Was ask to do a photo I didn’t think I could do, honest opinions of its outcome welcome (Page 2): To an old property maintenance guy when you say remove a sign I think shovel lol. I...

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

JohnSwanda wrote:

I meant remove it in post processing.

To an old property maintenance guy when you say remove a sign I think shovel lol. I don’t guess we can go around digging up stuff we don’t like.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Both the fountain and the plaque are distracting from the subject!

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

nimbushopper wrote:

Both the fountain and the plaque are distracting from the subject!

But the subject's mother wanted a photo with the fountain.

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

nimbushopper wrote:

Both the fountain and the plaque are distracting from the subject!

True, we had already done a bunch of photos at some adjoining property that’s just set up for photography, benches, swings and a nice gazebo all surrounded by flowers and plants. It’s where everyone goes around here to do senior/prom/wedding type stuff. The fountain was just something that was on the way back to the parking lot.

A little about the fountain in general, it’s on the property of the World famous Barter Theatre here in Abingdon, Va and I’m told it’s the most photographed thing in Abingdon.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Resqu2 wrote:

True, we had already done a bunch of photos at som... (show quote)

That long rectangular strip of white on the left which I assume is water from the fountain doesn't look good and detracts from the photo.

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

berchman wrote:

That long rectangular strip of white on the left which I assume is water from the fountain doesn't look good and detracts from the photo.

That is the water from the fountain, that is what the Mom was wanting the frozen look for this pic. Like I’d mentioned earlier, this wasn’t planned by any means, just us walking around and when he sit down there Mom says hey make the water look frozen like in your landscape photos I’d shown her earlier.

thehokiewahoo

For my taste there is to much going on behind the subject. My first response was, what is that behind his head. I would find another spot to take the photo.

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

thehokiewahoo wrote:

For my taste there is to much going on behind the subject. My first response was, what is that behind his head. I would find another spot to take the photo.

We had taken a bunch at another property that’s more set up for photography, he ask me to take a few there and that’s when his Mom ask for a frozen water shot.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Resqu2 wrote:

In the end they loved the photo so that’s all that matters but wanted some honest feedback from the Pros here.

Take your own advice. They loved the photo and that's all that matters. If you're really looking for the reactions of people on this forum, my reaction is that for a portrait, leaving aside the mother's request to include the fountain and to blur the water, it doesn't come up to par. The background is distracting. The subject's eyes are almost closed. His body should be turned more to his left. The lighting is too even; it doesn't bring out the contours of his face. There is no texture to his skin. His tie knot is loose. How important is the crucifix he's wearing? Is it an essential part of who he is? Otherwise, it's a distraction.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

thehokiewahoo wrote:

For my taste there is to much going on behind the subject. My first response was, what is that behind his head. I would find another spot to take the photo.

So tell the subject's mother you refuse to do the photo she wanted?

berchman Loc: South Central PA

JohnSwanda wrote:

So tell the subject's mother you refuse to do the photo she wanted?

In the OP's place, I would not have posted this photo. The mother is happy, fine. But I would not need to be told by this forum that it's not a good photo; I would have seen that for myself.

genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island

Sorry, but is there anything in focus? Hurts my eyes to look at it.

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

berchman wrote:

In the OP's place, I would not have posted this photo. The mother is happy, fine. But I would not need to be told by this forum that it's not a good photo; I would have seen that for myself.

But with this post us guys who don’t do this for a living can learn a lot from the Pros and in this thread I have been shown a lot of what would make this shot better and one nice gentleman even took time to improve upon what I posted. If all we did was post the very best stuff then all we would be doing is bragging on each other’s work and not learning from the bad shots. That’s why I joined here and I think this place is great myself.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

Resqu2 wrote:

But with this post us guys who don’t do this for a living can learn a lot from the Pros and in this thread I have been shown a lot of what would make this shot better and one nice gentleman even took time to improve upon what I posted. If all we did was post the very best stuff then all we would be doing is bragging on each other’s work and not learning from the bad shots. That’s why I joined here and I think this place is great myself.

In that case, I would have worded my request for people's reactions differently. I would have said, I know this is not a good shot, but I don't know what I should have done to improve it. Suggestions?

I'm just a hobbyist, not a pro. A friend asked me to take a shot of him and I came up with this.

(Download)

Resqu2 Loc: SW Va

berchman wrote:

In that case, I would have worded my request for people's reactions differently. I would have said, I know this is not a good shot, but I don't know what I should have done to improve it. Suggestions?

I'm just a hobbyist, not a pro. A friend asked me to take a shot of him and I came up with this.

Thank you and I will for sure remember that next time.