The Spectators

[Jim A]

I like this a lot, but do wonder about the number of people in the image, plus the one looking at me directly. What do you think please?

The viewers by Jim A, on Flickr

[Shadowman]

I think the extra spectators fit the composition. Nice shot and perspective.

[DanK]

I think it’s a very good shot. I don’t find the additional people distracting because they are faint.


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[rpcrowe]

I tend to be very cognizant of eyes in any image. The guy in the upper left image looking straight at me grabs my attention...

[Manfred M]

When I follow the Flickr link at the bottom of the posting I see f/25 and a 1/2 second exposure. With an exposure that long, I'm surprised the shot is that clear.

I would have shot this image wide open to try to get a shallower DoF that would emphasize the main subject and add softness to the other people in the shot. That is not easy to do with the lens you are using, as it is not particularly fast, but would definitely be an improvement over the f/25 (which would let you shoot with a faster shutter speed).

The negative vignette is an effective approach here. Dodging out some of the distractions in the vignette area would be worth trying. I find the man with the dark hair towards the right top rather distracting, especially the way the hair stands out against the light background.

Like Richard, I do notice the man looking at you, but what I find even more distracting is the bright hand in front of the subject's face. From a positive standpoint, it is bright and attracts viewer attention. From a compositional standpoint, there is too much of the face blocked, for my taste.

[Jim A]

Thank you all for your feedback, particularly Manfred, for taking the time to give me a full breakdown. I can fix everything excepting the hand hiding too much of the face. Will move onto other things.