In a japanese garden

[Chataignier]

At garden Fukutsu-en near Limoges

[Geoff F]

I like it although I wonder about cropping out the left side tree and a similar amount from the top or split between top and bottom?

The bottom right corner is a bit on the dark side but I suspect if you were to brighten that area it would attract too much attention.

[DanK]

nice image. However, I agree with Geoff about the bottom right. I'd crop the top to place the face about 1/3 down and get rid of the bright top right corner, which draws the eye away from the subject. Then I'd dodge the bottom right and burn the new top right. Very roughly, in this direction:



Also, the image seems a tad oversaturated to my eyes.

[Chataignier]

Regarding top and bottom right, I had already burnt down the top and brightened the bottom, but yes, perhaps I should go further... Cropping the top ? Perhaps, it certainly removes the bright sky which tends to draw the eye, but I feel it unbalances the image. Regarding cropping on the left, no, I dont agree, the azalea is an important part of the shot for me.

This is perhaps the better solution - take the cascade completely out of the shot :



PS : Re saturation, Fernanda is Brazilian and has quite dark skin.

[billtils]

Yes I agree. The title has two defining elements, "in" and "Japanese garden" and this crop fits very nicely without the distraction of the cascade.

[DanK]

An interesting comparison. Seems to me that it depends on your purpose. It's more or less the difference between a portrait and an environmental portrait. The final crop places more focus on the person, but at the cost of removing almost everything about the environment. Remove the one little concrete statue, and the photo could be from my neighborhood in Massachusetts. Leaving the cascade makes it more of an environmental portrait. I also think it's balanced--the crop I suggested is pretty close to the "rule" (I hate that word) of thirds in both directions.

I suspect that there is a middle ground, that is, leaving in more of the environment but doing more in post to draw more attention to the person.

[Chataignier]

Interesting debate, thanks for the feedback.

Here is another shot from the series, this time I placed the model higher up the cascade which I feel works better regarding overall balance, but cuts out the azalea I so liked. Once again I've brightened the bottom right and toned down the top right - but is it enough ?

[Geoff F]

The last image works for me although I would also consider a slight crop from top and bottom to end up with something like 3 x 2 ratio.

[DanK]

This last image has a very nice balance. However, if it were mine, I would do a lot changes to tonality, some large (like burning the top right area) and some much smaller. The area in the top right and center is very bright, with luminosity values in places exceeding 90, even leaving out the sky. This will inevitably draw the eye to the edge and away from the subject. the extreme contrast between the big rock and the surroundings--luminosity values as low as 5, juxtaposed with some in the vicinity of 80--will do the same thing.

I think this image is one that could do with an approach Manfred has often suggested here: a few large adjustments to tonality, followed by a lot of small ones.

[Manfred M]

I agree with Dan's comments.

While I find the latest crop solves some of the issues with this image, it completely changes the character of the shot. It is no longer about the woman sitting in the tea garden. It is now a portrait, with some elements of the tea garden acting as "props".