Gloom

[Javier]

[xpatUSA]

Comment withdrawn because same image is entered in a competition.

Sorry.

[Manfred M]

I really like the concept, but am not loving a few technical and composition aspects of the image.

The main issue that I have with the shot is that the light overwhelms the image. Our visual system is keyed to areas of highlights and high contrast, so our eyes go straight to the light and get stuck there. The problem, that we can already see in the shot is that toning down the light results in introducing a gray area that is a bit distracting already and darkening it more would create even more of an issue.

The yellow light and the blue umbrella are complementary colours and work together very well.

If it were my image, I would look at reducing the reflection on the wall a bit and dodging the umbrella to open up the blue to draw the viewer to that part of the image, like this:






That still leaves all that negative space in the top left hand corner. Introducing some kind of compositional element to that part of the image would be worth considering. That would create a strong set of visual flow between the elements.

[pschlute]

Very imaginative.

[DanK]

A very interesting and appealing image.

I agree with Manfred’s first two suggestions, but I would leave the negative space as it is.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Tom Barry]

I agree with Dan.

[DanK]

For what it's worth, here is an edit. Five of the changes are just dodging and burning. Because I brightened the umbrella--more on the lighted side than the other--and that started to dominate too much, I also desaturated it a bit. See if any of this is a helpful direction.

[Manfred M]

Comment withdrawn because same image is entered in a competition.

Sorry.

Ted - making comments in the forums is fine, even if the image has been entered in a competition.

The only place we do not want to see comments are in the competitions thread and that is purely to avoid influencing any entries there in a positive or negative way.

[tbob]

I rather like the original. I agree the globular light does attract the eye, but it works to offset and exaggerate the dark and gloom of the rest of the image. The subtle interplay of light and shadow works well for me

[xpatUSA]

Ted - making comments in the forums is fine, even if the image has been entered in a competition.

The only place we do not want to see comments are in the competitions thread and that is purely to avoid influencing any entries there in a positive or negative way.

I know that it is legal and I am aware of the competition thread rules.

My withdrawal is equally legal and was my preference, not in need of any correction.

[Manfred M]

I know that it is legal and I am aware of the competition thread rules.

My withdrawal is equally legal and was my preference, not in need of any correction.

That may be the case Ted, but it could lead to confusion with other members who might think they should not post comments.

[xpatUSA]

That may be the case Ted, but it could lead to confusion with other members who might think they should not post comments.

OK, in future I'll just delete the post so as to avoid any confusion ...

[escape]

That may be the case Ted, but it could lead to confusion with other members who might think they should not post comments.

I always thought it was strange that you could put a photo up for comment then put the same photo in competition. Often with both being active. Personally any photo I put up for comment I will not put into a competition. I can put it up for comment after the competition. Just my own rules.

[Manfred M]

I always thought it was strange that you could put a photo up for comment then put the same photo in competition. Often with both being active. Personally any photo I put up for comment I will not put into a competition. I can put it up for comment after the competition. Just my own rules.

When I prepare an image for a juried competition, I generally run it past a number of knowledgeable people for comments. I then consider those and may or may not implement the suggestions. This is a "trick" I learned from a couple of my mentors.

This is not a lot different than any creative work. I ran design teams (engineering teams) for much of my working life. Design reviews were very much part of my life. Having peer teams review the concepts and implementations of those concepts is considered a "best practice". Why not do it for one's own work for competitions, etc.?

[escape]

Manfred your right. This is more about learning then formal competition rules.