! :shock:

Leon S Loc: Minnesota

I agree, I should have caught the horizon. The shot is not of my wife but of an elderly lady known to me. My wife and I took her to her home town and stopped at the town's overlook. She does not like her photo taken and would never pose for a picture. Although I do not consider it a snap shot, it is certainly not a poised picture. I think it falls in the realm of street photography. If I could have taken a front shot, I would have caught nothing but tears falling from her eyes behind her dark glasses. She was reminiscing her life there and the friends she had and will never see again. Does your opinion of the picture change in any way now that you know the story behind the picture?

Nightski

Well, in street photography you have to wait for the moment. The moment would have been when she was looking off in the distance. The way it is shot, it is hard for the viewer to guess what is going on. She could be looking for something in her purse, or looking at something on the ground. Her shoulders look tense, not sad or reminiscent. So my advice for future shots, if you're going to do street type photography, is to wait for that moment that tells your story. While you're waiting, make sure you have what you want in the frame.

Graham Smith Loc: Cambridgeshire UK

Leon, the picture has to tell the story. There is no story told here. You really need to see the face to show the emotion.

Graham

Nightski

I think you could get a melancholy posture from the back …. Sandra who knows nothing of street photography, but has just been watching Graham for some time now. :-)