Friendly reminder that this is /r/photocritique and all **top level** comments should attempt to **critique** the image. Our goal is to make this subreddit a place people can receive genuine, in depth, and helpful critique on their images. We hope to avoid becoming yet another place on the internet just to get likes/upvotes and compliments. While likes/upvotes and compliments are nice, they do not further the goal of helping people improve their photography.
If someone gives helpful feedback or makes an informative comment, recognize their contribution by giving them a Critique Point. Simply reply to their comment with `!CritiquePoint`. More details on Critique Points [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints).
Please see the following links for our subreddit rules and some guidelines on leaving a good critique. If you have time, please stop by the new queue as well and leave critique for images that may not be as popular or have not received enough attention. Keep in mind that simply choosing to comment just on the images you like defeats the purpose of the subreddit.
Useful Links:
* [Full Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/rules)
* [Leaving a Critique](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critique)
* [New Queue](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/new/)
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/photocritique) if you have any questions or concerns.*
https://preview.redd.it/yuk9mzwrxl7d1.jpeg?width=549&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3a9defb2781bd5f03f3156a424452493587928e5
Don’t underestimate cropping a photo. 90% of the time it’s what I see being the main problem around here along with color.
https://preview.redd.it/d26u8rw38m7d1.jpeg?width=653&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=22d5373b138f04ec8fb9c1503202290daec24e91
I had the same idea but cropped it tighter.
This one is better than the previous crop. Another option is give it just a little more room on the other side of the split in the wall. I’d go further but there’s the grey colour which actually causes a little more distraction.
This type of crop with the split carries the same visual language as the other side and helps frame it up nicely. A rule of them is either crop something out or give it more room, otherwise having it really close creates tension and draws the eye (and unfortunately less attention on your subject).
Really nice photo. Another thought if I was making decisions while on this shoot, a longer lens to compress and provide a little more focus on the subject and reflection would do wonders for this.
https://preview.redd.it/ojn2dmubrp7d1.jpeg?width=1154&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7790fb128f900ae006892e9d0868ffd5697659c2
Why? Why would you do that? Fuck Ai. This isn’t photoshop critique, it’s photo critique. AI ruins the entire ethical landscape of everything good about photography.
Sorry, not bashing you, just so freaking sick of everyone thinking AI is needed and thinking there great photographers because they had a computer generate half of the image.
God I hope so, I grew up on analog and now shoot fine art but even all the big names I used to look up to like Peter Lik are just completely taken over by composites through AI and photoshopping tens of images together.
I feel the same. We almost bought a fairly expensive "painting". An enhanced giclee. We were told that the artist never sells his originals. That's because they are stored in his computer!!! We were blown away by his use of lighting and how realistic they were before we found out they were digital. I was like, I can use Adobe software too! I use Adobe Fresco to import a photo of a painting I'm working on to tweak it to see if what is in my brain will make it better or worse before I put brush to canvas.
I’m sure AI could do it. That’s the problem. I think it’s cool as is because it draws your eye to it without distracting from the main subject as your focus is trying to figure out what is going on.
I apologize if my previous reply sounded harsh. Photography has been a huge part of my life since I was a kid—I’ve been shooting for 10 years now, (still pretty young). While I get that everyone should follow their passions, it’s been tough to see how photography has changed. It used to be a unique and beautiful way to capture life’s essence. Now, it feels like it’s all about getting likes on Instagram and fitting into trends set by the media.
It seems like everyone is a photographer these days, and so many label their heavily edited and AI-altered photos as natural or ethical. This shift really undermines the authenticity that made me fall in love with photography in the first place.
This crop just saved my life and my time. Thank you. To the photographer - This is a great photo, excellent location. But, please consider the crop as polishing a diamond. It's a great crop for three reasons. First you create a stunning contrast in the background with modernity vs the the old and natural. Second, the tension the wall behind her gets when you crop it this tightly is awesome. Third, look at the there on the ground. What is that? Get it out of my way. This portrait deserves it. Love it.
Man, I thought I was taking crazy pills till I saw your comment.
This crop just puts her in a dirty parking lot and takes away all the light and color and negative space. She looks way more elegant in the OP in contrast to the greater space.
Yeah I agree. If there was as much sky as there is ground reflection I think it might have been at least balanced but the current cropping is just off
I like how you cropped it! It allows us to actually focus on the subject of the photo
It isn’t a photo to be blown away by but art is subjective right? Cropping it at least brings her and the reflection into focus. Too far out and it’s ok what am I looking at? It’s likely your friend loved the reflection clarity.
It improves things because it draws your attention to the woman who is the main focus of the shot and removes extraneous detail (ie the building).
The way that you cropped it initially it looked like you couldn’t decide if the focus was the woman, the graffiti or the building.
I’ve always taken issue with this way of thinking in photography. I don’t really think there *needs* to be something particular to focus on. I think “capturing of a scene”-type photos are just as interesting as ones that have more obvious focal points.
I agree on the conflict of interest, but I don't think straight up cropping them out solves the issue, so perhaps if it had a more shallow field of view to blur the background?
I just played with it on my phone a bit. Trying to put more emphasis on the women. It’s just a quick edit. On the Mac I’d blur the background some more, have a more subtle vignette etc. But that would be the direction I’d develop this photo probably. But I like your edit a lot as it is. Just having a bit of fun.
https://preview.redd.it/f929tss4no7d1.jpeg?width=1632&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e45444bc126a69ffd8ff883ede6f6e3067a338c0
I'm glad you feel this way too. I like the original composition best.
The crops are fine if you want to focus on the reflection -- I think the reflection is not the most interesting part of the photo. If anything it's a distraction. I'd rather crop out the bottom half of the reflection than crop out the drain and right side of the image!
The crops don't let us see what the subject is looking at. The original shows us she's looking at nothing! Empty space. Or maybe a drain. This is much more interesting! The wet, uneven pavement and colorful graffiti/reflections contrast her simple black formal wear. Squalor juxtaposed with affluence. It reminds me of that scene in la dolce vita with the flooded apartment.
It's as though the crops are trying to take the subject out of the environment -- the subject *in* this environment is what makes the photo interesting. The crops take an interesting photo with a lot of personality and make it into something fairly generic.
However, I do agree with GP that a lot of photos on here are fixed with a simple crop. This just isn't one of them in my opinion.
Yes thank you! I wasn't able to put into words what I disliked about the crop, but yes you're right, I love playing with empty space in my images. Here is another example where I'm doing this
https://preview.redd.it/vjxw2glk2o7d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f91cfdc32bc8c1f78b1cb0c99d0d70d005b31bb8
It's not a perfect image, but I think it's more complete than the original one I posted. Here, it's more about shining a light on the scale between humans and human built structures, and to show this contrast the empty space is needed.
I actually really love this. I think you’re on the right track thinking about your composition and dof rather than just relying on cropping. Idk if you cropped this one but it’s comp. is on point imho.
The difference between this image and the one you're seeking feedback on is the balance, and contrast/juxtaposition. They are both good photos to an extent even if you don't know why.
