Little Boy

[dunzel]

Hi. I was wondering if I could get some feedback on a shot I took. I'm dabbling in monochrome, and took the attached shot. I'd like all feedback, but especially in the realm of composition, and style. I was going for a grainy look, but didn't want it typical, more of a mottled look. Anyway, any comments would be appreciated. How could I have made this better?

Thanks in advance!

[chicagojohn]

OK, dunzel; my two cents worth.

Insofar as composition, I like it. It engages the imagination of the viewer; what is the little by looking at in front of him, obscured from the viewers' eye? What is he thinking of, what will he make or do with these tools?

Definitely the off-center placement is good and specifically on the left, I think, because our eyes are used to reading from left to right and here, with the brightest part being his shirt, we immediately look there and then to the right and we see another implement lying three and then some more or less negative space, which is a good thing because, since there are no distractions there, we come back to the subject.

Then we wonder about what he may be looking at in front of him and so on; so the mind begins to invent a narrative.

All this is good. I would suggest the inclusion of a minimalist "frame" around this using something like "stroke" under "edit" in photoshop, where there would be a very thin white band around the perimeter and then a rather thicker black one, yet both quite thin relative to the overall composition. This will just help to keep the eye within the frame.

Finally, I don't know where your interest in a grainy look would originate with this image. Were it one that implied antiquity in some way, then I might be able to see it. But with this image, I think it should be as sharp as possible. The reason for that is that the graininess could simply sever to be a distraction, and that is not something you want; it would serve no useful purpose.

So that is one person's opinion.

[dunzel]

Thanks so much! I really like the idea of the frame. You call it a "minimalist frame". Is this a standard thing, or at least something that is recognized by name? What I mean is; is a minimalist frame something that could be found in editing software to be applied, or do I need to create it from scratch? You say "stroke" under "edit" in Photoshop, but is there a template?

Also, I see what you mean by the grain. I added it for sort of a tension effect along the lines of playing in the dirt - but I guess it didn't come off that way. I see your point on grain adding antiquity. I guess I never thought of it as having that purpose alone. I know that photographers of the past hated grain and were always trying to get rid of it, but I never thought of grain as something that necessarily implies age.

Anyway, thanks so much for the insight. I appreciate it, and I'll go back to the shot and remove the grain to see how the image changes!

Cheers

[chicagojohn]

Hi dunzel,

By a "minimalist" frame, I mean some very thin streaks around the perimeter. I don't know if you have photoshop or not, but what I sometimes do is "select all" then Edit-stroke and select a number of pixels that will put a pretty thin (minimalist) line around the perimeter. You can first do a thicker one in white and then a thinner one over that in black.

What I try to think about (and this is just me) is (a) whether any sort of framing will be beneficial in keeping the eye in the frame or not and (b) if so, then doing it in a way that will not be so over-the-top that it actually defeats the purpose by drawing the eye to the frame edge as opposed to the center.

Sometimes images hit us a the right time in our lives that they have a special effect. Yours was one for me on this particular day.

[yellalablady]

John has said it very nicely. Part of me wants this taken from in front of the boy. I want to see what he sees. In the end, I like it the way it is. I, too, would rather not have the grain.
Please show us your re-edit. This is well worth framing and hanging.

[dunzel]

Thanks very much folks, and thanks John for the explanation on framing. I really appreciate the feedback, in this case particularly, because I never even thought of putting the frame around it. Also thanks yellalablady for your take. I was really wondering if the shot from the back worked, and I thought it did, but wasn't sure. I appreciate your analysis.

I'm going to re-edit and I'll try to post afterward in the hope that I can get feedback on the frame and removal of the grain.

Again - thanks!

[Baron von Smoogle]

Personally, I like the rear view. Kids don't need a reason to play in the dirt. Sometimes that is all that is there, just dirt.

I like the composition also. I do agree about the grain, unnecessary.

[dunzel]

Thanks for the feedback!

Here's the re-edit. I took out the grain and added what I think is the type of frame John was talking about. Is this any better? I think it really improved, but I may not be getting what was suggested.

Thanks!

[Waterwings]

I like the overall shot (composition, cropping, etc), just not the grain. Great capture!

[dunzel]

Thank you!

[Baron von Smoogle]

....added what I think is the type of frame John was talking about.....

John's suggested frame won't work with the black page background. You would have to put a thin black frame inside of the white to get it to show.


I do like the changes. The grain was totally unnecessary.

[byteme]

Super shot that poses so many questions as to what he's doing / thinking etc
I don't mind the grain, it adds an aged feel, like an old photo stored away for years.
I agree this should be printed and framed
John

[Bushhed]

First off this is a great candid shot of him. I love the fact that it is taken from behind him playing uninterrupted. I personally like the grain effect for this image. As John said it adds an aged feel to it. For me it also provides a consistency with the rugged backdrop of the soil and tools he's using. The only thing I would do is back off on it a bit. It is very easy to over do a grain effect and to me this photo is a case of less is more, but needed.

[dunzel]

Thank you byteme and Bushhed. It just goes to show how cool photography is; that some like the grain, and some don't - all personal taste and interpretation. What I really like about the shot is the various reactions. I really appreciate that you all took the time to comment. I feel like I accomplished something with this shot.

I see what you mean about the frame needing a white background to see the black rim. I thought about that, but didn't immediately see a way to change the main background. I'll go back and see if I can do that.

Thanks!