BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

Even though this is in reality a Cropped wedding photo, it is not intended to be in a wedding album. This is a photo of my youngest son's wedding. I was messing around with the photo and zoomed in when it struck me that the image looked pretty cool to me cropped in very tight. To me it is "art". To get a reaction I posted this image on "photo analysis" and as I expected got some very critical responses to it. I'm just curious if this group is equally critical! Go ahead, be honest! Hit me with your best shot!
It's best to download this one.

(Download)

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

Too much of the vest, not enough of the veil.

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

Thanks oldtigger for your thoughts. Are you saying your suggestions thinking of a "wedding"? Or art?

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

Neither, just as a story line.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Oh No, you asked us to be honest... This should be fun! LAF

Welcome to the group and thank you for sharing! S-

pixbyjnjphotos Loc: Apache Junction,AZ

Hello Bret. I have seen your work scattered around the UHH and I admire the quality of your photos. This one is no different. Fantastic focus and color. I have done some wedding photography myself. I am always looking for different poses. I really like this pose. I can see the story with the groom thinking and portraying his love for his new wife. To me it says this is my lady and I love her very much. The bride has her head on her man's chest close to his heart and thinking this is my man and I love him very much. As for the cropping, if I were cropping this photo, and I don't know how much photo has been cropped away, but, I would have included a little more of the groom (just to the nose without showing any nose on the top and a little more of the bride on the bottom to include her mouth and chin. I am assuming that she had a slight smile on her mouth which I believe would have reinforced her thoughts of her man. I also would have cropped off a little more on the right side (about an inch more) to have horizontally centered the bride's face a little more. Considering that you are considering this photo art, I think you are on the right track. I do believe that good art portrays a story. There is a story here and I think the pose and shot can portray that very well. I have not looked at your other post and have no idea of the comments (good, bad, or indifferent). Bottom line is, I like the pose and the shot, but I think it is cropped a little tight on top and bottom and not quite enough on the right side. Just my opinion and we all have different ones. I am just a professional amateur.
Keep up the excellent work, have fun, and have a GREAT DAY!

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

Yes, I did want honesty. I'm comparing your responses to the ones on "photo analysis" of the same photo. I am expecting your responses to be "softer" than theirs. Yes......let's have some fun!

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

OK pixbyjnjphotos, I have soaked in your comments and taken the original and made some revisions which I think would be similar to yours. I did readjust some things a bit in the cropping from your suggestions. I'm attaching the revised photo. Remember, my original intent was "art" and NOT something for a wedding album. This revised photo is all about the Bride which is totally different than my original intent. I do like it though, so thanks for the suggestions.

(Download)

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

Softer doesn't always mean honest, but no matter the reply your opinion is the one that matters! S-

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

Including the brides smile defines this image as just another candid wedding shot.
Your original tightly cropped image allowed me as a viewer to write my own storyline.

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

Here is a saying that I believe in:

“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”.”
― John Lydgate


pixbyjnjphotos wants the smile, you don't! Go figure! lol How about you choose the top photo and he chooses the bottom one?

Billyspad Loc: The Philippines

Here's my saying Please ya'self and tell the others to take a hike!

Life's easy then young Brent.
Personally prefer the first one it has a sense of mystery about it. The fuller crop just makes it into a very normal wedding shot I have seen done many times before.
This "art" thing is indeed a revelation! So you take a decent snap which may be from the reject pile you mess around with it crop in real tight and suddenly one is an artist huh. Yea OK Brent.
Its a well taken picture technically sound with a bit of creativity in the cropping but my man you aint produced art.
I knew all that salt water and heavy waves hitting your head would have an adverse effect one day lol
Hope the surf is good and pleased to see you here fella.

BrentHarder Loc: Southern California

Billyspad, your comments remind me of a bumper sticker that I saw years ago and never forgot: "Why be normal"?
I think any genius would endorse that bumper sticker. Anyone can take average and boring wedding photos can't they?
It's nice to hang out with other creative people.

St3v3M Loc: 35,000 feet

YBNORML

conkerwood

Hi Brent good to see you here. I really like the idea of cropping in close but I don't think it quite works. The pic focusses on the emotion of the moment by reducing the pic down to two key elements, his smile and her eyes. But the emotion in his smile isn't quite there because you have cut the corner of his mouth, I think you needed that final bit of upward curve to fully convey his feelings. She is looking at the camera so her eyes should have impact, we should be able to see how she feels. But both eyes are in shadow and it is her brightly lit nose and forehead which dominate.

As for the question 'wedding or art' to me its a pointless question because in the end the answer doesn't matter. What counts is the image you present, the technical aspects, its impact and do I get what you seem to be trying to convey? In other words does it touch me? The answer to that question this case is not quite, for the reasons I have given, but its not far off.

Don't know whether this counts as a softer answer but it is honest.

Hope this helps.

Peter