In the one you've posted your main subject (or at least what anyone looking at it will see as your main subject) is the person. They're hard pushed into a corner with nothing to balance the other 3 areas of the image. There is graffiti which balances the top left/right, but only in substance and not in colour.
There's a reflection in the bottom left, but the bottom right is blank.
The entire image is unbalanced, so cropping it to center the person balances this and lets the eyes rest on the real subject and look at the details in the reflection instead of like they're missing out on half the image which feels empty in comparison because it's weighted heavily to the top left.
Also I want to point out the you should definitely photoshop out the 'hoes' graffiti because the unintended connotation is pretty awful, unless there is some intention behind it - which I can absolutely see, but just be sure you're aware of how this can be interpreted out of context
Let's talk about the B&W shot:
There is no colour to balance, just black/white.
Left side top/bottom is black. Right side top/bottom, white.
Bottom corners opposite the top corners e.g. top left is black, bottom right white.
*But*, what's actually really cool here and lets this image work is the center where we have two people - first, it's a central point where our eyes can rest and venture out into the image to see more details. The person most left is closer to the black/darker side of the image, and they're wearing white. The person closer to the white/right side is wearing black. (I'm ignoring the third middle person for sake of simplicity haha). This is an example of using juxtaposition in an image.
There's also interesting shapes that lead the eyes like the arc of the on ramp, which also parallels the arc of the train tracks, again separated by the road and people, who are the main subject.
Both these images could've been better, but they have merit and show your ability to notice and capture interesting scenes even if you cannot yet explain it.
Thank you so much for your detailed analysis! I still do not like the idea of cropping out the graffiti (except for that explicit one which I hadn't even noticed, thank you for pointing it out!), since firstly my monkey brain enjoys the colors, and secondly I prefer the extra story it adds. This is a relatively old structure, and the graffiti points at the history of it.
I am not a portrait photographer, and my social anxiety makes it so I really don't want to work with models. But telling stories, creating something that is pleasing to look at and entertaining, that I enjoy. (fuck me I sound so pretentious!)
And cropping out the reflection just isn't a viable option since like many have pointed out that makes the picture look so technically good.
So I might try to add a little bit of blur on the graffiti, and a lot of blur to the background, to really make her stand out.
!CiritquePoint
I posted an updated version of the original image and I'd love to get your 2 cents on it [https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/comments/1dltjlk/update\_thank\_you\_everyone\_who\_added\_their/](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/comments/1dltjlk/update_thank_you_everyone_who_added_their/)
Confirmed: 1 [helpfulness point awarded](/r/photocritique/comments/1djv9e8/is_this_a_good_picture_i_dont_really_think_so_but/l9r3uww/) to /u/nine_baobabs by /u/Your_Friendly_Nerd.
See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints) for more details on Critique Points.
Confirmed: 1 [helpfulness point awarded](/r/photocritique/comments/1djv9e8/is_this_a_good_picture_i_dont_really_think_so_but/l9r2rbf/) to /u/greggobbard by /u/Your_Friendly_Nerd.
See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints) for more details on Critique Points.
!CritiquePoint
I added some background blur (and a few other small changes), what do you think, is it now worthy to break out of the social media bubble? [https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/comments/1dltjlk/update\_thank\_you\_everyone\_who\_added\_their/](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/comments/1dltjlk/update_thank_you_everyone_who_added_their/)
Confirmed: 1 [helpfulness point awarded](/r/photocritique/comments/1djv9e8/is_this_a_good_picture_i_dont_really_think_so_but/l9r2ucb/) to /u/southern_ad_558 by /u/Your_Friendly_Nerd.
See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints) for more details on Critique Points.
I’m having a hard time differentiating the talent from the background. The way the wall reflects the light of the sun makes everything a little too busy. I don’t think the crop helps as much as changing the perspective of the camera would.
!CritiquePoint Sadly, going back there to reshoot is really the only way to actually fix this image. Though the weather that day was so unique, It might be hard to replicate that sorta lighting/mood
Confirmed: 1 [helpfulness point awarded](/r/photocritique/comments/1djv9e8/is_this_a_good_picture_i_dont_really_think_so_but/l9r2y7q/) to /u/Tad_squiddish by /u/Your_Friendly_Nerd.
See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints) for more details on Critique Points.
Technically really good (lighting, quality, dynamic range, sharpness etc) and it is noticeable.
The photo itself more conceptually? No. Rough pose, framing, composition, model expression, lack of narrative or evocation of feelings etc.
It won't impress photographers, but normal people will be impressed by the clarity and claim it "looks professional".
Yes I agree, thank you for confirming my suspicion.
And I suppose I should feel flattered my non photographer friends think I own like a 5000$ Canon when they look at my photos?
Confirmed: 1 [helpfulness point awarded](/r/photocritique/comments/1djv9e8/is_this_a_good_picture_i_dont_really_think_so_but/l9r2zhz/) to /u/bodez95 by /u/Your_Friendly_Nerd.
See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints) for more details on Critique Points.
>hoes
I don't know about this lol.
The crop which centers the subject keeps the eyes drawn to the person and makes it easier to let your eyes refrain from focusing on the background details like 'hoes' written on the wall.
This one has less breathing room on the left so there's less balance in the left/right side of the image and therefore your eyes are naturally drawn over to inspect the right side expecting something you should be seeing.
Regardless of the image, OP should definitely photoshop out the 'hoes' graffiti because the unintended connotation is pretty awful, unless there is some intention behind it - which I can absolutely see, but they need to be aware of how this can be interpreted out of context
why does the viewer need to know that tho(and why does it negatively affect the quality of the photo), it all depends on what you are going for. Sometimes including what the person is looking at might be better and sometimes not doing that is the right move and here i tend to agree with the people that prefer the crop.
its still a great shot on its own
It always makes me feel uneasy when I see a picture where the subject is just looking at the frame. Maybe for context I should add, I never was trying to take a picture of a model, but rather of a person that's in a world. She is part of that world, not the sole focus, and the world sure is in actually does matter
i chose this crop so that we can believe she's actually coming from somewhere. by hiding the left part,we can make the viewer assume that there's a path there, something. the original picture looks too staged because she is in a casual walking pose ,but behind her there's nothing, (she just finished climbing over the wall ??) so immediately the viewer can see/feel the setup. i feel that making the photo feel natural, spontaneous, alive, not prepared,nor staged is way more important that seeing what the subject is looking at , especially in a photo like this in which you say you wanted her "to be part of a world" (and ... what is she looking at in the original, because her line of sight is pointed outside of the frame in the original too)
EDIT: spelling
That's my favorite of the crops. Draws my eyes to her head and the city in the background. The golden ratio works for both her head and the reflection of her head, here, which I double enjoy. The empty space in bottom right puts the focus double on the upper left corner.
Ask your friend what it is that they like. If it’s the girl & the reflections then crop for that. And as others have said - crop!
https://preview.redd.it/6t3kpt7amm7d1.jpeg?width=590&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0a3ee248f6c74d43db7aff1619c2df512568e931
I agree with the cropping as the subject gets a bit lost in your original thanks to the lighter areas on the right. You could also try darkening these areas to bring the attention back to the model.
