My comments or suggestions below are not a criticism of you, your model, your talent or skill. I offer them in a friendly tone of voice and with the sole intent to help you with a second POV and set of eyes. If you read sincere questions and simple suggestions as "criticism" of you, then you will miss how I am trying to help you.
First, she is pointing away from the sun.
This naturally leads me to wonder at what she is pointing.
(Something. But what? It is not clear from the image.)
And, just as naturally, why the photographer did not include it in the picture.
What is the "subject?" The child or the sun?
The sun grabs attention from the child and the gesture. Like a "spotlight" aimed at the viewer's eyes.
Imagine a stage scene (in a play in a theatre)...and the spotlight guy points a spotlight to the right of the actor on stage. We can see the actor (in shade) but the spotlight circle on the stages draws our eyes. The actor is pointing "off stage" but the bright spotlight on the empty part of the stage draws our eyes (naturally) to another part of the stage. Why?
In a theatre or "stage production" I would say someone "missed their mark."
Of course this may be your own "style" or your own "vision" and I suppose we can assume that the images look just like they do because that is exactly how you like them. That is OK too. It just shows that there are differences of "opinion" on what looks good. IF these are exactly what you want and like, then by all means continue making your images look like that and have fun doing it. As I always say: "Follow your own muse."
Thanks Steadman and Bryan. I thought the shot was attractive as sometimes a reference to something "off frame" or "off stage" to use your analogy above engages the viewers imagination. I do love a "complete" frame, where the eye travels along lines and nothing is "missing". It is satisfying. However, sometimes other elements of a shot are satisfying - the quality or direction of the light, an expression or action, a story etc.
If I were to include what the girl is looking at it would require a very wide angle, or a much wider perspective, which is a totally different type of shot. Unless the object is close by, it is very difficult to get both the eyes and expression and the object in view. I think sometimes an action is enough, and the viewer of the photograph can engage with or imagine what the subject is interacting with. She is looking at the tops of the trees by the way! Is she or the sun the subject? Both are!
Having said that, I fully take your point. That's why I'm posting, for C&C.
When a figure is looking (eyes, face) to an empty space, it makes "sense" as the expression can be interpreted as thought. Negative space in front of the face/figure makes us "see" nothing and so we are left with some "imagination."
When a figure is "pointing" with a finger, it changes the natural response of the viewer. It creates "attention" the "pointed object" (the subject of the gesture). Simply put, it says: "Look at THAT." The "That" then becomes more important as part of the complete image. (in my opinion ).
So...
It is "better" (in my opinion) to include the object/subject of the point in the image if one chooses to capture/show a strong gesture such as a "point."
What about the famous "Uncle Sam" art poster (the one with a man in top hat and read white and blue costume, used for recruiting during an old war)?
Obviously Uncle Sam is pointing to the viewer of the image (me or us). So "we" are the "that."
Here is another suggestion:
Crop from the top to eliminate the sun spot/flare.
Show the girl looking up...finger and all.
This is what I see when i scroll down my window view of the forum. And...it allows my eyes to focus my attention on the face and her facial expressions...with a very nice pleasing "look." By cropping out the glaring sun, my eyes naturally focus more on the shaded figure with the skin textures and tones of "soft light" rather than "harsh glare." In the cropped version I see more of the girl.
I don't find the "sun" beneficial. Again...just an opinion.
And....I don't want this to appear like some kind of "debate." It is your image and your choice on what to show. I am merely giving you some comments and impression and simple suggestions in order to try to help you with a different POV and opinion. And I know how most photos here on this forum get few comments of any kind. Few people choose to help at all with any comments. So this "dialogue" may help stimulate others to enter into the discussion and they can help you with further/additional opinions.
This will probably be my last post here (in this thread) so as to allow others to give a different spin and experience.
Thanks Steady. I've tried the crop you suggested. I understand what you mean by the negative space not contributing to image. The above is very helpful C&C.
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