Photo Critique #140
tuts workshop

Photo Critique #140

on Jun 8th 2012 with 12 comments

Friday Photo Critique is our weekly community project, where we publish a photograph submitted by one of our wonderful readers, then ask you all to offer constructive feedback on the image. It’s a great way to learn more about photography, express your viewpoint, and have your own image critiqued!

Quick Ground Rules

  1. Play nice! We’ve deliberately chosen photographs that aren’t perfect, so please be constructive with any criticism.
  2. Feel free to offer any type of advice – composition, lighting, post-processing etc.
  3. You can also link to photographs that you feel offer a great example of this type of image shot exceptionally well.

Without further ado, here is this week’s candidate for Friday Photo Critique!

The Photograph

Photo Details & Inspiration

  • Canon EOS 5D
  • 70mm
  • f/10
  • 1/250
  • ISO 250

Taken at Lesotho border with South Africa. She was collecting wood for cooking is an old tradition and thought it would be a nice idea to show in an “old” format.

Photographer: Fred Beck

Please let us know what you think in the comments – how would you have approached the scene or taken the photo differently? A massive thank you to everyone who commented last week.

The most constructive and helpful comments will be featured on the site. Interested in submitting your own photo? You can do so here!

 
Enjoyed this Post?

Subscribe to our RSS Feed, Follow us on Twitter or simply recommend us to friends and colleagues!

By

Rollover to read this author's bio or click through to see a full list of posts by this author.

I was raised in the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. After high school, I left for Western Kentucky University where I obtained degrees in photojournalism and cultural anthropology. I am currently employed by CityBeat, an arts and entertainment weekly in Cincinnati. The work I am doing here is very rewarding and I suspect it will continue to be. I am available for freelance work in all areas of photography.  

Plus Premium
 
 
  • Julia

    I really like the general idea of the shot and the BW conversion giving that feeling of the “good old times”.
    Taking into consideration that this picture refers to photoreportage I should say that you did great job!

    Still if we think about the composition could give you the following tips.
    The lower contrast of the background blends the mountains with the horizont line, they have nearly the same tone and can’t be distinguished clearly. Would probably work with that part of the image in some photo editor.
    Would also suggest to add a bit more drama to the picture by moving the camera up so to show the long road lying in front of the woman or by moving the camera down and accentuating the mountains that would also give some dramatical effect.

    Apart of this I really like your shot!

  • http://yashmatunited.blogspot.com Tom

    I love the contrast in the foreground of the picture. The only thing I would do is try to burn in the mountains in the back. You can kinda see where they end, but it is very hard. Must have been hazy out that day.

    • fred

      Must agree about background!

  • jayne

    I agree with the earlier comments and would suggest more contrast. I would have considered losing the power poles and lines to establish more of that old look

  • Susan

    I like the photo & perspective but not the fact that it is shot in B&W. The photo is all about movement in a dynamic landscape…B&W to me stops everything & renders it dead. I like B&W for Film Noir or portraits but not for the environment where entities are engaging with their space.

  • Alberto

    I love the shot and i think that the fact that the background is with less contrast does not diminish of the whole feeling and idea of the general character of the phot. Instead it give profundity. Good in B&W.

  • http://www.joseantunes.com jose antunes

    I agree with Alberto. I like the background that vanishes in shades of gray as it enhances the idea of distance and solitude of the lonely woman with the wood over her head.

    I like the whole framing of the situation and I also like the lines created by the road from left to right intersecting the dark shadow area coming from right to left, leading your eye into the picture and further into the distance, to a new line that runs, again, from left to right, to the top of the closest mountains. It creates a S shaped figure that makes your eyes move between these three planes and also the background. Well accomplished, I would say. and the B/W lets you imagine the rest. Just paint it any color you like. Early morning blues, sunset glowing and warm… Imagine!

    There’s just some slight degradation of the image on the top left and center, with some square areas, probably due to the compression of the file. It’s clearly visible when you open the full preview. It’s not the photographers fault but if possible it should be corrected, as this image is going to be here for some time.

  • svel

    I love the picture. I have only two things to say about the composition.
    My eye is attracted by the grass in the middle bottom of the picture, I think I would have corrected it.
    The woman is just before a tree and I think it would have been better to wait a little so that we can see the woman better.

    That said it’s a nice picture that tells a story, I love this kind of photography.

  • Courtney

    Fabulous photo

  • Maria Schnell

    I would have liked to see more contrast in the background, but that is just my personal opinion. I like the way the path lead the eye into the image. Good composition.

  • sam spade

    OK, if I must be a nit-picker here goes.
    1. The deep shadow in front of her could be a bit less harsh as it seems to stop my eye.
    2. The grass on the foreground right could have been brought forward to the front edge of the shot.
    As it is I am stopped once again.
    3. The mountains are realistic but their contrast could be tapered right to left to indicate more depth or distance.
    4. Yes the telephone poles could have been removed but it is not a big distraction, if any…

    Other than the above… I love it !!! TERRIFIC !!
    Your decision to go B/W is spot on….
    The crispness & contrast in the foreground is like a large format camera.

    I would KILL to be walking beside you with camera in hand in this out of the way countryside.
    you are blessed…….

  • http://www.wix.com/simonabarbu1/simonabarbuphotography Simona Dumitru

    I do not have any critique. I really like the picture. The b&w version is done tastefully and capturing the countryside environment alongside with the woman does justice to the composition.