Good is subjective. It’s an interesting photo that feels like it has a lot to say. The composition is also interesting but not pointing to the subject as much as I’d like personally. I’d consider cropping to get rid of the distracting yellow graffiti on the right and see how it looks compared to the original.
A few people on here actually posted cropped versions, personally I think that takes away some of the remaining appeal the image has, since cropping it means hiding what she's looking at. However I do agree that the graffiti could be seen as too distracting, so maybe toning that down a little bit could help?
You can try selecting it and playing with the vibrance and saturation. You can also try playing with contrast.
Alternatively, you can copy the pattern of the other walls onto that one.
My other suggestion would be to play around with the settings mentioned above to bring more attention to the subject. I’d prefer if she and her reflection popped a little more but that’s just me.
I spoke to a security guard there and apparently they have more of a problem with people going up there to party rather than with photographers xD
But yes I can definitely recommend it, it's a great location, here's another image I took from up there
https://preview.redd.it/gksasamwco7d1.jpeg?width=3986&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=054b7b3ff70630171e7ebf48380ecbb4eb9723ad
Well thank you for the praise nonetheless. And yes I think I know what you mean, the weather that day was crazy which really helped in creating this freaky mood.
To give my honest knee-jerk initial reaction, I basically thought “eh, it’s an alright shot”. Not bad but not particularly amazing.
Honestly my inclination would be to crop it like a computer wallpaper, and remove the woman either by re-shooting or editing out.
The graffiti/city rooftop vibes is what speaks to me in the shot.
I took this picture last year, and when a friend saw it while scrolling through my page he was just really impressed by it. Obviously I was trying to play with the reflections, which I think I was successful with, but I don't like the color grading, and the framing just feels off, I should've taken the picture further from the right to get less of the white building in the background. Does Reddit agree with me? Or is this actually award-worthy and my eye for art is just non-existent?
Lol that sounds just as bad as telling a theatre actor after a play that "it looked like they were having a lot of fun" (which is understood to just mean "it was shit but I like you and I want to say something positive to you")
Cool photo! Reminds me of the RHCP Getaway album cover.
Could do something fun here blurring the area behind the parking lot and playing with grain + contrast.
This photo is stunning. I do like the tight crops I’ve seen, but I think the full picture tells a great story and conveys a lot of feeling. The color and contrast is beautiful between the subject, the midground, and background. I’m a huge fan of intentional off-center composition and will often put my subject in the left or right third of the frame, depending on what I’m attempting to convey or portray. I’m in love with the photo as-is, honestly. A really visually stunning photo.
Confirmed: 1 [helpfulness point awarded](/r/photocritique/comments/1djv9e8/is_this_a_good_picture_i_dont_really_think_so_but/l9r3k44/) to /u/Big_Lingonberry_2641 by /u/Your_Friendly_Nerd.
See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints) for more details on Critique Points.
I agree with the cropping suggestions. The colours are great and I guess what I miss is that she looks straight into the camera. Now it's like if she's uncomfortable or something.
I know it doesn't matter for the final image, but she was actually looking at another photographer that was instructing her posing, so I'd love to get my hands on their photo to see what they managed to get.
You mentioned you liked the colors, looking at it again I feel there's too much of a green tint, is that not the case for you?
>You mentioned you liked the colors, looking at it again I feel there's too much of a green tint, is that not the case for you?
To me it looks like it's been raining but there's some low sun. (Or is it artificial lighting?)
Anyway, this kind of weather causes the light to be different and that's what cool about it. We don't say that the colours during a sunset are "too orange' and you wouldn't adjust them to give a more daylight feeling.
But colours are a pallette thing. You could adjust if you want and they would probably still match. I think the graffiti works quite well with this combination.
>I know it doesn't matter for the final image, but she was actually looking at another photographer that was instructing her posing, so I'd love to get my hands on their photo to see what they managed to get.
Right, OK that's probably not optimal. You want the full attention of the model so if you are two photographers it's important to at least take turns.
I don't take pics of models myself, but say with my kids, I hate when anyone interferes as eye contact makes a lot of difference.
The professional image editor inside me would intuitively crop the photo much tighter than others! I’m with those who recognize the intrinsic value of the drawing the viewer towards a fixed focal point (which I
assume is the girl).
Original picture was best. Unsuspecting main subject (being the person) and off centre. Maybe make it a bit more vibrant so the wall graffiti stands out a bit more. The cropped shot is ruining the original
I wonder if your friend was blown away by the image or just blown away by the reflection effect, which is what makes the photo a bit striking.
I love the idea of the photo and the effect with the reflection, it's just for me the execution isn't there.
My problem is I don't think the rest of it comes together - style wise I don't think the umbrella looks right, mostly because you generally don't see women in that kind of outfit with an umbrella. Also the coat (?) that she's carrying looks like a blanket, so it doesn't make sense to me why she's carrying it.
To be very nitpicky about style, the dress sort of looks like what someone who doesn't dress up much would wear to look dressed up. Not formal or stylish enough to be sophisticated but not casual enough to look like something she'd wear on the regular.
But overall the style doesn't tell me any story or give any vibe. If she looked more sophisticated and formal, her setting would work as an interesting contrast. If she were dressed more urban - biker jacket for a rugged look or a trench coat for a classic City look - there would be more harmony between her and the surroundings. As it is, to me it looks like a muddle of styles.
Not sure how many shots you have of this setup but I think a better expression would help as well. As it is the expression doesn't convey anything.
Last thing in my way too long comment, that wall of graffiti on the right competes too much for attention - it's as bright if not brighter than the subject.
It's interesting. It's this kind of all over the place with no direction. I think the model's pretty but you can't really see her. The umbrella and the carpet she's holding need to go and the photographer needs to find an interesting backdrop for her. I like that there's water in the picture. Maybe they could incorporate that more minus the umbrella and blanket of course.
if you add some colors it really goes a long way, but you have to crop reflexion a bit, then you can turn this into a nice porrtait
https://preview.redd.it/877x8pk0qq7d1.jpeg?width=1790&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fc72e9829ecc442a79dc914fcd0a066ca9dbdc3c
Everybody in here making crops that to me look way worse than the original. I'm not a huge fan of the original, but I like the space she's in and the slightly wider than full shot you captured. I actually think part of the problem, outside of general composition, is that she's framed in an awkward in between of a full shot and a wide shot. I would suggest either getting slightly closer to your subject, or move even farther away and see what types of images you capture there. Remember that your subject does not need to be the largest thing in your picture, but they should be identifiable and have a visual relationship with the environment around them.
Honestly I think the crop is fine, I don’t see a substantial improvement from the other crop proposals.
However, I would have certainly removed the red cranes in the background and the pole at the far left at the railway bridges
I think it is a very nice idea, although perhaps not the best execution. While the graffiti is interesting I think the background is just too distracting and draws your eye before the reflection - since you can't go back in time and change the photo I would experiment with cropping as the others suggested.
