Prima

Long time no pics everyone! Here's a little rough draft I am working on from a ballet recital last week. Suggestions for improvements?

What a great idea! How do you think it would look if you cropped out the half a girl on the bottom and the half a mom on the top? I'm no expert...just my thoughts.

Hi!

Thanks for taking the time to comment. I agree with your analysis for the crop, don't know why I didn't see that myself, I think I've been working too much. Here is a cropped and slightly straightened version. I had no choice but to shoot through the mirror as she had her back to me the whole recital and once she caught a look at herself in the mirror she couldn't stop looking at her reflection.:D

Regards,

Hi,
I think the photo is very creative and the has the viewpoint of the small dancers. I hope Degas would have a picture like that.
yoyo

I like the new crop. There is a dark spot in the lower right hand corner - I'm sure PS can take care of it. As for not seeing it yourself - sometimes it takes another's perspective to make us take our hand and slap ourselves in the forehead and exclaim, "Why didn't I see that?"

Thanks very much Amanda! Here's the last little tweak. :)

Yoyo-
Thank you for the generous words. The mother liked this one particularly, she said it looked like a painting. I am glad you see that too!

AWESOME! Ready to print and frame!

I think this is a cute photograph!
Cropping it as you have makes it a lot better.
I like how you framed her with the frame of the window.
This is probably one of the best photographs I have seen from you!
Brian
:thumbsup:

Many thanks for the suggestions Amanda I really do think it works best this way. I knew it needed a crop but just could not see where to do it at first.

MTB - Gosh thanks! I'm blushing! :blush2:

Agreed, that crop is a huge improvement to an already cute image. Good stuff, and glad to se you're still around.

Thanx Payn! It's nice to have some time again for surfing the critique forum. The good news is I have lots of new stuff to show that was accrued during my absence. Consider yourself warned. :p

CL - The crop works but I also like the original too. I guess I like seeing the wheels there. There is a little distortion near the left side that distracts me a bit, but not too much. Interesting catch

GB

Boy, the expression!
Love it, Cindy. Well done.
John

Cindy,
Congrats on the sticky and featured photo.:thumbsup:
John

So many possibilities! There are several fine suggestions for crop etc, and I'll try not echo them other than to say that if the little girl in front looking at the camera was fully visible in the frame . . . It happens.

The crop to just the one dancer does work quite well. This has the whole picture in a picture (internal framing), sweep for the eye, muted and balanced colors,dynamic tension (stretching exercises), and much more. Your eye is catching some good images it looks like! Personally, with the child theme, the slight rotation works for me in this instance.

Congrats on the sticky and featured pic!

Yay Cindy! Congrats on the sticky...:)

I love this shot...I don't have anything to add to the critiques you've gotten!

Emily

And what a return it is! Congrats. :)

Hi CL,
Congratulations!
yoyo

:cool: Cool! I thought this had just dropped off to the next page! Thanks folks!

Congratulations on your featured Photo!!! :)

This is absolutely darling! The progressive crops really demonstrate how you can fine tune an image and improve it through suggestions and patience! :) Congrats on the sticky! :)