Sidewalk Meetings

[Shadowman]

Trying to add depth to a scene. Comments welcome. f/5.6, 1/640sec, ISO 1000

[William W]

Trying to add depth to a scene. Comments welcome. f/5.6, 1/640sec, ISO 1000

The four elements which sprang to my mind, (understand that maybe all/some were not possible) are:

1. Lower Camera Elevation. Rationale: Ground Level or closer to Ground Level will allow more advantage of the steps 'rising away into the background', and thus a better illusion of depth.

2. Framing and/or Cropping - lose the big pot. Rationale: it is BIG and it is WHITE; it is in the same foreground plane as the four Black Subjects; it is vying for attention and distracts the Viewer's Eye from those Subjects and always to the foreground, which is contra to your aim of 'creating depth'. To assist to create the illusion of depth, we usually want the Viewer's Eye to wander backwards and not to hang around at a big white lump in the foreground. If re-framing were possible, then more of the steps in shot would be better (see point 1 above).

3. Larger Aperture and/or get closer. Rationale: Shallower DoF.

4. Post Production, lighten highlights and background foliage and stone on building and the steps. Rationale: you've got Four Subjects in dark tones and basically a background of lighter tones, I'd take advantage of these two elements and leverage them for all I could. The more 'pop' you can get from the foreground Subjects OFF the Background pallet, usually the greater the illusion of Depth.

WW

[Shadowman]

The four elements which sprang to my mind, (understand that maybe all/some were not possible) are:

1. Lower Camera Elevation. Rationale: Ground Level or closer to Ground Level will allow more advantage of the steps 'rising away into the background', and thus a better illusion of depth.

2. Framing and/or Cropping - lose the big pot. Rationale: it is BIG and it is WHITE; it is in the same foreground plane as the four Black Subjects; it is vying for attention and distracts the Viewer's Eye from those Subjects and always to the foreground, which is contra to your aim of 'creating depth'. To assist to create the illusion of depth, we usually want the Viewer's Eye to wander backwards and not to hang around at a big white lump in the foreground. If re-framing were possible, then more of the steps in shot would be better (see point 1 above).

3. Larger Aperture and/or get closer. Rationale: Shallower DoF.

4. Post Production, lighten highlights and background foliage and stone on building and the steps. Rationale: you've got Four Subjects in dark tones and basically a background of lighter tones, I'd take advantage of these two elements and leverage them for all I could. The more 'pop' you can get from the foreground Subjects OFF the Background pallet, usually the greater the illusion of Depth.

WW

Hi William,

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, totally the opposite of what I did regarding the pot and foliage, I was trying to emphasize the shape and textures.

[DEAN01]

John,
You have added depth to this image. I like the pot and foliage, tend to push your eye toward the subject.

[Manfred M]

John, I quite agree with Bill on this shot; the whole right third should disappear and you will have a far stronger image.

The viewer's eyes are drawn to the brighter areas of an image and there it is - the Big Pot. Crop that out (and the plants behind it that really don't add anything to the image). Crop the top just below the white window frame (another light coloured distraction) and that leaves you with the people and the stairs and gives the viewer something to look at.

[Shadowman]

John,
You have added depth to this image. I like the pot and foliage, tend to push your eye toward the subject.

Dean,

Thanks for the comments.

[Shadowman]

John, I quite agree with Bill on this shot; the whole right third should disappear and you will have a far stronger image.

The viewer's eyes are drawn to the brighter areas of an image and there it is - the Big Pot. Crop that out (and the plants behind it that really don't add anything to the image). Crop the top just below the white window frame (another light coloured distraction) and that leaves you with the people and the stairs and gives the viewer something to look at.

Manfred,

Thanks for comments and suggestions. I'll give the ideas a try.

[Shadowman]

With Bill and Manfred's crop suggestion.

[FootLoose]

I like the edited version, John, that is a big improvement.

[IzzieK]

Me, too...I like the edited version, but then, the place number and post can be lightened a little bit? It is shoutingly bright...just a thought, not overexposed but bright.

[Shadowman]

I like the edited version, John, that is a big improvement.

Hi Greg,

Thanks for the comments.

[Shadowman]

Me, too...I like the edited version, but then, the place number and post can be lightened a little bit? It is shoutingly bright...just a thought, not overexposed but bright.

Hi Izzie,

Thanks for comments and suggestion, I'll tone it down.

[Shadowman]

Izzie's suggested edit.

[Manfred M]

Nicely done John. This is a much stronger image that your first posting.

I like it!

[Shadowman]

Nicely done John. This is a much stronger image that your first posting.

I like it!

Manfred,

Thanks.

[RBSinTo]

John,
Based on a comparison of your original image and the much improved final, cropped version, I'm reminded of a quote by one of my photographic heroes, combat photographer Robert Capa, who said,
"If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough."
Robert

[Shadowman]

John,
Based on a comparison of your original image and the much improved final, cropped version, I'm reminded of a quote by one of my photographic heroes, combat photographer Robert Capa, who said,
"If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough."
Robert

Robert,

Thanks for commenting.

[John 2]

I didn't see the original John but I quite like this. Only thought is that the house number is a bit of a draw but having said that I don't know what you do about it.

[Shadowman]

I didn't see the original John but I quite like this. Only thought is that the house number is a bit of a draw but having said that I don't know what you do about it.

Hi John,

Thanks for commenting.

[IzzieK]

OK John...thanks for indulging me...I am flattered.