Playing in the Shadows

[Sergio M.]

Voigtlander 40mm, f/5.6, 1/60/ ISO-1600

[Rebel]

Nice shot, whats the story behind this Sergio? Location etc?

[Mike Buckley]

Another nice museum image (or perhaps it's a gallery)! Consider cropping to eliminate everything to the left of the foreground wall. That other content is distracting to me because it pulls me eye out of the frame in the opposite direction the girl is heading.

[DEAN01]

Great capture, Sergio.

[Manfred M]

+1 to Mike's comment. It is exactly what I was thinking too.

I understand why you want to have the left side with the foot in it as part of the composition, but it is so bright that it really keeps us from enjoying the part on the right.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured.

[IzzieK]

Maybe just tone the left side image down instead of cropping it ?

[Mike Buckley]

Maybe just tone the left side image down instead of cropping it ?

That also might work. However, we expect to see the image in that area of the scene as brightly lit as the other images hang on the wall. I'm concerned that it might seem odd if it isn't brightly lit.

[Mike Buckley]

There is actually possibly another really fabulous image: Crop at the top to show just a slither of the images hanging on the near wall. Doing so brings out the layered approach because it draws our attention to the leg on the left side about to disappear behind the near wall (which is probably why you didn't crop as I suggested in my first post), the legs and feet of the man in the rear image (perhaps do some dodging and burning to emphasize them), and of course the legs and feet of the girl.

[Sergio M.]

Nice shot, whats the story behind this Sergio? Location etc?

Matt, the location is El Centro De Artes in San Antonio, Texas. It is an art gallery affiliated with The University of Texas, and Texas A&M.

My wife and I were looking at some of the art when I heard a commotion behind me. I turned to see two little ones running among the walls of art. For whatever reason I was moved by their play, so I aimed and took the shot.

Thank you for the comment and question.

Sergio

[Sergio M.]

Another nice museum image (or perhaps it's a gallery)! Consider cropping to eliminate everything to the left of the foreground wall. That other content is distracting to me because it pulls me eye out of the frame in the opposite direction the girl is heading.

+1 to Mike's comment. It is exactly what I was thinking too.

I understand why you want to have the left side with the foot in it as part of the composition, but it is so bright that it really keeps us from enjoying the part on the right.

Mike & Manfred,

To me this photo is multifaceted, and for that reason I would not consider cropping out the area you both suggested.

To do so would unbalance the composition and would remove a key element (the foot) in allowing you to know the child in the foreground is not playing alone. It would also remove the portrait of the man in the background whose foot mimics one foot of each child. If you look closely it appears that he is watching the child behind the wall; if you follow his eyes, you will be lead to the children at play. In addition, it adds context. You get a feel for the environment they are playing in. Without out it, she could be running down a hallway for all we know. I understand that it distracts you, but it does not have that effect on me.

Mike, to crop as you later suggested would remove the portraits above the girl in the foreground. For me these add the element of the children being watched by them and their different reactions to their child's-play. Also, the children are playing not only in the shadows of the portraits and the people in the portraits, but also in the shadow of those who created them. In addition, if you look at all five portraits, four of them have something on their heads. The girl in the foreground also has something on hers. I know it sounds like I'm trying to be deep, but that's what I saw when I brought this image up on my computer. I converted to b&w to simplify and did tone down bright areas. I understand we all have differing degrees of sensitivity to distractions, but for me they were removed.

Thank you both for the comment and critique.

Sergio

[Sergio M.]

Great capture, Sergio.

Thank you, Dean. Much appreciated.

Sergio

[Sergio M.]

Nicely captured.

Thank you, John, it always appreciated.

Sergio

[Sergio M.]

Maybe just tone the left side image down instead of cropping it ?

Thank you for the comment, Izzie. Please see my response to Mike and Manfred.

Sergio

[Mike Buckley]

Everything you mention makes perfect sense, Sergio. It's good to see that you think all those details through. You made the image based on your very specific criteria, so it's no surprise that it's such a strong image.

[NorthernFocus]

Really captivating. Well done.

[John 2]

I just love this. As a grab shot it couldn't be better. I might be strange (might be?) but this presented me with an optical illusion until I got my head around it. In the beginning, my brain saw the LHS as being in front of the main area and I couldn't make it out. It looked like a separate panel pasted onto the main image; caused I think, by the way the way the RH wall casts a shadow that looks like a continuation of its LH edge. When I did see what it really was, it made a lot of sense. The leg is important because in replicating the little girl's left leg, it holds the whole comp together (IMHO). It pulls my eye back even though the girl is running out of the frame. The only part that bothers me is the mezzanine in the top left hand corner but I think cropping that from the top and elongating the comp as a result, works quite well. Definite keeper for it's quirkiness and the quality of the mono conversion.

[ionian]

I agree with John - great shot Sergio.

[Sergio M.]

Really captivating. Well done.

Thank you, Dan. Much appreciated.

Sergio

[Sergio M.]

I just love this. As a grab shot it couldn't be better. I might be strange (might be?) but this presented me with an optical illusion until I got my head around it. In the beginning, my brain saw the LHS as being in front of the main area and I couldn't make it out. It looked like a separate panel pasted onto the main image; caused I think, by the way the way the RH wall casts a shadow that looks like a continuation of its LH edge. When I did see what it really was, it made a lot of sense. The leg is important because in replicating the little girl's left leg, it holds the whole comp together (IMHO). It pulls my eye back even though the girl is running out of the frame. The only part that bothers me is the mezzanine in the top left hand corner but I think cropping that from the top and elongating the comp as a result, works quite well. Definite keeper for it's quirkiness and the quality of the mono conversion.

John, thank you very much for your detailed response. I'm glad it engaged you enough to get past the original optical illusion.

Your suggestion for a crop sounds good and I will give it a try.

Sergio