Hello Cactus

[GB1]

This is more of a snapshot.. It was taken of a friend out in the desert about a week ago. They call this 'barrel' cactus. She seems to have made friends with it.

GB

[Photo-John]

I'm not sure how to critique this - especially since you say it's "more of a snapshot." It's a nice record of a place and time. But it's lacking focus and refinement as a photo. It looks haphazard and random. Maybe you should have posted it on ViewFinder?

[Seb]

GB, I kinda like this one. The picture is not optimal as it stands but I am still interested by what I see. I think that the composition have potential but I would personally zoom out to include a little more foreground and much more background. The picture doesn't reflect the open space of the desert nor could it be regarded as a portrait since there are too many things arround your friend. Also, I would personally underexpose a little to retrieve detail in the rocks and to get stronger colors.

regards

Seb

[GB1]

John - It was ad hoc. There's a lot of items in the shot that distract, but that's the way that part of the Anza-Borrego desert is. I guess it is more of a record shot than anything. Perhaps the Viewfinder would have been better.. It appears that the Photo Critique is unofficially more of a planned-out photo board.

Seb - I like your idea of zooming out (alas, too late for that). Of course the subject (her and the cactus) would be smaller but I think it would have shown the expanse of the desert more. I actually darkened it a little already, maybe it could use some more. I need to get out to this area again with some models, I think it might be interesting to pose them here (???)

Thanks for commenting!

GB

[Photo-John]

I keep wishing she was hugging the cactus. Now that would be interesting

The Photo Critique forum is really for photos that you want feedback on. If you just want to share, the gallery or ViewFinder are more appropriate.

There are a few things that might have helped. A shallower depth-of-field would have focused our attention more on the cactus and your friend. I also think having her looking at the camera might have helped. It's not enough to say, "that's the way that part of the Anza-Borrego desert is." The challenge is to either find a way that expresses the randomness in a structured, digestable way. Or, to create a more unified composition. I like wide angle lenses or telephotos with larger apertures in a situation like this. They both use optics to sculpt your image.

So whether you were looking for it or not, your getting a critique. Cause that's what we do on this forum