Another photo critique...please! :)

[e._hughes]

<p>Since this image was not chosen for the photo critique of the week, I would love to get some feedback. I really liked the image because it made me feel something. I know it's not a style everyone is a fan of (candid and whatnot...) but maybe some feedback would be helpful for me in the future. Thanks! Erin<br>

Shot with Canon Rebel XTi (Please no comments about how I shouldn't be shooting on a rebel at a wedding, it's what I have)<br>

Canon 24-70mm 2.8L lens<br>

24mm, iso 400, f/2.8, 1/40<br>

<img src="http://imagesforalltime.com/tempphoto/Grandma'sCeremonyPrayer.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="512" /><br /></p>

[mark_t5]

<p>i would have preferred an angle where i can see more of the face of the grandma</p>

[e._hughes]

<p>This photo was taken DURING the ceremony. In order to get the face of the grandma, I would have lost the bride and groom in the background, and interrupted the ceremony...</p>

[kayumangi]

<p>I like your idea its just that its kinda hard to decipher what emotion this old man or lady is going through. For all we care he/she maybe is just dozing of.</p>

<p>If you had moved slightly to the right you could have gotten a better angle. Or if you could have waited for a tear or a handkerchief to show up then that would have sealed the concept.</p>

<p>Another possibility was, if the both B&G had their eyes on the old man or lady then that would have said something too.</p>

<p>Lastly, for candids I normally shoot at a longer focal point say 200mm, 24mm to me is a bit intrusive.</p>

 

[kayumangi]

<p>Oh sorry, it was grandma. From the angle you shot I really couldn't tell, so I said he or she, apologies.<br>

As for the comment on interrupting the ceremony, it is precisely that reason why we use a longer lens, you can stay / position yourself further down or at the sides of the isle and still take those photojournalistic images.</p>

[e._hughes]

<p>In this case, I was in a TINY area, and there was NO center aisle to stand farther back. It was a tiny chapel, and I didn't have the ability to move from my designated area (designated by the officiant, and there was nothing I could do about it). It sounds like the image kinda sucks due to factors I could not control. I guess I can live with that.</p>

[rebecca_shay]

<p>I just got married last week so I am confident to say, if I were the bride I'd love this picture! I'd know who this person is and what her emotion was at that time. The picture would mean so much more to the couple that they won't pay that close of attention to the composition.<br>

<br /> You already said this is the best you could've done without interrupting the ceremony, but I still wanted to comment the picture would've been perfect if you could've got more of this lady.</p>

[heathorchard]

<p>I wouldn't necessarily say it's a bad photo but it certainly doesn't tell a story by itself and as a detached viewer I really have no idea what's going on. However, the bride and groom will view this image within the emotional context of the moment they experienced and, that being said, will have a very different view on it than anyone here. They may enjoy a reminder of that moment as they flip through their final images. </p>

[chris_whitcomb1]

<p>Erin - I agree with Rebecca in that this is a photo for the B/G, not other photographers. Heath is correct in saying that, on it's own this image does not really tell a story but when grouped with the other shots of the ceremony this is a marvelous addition and I'm sure the B/G and family will love it. Technically, I would bump up the contrast and exposure just a bit or add some fill light.</p>

[david_schilling___chicago_]

<p>Erin, I like what you were going for but I'm afraid this shot may appeal more to a photographer than it will to the B/G or to Grandma. Grandma doesn't really want a picture with herself in it and she'll likely want the B/G more in focus....I suspect the B/G may like grandma's moment but the image doesn't feature grandma very well. Grandma's son or daughter might love the image though.</p>

<p>I think the image could have been improved with fill flash for grandma and for the room. The large aperture really throws off the focus, f/5.6 would have been my choice. I've played with the image in PS to show my routine PP and have the before & after posted below. Thanks for posting the image and braving a C&C on the forum. Best wishes.</p><div></div>

[betty_lowrey]

<p>David, I would suggest something to smooth out a bit of the grandmother's age spots and some of the uneven tone of her skin as well. She probably wouldn't like such a stark representation of her age!</p>

[david_schilling___chicago_]

<p>Occasionally I'll smooth the skin in formal portraits of grandmas but in this case I think it's an honest representation of the moment and who she is. Like the thinning gray hair, I actually chose to light it and provide some sharpening. If the b/g or a reprint buyer requested me to soften either or both I wouldn't hesitate to do so though.</p>

<p>I'm also guessing based on the image that the groom is her grandson. I wish we could make out more of his expression.....I'll bet it would add a nice dimension to the image.</p>

[fotografz]

<p>Shooting from the same perspective, you might have been a bit more successful by including more of Grandmama since that's where the power lies in this image. Compositional rule of thirds</p>

<p>Total strangers aren't the audience for wedding photography ... except for self promotion of the photographer. The B&G will know who this is without a caption : -)</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

[William Michael]

<p >Personally, I really dig images like this. That is a trap of which I am aware - i.e. that: <strong ><em >I like it.</em></strong></p>

<p ><strong ><em > </em></strong></p>

<p >Professionally, (i.e. making images and selling them to the B&G and their Family) I have find there are two types of clients: those that will love it and those that will not - no halfway or in between thinking about it - it is cut and dried.</p>

<p > </p>

<p >If I do take shots like this, then at the viewing, if there is a cold reception to the first, I don't usually show the second or third, if there are any more in the same style</p>

<p > </p>

<p >WW</p>

<p > </p>

<p > </p>

<p > </p>

 

[jill_gately1]

<p>I would be curious to see how this would look in black and white. I bet it would bring out the texture in the grandmom and have us focus on the her and the moment. I think the colors might be distracting in the instance.</p>

[kat_moon]

<p>While I wasn't too fond of the original (darkness/contrast/half a grandmom), Marc turned this into a beautiful candid shot.</p>