Would like a critique on composition and PP these "still life?": I would like to have some comment on composition and is my main question. I was taking shots in my basement and noticed...

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

I would like to have some comment on composition and is my main question.
I was taking shots in my basement and noticed the light and way the clothes were hanging on the hook and wondered if I could get an interesting shot. These are two that I liked the best.
I took these with a Nikon D3000 and the kit lens and hand held
Both were shot on auto.
The first was shot at 1/8 and f/3.8 ISO 400
In photoshop I bumped the brightness to +17 and contrast to +37
Hue was -5 and Saturation +11
I also added a linear gradient fill angle 8.52 and 150 %
I also dodged some on the right hand side.

The second was shot at 1/25 and f/3.5 ISO 400
I ran levels
increased contrast +21 and Brightness +16 with a linear gradient fill at 116% Angle 0

rocco_7155 Loc: Connecticut/Louisiana

As far as composition goes, I gotta go with #2.
The leading line is pleasing. The color alternations keep your eye moving and the crop and perspective fill the frame and cut the viewer's field in a complimentary way.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

rocco_7155 wrote:

As far as composition goes, I gotta go with #2.
The leading line is pleasing. The color alternations keep your eye moving and the cop and perspective fill the frame and cut the viewer's field in a complimentary way.

Thank you for your comments. That was my favorite also.
Do you think the first one is too busy? Too much in the background? What I liked about that one was the way the light looked on the clothes.

rocco_7155 Loc: Connecticut/Louisiana

You know, I like the subject and color and the lone pair of boots. The whole cieling and ductwork thing doesnt work for me.

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

rocco_7155 wrote:

You know, I like the subject and color and the lone pair of boots. The whole cieling and ductwork thing doesnt work for me.

I guess I could reshoot from an ladder to get rid of the duct work or wait til spring when it will be gone.

Sher Loc: Colorful Colorado

Number 2 has my vote too... I think the first one is a little busy for me. I do like the color of the clothes but just seems like too much in the picture

tomfr Loc: Brevard N.C.

I know I am the first person to talk about photography being subjective, and if the shooter is pleased, that is most important. That being said, and, believe me, I mean no disrespect, but, what are you trying to convey ini those two images?

tomfr

MarkDG

Country's Mama wrote:

rocco_7155 wrote:

As far as composition goes, I gotta go with #2.
The leading line is pleasing. The color alternations keep your eye moving and the cop and perspective fill the frame and cut the viewer's field in a complimentary way.

Thank you for your comments. That was my favorite also.
Do you think the first one is too busy? Too much in the background? What I liked about that one was the way the light looked on the clothes.

If you're already in PhotoShop, just blur the background in #1 and see how that works. I really like #2, I think the composition is right on, and the colors keep you interested. Nice job!

photogirl Loc: Sequim, WA

I agree with you that the light on the clothes is interesting. It might help to use selective coloring on this. Turn the background into black and white and darkening it a bit accentuating the bright colors of the clothes.

Cornishpete Loc: Illinois

Your first image gives me great comfort as I have an old farm-cottage type house built in the '20, with a basement festooned in cables, pipes, ductwork, all of which I sometimes despair of. Heck there are even pipes that seem to start nowhere and go nowhere (from an abandoned well I guess) So Mama, I am thinking we can both live comfortably without the benefits of fully finished, fitted carpeted, Martha Stewart designed basements and thank you for sharing.
The second image is of course of a very different style and like the others would get my vote. One thing that doesn't quite work though is that it is the second, navy colored jacket that is in focus whilst the eyecatching bright yellow one in the foreground is not. I realise that the very narrow depth of field from being shot at f3.5 has caused this but am wondering if the shot might have been more effective if you had focussed your camera on the yellow coat and just accepted that all the others beyond it were going to be blurred anyway.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

No 2 is a really good shot. Nice perspective. :thumbup:

Blake Loc: Alfred NY

Country's Mama wrote:

I would like to have some comment on composition a... (show quote)

Hi Country Moma,
I as well like the 2nd one better for many of the same reasons already said. I would have croped out anything past the last jacket the red and black plaid one. They are both very good images and BTW I live in the country too. My basement is not a Martha Stewart house either. I like the pictures. Thank you for sharing

Singing Swan

tomfr wrote:

I know I am the first person to talk about photography being subjective, and if the shooter is pleased, that is most important. That being said, and, believe me, I mean no disrespect, but, what are you trying to convey ini those two images?

tomfr

Every image does not always need to 'convey' anything. These both bring to mind the idea of cold weather, lots of family, a sense of waiting, and the artistic angle in the second photo appeals to a sense of rightness and order. Learn to enjoy a photo for what it is, not what message it's trying to get across. Photography is supposed to be fun and I think these capture that very well. I have to agree with rocco (jeez, how many times have I had to say that arreedy!!) but the first one with the duct work in the background is a bit busy. I like the second one for the more simplistic angle you achieved. And the colors are good too. That yellow one makes me want to grab it off the rack and go out in the snow!!!

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

Country's Mama wrote:

I would like to have some comment on composition a... (show quote)

They both tell a story though #1 tells the story of clutter and #2 allows for imagination. Question for you: have you tried using levels, curves, selective color to make the changes instead of the brightness/contrast control?

Country's Mama Loc: Michigan

tomfr wrote:

I know I am the first person to talk about photography being subjective, and if the shooter is pleased, that is most important. That being said, and, believe me, I mean no disrespect, but, what are you trying to convey ini those two images?

tomfr

My guess is you are not a farm boy. :) This picture would only mean something to someone who lives on a farm in an old farm house. I am trying to convey part of that lifestyle and it includes
barn clothes, sometimes quite a variety of them. I have seen many a mud room that had this feel to it. It is a nostalgic picture for me. I wish I had taken one when the kids were little and all different size barn clothes were hanging on those hooks, but I never would have thought of it then.