where to place my subject: Hi y'all, i did a location visit for a potential client and i took this shot with my canon eos rebel T5 (not much i know). my question is ; based on this...

MegTee Loc: Mesa Arizona

Hi y'all,

i did a location visit for a potential client and i took this shot with my canon eos rebel T5 (not much i know).
my question is ; based on this shot where would be the ideal place to my subject for the best composition as well as exposure?
thank you for your time

(Download)

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

Personally, I would take the shot with the geese at a side angle, putting the structure in the background. If I was going specifically for the geese, I would take from the angle you took, but I would get in close enough to take the background structure out of the photo. Also straighten and level the horizon. With some post processing, should look good with both of these compositions, as you do not have much to work with.

LWW Loc: Banana Republic of America

Towards the bottom right, making the V things fully visible.

repleo Loc: Boston

MegTee wrote:

Hi y'all,

i did a location visit for a potential client and i took this shot with my canon eos rebel T5 (not much i know).
my question is ; based on this shot where would be the ideal place to my subject for the best composition as well as exposure?
thank you for your time

A couple of thoughts:

Try the screen over by the lightpole as a backdrop for a head / head and shoulders shot with plenty of separation.

Try under the pergola if the sun is bright and you need a diffused light. Watch out for patchy shadows. If the sun is bright, see if you can use hard shadows from the slats for some drama or direction.

Use the curly cue columns as a prop to lean or sit against or try shooting though one of them.

Have the subject stand on the bench and shoot up through the slats or curly cue columns.

Get down low and see if you can get a starburst backlight through the pergola - try f16 or f22.

I think the geese sculture is too interesting in itself. It will distract from the subject unless you can think of a way to have have the subject relate to it. Maybe a reflection of the subject on the water?

Post some of your efforts here afterwards.

Good luck!!!

Largobob

What is your 'subject?'

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

0Using the whole screen the person will be small. Also it’s very distracting that your scene
needs to be straightened.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

MegTee wrote:

Hi y'all,

i did a location visit for a potential client and i took this shot with my canon eos rebel T5 (not much i know).
my question is ; based on this shot where would be the ideal place to my subject for the best composition as well as exposure?
thank you for your time

To me, there is too much to compete with. Your client is competing with all the variety of things in your location.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

MegTee wrote:

Hi y'all,

i did a location visit for a potential client and i took this shot with my canon eos rebel T5 (not much i know).
my question is ; based on this shot where would be the ideal place to my subject for the best composition as well as exposure?
thank you for your time

Artists for years have used the RULE OF THIRDS.
www.capturelandscapes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F10%2FGreenland-Husky-Rule-of-Thirds.jpg&action=click" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.capturelandscapes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F10%2FGreenland-Husky-Rule-of-Thirds.jpg#id=8&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.capturelandscapes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F10%2FGreenland-Husky-Rule-of-Thirds.jpg&action=click" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?p=rule+of+thirds&fr=mcafee&imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.capturelandscapes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F10%2FGreenland-Husky-Rule-of-Thirds.jpg&action=click" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.capturelandscapes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F10%2FGreenland-Husky-Rule-of-Thirds.jpg#id=8&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.capturelandscapes.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F10%2FGreenland-Husky-Rule-of-Thirds.jpg&action=click

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Eliminate as much sky as possible to avoid that light/dark exposure problem. I would have your subject to the right of those V birds.

As an online instructor has said, "work the shot." Take notes ahead of time and vary the location and shooting angle.

SonyA580 Loc: FL in the winter & MN in the summer

traderjohn wrote:

To me, there is too much to compete with. Your client is competing with all the variety of things in your location.

I agree. Scene is way to "busy"; too many competing elements.

CO

I found images for that sculpture online. How about if you shot with the lake as a background? Maybe place your client standing under the structure, at the end of the sidewalk close to the edge of the water, or sitting on the edge of the fountain?

New Sculpture for the Lakefront in Lake Charles, LA

(Download)

Have client sit on the edge of the fountain. At the end of the sidewalk close to the water could be nice.

Watch out for the shadows produced by the slats in the roof

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

MegTee wrote:

Hi y'all,

i did a location visit for a potential client and i took this shot with my canon eos rebel T5 (not much i know).
my question is ; based on this shot where would be the ideal place to my subject for the best composition as well as exposure?
thank you for your time

First, I would talk to your client and find out what his/her objectives are for the picture. After all, the client is paying the bill. The most important questions will probably be what the picture will be used for, what are the most important elements to the client, i.e., does he want the spotlight on the birds, the whole fountain, the setting, etc. Remember that in the end the photograph must satisfy the client. If you just shoot a picture of your vision without that consideration, you may love it and the client may never do business with you again.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Are you confused by now? When a question such as yours is asked the question will get many answers and that could be confusing. I am going to understand that your subject is a person that you plan on posing for the shot.
If that is the case you do not need lots of background unless the person insists on it. Since the most important subject is the person that will be posing coming closer to your subject makes for a more personal portrait. I like the instructions given to you by CO and I am sure those instructions in your case will work to perfection. Notice how he has simplified the shot.
Good luck with your portrait and remember to keep the horizon level.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

MegTee wrote:

Hi y'all,

i did a location visit for a potential client and i took this shot with my canon eos rebel T5 (not much i know).
my question is ; based on this shot where would be the ideal place to my subject for the best composition as well as exposure?
thank you for your time

That is very hard to tell, based on a picture that does not provide much detail, the best way to decide, is to walk around that area until you find a spot that looks appealing to you!

SkyKing Loc: Thompson Ridge, NY

MegTee wrote:

Hi y'all,

i did a location visit for a potential client and i took this shot with my canon eos rebel T5 (not much i know).
my question is ; based on this shot where would be the ideal place to my subject for the best composition as well as exposure?
thank you for your time

...excuse the primitive nature...but this was editing just using my phone...but this might help with more ideas...my thinking was that if the background doesn’t enhance the shot it takes away from the image...

...I’m not sure if I leveled the image correctly...