I'm interested in what you were hoping to achieve in this image karen - I'm no expert!! but think this image is fine - there are things you 'could' do.. in my eyes nothing screams this is a poor image..I'm not overly sure what it's about.. but what do i know!!!
@brigette thanks for responding
I prefer not to put any preconceptions about what it is supposed to be, but see people's reactions.
What could I do? What would you do to this?
Being an "expert" is not required.
The graffiti/street art is interesting, visually stimulating and should have been, IMHO, the only subject of your photograph. I would have gotten in much closer and filled the frame with the graffiti. The clutter seen through the open door is distracting. I would have closed the door.
@tigerdreamer
Danny is right about the street view - but then again if thats what you were after.. then it looks great - otherwise maybe using a shallower DoF.. or shuttting the door! - depending on what is behind that door.. it adds some interest being open. all depends on what your vision was / is!! that's my 2 cents!!
Here's my few penn'orth. I love the overall construct of the shot but in my opinion, the pinkish door distracts from both the graffiti and the outside world viewed through the door frame. Apart from that, I would have boosted the overall contrast somewhat. The whole shot reminds me of the Pink Floyd "Echoes. The best of Pink Floyd" Album cover http://www.amazon.com/Echoes-The-Best-Pink-Floyd/dp/B00005QDW5
I'd pop the colors and increase clarity, get rid of the right wall to make the door more of the focus deepen the shadows a bit increase the highlights deepen the blacks and vignette slightly. I think it would then say come through the door, make it look as good inside as that graffiti wall does outside imho!
@tigerdreamer I think the problem is that everyone will have their own idea of how they would deal with the shot. (BTW I should have added "and a judicious crop to lose the odd bit of structure on the lower left hand side")
I agree with what a lot of other folk have said. My eye is drawn to the open door, but I think the graffiti is a much more compelling subject. A shallow DOF would probably help, perhaps selective brightness/contrast adjust. I'd also experiment with a LITTLE contrast to the graffiti to try for some more "pop"... Just my $0.02 worth.
The gaudy colours of the grafitti would have been too much if they had filled the shot. The pink door almost divides the shot in two, separating the gaudy grafitti from the electric bue on the right wall. The eye is drawn through the door to beyond. I would love to know what was on the other side of the door, but suspect that closing the door would not have improved the shot.
I would have either opened the door completely so that the pink is flat against the wall or I would have closed it a bit more so that the edge of the door is a completely straight line.
If we are dealing strictly with the scene as it is. .
I would crop out the right edge of the pic, crop the bottom so that the floor is not visible, and blur the opening.
For me there is too much in the image. I am not sure where I should be looking, through the door or at the graffiti. As Danny for one also said I think. @soboy5
@jackies365@creampuff@lsquared@laroque@hippiechick13@frankhymus
Thanks are not enough. Your thoughts are all helping me think/rethink how to shoot and process shots in this genre, both what is working and what isn't.
I appreciate all your help.
Please continue, as of course we all notice and think differently.
I haven't read the response, I'm just shooting from the hip here but I think the door being open makes the shot a bit busy. It just sort of pulls my eye out of the shot. Does that make sense?
This image evokes the essence of “urban" to me, leaves me with the thought I am in a place where perhaps I should not linger, but neither am I promised an easy exit. I appreciate this emotion the image brings to me.
Technical execution seems sound although depth of field may be a matter of question. Focus is sharp, shutter speed and ISO appropriate for the scene. Exposure is well balanced considering the varied lighting conditions between foreground and background (through the doorway). I do like the transition of lighting from darker on this side of the passage, to a lighter background beyond the passage. It creates the sense better things lie beyond the door, but the clutter in the passage warns me these things will not be realized without challenge. Colors are vibrant yet not oversaturated, contrast also feels appropriate for the scene.
The most significant artistic characteristic of the image is the lack of a clear subject. Although the image loosely applies the rule of thirds, the composition does not clearly identify the subject; there seem to be several possible subjects (graffiti, passageway, and the scene beyond the passageway). This is where consideration of an alternate aperture (and depth of field) may have helped in identifying the subject. Or perhaps another angle or point of view to focus the attention upon the intended subject. With a clear subject I think the image will be made stronger.
@jackies365 yes I agree with the cropping and popping - I couldn't wrap my brain around typing all that - maybe a little straighten too
I like the whole composition and think cropping the right and a little left too will help
I think, if possible to reshoot, I would try to close the door and move my perspective to camera left. The wall to the extreme right in the photo appears to also have colorful graffiti, so I would try to capture both walls.
@aponi@annied@cdean1956
Thanks also for your thoughts.
A special thanks to @dbj for the amazing well thought out and extensive critique.
It is so difficult to get true critiques on this site. Everyone is so kind and polite.
For those who would like to hear some back story.
