Critique Wanted

[dkapp]

I've been busy shooting lately & I've been playing with composition a lot. Here is a recent image from the Castro District of San Francisco. It's part of my "Window Shopping" series.

What do you think of the composition? Follows the rules of 1/3, but its missing part of the hat. Does this bother you, or does it work?

I've received several different responses with friends & family so I thought I'd throw it out here for discussion.

http://dkapp.smugmug.com/photos/16765541-L.jpg

Thanks in advance. There are no right & wrong answers. I just want to get a feel for current photo tastes.

Dave

[4labs]

Dave I think I would have liked the whole flower in the frame. It seems to be an important part of the picture to me. Just my 2 cents.. Would love to see more from the series and yoru recent shoots..

[dkapp]

Dave I think I would have liked the whole flower in the frame. It seems to be an important part of the picture to me. Just my 2 cents.. Would love to see more from the series and yoru recent shoots..

Thanks for your comments Eric. I have one more question for you. What do you consider the main focus point of the image?

Here are two of my recent shots from "Window Shopping"

Strike A Pose (http://my-expressions.com/expressions/page.cgi?id=1436_1289084347;type=entry;tid=46370)
Cold Eyes | Warm Day (http://my-expressions.com/expressions/page.cgi?id=1436_1289084347;type=entry;tid=46253)

Both were taken Downtown SFO, Union Square.

Thanks again for your help here.

Dave

[Angelo]

Dave:

I like this very much. I wouldn't worry too much about cropping bits out. If you study the work of Gene Moore you'd know the effect of limited visuals in window display.

Gene was the display artist and then creative director for Tiffany & Co for more than 35 years. His work is legendary. He is reknowned for his conceptualization, composition, lighting and installations. He rarely showed everything in his compositions, preferring to highlight only a fraction of a piece of jewelry or silverware with the use of intense, narrow pin spots. His work has been compared to fine art.

I believe it is appropriate to emulate this style in this genre. :thumb

[4labs]

Dave I have to tell you the two pictures in the link blow this one away.. The colors, the composition way cool! This one looks like a very ordinary maniquin compared to the others so I keep looking at the hat tho thats probably not what you were thinking?

[Andy]

by itself, it's not obvious that it's a "window" shot imo.

[fish]

The only comment I have is actually a question...

Did waxy give you his hat or did you steal it from him? :huh

[fish]

by itself, it's not obvious that it's a "window" shot imo.
reflections clue you in, big boy? :rofl

[Angelo]

Dave I have to tell you the two pictures in the link blow this one away.. The colors, the composition way cool! This one looks like a very ordinary maniquin compared to the others so I keep looking at the hat tho thats probably not what you were thinking?
Dave I have to agree. Especially the "ghosted" one. Very good captures.

I do however want to point out, window display is no less an art than our photgraphy and rightfully the property of the designer. Might I suggest you honor their rights by finding out a name and crediting them for their work?

[Andy]

reflections clue you in, big boy? :rofl

that's not the point, fish-guts :D

i like the shot. i'd like to see a bit more of the window i guess, or more of the scene. so that's my only critique dave - fwiw...

[dkapp]

Dave I have to agree. Especially the "ghosted" one. Very good captures.

I do however want to point out, window display is no less an art than our photgraphy and rightfully the property of the designer. Might I suggest you honor their rights by finding out a name and crediting them for their work?

Thats a good point. I've heard this topic go either way. Some say it is right to the "brand name" represented, others say its not.

Does anyone know the right answer to this?

Dave

[dkapp]

The only comment I have is actually a question...

Did waxy give you his hat or did you steal it from him? :huh

He just told me where he shops & I went to the source. He has his hat under lock & key, no chance of borrowing or stealing it :D

Dave

[Andy]

reflections clue you in, big boy? :rofl

are you hitting on me? http://www.dgrin.com/images/icons/eek7.gif :ymca

[dkapp]

that's not the point, fish-guts :D

i like the shot. i'd like to see a bit more of the window i guess, or more of the scene. so that's my only critique dave - fwiw...

Good point. I went for the tight crop because any reflection of the street were distracting & honestly boring.

This is mainly an exercise to see if I'm doing my job to relay the focus to the viewer. Not my best image, but a good example of what can be done better.

Your input is always appreciated.

Dave

[ginger_55]

I would like to see less of it. The window, mannequin, hat, whatever, so that your artistic stamp is more obvious. And the light behind the curtain bothers me. Plus the curtain not being straight bothers me.

I am sorry, I am not usually this critical. It is just that I can see so much "more" or "less", in this idea, whichever the case may be.

Andy, of course, knows best. Throw him a rib.

ginger

[ginger_55]

:clap The other ones are so superior. The question is, is it the window dresser, or the photographer. I think in the second one it could be the person who did the window. But in the third one, it is obviously the photographer with the decision to use those reflections in the design.

:clap :clap

ginger

[dkapp]

I would like to see less of it. The window, mannequin, hat, whatever, so that your artistic stamp is more obvious. And the light behind the curtain bothers me. Plus the curtain not being straight bothers me.

I am sorry, I am not usually this critical. It is just that I can see so much "more" or "less", in this idea, whichever the case may be.

Andy, of course, knows best. Throw him a rib.

ginger

Thanks for the response ginger. Your not the only one who feels this way regarding the light & curtain/wall. A final image would have the light cloned & curtain extended to the right of the frame eliminating the brown wall.

I'm just trying to see if I'm doing a good job. I think its obvious that I didn't get the viewer engaged in the photo as I had planned.

I think the shot has come off as "here's a mannequin w/ a colorful hat" vs. Here is a shop that is using a male figured mannequin to display a woman's hat & apparel. A trendy store thinking outside the box to draw attention to their product.

Dave

[dkapp]

Thanks everyone for your responses. It's been a tremendous help to me.

Some of you were probably wondering where I was going with this besides "do you like it or not" type discussion.

With the upcoming trip to Yosemite, I've been taking a hard look at my skills as a photographer to relay a message to my audience and holding their attention. I've found that I can be doing a much better job than I currently am.

This image is not strong by any measure, but is a great learning tool for anyone. I didn't relay the message to 3/4 of my audience, and was not able to hold their attention long enough for them to really explore what I saw at the window. I could have included more in the shot, maybe used a different angle. Maybe add some of my own style to help relay "their" style, instead of relying only on what was seen as you walked up to the window.

While most people saw a colorful hat, I wanted to show a shop that is using a male figured mannequin to display a woman's hat & apparel. A trendy store thinking outside the box to draw attention to their product. Something that was easy for me to see since I was there & saw the everything in person.

Right now my photography is hit & miss. I feel I'm close to making a breakthrough, but I'm still holding myself back.

Again, thanks for the help.

Dave

[Angelo]

Here is a shop that is using a male figured mannequin to display a woman's hat & apparel. A trendy store thinking outside the box to draw attention to their product.

Dave
In San Francisco????? Outside the box or out of the closet? :rofl

[dkapp]

In San Francisco????? Outside the box or out of the closet? :rofl

In this case, both. It was taken in the Castro. I spent a few hours walking around there yesterday. Very cool area.

I just did some quick work w/ the clone tool. Not sure if it helps at all.

http://dkapp.smugmug.com/photos/16799206-L.jpg

Dave