Laura

I would like to know how you feel about the selective color in this

photo. And also, does the background work, it's not the original

background. If not what would you suggest I improve upon?

I don't like the selective color here. I like them both independently but together they are too competitive. The strong color in the background calls for my attention, yet I am drawn to the solemn face and fixated eyes of the girl. The quality of the image is also competive. The background is a much cleaner capture than the girl. She seems to be shot at a higher iso or slower shutter speed. I would leave her on a simple black and white background. Her face and eyes are enough to hold attention by themselves. Just make sure to match perspective also. The background should be one that the angle matches the agle you shot the girl from.

Dan, answers to your questions would be easy if there were only one way to look at photography. There isn't, so, it's not simple. Here is my opinion.

 

It can be boiled down to a question?what do you want your photograph to convey? That you don't say so I have to question if you know..

 

From your posts you are clearly experimenting with selective color. Is it because it is a technique that you are fascinated with or do you see it adding some statement to your images? Or, do you know why you are experimenting, are you just doing it because it can be done?

 

I am not against experimenting, it is an excellent way to become familiar with your software and what you learn carries over to other uses.

 

However, a technique for the sake of technique can make for very dull photographs. Any technique that calls such strong attention to itself does so at the expense of the overall image. Then it simply becomes gimmick and is difficult to take seriously.

 

Because I occasionally enjoy applying gimmicks to my photographs I am willing to cut some slack as long as you understand it is a gimmick. A gimmick in a photograph ninty nine percent of the time says, "I've got the really lousy photograph and I am desperately trying to do something to make it interesting. Please tell me this works!" Actually, it screams bad photograph. There may be one percent of the time when a gimmick actually adds value to an image, maybe.

 

There are commercial application and art applications where gimmicks work, but there you want the photograph to scream because you are trying to attract attention. In those situations it is all about attention so no one cares if the photograph is bad. But here, you have left it to be judged as a photograph.