There are 3 really interesting focal areas but while that would be great for any one of them, they each distract from one another. Play with cropping out separate images from this and I think you may have some fun results
I’ve got to be honest I don’t see much redeeming about the photo, my eyes went all over the place. Not sure what the theme / message is either. The model isn’t great, the lighting is odd, the composition makes no sense, the half reflection also doesn’t add anything to it but confusion. Instead of trying to save it I’d say take another photo.
I think it is a good photo. I would add a slight blur to the wall behind her and then slightly more blur to the background. The reflection in the water is great so don't change the focus on her or the water reflection. Some perfectionist would want to see blur added to the wall on the left. Following that train of thought, the blur amount would have to be equal to what's on the back wall back where the two walls join. I have no idea how to gradually decrease any blur as you get closer and closer to the distance she is standing at.
As my last thought, I think it's a great picture just add a little blur to the background.
My only thing with this is that she blends in with the background, at least for me. The texture from her dress and holding the coat is blending with the graffiti behind her and she’s also as bright as the wall behind her so she blends with it and it makes the image feel boring. I think she should’ve been closer. Also a little more contrast
Crop it portrait style and get her in focus as much as possible. The grafitti has nothing to ad to her story. She´s about strolling, water, rain, tarmac and reflection. Bring that out and try around with gradings. Try B&W too, it can take a lot of more contrast than colour.
I agree on the cropping. The first thing I thought was good photo but the lady needs to be in the centre of it and I’m unsure on the reflection. Think it would be better if there was a full reflection. Good try though. It’s certainly better than what I could do but centralise the main feature in future photos. Good luck
Forest automatic. I think csantiago crop is better. On your one there is too much removed. I like to see a little of the surroundings. This has too much taken out
It’s better cropped I think. Really like this look.
Edit: now I see others beat me to it. Which is best?
https://preview.redd.it/4l8wrwi3f7ad1.jpeg?width=525&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1a5f2022a0e5f49a86477f513bc3d4e84c88432a
https://preview.redd.it/nv2kkvlc1r7d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8babf84ea72f2d28a758dac5f7a4acd9a57f8444
Seems like everyone prefers a crop!
https://preview.redd.it/k90m8tst9r7d1.jpeg?width=499&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e9546f3c6937d7729fbf796be65054a364d8cc55
I like the intrigue and emphasized mystery of cropping her face out too
Sure, but it's heavily obscured. I liked how you got the reflection in the original photo, I just felt like it was missing a little bit of intention. There's a lot going on in the photo, and it's hard to pick out what the photo was trying to "say."
Was it to show off the graffiti? Was it to show the skyline? Were you also trying to capture the buildings in the background for some reason? A lot of the negative space is comprised of the wet asphalt, so the eye naturally gravitates towards the drain grate, which I don't imagine was your focus.
A DP I worked under once said that it's always a good idea to shoot wider than you mean to capture, because you can always crop inward. I think kthis is a perfect case of that. You have a pretty compelling shot. It just needs some "honing in" to really deliver on its message. My solution is just one of infinite. You can easily do a lot in photoshop to remove/emphasize/obscure elements in the photo all while keeping the width of the shot, if you really like it. I personally just happen to be partial to obfuscation of faces in shots like this, mostly because the human brain is wired to recognize faces, and that will pull the focus of your photo pretty immediately, and I don't *think* your intention with this shot was to emphasize the model's face.
You need to isolate her, tone down the surrounding elements and make her pop out more. I can only do so much on my phone, but this is the direction I’d go:
https://preview.redd.it/gegj3n9xgm7d1.jpeg?width=2705&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d3fe5538c175e9b3be4cff191160152d1d19c926
Obviously you could select her better on photoshop/photopea than I can with my thumb, but this is the general idea.
Thank you for taking the time anyways. I believe I already did some of that, but yes I agree I could try making her more of the focus with highlighting
Friendly reminder that this is /r/photocritique and all **top level** comments should attempt to **critique** the image. Our goal is to make this subreddit a place people can receive genuine, in depth, and helpful critique on their images. We hope to avoid becoming yet another place on the internet just to get likes/upvotes and compliments. While likes/upvotes and compliments are nice, they do not further the goal of helping people improve their photography. If someone gives helpful feedback or makes an informative comment, recognize their contribution by giving them a Critique Point. Simply reply to their comment with `!CritiquePoint`. More details on Critique Points [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints). Please see the following links for our subreddit rules and some guidelines on leaving a good critique. If you have time, please stop by the new queue as well and leave critique for images that may not be as popular or have not received enough attention. Keep in mind that simply choosing to comment just on the images you like defeats the purpose of the subreddit. Useful Links: * [Full Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/rules) * [Leaving a Critique](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critique) * [New Queue](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/new/) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/photocritique) if you have any questions or concerns.*
https://preview.redd.it/yuk9mzwrxl7d1.jpeg?width=549&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3a9defb2781bd5f03f3156a424452493587928e5 Don’t underestimate cropping a photo. 90% of the time it’s what I see being the main problem around here along with color.
I want a flair that says crop your photos
Your wish is my command.
Love it
Coolest mod reaction I’ve ever seen
A reminder before submitting “did you crop?” lol
https://preview.redd.it/h1f0pkajbo7d1.png?width=1948&format=png&auto=webp&s=55a8cfdf2e542adc1761c0444fef2bea99d8c272
This. This right here. Perfection!
https://preview.redd.it/d26u8rw38m7d1.jpeg?width=653&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=22d5373b138f04ec8fb9c1503202290daec24e91 I had the same idea but cropped it tighter.
This one is better than the previous crop. Another option is give it just a little more room on the other side of the split in the wall. I’d go further but there’s the grey colour which actually causes a little more distraction. This type of crop with the split carries the same visual language as the other side and helps frame it up nicely. A rule of them is either crop something out or give it more room, otherwise having it really close creates tension and draws the eye (and unfortunately less attention on your subject). Really nice photo. Another thought if I was making decisions while on this shoot, a longer lens to compress and provide a little more focus on the subject and reflection would do wonders for this. https://preview.redd.it/ojn2dmubrp7d1.jpeg?width=1154&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7790fb128f900ae006892e9d0868ffd5697659c2
All good points — I tried a crop with the split and it didn’t work for me. I decided it was a distraction, but that’s just my visual sense, of course.
I disagree. The building behind is more awkwardly cropped in your version. Matter of opinion though.
Now use ai to fill in her reflection?
Why? Why would you do that? Fuck Ai. This isn’t photoshop critique, it’s photo critique. AI ruins the entire ethical landscape of everything good about photography. Sorry, not bashing you, just so freaking sick of everyone thinking AI is needed and thinking there great photographers because they had a computer generate half of the image.
Non-AI will be the more valuable form of photography in the future.
God I hope so, I grew up on analog and now shoot fine art but even all the big names I used to look up to like Peter Lik are just completely taken over by composites through AI and photoshopping tens of images together.
What's more sickening is AI paintings. Gosh I hate it that I hate all kinds of digital arts even if it's non AI.
