A family photo

[Evertking]

I like this picture. But I feel like I have messed it up. What am I doing wrong?

[Evertking]

My youngest daughter.
And I got a kick out of this one

[William W]

I like this picture. But I feel like I have messed it up. What am I doing wrong?

What do you feel is "wrong"?

WW

[William W]

. . . when responding (and I do seriously encourage you to respond at length and in detail), do not attempt to get all technical, just jot down what you feel is wrong, missing, undone, erroneous, shortfall, could have done better, looks odd, is out of place, seems strange, appears unnatural, doesn't make sense, etc...

WW

[Evertking]

I think it's the pose, the expression, the image seem too dark. I just can't put my finger on it
It's the color, the colors is out of wack.
Hang on..

Here is the original file

[William W]

Good.
Forget about the dark or light of the photo and the colour for the time being.
Whose pose, which person(s) is/are wrongly posed? - describe what is wrong
Whose expressions, which person's/persons' expression is wrong? Describe what is wrong.
The original file is irrelevant for this exercise.
This exercise is not about the Post Production, this exercise is about how to make a Photograph.

WW

[William W]

Move quickly if you want the conversation. I have about 50 minutes...

[Evertking]

I should have slowed down and seen that the two oldest and I done it again with the youngest have their heads on the same plane. Everything is symmetrical.
The expressions, the two youngest almost look hypnotized.

[William W]

. . . the two oldest and I done it again with the youngest have their heads on the same plane. Everything is symmetrical.
The expressions, the two youngest almost look hypnotized.

Good!

Yes!

I should have slowed down

Forget about giving me the solutions - don't worry about what you should or shouldn't have done... tell me more about what you see...

you are on a roll don't lose it . . .

[William W]

...what other elements other than the two pairs of heads in the same plane - is
"symmetrical"?

[Evertking]

Hands and feet, the chair.
Should have ditched the chairs?

[William W]

Excellent !
hands feet chairs!
great work
... and ... what else ???

repeat: forget about the solutions - find the problems first ...

[Evertking]

Will remember that for tomorrow. It all goes out the window when I go to take pictures and then it's too late.
Thanks

[William W]

are you up for more work ... NOW?...

[William W]

I guess not…
It appears that you have gone
Good job!
Well done!

***

I kept my promise and waited the 50 minutes that I had to give – here is a brief summary that you might choose to work through by yourself…

The big answer to “what’s wrong?” is summed up in what you have already provided: “ ‘everything’ is symmetrical”.

But, for a better understanding, it is important to nail down the bits and pieces of “everything” and that is what the first part of the exercise was about.


***

These are some of the other elements that I see as being odd or distracting or if you like “symmetrical”.

The shoulders are all square on.
The two outside heads are tilted symmetrically: both inwardly and also off the vertical.
There is a row of six knees.
The chairs line up neatly.
Two pairs of feet are ‘dangling’.
The major “line” of the Group Portrait is VERTICAL.
There are almost no triangular structures - a Triangle is the strongest building structure.
The masses of white and blacks overpower the faces.
The hands don’t have expression (hands are a secondary expressive tool in Portraiture).

***

That’s what the first part of exercise is about – listing the stuff that we see as odd or distracting.

Now that we have done that, it is the time for part two of the exercise.

The question is now “How will I do it better next time?”

Again don’t get all technical, just keep it in simple written answers, but be comprehensive…

WW

It’s a pity that you could not do all the exercise with me, whilst you were on a roll.
It is better to do the two parts of the exercise, within one packet of energy and focus, with a Tutor.

[Evertking]

Thank you very much for taking the time to help me and it is very much appreciated. I will put it into practice and slow down and look at the scene and the composition way before I touch my camera and fix any issues I see before I get behind the camera.

[William W]

You are welcome.
Good luck and above all, enjoy your photography.

WW

[Evertking]

I love it. I try and get out and shoot everyday I get frustrated at times cause I see or have a image in my head but can't get it through the camera. Im new to this so I know I'm not going to be good overnight.
And my wife and daughters feet look kinda disturbing now I have had time to look... Uughh
I guess you live and learn.
I gotta get back to work. Thank you.

[vaez]

Excellent youre family very beautiful

[vaez]

Excellent yourd family very beautiful