I know a lot of people ask, and I feel bad that I'm contributing to that.
But I feel like this photo could've been a lot better, and I can't figure out what it is exactly that puts me off about it.
Any suggestions?
(Please don't go easy on it, I can take it!)
The depth of field is too shallow. It would be better if more of the kazoo was in focus. The center part of the kazoo is just not that interesting. To get more in focus - use a smaller aperture (bigger number).
Just a suggestion.
Ok, here is what I think. At first, I couldn't even figure out what this was. And even after I figured out your main focus, it was a bit longer before I noticed the piano keys.
If you want to keep the piano keys as part of the background, try shooting the photo with a wider lens. Wider lenses also have a greater depth of field, which could bring the kazoo into better focus.
Try standing at a higher angle so your entire background is nothing but piano keys. As it is, with the sheet music cut off, it looks strange and confusing. It looks like you used off-camera flash from the angle, which is good. Use the flash to create a mood to the photo and give it some texture.
Hope some of this helps. Remember, determine your main focus and build the scene around that. Sculpt with light. When possible, control every aspect of your composition.
I am not 100% sure of the placement of the kazoo on the piano keys. There may have been a placement that would highlight or show off the piano keys as well as the kazoo. The shadow in the forefront really harbors the eye from moving through the picture. For me, I first look at the kazoo, and then down to the dark area in the front of the picture. You want the eye to move back through the piano keys to complete the feel of the picture. If you are capable of changing the white balance or curves in your post processing, you may want to see what that does for the color in your shot. I like the tone of the gold, but there seems to be a greenish cast to the rest of the shot. If you were to attempt this shot again, I would suggest an off-camera light source and using a tripod, without using the flash on your camera, for a greater dof. Hope this helps, just my opinions though :)
I had to figure out what it was first and then what was your focus. I guess it was the kazoo but it's not clear what it is.
You showed a lot of creativity in this shot and a lesson I had to learn was - what are you taking a picture of? Too many distractions and you don't know where to look. You also have to many leading lines - if you focused more on the front of your kazoo and faded out behind it - the kazoo would lead. Or focus on the piano keys with the kazoo at the end.
Focus of photo is not enough in focus. No emotional connection to the subject. I struggle with creating the emotional connection in my photos. Love of subject is what shines through any great photograph.
There is a lot of beige , golds etc and not enough contrasting colours. Its all a bit mid-tone. Some shots just feel wrong and its impossible to say why and how some feel right . Each shot is a moment captured. The editing is also in that moment. For me its about not using my knowledge but intuition.
Also, the dull tones and values of the shot seem isolated in 4 horizontal bands across the photo - light (sheet music), green/gold (kazoo body/keys, music shelf), warmer reddish/gold (bottom of kazoo/keys in shadow), and then more lightness. Nothing moves the eye within the image itself, so as a viewer 'reads' it left to right, the eye is drawn right off the shot ...
Photographing from a slight angle, adding some brighter light to any one part of the shot, or being sure to choose a graphic focal point all might have helped get this shot where you feel it could go.
I recommend trying this shot again with some of the suggestions offered in this thread - experiment, experiment!
@potsbypam thank you i saw this and couldn't pass this sight up it was the most amazing thing and im sure the cars passing me thought i was nuts!! LOL and thats ok
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Just a suggestion.
If you want to keep the piano keys as part of the background, try shooting the photo with a wider lens. Wider lenses also have a greater depth of field, which could bring the kazoo into better focus.
Try standing at a higher angle so your entire background is nothing but piano keys. As it is, with the sheet music cut off, it looks strange and confusing. It looks like you used off-camera flash from the angle, which is good. Use the flash to create a mood to the photo and give it some texture.
Hope some of this helps. Remember, determine your main focus and build the scene around that. Sculpt with light. When possible, control every aspect of your composition.
There's a lot I didn't think about before taking this, and I'll keep your advice in mind in the future.
You showed a lot of creativity in this shot and a lesson I had to learn was - what are you taking a picture of? Too many distractions and you don't know where to look. You also have to many leading lines - if you focused more on the front of your kazoo and faded out behind it - the kazoo would lead. Or focus on the piano keys with the kazoo at the end.
Photographing from a slight angle, adding some brighter light to any one part of the shot, or being sure to choose a graphic focal point all might have helped get this shot where you feel it could go.
I recommend trying this shot again with some of the suggestions offered in this thread - experiment, experiment!