Kung-Fu demonstration by young students at Chinese New Year celebration.

the front student could have benefitted a little with more light, perhaps flash.

 

Hey RK. Thanks for your advice. I've summarily brightened the picture very slightly to make it stand out more. It shows a little more grain now, but that's ok. I didn't want to use flash cause the blinding lights might've messed up their routines. :)

Great! Excelent catch a moment. Looks very dynamic...

Not sure if I can tell accurately from the screen image, but the depth of field is extremely shallow and so the boy's face in front is slightly out of focus. We can still see the expression, but perhaps another image has it sharply in focus?

I think some people in rating this photo are confusing a near miss with a success. The photographer caught the moment and the emotion, the composition is good, but it is both dark and out of focus, but not in an artistic way. I applaud Jason for getting as close as he did, but dreaming the rest of the photo into place does not make it what it could have been.

the colors are so enticing, and the scene is so interesting, that it's almost possible to overlook the softness.

 

unfortunately once one looks at the photo full-size (or fuller-size) those seemingly minor flaws become unbearable. that's a drag.

 

great setup, bad luck, I guess. maybe bring a monopod next time? it is a damn nice composition that deserves another attempt.

You may want to increase your depth of field. the kids facial impression is great, but focused knife takes attention away from it.