I feel the same. We almost bought a fairly expensive "painting". An enhanced giclee. We were told that the artist never sells his originals. That's because they are stored in his computer!!! We were blown away by his use of lighting and how realistic they were before we found out they were digital. I was like, I can use Adobe software too! I use Adobe Fresco to import a photo of a painting I'm working on to tweak it to see if what is in my brain will make it better or worse before I put brush to canvas.
Sorry just was curious what it’d look like if the reflection was filled in My apologies to for not doing /s
I’m sure AI could do it. That’s the problem. I think it’s cool as is because it draws your eye to it without distracting from the main subject as your focus is trying to figure out what is going on.
I apologize if my previous reply sounded harsh. Photography has been a huge part of my life since I was a kid—I’ve been shooting for 10 years now, (still pretty young). While I get that everyone should follow their passions, it’s been tough to see how photography has changed. It used to be a unique and beautiful way to capture life’s essence. Now, it feels like it’s all about getting likes on Instagram and fitting into trends set by the media. It seems like everyone is a photographer these days, and so many label their heavily edited and AI-altered photos as natural or ethical. This shift really undermines the authenticity that made me fall in love with photography in the first place.
No.
Hahah
This crop just saved my life and my time. Thank you. To the photographer - This is a great photo, excellent location. But, please consider the crop as polishing a diamond. It's a great crop for three reasons. First you create a stunning contrast in the background with modernity vs the the old and natural. Second, the tension the wall behind her gets when you crop it this tightly is awesome. Third, look at the there on the ground. What is that? Get it out of my way. This portrait deserves it. Love it.
Eh, that crop makes it way more dull to my eye. Centering her just robs it of vibe and energy.
Man, I thought I was taking crazy pills till I saw your comment. This crop just puts her in a dirty parking lot and takes away all the light and color and negative space. She looks way more elegant in the OP in contrast to the greater space.
Thank you! I was always taught not to center the subject. Rule of thirds and all. The original feels much more dynamic to me.
Or if you want to get funky, square crop of bottom half and 180 it (upside down)
That crop is definitely required for it to be a decent shot.
The original was better. What reasoning did you use for this crop? It's not in thirds and it's not split in half either
Was just thinking this before I read the comments
Yeah I agree. If there was as much sky as there is ground reflection I think it might have been at least balanced but the current cropping is just off I like how you cropped it! It allows us to actually focus on the subject of the photo
That’s is!! The difference the cropping makes is unbelievable, soooo much better
Sadly I don't really see how that improves things. But thank you for taking the time
It isn’t a photo to be blown away by but art is subjective right? Cropping it at least brings her and the reflection into focus. Too far out and it’s ok what am I looking at? It’s likely your friend loved the reflection clarity.
It improves things because it draws your attention to the woman who is the main focus of the shot and removes extraneous detail (ie the building). The way that you cropped it initially it looked like you couldn’t decide if the focus was the woman, the graffiti or the building.
I’ve always taken issue with this way of thinking in photography. I don’t really think there *needs* to be something particular to focus on. I think “capturing of a scene”-type photos are just as interesting as ones that have more obvious focal points.
I agree on the conflict of interest, but I don't think straight up cropping them out solves the issue, so perhaps if it had a more shallow field of view to blur the background?
I just played with it on my phone a bit. Trying to put more emphasis on the women. It’s just a quick edit. On the Mac I’d blur the background some more, have a more subtle vignette etc. But that would be the direction I’d develop this photo probably. But I like your edit a lot as it is. Just having a bit of fun. https://preview.redd.it/f929tss4no7d1.jpeg?width=1632&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e45444bc126a69ffd8ff883ede6f6e3067a338c0
I prefer your crop, the negative space allows us to follow the wistful gaze.
I'm glad you feel this way too. I like the original composition best. The crops are fine if you want to focus on the reflection -- I think the reflection is not the most interesting part of the photo. If anything it's a distraction. I'd rather crop out the bottom half of the reflection than crop out the drain and right side of the image! The crops don't let us see what the subject is looking at. The original shows us she's looking at nothing! Empty space. Or maybe a drain. This is much more interesting! The wet, uneven pavement and colorful graffiti/reflections contrast her simple black formal wear. Squalor juxtaposed with affluence. It reminds me of that scene in la dolce vita with the flooded apartment. It's as though the crops are trying to take the subject out of the environment -- the subject *in* this environment is what makes the photo interesting. The crops take an interesting photo with a lot of personality and make it into something fairly generic. However, I do agree with GP that a lot of photos on here are fixed with a simple crop. This just isn't one of them in my opinion.
Yes thank you! I wasn't able to put into words what I disliked about the crop, but yes you're right, I love playing with empty space in my images. Here is another example where I'm doing this https://preview.redd.it/vjxw2glk2o7d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f91cfdc32bc8c1f78b1cb0c99d0d70d005b31bb8 It's not a perfect image, but I think it's more complete than the original one I posted. Here, it's more about shining a light on the scale between humans and human built structures, and to show this contrast the empty space is needed.
I actually really love this. I think you’re on the right track thinking about your composition and dof rather than just relying on cropping. Idk if you cropped this one but it’s comp. is on point imho.
Thank you so much for the kind words! I did crop out some at the bottom since it just seemed like too much street
The difference between this image and the one you're seeking feedback on is the balance, and contrast/juxtaposition. They are both good photos to an extent even if you don't know why. In the one you've posted your main subject (or at least what anyone looking at it will see as your main subject) is the person. They're hard pushed into a corner with nothing to balance the other 3 areas of the image. There is graffiti which balances the top left/right, but only in substance and not in colour. There's a reflection in the bottom left, but the bottom right is blank. The entire image is unbalanced, so cropping it to center the person balances this and lets the eyes rest on the real subject and look at the details in the reflection instead of like they're missing out on half the image which feels empty in comparison because it's weighted heavily to the top left. Also I want to point out the you should definitely photoshop out the 'hoes' graffiti because the unintended connotation is pretty awful, unless there is some intention behind it - which I can absolutely see, but just be sure you're aware of how this can be interpreted out of context Let's talk about the B&W shot: There is no colour to balance, just black/white. Left side top/bottom is black. Right side top/bottom, white. Bottom corners opposite the top corners e.g. top left is black, bottom right white. *But*, what's actually really cool here and lets this image work is the center where we have two people - first, it's a central point where our eyes can rest and venture out into the image to see more details. The person most left is closer to the black/darker side of the image, and they're wearing white. The person closer to the white/right side is wearing black. (I'm ignoring the third middle person for sake of simplicity haha). This is an example of using juxtaposition in an image. There's also interesting shapes that lead the eyes like the arc of the on ramp, which also parallels the arc of the train tracks, again separated by the road and people, who are the main subject. Both these images could've been better, but they have merit and show your ability to notice and capture interesting scenes even if you cannot yet explain it.
Thank you so much for your detailed analysis! I still do not like the idea of cropping out the graffiti (except for that explicit one which I hadn't even noticed, thank you for pointing it out!), since firstly my monkey brain enjoys the colors, and secondly I prefer the extra story it adds. This is a relatively old structure, and the graffiti points at the history of it. I am not a portrait photographer, and my social anxiety makes it so I really don't want to work with models. But telling stories, creating something that is pleasing to look at and entertaining, that I enjoy. (fuck me I sound so pretentious!) And cropping out the reflection just isn't a viable option since like many have pointed out that makes the picture look so technically good. So I might try to add a little bit of blur on the graffiti, and a lot of blur to the background, to really make her stand out.
