Frame in a Frame...

[Mike Lane]

This is a shot that I took for a class at BetterPhoto.com. The class was on composition and that week's lesson was frame in a frame.

[DavidTO]

This is a shot that I took for a class at BetterPhoto.com. The class was on composition and that week's lesson was frame in a frame.


Nice. I think the crop should be a touch tighter. Especially on the right, I find the dome and the flag a bit distracting. Or maybe clone them out. Or maybe even frame it looser. I just find those elements don't add anything, and as they are falling off the edge of the frame they distract me from the frame in frame thing.

Excellent find for the assignment, nice exposure.

How do you like the class? I've thought about that, but just don't have the time for it. Can barely shoot as it is.

[Mike Lane]

Nice. I think the crop should be a touch tighter. Especially on the right, I find the dome and the flag a bit distracting. Or maybe clone them out. Or maybe even frame it looser. I just find those elements don't add anything, and as they are falling off the edge of the frame they distract me from the frame in frame thing.

Excellent find for the assignment, nice exposure.

How do you like the class? I've thought about that, but just don't have the time for it. Can barely shoot as it is.
Thanks for the input on the shot.

I liked the class pretty well. You basically have 12 days to finish an assignment though the following 12 day period overlaps by a few days so assignments are due each Sunday. The critiques are good and I definitely learned a bunch. I'd say my photography has improved since I took that class (I've got a long way to go of course, but it's a pretty good way to do it). You can submit up to 3 images per week and they have nothing against submitting shots you did in the past either.

I think I'm going to take an exposure class next. The guy that wrote Understanding Exposure teaches a class at Better Photo. That book really opened my eyes on how to get the best exposures I can (I shoot in all manual now even) so I figured that taking a class with him would be a good thing.

I'm probably not going to take any lighting classes there since I'd rather have someone show that to me first-hand at least for my first class. That's just a personal thing though.

[keving54]

This is a shot that I took for a class at BetterPhoto.com. The class was on composition and that week's lesson was frame in a frame.
Hi Mike,

Nice shot - exposure looks good! Unique composition. I like the fact it's a little unbalanced - more space on the right of the frame. I guess you could try a tighter crop, although I think a symetrical crop wouldn't be as interesting (I think). Was this a timed exposure? Much post-processing? If so, you did a good job, as it looks natural and not overdone.
I'm going to look into those courses you mentioned - actually never heard of them before. Is the feedback you get actual feedback and not some canned spiel? Just wondering if they somehow limit how many people take a particular class.
Anyway, I like the image! Keep it up!
Regards,
Kevin

[Mike Lane]

Hi Mike,

Nice shot - exposure looks good! Unique composition. I like the fact it's a little unbalanced - more space on the right of the frame. I guess you could try a tighter crop, although I think a symetrical crop wouldn't be as interesting (I think). Was this a timed exposure? Much post-processing? If so, you did a good job, as it looks natural and not overdone.
I'm going to look into those courses you mentioned - actually never heard of them before. Is the feedback you get actual feedback and not some canned spiel? Just wondering if they somehow limit how many people take a particular class.
Anyway, I like the image! Keep it up!
Regards,
Kevin
Thanks for the input Kevin. I was attempting to put the center of the sculpture / bridge towers on the left third of the frame. I suppose it's up to the viewer to say if that was the right decision, but it seemed to work out here.

I did the shot with my remote shutter release and a tripod. The exposure was 15s at f/8. This may turn out better with a few clouds in the sky or just a bit earlier in the evening, but I'm satisfied with it. I did minimal post processing, just a smidge of lab color enhance and then some sharpening is all.

The Better Photo classes are pretty good (although kind of expensive). The feedback is certainly not canned and is definitely pertinent to the image. It's definitely nice to get lessons and opinions on your photos from an accomplished photographer. They have some cool sounding courses. There is one that is a stock photography course that is a year long. Sounds like a very interesting class to me. They also have some other classes like photoshop classes and lighting etc etc.

[Cantfeelmyfingers]

The only thing I'd change is the right hand side.. Crop it tighter.. I do think it'd be neat with an 'off balance' composition IF there wasn't that flag there on that building, cause I do find it distracting. All in all though it's a really neat photo. jamie.