composition & framing question

[theblotted]

i took this couple months ago with my Leica M3 and Summarit 50mm/f1.5.

it's titled "like-minded". the story i'm trying to tell here is how the boy's playful intention is projected with his dog-like shadow as the puppy follows him. did some basic level & contrast adjustments, blur the grass background a little, nothing major.

for some reason, i feel like the composition and/or framing could be better in telling the story. i've posted what i did, and then the original. please feel free to comment/critique/adjust - i'd like to get better at this... much appreciated.

 

[theblotted]

original sizing.

 

[Spyro]

cant see the photos

 

[theblotted]

really? cuz it shows up fine here...

i'll attach it here (instead of url), but it gets limited to 600x600...

 

[Keith]

My only suggestion would be to rotate the image so you can crop the distractions from the top part without losing the boy's head ... because that doesn't work for me!

 

[shyoon]

I'd just crop the image tighter to focus more on the boy and his dog. I definitely would not cut off the subject's head.

Like this:

 

[Arjay]

I'm with Keith, but I also want to raise a question for you to ponder:

The rules of the golden section would call for a crop in which the man in the background would still be visible, similar to shyoon's suggestion.

I am aware that retouching the man in the background out of the picture (just as the person in the top left) goes against documentary ethics, but would serve the picture's purpose in terms of image composition. How do you feel about that?

PS: That's a really great shot, if only the two people in the background weren't there ...

 

[Sparrow]

I'm with Keith, but I also want to raise a question for you to ponder:

The rules of the golden section would call for a crop in which the man in the background would still be visible, similar to shyoon's suggestion.

I am aware that retouching the man in the background out of the picture (jast as the person in the top left) goes against documentary ethics, but would serve the picture's purpose in terms of image composition. How do you feel about that?

PS: That's a really great shot, if only the two people in the background weren't there ...

Yep, that’s it … then crop to put the boy’s hand on the upper RH third-node and the dog on the lower LH

 

[Sparrow]

 

[newspaperguy]

Nicely done Stewart.

I think I'd have also moved the frame just a bit to the right.

All-in-all, nice original capture by theblotted.

 

[Arjay]

Hm - looking at Stewart's version, I think the salient point of this picture is the structural analogy in the shadows, and therefore the final crop should leave the boy's shadow intact.

 

[yanidel]

I'd just crop the image tighter to focus more on the boy and his dog. I definitely would not cut off the subject's head.

Like this:

This one's much better. It adds more complexity and food for thought to the scene. I would crop it a bit more to the right, close to the boy's shadow.
Actually, I find the headless people in the background are what makes this shot interesting and puzzling.

 

[sinetsin]

Absolutely agree, 4 elements and 4 shadows pointing to the same direction, and two observers vs two elements acting.

This elements makes the shot more interesting.
Just my 2 cents!

 

[theblotted]

thanks everybody for the input and kind words. these are some good perspectives.

i was debating on whether to keep the boy's head (or even crop lower so his hand doesn't even show up), since i really wanted to hone in on the action of the shadow to provide less distraction and elements.


Arjay, tbh i was just focusing on the puppy and boy, took the shot quickly, and the bystanders got included by accident. i don't have any other shot with their heads still attached. so re-touch may prove difficult.

shyoon & others, including the bystanders is an interesting idea. my only concern is that the parked cars in the background - i feel they take away from the story. i prefer a simple story with as little clutter as possible.. thoughts?

 

[Finder]

1234567890

 

[payasam]

Here's the result of my messing around. Maybe the two legs at the top are not such a distraction after all.

 

[israel_alanis]

I think in this case if you want the picture with or with out elements you must do it the way you want, simple clone and matte paint could delete the legs.
I think entire photo looks great, just erase that legs, This is a speed test, just and idea. Regards.

 

[AgentX]

This one's much better. It adds more complexity and food for thought to the scene. I would crop it a bit more to the right, close to the boy's shadow.
Actually, I find the headless people in the background are what makes this shot interesting and puzzling.

+1

Like this crop a lot. The image does well to rely on the tension from the elements other than the boy, dog, and shadow...

 

[typhillips]

For me it's a toss up between Keith and payasam's crops. Both are nice in different ways.

I must say, it so so refreshing to see everyone happily cropping away. I've gotten so tired of the Leica "full frame" mystique.

 

[Finder]

I've gotten so tired of the Leica "full frame" mystique.

First, shooting full frame has nothing to do with Leica. You can do this with any camera.

Second, why do you need to disparage others. If you don't want to shoot that way, just say so.