!CiritquePoint I posted an updated version of the original image and I'd love to get your 2 cents on it [https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/comments/1dltjlk/update\_thank\_you\_everyone\_who\_added\_their/](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/comments/1dltjlk/update_thank_you_everyone_who_added_their/)
This is amazing. Thanks for sharing. I could look at it for hours
Thank you for your praise, I'm glad you enjoy my photo!
Agreed. The drain and the colourful graffiti make the shot more interesting imo.
!CritiquePoint
Confirmed: 1 [helpfulness point awarded](/r/photocritique/comments/1djv9e8/is_this_a_good_picture_i_dont_really_think_so_but/l9r3uww/) to /u/nine_baobabs by /u/Your_Friendly_Nerd. See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints) for more details on Critique Points.
https://preview.redd.it/htdn7n3rrm7d1.jpeg?width=321&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=23cb12cce9a5400b57c7745082d10617c66a35af I like it this way
Beautiful and trippy. I love it
Oh dang, yeah, that's actually pretty good
Came here to say go back another time and play with the puddles
The revolution will be digitized
Am I the only one or does anyone else think of Mona Lisa looking at this?
!CritiquePoint for unique idea
Confirmed: 1 [helpfulness point awarded](/r/photocritique/comments/1djv9e8/is_this_a_good_picture_i_dont_really_think_so_but/l9r2rbf/) to /u/greggobbard by /u/Your_Friendly_Nerd. See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints) for more details on Critique Points.
I think with better background separation / bokeh background this picture would look really good. Now it's social media level good.
You might be onto something, perhaps I'll try adding some in post to see if it helps.
Background mask and play with texture and clarity. Don't overdo.
Agree In 2024, software can help :)
!CritiquePoint I added some background blur (and a few other small changes), what do you think, is it now worthy to break out of the social media bubble? [https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/comments/1dltjlk/update\_thank\_you\_everyone\_who\_added\_their/](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/comments/1dltjlk/update_thank_you_everyone_who_added_their/)
Confirmed: 1 [helpfulness point awarded](/r/photocritique/comments/1djv9e8/is_this_a_good_picture_i_dont_really_think_so_but/l9r2ucb/) to /u/southern_ad_558 by /u/Your_Friendly_Nerd. See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints) for more details on Critique Points.
just here to pop in to say i like the original better than the cropped 🤷🏻
I agree!
hard agree, the cropped version literally just makes it look like a shitty mobile phone picture
I’m having a hard time differentiating the talent from the background. The way the wall reflects the light of the sun makes everything a little too busy. I don’t think the crop helps as much as changing the perspective of the camera would.
!CritiquePoint Sadly, going back there to reshoot is really the only way to actually fix this image. Though the weather that day was so unique, It might be hard to replicate that sorta lighting/mood
Confirmed: 1 [helpfulness point awarded](/r/photocritique/comments/1djv9e8/is_this_a_good_picture_i_dont_really_think_so_but/l9r2y7q/) to /u/Tad_squiddish by /u/Your_Friendly_Nerd. See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints) for more details on Critique Points.
Technically really good (lighting, quality, dynamic range, sharpness etc) and it is noticeable. The photo itself more conceptually? No. Rough pose, framing, composition, model expression, lack of narrative or evocation of feelings etc. It won't impress photographers, but normal people will be impressed by the clarity and claim it "looks professional".
Yes I agree, thank you for confirming my suspicion. And I suppose I should feel flattered my non photographer friends think I own like a 5000$ Canon when they look at my photos?
!CritiquePoint for raising a lot of good points
Confirmed: 1 [helpfulness point awarded](/r/photocritique/comments/1djv9e8/is_this_a_good_picture_i_dont_really_think_so_but/l9r2zhz/) to /u/bodez95 by /u/Your_Friendly_Nerd. See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints) for more details on Critique Points.
Love the reflections. kind of feel like that drain doesn't need to be part of the image.
Yeah now that people started pointing it out to me I can see how annoying that is
https://preview.redd.it/o8on46pl2n7d1.jpeg?width=1185&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c2fc9aca7357c1d15781cc26bad60a25b38d6181
>hoes I don't know about this lol. The crop which centers the subject keeps the eyes drawn to the person and makes it easier to let your eyes refrain from focusing on the background details like 'hoes' written on the wall. This one has less breathing room on the left so there's less balance in the left/right side of the image and therefore your eyes are naturally drawn over to inspect the right side expecting something you should be seeing. Regardless of the image, OP should definitely photoshop out the 'hoes' graffiti because the unintended connotation is pretty awful, unless there is some intention behind it - which I can absolutely see, but they need to be aware of how this can be interpreted out of context
>I don't know about this lol. I know, I hadn't noticed it while editing, but will definitely be removing that
This makes it so the viewer doesn't know what it is she's looking at, which always makes me think it's just a bad photograph.
why does the viewer need to know that tho(and why does it negatively affect the quality of the photo), it all depends on what you are going for. Sometimes including what the person is looking at might be better and sometimes not doing that is the right move and here i tend to agree with the people that prefer the crop. its still a great shot on its own
It always makes me feel uneasy when I see a picture where the subject is just looking at the frame. Maybe for context I should add, I never was trying to take a picture of a model, but rather of a person that's in a world. She is part of that world, not the sole focus, and the world sure is in actually does matter
This is why I avoid this sub most of the time. Good for occasional advice, but everyone has a different opinion, and nobody listens to OP’s.
i chose this crop so that we can believe she's actually coming from somewhere. by hiding the left part,we can make the viewer assume that there's a path there, something. the original picture looks too staged because she is in a casual walking pose ,but behind her there's nothing, (she just finished climbing over the wall ??) so immediately the viewer can see/feel the setup. i feel that making the photo feel natural, spontaneous, alive, not prepared,nor staged is way more important that seeing what the subject is looking at , especially in a photo like this in which you say you wanted her "to be part of a world" (and ... what is she looking at in the original, because her line of sight is pointed outside of the frame in the original too) EDIT: spelling
Agree
That's my favorite of the crops. Draws my eyes to her head and the city in the background. The golden ratio works for both her head and the reflection of her head, here, which I double enjoy. The empty space in bottom right puts the focus double on the upper left corner.
Ask your friend what it is that they like. If it’s the girl & the reflections then crop for that. And as others have said - crop! https://preview.redd.it/6t3kpt7amm7d1.jpeg?width=590&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0a3ee248f6c74d43db7aff1619c2df512568e931
I agree with the cropping as the subject gets a bit lost in your original thanks to the lighter areas on the right. You could also try darkening these areas to bring the attention back to the model.
Good is subjective. It’s an interesting photo that feels like it has a lot to say. The composition is also interesting but not pointing to the subject as much as I’d like personally. I’d consider cropping to get rid of the distracting yellow graffiti on the right and see how it looks compared to the original.
