help with composition

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ALAN ROYCE
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p.1 #1 · help with composition

Do the white/brown stuffed animal, and grandma's red arms work here, or are they distracting. My biasing may be affecting my judgement.

Thanks

Edited on Nov 25, 2007 at 05:32 PM

Nov 21, 2007 at 03:47 AM

GreGGomes
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p.1 #2 · help with composition

Alan, I will give you my personal opinion.

First I like the repeating diagonal lines you have set up - the diagonal line of the little boy, the diagonal lines in the pillow. The child's expression is good even if not engaging the viewer. For me this is fine in children as it creates a theme of 'shy' or 'reserved' or just being a child averting direct contact. I also like the subdued earthy colors.

Now where I see areas that are off the mark to me: the focus I assume is a portrait of the child, therefore the red sleve becomes a distraction. In fact the entire arm becomes a distraction. If the idea was to provide a nuturing adult, then a different arm position would be necessary.

Finally, the sofa as a background does not work for me. It has too much texture or distracting folds and stitch lines. For me backgrounds support the event (as I shoot events) or it truly needs to be a non-descript backgrond.

Well, these are my view. I am sure you will get many others perhaps more informed.

Edited on Nov 25, 2007 at 05:32 PM

Nov 21, 2007 at 04:24 AM

Scott Stoness
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p.1 #3 · help with composition

The boy is very cute but I don't think framing through hands and feet combined with headless arms work. And you are missing his eyes.

I played with cropping and the angle is off. So if you want it to be something that appeals to other than you and grandma, I think you have to reshoot.

Either without grandma or all of grandma and get his eyes would be my suggestion.

Edited on Nov 25, 2007 at 05:32 PM

Nov 21, 2007 at 05:10 AM

sbeme
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p.1 #4 · help with composition

Colors, lighting are appealing, and Greg;s comments on the diagonals are well-taken.
The arms are distracting, intensified even more by the bright red sleeves.
He looks like he's been tickled and/or needs a hug. I(ll bet you could capture come nice candids like that. There is implied but not enough connection captured with grandma.
As Scott says, it would be nice to capture his eyes.

Edited on Nov 25, 2007 at 05:32 PM

Nov 21, 2007 at 08:33 AM

Greg Hawkins
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p.1 #5 · help with composition

lol i miss weakingfull length animal pajamas. I had a tiger one, that i had for about 4 years, which i think i actually doubled in size while i had it.

Edited on Nov 25, 2007 at 05:32 PM

Nov 22, 2007 at 04:46 PM

Etadam
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p.1 #6 · help with composition

Lines and tones are so fantastic, it could be kept as is.
If the image is a crop, I'd try to get all of the white stuff (after all, this is what the boy is looking at).
Or simply crop the top right part, without grand-ma hands.

Nov 25, 2007 at 05:32 PM


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