Boston no.1

[Seb]

From a small session in the city last week end.

Comments are welcome

Seb

[readingr]

Seb,

I like the photo and the lines but I feel something is missing like a taxi rank, or bus stop sign, or a shop window to add context to the photo.

Everything else seems to work though.

Roger

[SmartWombat]

What is that round white thing hanging off his back?
I can't make it out.
If it's a cropped tree branch, could you have gone one tree further down?
If not, then it must be part of his goat and I can't make that out at this size.

[Overbeyond]

I would have asked him to move down a bit to between trees or just the other side of the first treeand, then the cut off branch would become an asset.
Lovely tone to this Seb but as Roger says it is lacking in something to make it a more interesting composition.
Tom

[Greg McCary]

I do think what ever it is over the gentelmens shoulder is distracting. But it does have a lovely tone to it. I also like how you used the the line of trees and bricks in the sidewalk in the picture.
Greg

[Frog]

I think it is the goat's head.
I like this type of photo a lot.
I do think he needs to be repositioned between trees and a bit sharper angle so a bit of the street shows at the end. Or is that less sharp.

Thanx for showing!

[SmartWombat]

I like the repeating pattern of the trees too.
I wonder, if he was hailing a taxi would his raised arm echo the right-leaning tree branches? An interesting post to stage with a model and see.
I agree, he's not really distinct from the pattern of the trees, that coat is too similar in tone but not in texture. But then perhaps that's part of the design of this photo?

I've tried wearing my glasses, not wearing glasses, using the pixel magnifier, and I think that might be the edge of a coat hood, one with a furry edge like a parka. Looks like three poppers on the near shoulder are a row that would be joining the front part of a hood perhaps?

[Seb]

From a small session in the city last week end.

Comments are welcome

Seb

Thanks guys,

I fully agree that I should have asked him to stand betwen trees to avoid some visual confusion. I must say that I am quite surprised about your comments on the lack of visual elements to add some more interest. I would have bet that a busier shot wouldn't work that well.

regards

Seb

[Overbeyond]

Thanks guys,

I fully agree that I should have asked him to stand betwen trees to avoid some visual confusion. I must say that I am quite surprised about your comments on the lack of visual elements to add some more interest. I would have bet that a busier shot wouldn't work that well.

regards

Seb

I don't think it needs another element (there isn't room anyway) but the subjects (the person) body language, or complete lack of it, is the main problem for me. Even if he had one foot forward, getting ready to cross the road, that would give it a completely different (can't think of the word now )
Tom

[Seb]

I don't think it needs another element (there isn't room anyway) but the subjects (the person) body language, or complete lack of it, is the main problem for me. Even if he had one foot forward, getting ready to cross the road, that would give it a completely different (can't think of the word now )
Tom

Thanks Tom! That's an interesting take.

Seb

[J-Dogg Productions]

i really like the shot i love the trees the shot would be better if he was between them but what can you do now its still a great shot

Jay

[Ronnoco]

From a small session in the city last week end.

Comments are welcome

Seb

The black and white also adds to the problem since the result is almost no detail at all in his clothes or shoes and of course the black branch sticking out of his head, does not contribute to the shot either.

Ronnoco

[GB1]

I would agree with Roger that it seems to be missing something. But the one thing that strikes me here is his isolation: black and white already comes across to me as a bit lonely, and this shot of him standing there alone, with no one else around, seems desolant. Perhaps that is the effect you were shooting for?

The branches behind his head doesnt bother me but the softness around his head does, unfortunately. The feet are a little close to the edge of the frame also. Otherwise, this shot has one of those classic "makes you think" feels, that could be on the wall at a public art gallery.

[Rocket_Scientist]

I've been there! But there were more leaves on the trees at the time. I don't think the person needs to be poised, or anything, because the "effect" I see is that he is "lost" among the trees... that is, he doesn't stand out from them. For that, it might have been better if we saw him between trees. For the "goat" on his back... does it sometimes happen that when you (or anyone) views a scene through the camera in color, that such juxtapositions (love that word!) go unnoticed, but they stand out in black & white?

[Seb]

Jay: Thanks, I agree that he should have been standing betwen the trees.

Ron: I see plenty (and by plenty I mean plenty) of details in his clothes on my hardware calibrated monitor. In fact, I have paid special attention to that in my post-processing. However we both know that our monitors render things differently so there is no point to discuss that issue. That being said, I do recognize that the branch is an issue and lighter clothes might have been more appropriate.

GB: Thanks for commenting. I wasn't deliberately seeking for desolation but I meant to isolate him. In fact, I was mostly attracted by the uniformity and the perspective created by the trees.

RocketScientist: You make an interesting observation here. As a matter of fact he did stood out more through the viewfinder than he now does in b&w but then, that was an overcast day and the colors were dreary. Thank you for your take.


Seb