In the Park

Just another one that is from the same roll. What do you guys think?

Hi Chuck,

I saw this posted on your website glad you posted it here. I assume you are going for a photojournalistic approach to portraiture? This has some nice qualities but there are some distractions that keep this from being stronger.

1. The girl on the right is eating something with a wrapper. The first rule for every wedding photographer (or anyone else unless you're into that sort of thing) is don't take pictures of people eating! In this instance it makes her look like she is smiling so that's not too bad but the cellophane of the wrapper looks strange coming out of her mouth. It's also distracting; I spent several minutes trying to figure out what was going on there and I'm pretty sure that was not your intended message. Observational photography is fun and you can do a lot without direct intervention with your subjects if that's what you are shooting for. But since you have the time to observe don't forget to compose. Wait for her to take the thing out of her mouth then take the picture.

2. The other girl is just standing there so I am not sure what her role in the picture is other than as a record. "Here are these two girls they when they were this age." To take it to the next level show interaction between them since they are the only true subjects of your picture. Talking, whispering, laughing, envious on-looking while the other eats the candy. Show us their interaction and emotion.

3. The fence line cutting a diagonal across the bottom is not an attractive foreground element. It leads my eyes in the opposite direction of the flow of the image. I would crop it or re-compose by walking closer to the girls to omit it.

Regards,

Thanks for the help.Getting info. like this is what I like to know. this is going to help me get better.Someone told me of the rule of 3rds. would this help me out too? Do filters really help? Cause I have just the bare essentials for my camera. The body and 3 lenses.So my pics are very raw, no editing at all.Thanks again for the help!

The rule of thirds is a general mathematical/asthetic guideline that has been used by artists for centuries. Some make their fortunes keeping the rule others from breaking it, but all have had to learn to work within it before they could define themselves. It is always good to keep it in mind when you are composing through the lens. I am not a big supporter of cropping to find the image on the post side. Although it is sometimes necessary, cropping should be a tool used with finesse to accentuate an already solidly composed image.

Don't be apologetic about your kit. You have a good range of lenses to work with according to your profile. Practice with what you have and build yourself an appreciation for the strengths and weakness of the equipment you've got. You will then know exactly what you want when you go out shopping to improve your equipment.

As for filters I believe they are a secondary consideration, a tool to be used with finesse and not to save an image. What you need to get into first is good solid composition. A practical suggestion that you can do right away is to go to your library and browse through the big photography coffee table books they have. Start with something that interests you and ask yourself why you like it then try something you don't like and do the same. I routinely fall asleep with a huge National Geographic folio book spread across my lap. I suppose I hope there is some osmosis happening there. :) the most important thing is practice, practice, practice.

green and red filters help a lot for black and white photography.

i'd try not to have as much space around the subject.

longer large aperture lenses are much better for people photography