Any potential here?

[mn shutterbug]

I see a lot of neat photographs of subjects I would just pass by without giving them a second thought. I guess I'm kind of narrow minded. I passed this fence the other day and thought, maybe this has some potential. Maybe I was wrong. You tell me. Is there something I could have done to make the photo eye pleasing?

Thanks for your critical input.

[Greg McCary]

I think you framed the fence well. The lighting seems a little harsh and you could use some space between the fence and the flower. I think it is a good subject.
Greg

[Frog]

Looks like lots of potential. The light is a little harsh as Greg said but the only thing that really bothers me is the top of the post in the shade.
Can you try a different time of day?

[mn shutterbug]

Can you try a different time of day?

No problem Frog. I'd just have to drive 90 miles to get back to the spot. :mad2:

Thanks for the feedback guys. The photo was taken at about 12:00 noon.

[Frog]

Well heck if its only 90 miles you could drop by daily for the perfect light...joking.

[GB1]

Even with the harsh lighting I think it has potential. I wish there were more flowers in the back behind the fence though. The ones there are a start. There is a lack of punchline here, like "why", but, there seems to be something about it. I think it denotes summertime in the country, very bright sun, when it gets hot as hell in the daytime and there's not much around cept animals and bugs. Kind of nice. I guess I'm no city boy.
Gb

[readingr]

Mike,

I would have got down a little lower to give the flowers a little more room.

Definately potential even with harsh light but softer would be better.

Roger

[Coastal Flyer]

Scroller,

I know what you mean about seeing, or not seeing as the case may be, subjects and wondering if they would make a good photo. If I had shot this, I would have closed in on the rails of the fence and used them as a frame for the flower (thistle?). I would have used the well-worn grain of the wood to enhance the purple flower. No idea how this would have come out, but at least you would have had a central subject for the image. That is just me, however.

CF

[schrackman]

Since this is "critique" forum I have to offer somewhat of a different viewpoint than the rest.

Fences such as this, in order to be considered a shot with potential, must be taken with a few things in mind.

First, lighting. The mid afternoon sunlight is too harsh. While you seemed to have done a good job on exposure, early morning or late evening light would have given a lot more dramatic lighting, as some here have insinuated.

Second, angle. This is almost a straight on shot which makes the photo a tad boring to look at. Sometimes a straight on shot will work, provided the rule of thirds is observed and the background compliments your subject. You have to ask yourself, at what angle can I shoot this fence (or any fence for that matter) and make it interesting to the viewer? Would you yourself buy this photo for $35, $45, $55? Probably not. Check out this link for some nice fence photos to give you some unique ideas on how to shoot fences: http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/d....asp?catID=231

Third, background. I see two flowers behind the fence, one of which has a nice purple bloom but the other has lost its bloom. Wouldn't it be nice to see a whole bunch of flowers growing around that fence? The rest of the foilage behind the fence has absolutely no detail and so it adds nothing to the value of the photo itself.

Having said that, it's not easy to move out of the snapshot mentality and into the creative mode. Everyone has to learn what it is that makes a great photo. And that takes lots of practice. While your photo itself may not, in my opinion, have potential, I believe you do.

So keep at it and let us see some more of your work!

[mn shutterbug]

I asked for critique and that's what I got. :cryin: Seriously guys, thanks one and all for your perspectives. I should have given it the title of "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow", referring to the 2 thistles. Actually, that's what drew me to the scene. I just thought it looked like a nice contrast between the 2 flowers. I do agree and can understand what most of you have posted. However, I just happened to come by it at 12:00 noon, in a city 95 miles from home, so coming back in 7 hours was out of the question.

Thanks again and I'll remember most of these tips the next time I come by a similar scene.

BTW Ray, I might pay $15 for the photo.