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Would appreciate and critique. I cropped it so that it would be a really symetric image, and I

am trying to decide if it works or not. Also the fact that his forehead is cut off drives me nuts,

but I would like to know if you all think its a loser or a keeper.

Keeper! An alternative would be to crop from the bottom so you have a tighter shot. I think that having the entire arms, but a cropped head makes for an off-balance shot. All the interest is in his face and hands. Not a criticism, just another thought. Lovely use of tones, and I like the spontaneity.

Katherine, as a photographer you have a choice to follow the rules and make your photographs as nearly like all the other rule followers or you can make your own rules. I lean toward making your own rules.

 

I think this is a very nice strong triangular composition. The arms make strong leads to the eyes (think giant arrowhead), which is the important part of a people picture. Yet you have included enough of the table at the bottom to help keep the eye from following the arms down and out of the photograph.

 

The setting worked out to provide an interesting secondary framing for the face, the dark strip with the "frame" like borders. If the forehead bothers you then that is a problem. I personally like tight crops so I am not bothered by it.

 

Ninety percent of this image is in the top fifth. The rest is story that adds to the viewers knowledge of the subject, the uniform like shirt with rolled up sleeves, the sleeve patch, the caf頢ooth setting, the casual arrangement of the hands. In all it think it is an excellent photograph.

 

I see only one objection, the left eye is too dark. Actually it looks like he has a shiner (black eye). It appears that when you adjusted curves or levels you got some posterization in the dark areas that needs to be backed out.

 

I think the expression is great. It's natural and feels like just the right moment. I appreciate that you didn't let his left eye go entirely to black, so there is depth there and a sparkle. I, personally, would not have cropped the head this way. It seems a bit self-conscious to me, like a gimmick instead of adding anything to the composition. It doesn't accent or enhance anything in this case. I love the way his hands are placed, particularly that they are not blocking his mouth. The strongest light, however, is on his left arm (HIS left), and I find that a distraction. I'd balance the light more toward his face and drop off as you go down the shot. The textures behind him work very well as a backdrop. Certainly not a loser and, IMHO, can even be made better. --Fred

thanks guys, for the responses. I agree that his left eye is a little dark. I haven't done anything to this yet except the crop. Unfortunately there was no more head in the image. o-well. I didn't have a strong feeling about it, and didn't want to spend a lot of time burning and dodging until I did... I think I will give him a little work.