I spotted this interesting contraption at Casa De Fruta near Pacheco Pass, California. The composition appeals to me but I'd like feedback to see if this really does work as an artistic piece. I can already say that from my own point of view I wish I'd have shot it with a shallower DOF. This was shot with f/7.1 and I think f/4 would have given a nicer result (it was a 24-105 lens so f/4 was the lowest it would have gone). I was being rushed by the kids so I didn't have time to spotcheck all the camera settings and was begrudgingly given about 2 seconds to get the shot. I took this with an XTi camera I was experimenting with and it's one of my favorite shots that I got with the camera while I had it.
I think you got it right when you said that you would have preferred a shollower DOF. It would be the difference between a good photo and a really good photo.
For me, my personal preferences are:
1) crop the image below the center hub on the lower wheel. It would produce a repeating theme of the two wheels (as I look at it cropped) that strengthens the entire image
2) burn the highlights behind the wheel removing the temptation to wonder beyond the wheels
3) select and blur the area behind the wheels. The wheels would have more of a pop
4) I would avoid over-sharpening. I see Greg Hawkiins intent but the wheels are not the way I would want to render them
If you ever have the oportunity to go back and reshoot, you should because you have identified a photo with strong potential.
As an after thoughht, have you tried this in B&W? I think I see enough tonal gradations that may produce a good B&W photo, particularly if you increase the black in the photo.
Well that is my opinion anyway. Greg.
Here's some changes based on feedback so far. This is also in B&W just to see how it would look. I had to work hard to get the B&W to preserve the tonalities but I think I got it here.
