Critique this please

[Phil]

Hi there,

I posted this with a critique-me tag a few days ago, but didn't get many responses and I would be interested to get a bit more feedback.

I like the composition & some of the little details e.g. the reflection of the window sign in the mirror, and the caption on the TV. I'm a bit less confident with the quality of the b&w conversion - the foreground was quite dark and it took a bit of playing about to draw the image out. What do you think?

Thanks, Phil

[Allison Pringle]

Its a great photo, a little light for my liking. I think the exposure could be tuned down just a tad, and maybe the contrast could be tweaked a little, but besides that the composition is wonderful!

[Lorraine]

I'd crop it (from bottom L corner to the top of the mirror) to make the most of the reflection and the main interest (the barber) then up the contrast. But then I crop most of my shots! ; )

[Kristen]

I like this shot, it has great composition and detail! I agree with Allison, I do think the contrast could be increased a bit. I also would try cropping a bit of the top off, see how that looks!

[Jennifer]

I like it and wouldn't crop at all, the composition is great. I'd increase the contrasts and have it less light overall, but that's all.

[Jim]

I really like the POV and the I also actually like the brightness and composition. I just wish I could see a bit of the person in the chair either in profile, or even better if it were in the reflection

[cheryl]

nice composition.. and I too would have liked to have seen the person in the chair either in the reflection or a profile.

[Amy]

I'm with @jcarrollphoto I like the lightness, but maybe would have liked a bit more of a story or personality which I think is so important with theses street shots :)

[Phil]

@amp24 @lorrainerb @kkolstad @jesperani I just tried an experimental crop but I think that it loses something that the various angles in the image give. I think you may be right about the contrast - I'll post an alternative version once I get one I'm happy with. Thank you all for taking the time to comment - I really appreciate it.

[Phil]

@jcarrollphoto @cheribug @amyamoeba I agree - it's probably the weakest aspect of the image. I'm afraid I was too cowardly to draw attention to myself by taking a picture when they could see me! Many thanks for your comments.

[J A Byrdlip]

I would wonder what it would look like if you cropped from the left edge to the left side of the box on the floor, leaving in the wires on the floor. crop off the top down to the rain gutter on the building out the window, or somewhere along that line, too much blank wall.

[jenny tucker]

i like the shot....but would have loved to see the guy/girl maybe reflected in the mirror..? or maybe another angle.....like drop to the floor and look up..?....i don't know.....

[Candace]

Great shot, and if you were to crop it as another mentioned, you would lose the sight of the great building reflected in the window!

[Kathryn]

I agree with the suggestions to crop...because the barber...the focus...is getting lost, kind of shoved down into the left corner. I would suggest cropping "just a little off the top", about to the level of the camera, which still preserves the roof of the building. And then on the right, crop well into the TV set...leaving enough to make the point, but not letting it become a center of attention. I like the B&W light, because (I assume) is was a bright location.

[Mgreen]

@philr I think it is a little too bright and too much to look at so difficult to see what the main focus of your photo is, however a really great idea going b/w and super subject.

[Mgreen]

@philr An idea could be to set camera on the floor and shoot a close up of hair with chair stand in the background out of focus. B/W would be perfect for that kind of close up.