The start was a theme from my photo club of "Urban Decay"
I wasn't sure if that is supposed to be eye of the beholder or grunge. I knew I wasn't comfortable going into some of the more decayed parts of the city. So I have been watching for buildings being torn down in less scary areas. This particular building was surrounded by fence and posted. Normally I would have taken the semi- open fence as an invitation to enter, but there was a policeman sitting and overlooking the lot. I don't think he was there to watch, just taking a break, but there he sat. So I was restricted in my views and was shooting through the fence. Reshooting is probably not an option. They are ripping it down fast and I expect all is gone already.
I did shoot several close up/zoomed shots and probably will post some of those as abstracts, but they looked to pretty an I was trying to keep the decay part, hence the clutter through the door.
You mentioned many great ways to process the photo differently and try to highlight more of a focus of attention. I will definitely be reworking this shot before the competition.
Unless, I find another shot that's better. 😊
Many thanks to all who helped with their thoughts and suggestions.
If any that I have said gives you any new ideas or thoughts, I will still be reading.
I think what this does is make a dark vignette effect which frames the doorway nicely by getting rid of the colour it simplifies the image an d makes the open doorway the main subject, but retains interest throughout the image
My first thoughts when viewing this was that the open door was a distraction. Had you not been able to see through and the clutter on the other side of the building, may have made a difference. Or if it was dark inside the opening may have been less of a distraction. I am thinking that the door being closed with the graffi being the total reason for the image with all those bright colors would have been more interesting. But one thing I have learned on the Project is that I don't see eye to eye with what many other photographers like and don't like. So take my offering for what it's worth. :-)
Late to the party here. My focal point is left of the open door but the right side keeps me coming back. I would suggest a crop that would eleminate the door frame altogether. Nothing beyond it is as interesting as what is to the left. Graffiti photographs well. Boost and crop are my suggestions.
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I prefer not to put any preconceptions about what it is supposed to be, but see people's reactions.
What could I do? What would you do to this?
Being an "expert" is not required.
Danny is right about the street view - but then again if thats what you were after.. then it looks great - otherwise maybe using a shallower DoF.. or shuttting the door! - depending on what is behind that door.. it adds some interest being open. all depends on what your vision was / is!! that's my 2 cents!!
Absolutely loving the thoughts, thank you.
Please keep them coming.
I would have either opened the door completely so that the pink is flat against the wall or I would have closed it a bit more so that the edge of the door is a completely straight line.
If we are dealing strictly with the scene as it is. .
I would crop out the right edge of the pic, crop the bottom so that the floor is not visible, and blur the opening.
Thanks are not enough. Your thoughts are all helping me think/rethink how to shoot and process shots in this genre, both what is working and what isn't.
I appreciate all your help.
Please continue, as of course we all notice and think differently.
Technical execution seems sound although depth of field may be a matter of question. Focus is sharp, shutter speed and ISO appropriate for the scene. Exposure is well balanced considering the varied lighting conditions between foreground and background (through the doorway). I do like the transition of lighting from darker on this side of the passage, to a lighter background beyond the passage. It creates the sense better things lie beyond the door, but the clutter in the passage warns me these things will not be realized without challenge. Colors are vibrant yet not oversaturated, contrast also feels appropriate for the scene.
The most significant artistic characteristic of the image is the lack of a clear subject. Although the image loosely applies the rule of thirds, the composition does not clearly identify the subject; there seem to be several possible subjects (graffiti, passageway, and the scene beyond the passageway). This is where consideration of an alternate aperture (and depth of field) may have helped in identifying the subject. Or perhaps another angle or point of view to focus the attention upon the intended subject. With a clear subject I think the image will be made stronger.
Hope that helps!
I like the whole composition and think cropping the right and a little left too will help
Thanks also for your thoughts.
A special thanks to @dbj for the amazing well thought out and extensive critique.
It is so difficult to get true critiques on this site. Everyone is so kind and polite.
The start was a theme from my photo club of "Urban Decay"
I wasn't sure if that is supposed to be eye of the beholder or grunge. I knew I wasn't comfortable going into some of the more decayed parts of the city. So I have been watching for buildings being torn down in less scary areas. This particular building was surrounded by fence and posted. Normally I would have taken the semi- open fence as an invitation to enter, but there was a policeman sitting and overlooking the lot. I don't think he was there to watch, just taking a break, but there he sat. So I was restricted in my views and was shooting through the fence. Reshooting is probably not an option. They are ripping it down fast and I expect all is gone already.
I did shoot several close up/zoomed shots and probably will post some of those as abstracts, but they looked to pretty an I was trying to keep the decay part, hence the clutter through the door.
You mentioned many great ways to process the photo differently and try to highlight more of a focus of attention. I will definitely be reworking this shot before the competition.
Unless, I find another shot that's better. 😊
Many thanks to all who helped with their thoughts and suggestions.
If any that I have said gives you any new ideas or thoughts, I will still be reading.
@cdean1956 @annied @dbj @aponi @frankhymus @hippiechick13 @laroque @lsquared @creampuff @jackies365 @mej2011 @melston @brigette @soboy5
I agree about the clutter in the doorway - I would clear it out as I think the open and empty doorway would be a good foil to the lovely graffiti.
I will have to see if glow is available on elements. Thank you for thinking outside the box.
@kmrtn6 any and all, bring it on. 😃