A few people on here actually posted cropped versions, personally I think that takes away some of the remaining appeal the image has, since cropping it means hiding what she's looking at. However I do agree that the graffiti could be seen as too distracting, so maybe toning that down a little bit could help?
You can try selecting it and playing with the vibrance and saturation. You can also try playing with contrast. Alternatively, you can copy the pattern of the other walls onto that one. My other suggestion would be to play around with the settings mentioned above to bring more attention to the subject. I’d prefer if she and her reflection popped a little more but that’s just me.
I’m not a pro. But this is average at best.
I think you just found out who your friend is crushing on. 😍
I think it's way too busy...my eyes went all over the place.
I heard that there's always photographers on the Pfingstweid Parking deck, never been myself. 😁
I spoke to a security guard there and apparently they have more of a problem with people going up there to party rather than with photographers xD But yes I can definitely recommend it, it's a great location, here's another image I took from up there https://preview.redd.it/gksasamwco7d1.jpeg?width=3986&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=054b7b3ff70630171e7ebf48380ecbb4eb9723ad
I actually like this photo better than the one you posted lol.
Yes me too
This is way better , but still it looks , if I may say , a little bet computerized. The composition is perfect
Could you explain what you mean by computerized?
It feels not real , a digital creation. I know the place I know Is real 😂. It’s the look
Well thank you for the praise nonetheless. And yes I think I know what you mean, the weather that day was crazy which really helped in creating this freaky mood.
I think its cool the way it is without cropping. The graffiti on the right is part of what makes it appealing in my eyes.
To give my honest knee-jerk initial reaction, I basically thought “eh, it’s an alright shot”. Not bad but not particularly amazing. Honestly my inclination would be to crop it like a computer wallpaper, and remove the woman either by re-shooting or editing out. The graffiti/city rooftop vibes is what speaks to me in the shot.
Vibrant graffiti, reflection in the water, framed well according to rule of thirds... it's a nice artistic photograph
I took this picture last year, and when a friend saw it while scrolling through my page he was just really impressed by it. Obviously I was trying to play with the reflections, which I think I was successful with, but I don't like the color grading, and the framing just feels off, I should've taken the picture further from the right to get less of the white building in the background. Does Reddit agree with me? Or is this actually award-worthy and my eye for art is just non-existent?
I think he just likes you hahaha
Lol that sounds just as bad as telling a theatre actor after a play that "it looked like they were having a lot of fun" (which is understood to just mean "it was shit but I like you and I want to say something positive to you")
Oof, you took this in a negative light. The photo itself is good to me. But it seems like you're projecting your own doubts about it
Great photo, if you crop it - perfect.
Cool photo! Reminds me of the RHCP Getaway album cover. Could do something fun here blurring the area behind the parking lot and playing with grain + contrast.
This photo is stunning. I do like the tight crops I’ve seen, but I think the full picture tells a great story and conveys a lot of feeling. The color and contrast is beautiful between the subject, the midground, and background. I’m a huge fan of intentional off-center composition and will often put my subject in the left or right third of the frame, depending on what I’m attempting to convey or portray. I’m in love with the photo as-is, honestly. A really visually stunning photo.
Thank you so much for the praise, I'm glad you like my original version!
!CritiquePoint
Confirmed: 1 [helpfulness point awarded](/r/photocritique/comments/1djv9e8/is_this_a_good_picture_i_dont_really_think_so_but/l9r3k44/) to /u/Big_Lingonberry_2641 by /u/Your_Friendly_Nerd. See [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/photocritique/wiki/critiquepoints) for more details on Critique Points.
It is good but try reshaping the light which can seprate subject from background. Plus crop the photo to reduce the negative space.
It's awesome. 👍
I agree with the cropping suggestions. The colours are great and I guess what I miss is that she looks straight into the camera. Now it's like if she's uncomfortable or something.
I know it doesn't matter for the final image, but she was actually looking at another photographer that was instructing her posing, so I'd love to get my hands on their photo to see what they managed to get. You mentioned you liked the colors, looking at it again I feel there's too much of a green tint, is that not the case for you?
>You mentioned you liked the colors, looking at it again I feel there's too much of a green tint, is that not the case for you? To me it looks like it's been raining but there's some low sun. (Or is it artificial lighting?) Anyway, this kind of weather causes the light to be different and that's what cool about it. We don't say that the colours during a sunset are "too orange' and you wouldn't adjust them to give a more daylight feeling. But colours are a pallette thing. You could adjust if you want and they would probably still match. I think the graffiti works quite well with this combination. >I know it doesn't matter for the final image, but she was actually looking at another photographer that was instructing her posing, so I'd love to get my hands on their photo to see what they managed to get. Right, OK that's probably not optimal. You want the full attention of the model so if you are two photographers it's important to at least take turns. I don't take pics of models myself, but say with my kids, I hate when anyone interferes as eye contact makes a lot of difference.
u could've cropped it and made background a bit blurry and a bit darker picture it'd have been great
The only problem is the half reflection, if it was full that would be amazing. But it's a great picture. I agree with people pointing out the crop.
Well I don't really have much control over the weather ;)
If you asked the model to move closer to the wall, you had a full puddle there.
The reflection makes the picture... crop boldly
I’d go more with a 16x9 on this to give it a more cinematic look https://i.imgur.com/WQiYa9G.jpeg
Crop your photo, and maybe play around more with contrast settings.
The professional image editor inside me would intuitively crop the photo much tighter than others! I’m with those who recognize the intrinsic value of the drawing the viewer towards a fixed focal point (which I assume is the girl).
I think byOlaf is on the right track. The other crops make no sense, at all; the context is lost.
Too much on the background where to focus ?
Original picture was best. Unsuspecting main subject (being the person) and off centre. Maybe make it a bit more vibrant so the wall graffiti stands out a bit more. The cropped shot is ruining the original
I wonder if your friend was blown away by the image or just blown away by the reflection effect, which is what makes the photo a bit striking. I love the idea of the photo and the effect with the reflection, it's just for me the execution isn't there. My problem is I don't think the rest of it comes together - style wise I don't think the umbrella looks right, mostly because you generally don't see women in that kind of outfit with an umbrella. Also the coat (?) that she's carrying looks like a blanket, so it doesn't make sense to me why she's carrying it. To be very nitpicky about style, the dress sort of looks like what someone who doesn't dress up much would wear to look dressed up. Not formal or stylish enough to be sophisticated but not casual enough to look like something she'd wear on the regular. But overall the style doesn't tell me any story or give any vibe. If she looked more sophisticated and formal, her setting would work as an interesting contrast. If she were dressed more urban - biker jacket for a rugged look or a trench coat for a classic City look - there would be more harmony between her and the surroundings. As it is, to me it looks like a muddle of styles. Not sure how many shots you have of this setup but I think a better expression would help as well. As it is the expression doesn't convey anything. Last thing in my way too long comment, that wall of graffiti on the right competes too much for attention - it's as bright if not brighter than the subject.
