What do you experts think of this photo?

[skeggysteve]

It's not one of mine but I've just been show it and I thought it was very good.

But I'm no expert! So I'd like you opinions.

[Famous Graham]

Rather sadly, the first thing that sprung to mind was "it's clearly a set up, but why didn't they do the job properly and use the right coloured liquid"

[GetCarter]

...or a politician's head (of whatever colour)

Edited by GetCarter on Sunday 28th December 19:24

[Simpo Two]

Fails on composition, cluttered background, subject not big enough, subject wrong way round.

I can appreciate the timing aspect, but to me it's not a photograph, more a record of an event.

Well you did ask

Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 28th December 19:31

[skeggysteve]

Thank for the quick replies. I'll try to answer some points you have raised.

FG. Yes it was sort of set up. It was my Son and some of his friends in the garden, playing around with his new camera. The photos was just one of many he took.

GC. I agree !

ST. "Fails on composition, cluttered background, subject not big enough, subject wrong way round. I can appreciate the timing aspect, but to me it's not a photograph, more a record of an event."

Took me a while to work out why it was the wrong way round!

Yes, I did ask and I take no offense from your comments. In fact I'm please that you made the comments, thanks.

But I have to ask what is the difference between a photograph and a record of an event ?

[RobDickinson]

skeggysteve said:

But I have to ask what is the difference between a photograph and a record of an event ?

That records the can m water, bricks etc.

It doesnt convey anything, doesnt offer up anything of the photogapher, style, doesnt say much, offer a view on the event other than 'it happened'.


The background is busy and still in way too much focus distracting from the 'event', theres bits of brick all over the lower frame, why? The can is very central , it follows non of the artistic 'rules' of photography.

Would have been better to isolate (using shallower DOF duifferent background) the can, prehaps include the reason its knocked off, change the viewpoint so it doesnt sit centraly etc...

[DIW35]

And on my monitor it appears a touch over exposed.

[L4MBOLUV3R]

its a very confusing picture, its so hard to focus on the can due to the background. quite frankly it would have been better to waste a real can of cola for the shot. the CO2 would have created a better burst of liquid making it a much more impressive photo. as for the over exposure the red in the can is fine but the background is very washed out. is it just me or does this picture remind you of rubbish/waste?

[malc350]

Simpo Two said:

Fails on composition, cluttered background, subject not big enough, subject wrong way round.

I can appreciate the timing aspect, but to me it's not a photograph, more a record of an event.

Well you did ask

Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 28th December 19:31

I agree, and strangley it sort of has no subject. Most strange I'd say...it's actually quite difficult to take a photograph of "no subject" and this person has managed it somehow.

Malc

[Simpo Two]

skeggysteve said:

'Yes, I did ask and I take no offense from your comments. In fact I'm please that you made the comments, thanks.'

But I have to ask what is the difference between a photograph and a record of an event ?

Phew. (I thought afterwards I culd have softened the blow as obviously someone was proud of it)

I was about 20 and playing with a 70-210mm and 3x and 2x teleconverters one day in the office, taking photos out of the window to see what tiny area of the landscape I could get to fill the viewfinder. I was most impressed to be able to get a single tree to fill the frame at the staggering length of 1260mm. The image was very soft and had very little contrast, but I was delighted with it and showed it to the office amateur tog (SLRs being regarded in those days as slightly anoraky). He aaid: 'Yes but it's not really a photograph is it'. Like you I didn't understand what he meant, not for a long time.

What your son and myself were doing was experimenting with equipment to see what it could do. We had found that it worked, but then failed to use that knowledge to start again with the objective of making a satisfying image.

IMHO he needs to get much closer to the action and find an angle that has no messy background. Then concentrate on filling that pesky rectangle with an impressive flying Coke can and not leaves!

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 29th December 10:22

[skeggysteve]

Simpo, thanks for that, very useful info that makes a lot of sense.