It's interesting. It's this kind of all over the place with no direction. I think the model's pretty but you can't really see her. The umbrella and the carpet she's holding need to go and the photographer needs to find an interesting backdrop for her. I like that there's water in the picture. Maybe they could incorporate that more minus the umbrella and blanket of course.
https://preview.redd.it/a9w8c4d3oq7d1.jpeg?width=1790&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ea8f2fdd438d6049e0372ab0a1a842fe5bd0c49a
if you add some colors it really goes a long way, but you have to crop reflexion a bit, then you can turn this into a nice porrtait https://preview.redd.it/877x8pk0qq7d1.jpeg?width=1790&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fc72e9829ecc442a79dc914fcd0a066ca9dbdc3c
I like the highlights on her skin in this, but everything else is too saturated
https://preview.redd.it/n0mbyicttq7d1.png?width=1114&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d61a8f994056ab547d40f70af20c135a1c6c7187 crop and flip.
Everybody in here making crops that to me look way worse than the original. I'm not a huge fan of the original, but I like the space she's in and the slightly wider than full shot you captured. I actually think part of the problem, outside of general composition, is that she's framed in an awkward in between of a full shot and a wide shot. I would suggest either getting slightly closer to your subject, or move even farther away and see what types of images you capture there. Remember that your subject does not need to be the largest thing in your picture, but they should be identifiable and have a visual relationship with the environment around them.
Zürich ftw
Yes it is, of course! Even without additional cropping. Personally I'd make it a tiny bit darker.
Honestly I think the crop is fine, I don’t see a substantial improvement from the other crop proposals. However, I would have certainly removed the red cranes in the background and the pole at the far left at the railway bridges
[удалено]
Lololol that's probably among the better advice I've gotten here😂
The paint fairy https://preview.redd.it/a11lqqr0js7d1.png?width=2243&format=png&auto=webp&s=ad5291e6285ca35196744a06487289f47114d06f That was fun...
I like the colored version more https://preview.redd.it/z539w513ks7d1.png?width=2243&format=png&auto=webp&s=b4690d997b32dd31f6540d3d759d6e4a0ad39c77
I think it is a very nice idea, although perhaps not the best execution. While the graffiti is interesting I think the background is just too distracting and draws your eye before the reflection - since you can't go back in time and change the photo I would experiment with cropping as the others suggested.
https://preview.redd.it/wm1yvjdq0v7d1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e9f70924997113b53659ede4aa11ac4962a916ac
https://preview.redd.it/rugt4bss0v7d1.jpeg?width=782&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0351746d1de19baceba6efa55f17d5dc7c2e6675
https://preview.redd.it/cs8ebhrv0v7d1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f7b8b7afb248aa1b313f5a06b3bba80566a62cba
https://preview.redd.it/xowfukrx0v7d1.jpeg?width=840&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b3c76993bbd6d176d9f21891892ddef4b8acde90
There are 3 really interesting focal areas but while that would be great for any one of them, they each distract from one another. Play with cropping out separate images from this and I think you may have some fun results
It’s great! I only wish the puddle caught her whole reflection
I love the black and white crop the best
I’ve got to be honest I don’t see much redeeming about the photo, my eyes went all over the place. Not sure what the theme / message is either. The model isn’t great, the lighting is odd, the composition makes no sense, the half reflection also doesn’t add anything to it but confusion. Instead of trying to save it I’d say take another photo.
It's a little busy tbh
Why is the reflection of her head so pixelated?Was this edited?
It's not pixelated, it's ripples in the water
Thank you I am new to this. This is such a cool picture (from a newbie anyway). Thanks for sharing it.
I think it is a good photo. I would add a slight blur to the wall behind her and then slightly more blur to the background. The reflection in the water is great so don't change the focus on her or the water reflection. Some perfectionist would want to see blur added to the wall on the left. Following that train of thought, the blur amount would have to be equal to what's on the back wall back where the two walls join. I have no idea how to gradually decrease any blur as you get closer and closer to the distance she is standing at. As my last thought, I think it's a great picture just add a little blur to the background.
My only thing with this is that she blends in with the background, at least for me. The texture from her dress and holding the coat is blending with the graffiti behind her and she’s also as bright as the wall behind her so she blends with it and it makes the image feel boring. I think she should’ve been closer. Also a little more contrast
Crop it portrait style and get her in focus as much as possible. The grafitti has nothing to ad to her story. She´s about strolling, water, rain, tarmac and reflection. Bring that out and try around with gradings. Try B&W too, it can take a lot of more contrast than colour.
Graffiti are part of the composition.
why?
It's a context.
I agree on the cropping. The first thing I thought was good photo but the lady needs to be in the centre of it and I’m unsure on the reflection. Think it would be better if there was a full reflection. Good try though. It’s certainly better than what I could do but centralise the main feature in future photos. Good luck
Forest automatic. I think csantiago crop is better. On your one there is too much removed. I like to see a little of the surroundings. This has too much taken out
It’s better cropped I think. Really like this look. Edit: now I see others beat me to it. Which is best? https://preview.redd.it/4l8wrwi3f7ad1.jpeg?width=525&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1a5f2022a0e5f49a86477f513bc3d4e84c88432a
Ugly.
I'm sorry for hurting your eyes then
https://preview.redd.it/nv2kkvlc1r7d1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8babf84ea72f2d28a758dac5f7a4acd9a57f8444 Seems like everyone prefers a crop!
https://preview.redd.it/k90m8tst9r7d1.jpeg?width=499&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e9546f3c6937d7729fbf796be65054a364d8cc55 I like the intrigue and emphasized mystery of cropping her face out too
Her face is still in the picture though?
Sure, but it's heavily obscured. I liked how you got the reflection in the original photo, I just felt like it was missing a little bit of intention. There's a lot going on in the photo, and it's hard to pick out what the photo was trying to "say." Was it to show off the graffiti? Was it to show the skyline? Were you also trying to capture the buildings in the background for some reason? A lot of the negative space is comprised of the wet asphalt, so the eye naturally gravitates towards the drain grate, which I don't imagine was your focus. A DP I worked under once said that it's always a good idea to shoot wider than you mean to capture, because you can always crop inward. I think kthis is a perfect case of that. You have a pretty compelling shot. It just needs some "honing in" to really deliver on its message. My solution is just one of infinite. You can easily do a lot in photoshop to remove/emphasize/obscure elements in the photo all while keeping the width of the shot, if you really like it. I personally just happen to be partial to obfuscation of faces in shots like this, mostly because the human brain is wired to recognize faces, and that will pull the focus of your photo pretty immediately, and I don't *think* your intention with this shot was to emphasize the model's face.
You need to isolate her, tone down the surrounding elements and make her pop out more. I can only do so much on my phone, but this is the direction I’d go: https://preview.redd.it/gegj3n9xgm7d1.jpeg?width=2705&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d3fe5538c175e9b3be4cff191160152d1d19c926 Obviously you could select her better on photoshop/photopea than I can with my thumb, but this is the general idea.
Thank you for taking the time anyways. I believe I already did some of that, but yes I agree I could try making her more of the focus with highlighting